Columbia Restaurant 1905 Salad
Columbia Restaurant’s 1905 Salad brings a taste of Florida’s legendary dining scene right to your table. This Tampa Bay classic features crisp iceberg lettuce, juicy ham, and an absolutely amazing dressing that you will want to put on everything!
I first discovered this salad during a trip to visit my cousin in Tampa’s historic Ybor City. Once I tasted their food, I was hooked. Now we always make a special trip to Florida’s oldest Spanish restaurant.
And while I usually go straight for their famous Ropa Vieja, someone told me their signature salad is where it’s at!
Big mistake. Now I’m completely obsessed and constantly craving that fresh, crunchy lettuce and that incredible dressing. That’s because of the secret ingredient in it!
What makes this salad so special isn’t just the flavors, it’s the history. Named after the restaurant that’s been serving it since 1905, this salad has literally been making people happy for generations. The servers even give you a little history lesson when you order it, which just adds to the whole experience.
This hearty salad works as a side dish with your favorite Cuban sandwich, or as your whole meal because it has all the things. Either way, don’t forget the amazing Cuban bread on the side to get all that dressing.
If you’re loving this salad recipe, you’ll definitely want to try my homemade Italian dressing, homemade Greek vinaigrette, and this Italian chopped salad. Who wants boring salads anyway?
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See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
- Lettuce – The original recipe uses Iceberg lettuce, but you can make it with butter, red leaf, or green leaf lettuce. Romaine lettuce is also a great swap.
- Ham – Use your favorite deli ham. My husband likes a maple glazed ham but use your favorite. If you can find a nice Spanish ham that would be even better!
- Cheese – Swiss cheese is what the original calls for but you can substitute mozzarella or a Monterey Jack cheese too.
- Olives – The original recipe used black olives but now they use green Spanish olives with the pimentos inside.
- Romano cheese – You can substitute Parmesan cheese in a pinch.
- Salad Dressing – Olive oil, fresh lemon juice, white vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano (this is optional), minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce (this is the secret ingredient!), and some salt and pepper.
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How To Make Columbia’s 1905 Salad Recipe
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, sliced ham and cheese, tomatoes, and olives.
- In a separate bowl, mix the ingredients for the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
- Top with the shredded Romano cheese and serve!
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Serving Suggestions
When I first had the salad at the Columbia, I had it with their Ropa Vieja! But my friend had it with their steak sandwich. But you can’t beat a bowl of black beans and rice, or a Cuban sandwich with it.
If you just want the salad with some of your regular dinner recipes, try it with this copycat Texas Roadhouse Herb Chicken, or these Honey Mustard Pork Chops.
Storage & Prep Ahead
This salad is best eaten right after you make it but you can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you can, leave the dressing off until right before you eat it so the lettuce doesn’t get soggy.
This is a great recipe for those who like to meal prep! Just slice all the cheese, ham, tomatoes, and olives and store in a separate containers for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat, just toss them with the lettuce, cheese, and dressing.
Variations
- Swap out the ham for turkey, chicken, or something fun like grilled shrimp!
- I love the Swiss cheese but you can use mozzarella or Monterey Jack.
- Iceberg lettuce is in the original but I love this with butter lettuce or red leaf lettuce.
- If you don’t have the Romano cheese, Parmesan or Asiago will work in a pinch.
- Croutons are not originally in the salad but if you can’t resist some extra crunch, toss in a few or some french fried onions.
FAQs
The “1905 Salad” got its name from Columbia’s opening date! Two neighboring restaurants of the time decided to combine storefronts under the name Columbia. Still standing strong from its birth in 1905, Columbia is the oldest restaurant in all of Florida.
The ham is what makes this salad special and taste authentic, but I understand not everyone likes ham. Feel free to leave it off or substitute some crispy bacon. I am not a huge ham fan so I always add bacon 😉
The original recipe doesn’t use croutons but feel free to add some if you like them!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- You can make the dressing up to 2 weeks in advance.
- Prep the individual ingredients up to 3 days in advance and then combine when ready.
- Chop or shred the lettuce to the size you like.
- Add in some croutons or fried onions for crunch!
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This 1905 Salad recipe is a delicious copycat of the famous Columbia Restaurant dish. It’s light, refreshing, and super easy to make!
Columbia’s 1905 Salad Recipe
Ingredients
1905 Salad
- 1 head iceberg lettuce roughly 4 cups cut into 2 inch pieces
- 1 large tomato ripe
- ½ cup ham cut into ½ strips
- ½ cup Swiss cheese cut into ½ inch strips
- ½ cup green olives with pimentos leave them whole if possible
- ¼ cup Romano cheese
1905 Salad Dressing
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice or juice from 1 lemon
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 teaspoons oregano
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, tomatoes, ham, Swiss cheese, and green olives.
- In a separate bowl, mix the salad dressing ingredients and whisk to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. (Start slow as not to get too much and make it soggy)
- Sprinkle with Romano cheese. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- You can make the dressing up to 2 weeks in advance.
- Prep the individual ingredients up to 3 days in advance and then combine when ready.
- Chop or shred the lettuce to the size you like.
- Add in some croutons or fried onions for crunch!
Nutrition
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