Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in St. Joe

We have eaten at Columbia in St Augustine a couple of times and this was our first at the original restaurant in Tampa. It was a Monday night and we’re glad we had reservations because it was really busy. The interior of the restaurant was very beautiful and the walls showcased the history (from 1905). Jim, our waiter was great. Very helpful regarding the menu and sharing the history of Columbia. I had sangria to start and it was good. The Cuban bread and butter was absolutely wonderful. We didn’t order tapas because we knew the entrees were pretty large. We shared the Pollo Manchengo and Shrimp Gonzalo (not sure on the spelling). Both were good. We thought the Pollo had more flavor than the shrimp. The yellow rice was okay and the vegetable was broccolini, and was good. We finished with the bread pudding. Definitely enough for 2. It was very good. The restaurant doesn’t have good acoustics and is very loud….just from conversations. We also found that to be true in St Augustine. Prices were average, in the range from $28-48. Overall, we had a very nice meal and were glad we went. So much history both at the restaurant and in Ybor City. If you are in the area we would recommend giving it a try. We don’t get on the west coast of Florida very often but will definitely go back to the St Augustine location in the future.

I had a wonderful belated Valentine's Day dinner with my husband. We really loved the food, service, and atmosphere. This was our second time dining with Ocean Prime, and it will not be our last!

There has never been a bad experience at Timpano. They go above and beyond to make your experience amazing. The food is always incredible and consistently delicious.

The food was exceptional—truly top tier. Every dish we tried was fantastic. While our entrée took a bit longer to arrive, the appetizers came out quickly. The service was good. The standout dish was the goat cheese croquettes with guava sauce—absolutely incredible. The guacamole and chips, as well as the ceviche, were also delicious. For the main course, the steak frites were cooked perfectly, with tender, flavorful steak complemented by a delicious chimichurri sauce. The potatoes were equally impressive. Overall, a wonderful dining experience!

My boyfriend and I were completely amazed with the entire experience. From the host stand to bread service, to cocktails, to appetizer, to wine service, to meal time and finally desert. Everything tasted fantastic. Amy, our server , was delightful and knowledgeable. Her service helpers were tentative and friendly. We were celebrating a birthday and were so pleased to have been given champagne for a toast. Jorge, the GM, checked on us to make sure we were having a wonderful time. We could see he has a way with the crowd. He was shaking hands and greeting everyone warmly. Later when we got home, we spoke at length about how we have not had such a wonderful experience like this in a very long time. A++++ for the A5 Wagu . The scallops and king crab legs were incredible.