The legend began in 1903 with a humble saloon in Tampa where trolley conductors and cigar-factory workers ducked in for a slurp of strong coffee. In 1905, this place became Columbia Restaurant, and today it’s the largest eating establishment in Florida, with seating for 1,700 customers.
Columbia Restaurant’s Famous Cuban Sandwich
These days, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re walking into a tourist trap. For a venue to be featured endlessly in vacation guides and “best of” lists (including this one), there has to be some kind of catch, right? Locals wouldn’t bother with something so overhyped. Except, on any given day, a huge number of those 1,700 seats are filled with Tampans.
All 52,000 square feet of the space smells of baking bread, garlic, and spices. But it doesn’t feel too big or commercialized—it’s more like a magical foodie castle, covered in Spanish tiles, where everyone is invited to the feast. First-timers and old-timers, be they Tampa bronzed or snowbird pale, most commonly pick The Original Cuban Sandwich as their order. In fact, Southern Living readers voted it the best Cuban sandwich in Florida in our 2024 South’s Best Awards.
Andrew T. Huse, Tampa Bay historian and lead author of The Cuban Sandwich: A History in Layers, is quick to point out that it was never referred to as a Cuban sandwich by Cubans. “It was called a mixto (mixed sandwich),” he says, “and the ingredients changed over time.”
What Makes The Best Cuban Sandwich
The Meat
Columbia’s current version is based on the sandwich popularized over a century ago and features salami, ham, and roast pork. So what makes it so special? Huse says the three biggest factors are sugar, fat, and bread…