Columbia Cafe

Menu read from the restaurant’s website; prices last checked Oct 10, 2026. Not yet verified by the owner. Tap a dish or drink to see how it ranks. Wrong price?

Tapas

Miranda's Ybor City Devil Crab Croquettes$15.00"Croqueta de jaiba" as they were known during the Great Depression. These four simple croquettes made from seasoned cooked blue crab meat, paprika and garlic then breaded with Cuban bread crumbs and fried. These two crab croquettes are always served with a side of Columbia hot sauce.Not rated yet

Shrimp "Al Ajillo"$16.00Shrimp sautéed in extra-virgin olive oil, fresh garlic and chili peppers.Not rated yet

Calamares Fritos "A La Romana"$20.00Tender calamari seasoned and lightly fried.Not rated yet

Shrimp & Crabmeat Alcachofas$15.00Baked casserole of shrimp, crabmeat and artichoke hearts topped with grated Romano cheese. Served with Cuban crackers.Not rated yet

Empanadas de Picadillo$12.00Carmen, wife of Casimiro Hernandez, Jr., was the queen of preparing these delicate pastry turnovers stuffed with different fillings. During the Depression, food leftovers or fruits would be used to fill the dough and fried. This once blue plate item is considered a delicacy in our home.Not rated yet

Empanadas de Pollo$12.00Carmen, wife of Casimiro Hernandez, Jr., was the queen of preparing these delicate pastry turnovers stuffed with different fillings. During the Depression, food leftovers or fruits would be used to fill the dough and fried. This once blue plate item is considered a delicacy in our home.Not rated yet

Empanadas de Ropa Vieja$12.00Carmen, wife of Casimiro Hernandez, Jr., was the queen of preparing these delicate pastry turnovers stuffed with different fillings. During the Depression, food leftovers or fruits would be used to fill the dough and fried. This once blue plate item is considered a delicacy in our home.Not rated yet

Croquetas de Pollo$10.00Sunday dinner always would begin with our grandmother and great-grandmother Carmen Hernandez’s special recipe for chicken croquettes. Six fried croquettes made with chicken and Cuban cracker crumbs. Served with Columbia hot sauce.Not rated yet

Black Bean Cakes$10.00A favorite tapa selection of vegetarians and lovers of black beans. Served with guacamole and sour cream.Not rated yetVegetarian

Champiñones Rellenos$12.00Baked silver dollar mushrooms with baby spinach, artichoke hearts, fresh garlic and Romano cheese. Drizzled with Spanish extra-virgin olive oil and lemon.Not rated yetVegetarian

Sopas

Spanish Bean Soup$10.00Known back at the turn of the 20th century as Sopa de Garbanzo, the soup helped make the Columbia famous. The founder of the Columbia, Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., adapted his version of hearty multi-course meal known in Spain as Cocido Madrileño.Not rated yet

Black Bean Soup$10.00Frijoles Negros prepared exactly as our great-grandmother, Carmen Hernandez, did. Served over a bed of white rice and topped with diced raw Spanish onion.Not rated yetVegetarian

Salads

Columbia's Original "1905" Salad™$18.00The Columbia's legendary salad tossed tableside. Crisp iceberg lettuce with julienne of baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese and our famous garlic dressing. In the 1940s, Tony Noriega, who ventured to New York City during the Depression to find work, added a "secret ingredient," Worcestershire sauce, to the recipe.Not rated yet

"1905" Salad™ with Turkey$18.00The Columbia's legendary salad tossed tableside. Crisp iceberg lettuce with julienne of baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese and our famous garlic dressing. In the 1940s, Tony Noriega, who ventured to New York City during the Depression to find work, added a "secret ingredient," Worcestershire sauce, to the recipe.Not rated yet

"1905" Salad™ with Shrimp “Al Ajillo"$22.00The Columbia's legendary salad tossed tableside. Crisp iceberg lettuce with julienne of baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese and our famous garlic dressing. In the 1940s, Tony Noriega, who ventured to New York City during the Depression to find work, added a "secret ingredient," Worcestershire sauce, to the recipe.Not rated yet

César Salad$15.00Crisp romaine lettuce tossed with Romano cheese and toasted Cuban croutons.Not rated yet

César Salad with Grilled Chicken$20.00Crisp romaine lettuce tossed with Romano cheese and toasted Cuban croutons.Not rated yet

Sandwiches

Columbia's Original Cuban Sandwich$15.00The Cuban Sandwich is Tampa treasure. The "Mixto," was created in the late 1890s for the cigar workers. The sandwich underwent changes as immigrants from different countries came to Ybor City. The Spanish brought the ham, the Sicilians Genoa salami, the Cubans mojo-marinated roast pork, the Germans and Jewish Swiss cheese, pickle and mustard.Not rated yet

