Few foods capture Tampa Bay’s history quite like the Cuban sandwich. Pressed between crisp Cuban bread, the region’s signature combination traditionally layers ham, roast pork, salami, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard, although beloved restaurants throughout the bay put their own spin on the classic. From historic Ybor City institutions to neighborhood cafes in St. Petersburg, Odessa and Wesley Chapel, these spots prove there is more than one way to build a memorable Cuban.
Ybor City | ColumbiaRestaurant.com
The Columbia has served Spanish and Cuban cuisine in historic Ybor City since 1905, creating a dining experience rooted in generations of Tampa tradition. Its Cuban follows the restaurant’s original recipe with smoked ham, mojo-roasted pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard layered on La Segunda Cuban bread. Each sandwich is brushed with butter and pressed until the bread is crisp and the cheese begins to melt.
The Floridian…