Guides & Advice  : Florida : 
Tampa

 
Frommer's Guide
INTRODUCTION
DINING
NIGHTLIFE
SHOPPING
ACTIVE PURSUITS
SPECTATOR SPORTS
FEATURES AND EVENTS
DINING Frommer
Columbia
2117 E. 7th Ave
(Between 21st and 22nd Sts)
tel.: 813/248-4961
Location: Between 21st and 22nd Sts
Cuisine: Spanish/Portuguese
Price Category: Moderate

Dating from 1905, this hand-painted tile building occupies an entire city block in the heart of Ybor City. Tourists flock here to soak up the ambience, and so do the locals because it's so much fun to clap along during fire-belching Spanish flamenco floor shows Monday through Saturday evenings ($6 per person additional charge). You can't help coming back time after time for the famous Spanish bean soup and original "1905" salad. The paella a la valenciana is outstanding, with more than a dozen ingredients from Gulf grouper and Gulf pink shrimp to calamari, mussels, clams, chicken, and pork. One of our favorites is boliche (eye of round stuffed with chorizo), accompanied by plantains and black beans and rice. All entrees come with a crispy hunk of Cuban bread with butter. Lighter appetites can choose from a limited menu of tapas, including "Cuban caviar" (actually a spicy black-bean dip). The decor throughout is graced with hand-painted tiles, wrought-iron chandeliers, dark woods, rich red fabrics, and stained-glass windows. You can breathe your own fumes in the Cigar Bar.

Main courses $14-$28.Open: Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-11pm.Reservations recommended.Credit Cards: AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.


BACK TO LIST   PREVIOUS  |  NEXT


Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

Although efforts have been made to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, Travelocity does not accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person resulting from information published on this site. In particular, it is your responsibility to verify all information regarding visa requirements, health and safety, customs, and transportation with the relevant authorities before you travel.