Pressed Meatloaf$16.00Meatloaf topped with Swiss cheese, yellow mustard, pickles and pressed on Cuban bread.Not rated yet

Mahi-Mahi Cubana$20.00The best fish sandwich north of Havana. Grilled fresh mahi-mahi seasoned and topped with sautéed onions, mushrooms, green peppers and smothered with Swiss cheese on Cuban bread.Not rated yet

Mojo Chicken$20.00Grilled breast of chicken, melted Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and garlic alioli sauce on Cuban bread.Not rated yet

Roast Pork Sandwich$18.00Cuban-style slowly roasted pork, pulled from the bone, served on Cuban bread brushed with mojo, topped with sautéed onionsNot rated yet

Goody Goody Hyde Park Cheeseburger$14.00Lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion and mayo. With fries.Not rated yet

Half and Half Combo$18.00Choice of two, one half of a Cuban sandwich, one half order of Columbia's "1905" Salad or a cup of soup.Not rated yet

Entrees

Paella "Española"$30.00This classic dish is cooked in a traditional paella pan with mussels, shrimp, clams, calamares, chicken and pork. It features Molino Roca’s Dinamita Rice, cultivated in Spain since 1903, and is simmered with Spanish onions, green peppers, tomatoes, garlic and a splash of white wineNot rated yet

Chicken and Rice "Ybor"$20.00The traditional dish from Tampa's Ybor City, one quarter chicken baked with yellow rice, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, spices and extra-virgin olive oil.Not rated yet

Picadillo "Criollo"$18.00Cuba's most popular blue plate special. Finely ground beef braised with onions, peppers, raisins and olives and served with white rice.Not rated yet

Lechon Asado$24.00Compart Family Farms pork shoulder marinated in a delicious garlic-citrus sauce, slowly roasted until tender and topped with sautéed onions. Served with yuca, black beans and white riceNot rated yet

Ropa Vieja$20.00Originally introduced to Cuba by Spanish sailors. The name means "old clothes" because the choice beef is shredded, sautéed and simmered with onions, green peppers and tomatoes until tender. Served with platanos and white rice.Not rated yet

Mahi-Mahi "Cayo Hueso"$26.00Fresh boneless fillet of mahi-mahi marinated in citrus juice and grilled. Served with mojo-marinated onions, yellow rice and platanos.Not rated yet

Salteado - Boneless Chicken$20.00A sizzling-hot iron skillet with Spanish extra-virgin olive oil is used to sauté sliced Spanish onions, green peppers, fresh garlic, mushrooms, diced potatoes, chopped Spanish chorizo and your choice of protein. Splashed with a hearty red wine and served with yellow rice.Not rated yet

Salteado - Shrimp$25.00A sizzling-hot iron skillet with Spanish extra-virgin olive oil is used to sauté sliced Spanish onions, green peppers, fresh garlic, mushrooms, diced potatoes, chopped Spanish chorizo and your choice of protein. Splashed with a hearty red wine and served with yellow rice.Not rated yet

Salteado - Filet Steak Tips$25.00A sizzling-hot iron skillet with Spanish extra-virgin olive oil is used to sauté sliced Spanish onions, green peppers, fresh garlic, mushrooms, diced potatoes, chopped Spanish chorizo and your choice of protein. Splashed with a hearty red wine and served with yellow rice.Not rated yet

Eggplant Riojana$22.00Sliced eggplant breaded with ground plantain crumbs, smothered in our rich Rioja sauce of tomatoes, garlic, capers, olives and red wine. Topped with melted imported white cheese.Not rated yetVegetarian

Palomilla$24.00The classic Cuban steak: marinated top sirloin, cut very thin and quickly grilled, topped with mojo crudo (chopped onion, parsley and lime juice). Served with yellow rice and platanos.Not rated yet

Sides

Platanos Maduros$8.00Fried sweet plantainsNot rated yetVegetarian

White Rice$5.00Fluffy steamed white riceNot rated yet

Yellow Rice$5.00Traditional Spanish-style yellow riceNot rated yet

Yuca$6.00Slow-cooked cassava with garlic mojoNot rated yet

French Fries$6.00Crispy, golden friesNot rated yet

Desserts

White Chocolate Bread Pudding$15.00Our grandfather's favorite, made with Cuban bread, white chocolate and topped with a rich Bacardi rum sauceNot rated yet

Flan$8.00Our great-grandmother's special recipeNot rated yet

Mama Guava Cheesecake$10.00Honoring Tampa's nickname as "The Big Guava," this New York-style cheesecake is topped with tropical fruit.Not rated yet

Churros "Tres Amigos"$12.00Golden brown Spanish pastry dusted with cinnamon sugar. Served with three sauces of rich, warm chocolate, caramel and guava.Not rated yet

Key Lime Pie$12.00Graham cracker crust and filling made from pasteurized egg yolks, condensed milk and Key lime juice.Not rated yet