The Columbia Restaurant in Celebration: A Taste of Florida's Oldest Restaurant on Lake Rianhard
How a century-old Tampa institution became the crown jewel of Celebration's lakeside dining scene
The Columbia Restaurant in Celebration, Florida opened in 1997 at 649 Front St. on Market Street, overlooking Lake Rianhard in Celebration's Town Center. It is part of Florida's oldest restaurant chain, founded in Tampa's Ybor City in 1905 by Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., and now in its fifth generation of family ownership by the Hernandez-Gonzmart family. The Celebration location is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant serves Spanish-Cuban cuisine in Mediterranean-style dining rooms, an outdoor café, a courtyard, and a Tapas Bar — all with views of the lake.
Here's something most people moving to Central Florida don't realize: one of the best restaurant tables in all of Osceola County has been sitting right on Market Street in Celebration since 1997 — and it comes with more than 120 years of history. The Columbia Restaurant isn't just a great dinner spot. It's a slice of genuine Florida culinary heritage, transplanted lakeside into one of Central Florida's most beautiful Town Centers.
Whether you're already a Celebration resident who hasn't made the reservation yet, or you're considering a move to this master-planned community — the Columbia Restaurant is worth understanding deeply, because it's one of the reasons this community's dining scene punches so far above its weight class.
Florida's Oldest Restaurant: The Story Behind the Name
Before we talk about what's on your plate, let's talk about what's behind the name. The Columbia Restaurant holds the distinction of being Florida's oldest continuously operating restaurant — a title it has carried since the original flagship opened in Tampa's Ybor City in 1905. The Ybor City original now spans an entire city block with 15 dining rooms and 1,700 seats, making it the largest Spanish restaurant in the world.
The story begins with Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., a Spanish-Cuban immigrant who arrived in Tampa in the early 1900s and saw opportunity in Ybor City — then a thriving Latin Quarter fueled by the cigar industry. A small saloon he helped open in 1903 became the Columbia Restaurant by 1905, serving Spanish and Cuban recipes to local cigar workers. Over the following decades, the restaurant grew under five generations of the Hernandez-Gonzmart family into its current 1,700-seat, 15-dining-room flagship that occupies an entire city block. The Celebration location opened in 1997, bringing that century-old tradition lakeside to Central Florida.
The Setting: Where Century-Old Recipes Meet Lake Rianhard
Location matters in dining, and the Columbia Restaurant in Celebration hit the jackpot. Situated at 649 Front Street on Market Street — Celebration's pedestrian-first main street — the restaurant overlooks Lake Rianhard, the natural lake at the geographic and social heart of the community. This isn't a parking lot view. This is a genuine lakeside terrace with water and fountain views that make every meal feel like a special occasion.
The dining options reflect that sense of occasion. You can choose from old-world-style indoor dining rooms with a Mediterranean aesthetic, an outdoor café with lakeside air, a courtyard, or the more casual Tapas Bar. Whether you're dressed up for a date night or stopping in after a walk along Celebration's famous lakeside trail network — the setting works either way.
It's also worth noting the company the Columbia keeps on Market Street. This is a block designed by world-class architects, surrounded by Philip Johnson's Town Hall and Michael Graves' Post Office. Having a century-old Florida institution as the culinary anchor of this walkable, pedestrian-first street feels entirely right — it's the kind of authenticity that makes Celebration different from every other master-planned community in Osceola County.
What to Order: The Menu Highlights
The Columbia's menu draws directly from the Spanish-Cuban recipes developed at the Ybor City original — some of which have been on the menu for over a century. A few things you won't want to miss:
- The Original "1905" Salad — The restaurant's most famous dish, prepared tableside with theatrical flair. Named for the founding year and selected as one of America's Top 10 Best Salads by USA Today.
- Cuban Sandwich — Made with the care that comes from generations of practice. If you've never had a proper Cuban, this is where you start.
- Spanish Bean Soup — A hearty classic that's been on the menu since the early days and remains a signature starter.
- Chicken and Yellow Rice "Ybor" — A comfort dish rooted in the Spanish-Cuban kitchen tradition of Ybor City's cigar workers.
- Seafood Entrees — The Columbia has long done exceptional things with fresh Florida seafood, with options rotating seasonally.
- Sangria — Served by the pitcher. A Columbia lunch without sangria is a missed opportunity.
The wine list leans heavily Spanish, and includes several labels named for members of the Gonzmart family — a personal touch that reflects how deeply the restaurant remains tied to its founding story. For a full look at dining options in the community, visit our comprehensive Celebration restaurants and dining guide.
Hours, Reservations, and Practical Details
The Columbia Restaurant in Celebration is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Current hours are:
- Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Friday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Reservations are strongly recommended, especially on weekends and during the holiday season when Celebration's "Now Snowing" events fill Market Street with visitors. Book through OpenTable on the Columbia's website, or call for larger groups and event catering.
The address is 649 Front Street, Celebration, FL 34747. Parking is available on Market Street and in Town Center lots. If you're coming from the Kissimmee corridor or the theme park area along US 192, Town Center is just minutes off World Drive — making the Columbia an excellent dinner choice before or after a day at Walt Disney World.
Why the Columbia Matters to Celebration Residents
Here's the thing about living in Celebration: the community was designed with intention. The streets, architecture, schools, and trail system were all built to create a place that feels genuinely livable rather than just developed. The Columbia Restaurant fits that vision in a way that a chain restaurant never could.
For Celebration residents, the Columbia is the neighborhood institution. It's where families celebrate milestones, couples do anniversary dinners, and out-of-town guests get taken to experience something genuinely Floridian. The lakeside setting on Lake Rianhard makes it an easy answer to "where should we go for something special?" without requiring a trip into Orlando proper.
It's also a real differentiator when considering what Celebration offers compared to adjacent communities. Dr. Phillips has Restaurant Row. Kissimmee has a booming Latin dining corridor. But a lakeside outpost of Florida's oldest restaurant chain, with century-old recipes and a Mediterranean dining room? That belongs to Celebration. Explore the full entertainment calendar in our Celebration entertainment guide.
What the Locals Know
The Columbia Restaurant in Celebration earns its reputation every single visit. The 1905 Salad tableside preparation is genuinely theatrical — request it even if salad isn't normally your move. Weekend lunch is a sweet spot: the lake views are beautiful in daylight, the Tapas Bar is more relaxed, and Market Street is at its most pleasant with the Sunday Farmers Market just steps away.
For current hours, reservations, menus, and event information, visit the official Columbia Restaurant — Celebration website.
Thinking about making Celebration your home? Browse our Celebration homes for sale or explore the full community through our Celebration entertainment guide and Celebration parks and recreation guide. Ready to talk neighborhoods? Contact us for personalized relocation advice!
