This 1905 salad is inspired by Columbia Restaurant's famous Tampa classic, combining ham, Swiss cheese, olives, and a garlicky vinaigrette with crisp lettuce and optional smoked paprika croutons.

1905 salad with ham, olives, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, croutons, and garlic dressing being poured over the salad. — *Photos by* *Tom Pitera* *| Styling by* *Erika Pitera*

Recipe Snapshot

Dish: Inspired 1905 salad with ham, Swiss cheese, olives, and garlic dressing
Flavor Profile: Savory ham, nutty cheese, briny olives, and bold garlic balanced by bright lemon and vinegar
Key Ingredient: The garlicky vinaigrette ties the salad together and gives it its signature flavor
Method: Crisp greens, ham, cheese, olives, and tomatoes are tossed with dressing and finished with optional smoked paprika croutons
Servings: 4
Total Time: 35 minutes
Effort Level: Simple

From Tampa’s Ybor City to Home Kitchens

The 1905 Salad originated at Columbia Restaurant, a Tampa landmark founded in Ybor City in 1905. Over the years, its combination of crisp lettuce, ham, Swiss cheese, green olives, tomatoes, and a boldly seasoned garlic dressing has become one of Florida’s most recognizable restaurant dishes. The ingredients are simple, but the balance of savory, tangy, and briny flavors is what makes the salad memorable.

Our version stays true to the character of the original while making a few adjustments that we think work especially well for home cooks. We prefer crisp romaine in place of all iceberg lettuce and use Parmesan cheese for its nutty flavor and wide availability. We also replace a portion of the white wine vinegar with freshly squeezed lemon juice, which softens the sharp edge of the raw garlic while preserving the dressing’s signature flavor. Optional smoked paprika croutons add another layer of texture and complement the Spanish-inspired ingredients throughout the salad.

Ingredients for 1905 salad including romaine lettuce, ham, Swiss cheese, green olives, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, garlic dressing, and croutons.

Featured Ingredients & Shopping Tips

A few key ingredients make this recipe work – here’s what to know. A complete list with quantities is in the recipe card below.

Lettuce: Choose a crisp lettuce variety for the best texture. The original Columbia Restaurant salad is made with iceberg lettuce, but we prefer hearts of romaine or a combination of romaine and iceberg for a little more flavor while still maintaining plenty of crunch. Avoid tender greens like butter lettuce, green leaf, or spring mix.
Tomatoes: Use ripe, flavorful tomatoes. Homegrown tomatoes are ideal when in season, but Campari tomatoes are a reliable supermarket choice and one of our favorites for salads.
Ham: Choose a savory deli ham rather than sweet varieties like honey ham or maple-glazed ham. The smoky, salty flavor provides a nice contrast to the garlicky dressing and briny olives.
Green olives: Green olives are one of the ingredients that give this salad its distinctive flavor. If available, use pitted Spanish olives from an olive bar; otherwise, a good-quality jarred green olive works well. We like Mezzetta because they have a firm texture and balanced briny flavor.
Olive oil: Use a good-quality extra-virgin olive oil. Spanish olive oil is the traditional choice and a nice nod to the salad’s origins, but any cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil will work well in the dressing.
Parmesan cheese: The traditional 1905 Salad is made with Romano cheese. We use Parmesan for its milder, nuttier flavor, but either cheese works well in this recipe.
Baguette: A French baguette makes excellent croutons because its airy crumb absorbs the seasonings well and crisps nicely in the oven.
Smoked paprika: Smoked paprika adds subtle smokiness that complements the salad’s Spanish-inspired flavors. It’s used only in the optional croutons, so you can omit it if preferred.

A Quick Look at Preparation

How To Make 1905 Salad Inspired by Columbia Restaurant

Here’s how this dish comes together, along with a few tips for the best results. Full instructions are in the recipe card below.

If you’re making the smoked paprika croutons, start with those so they have time to cool before assembling the salad. Toss the bread cubes with a mixture of melted butter, olive oil, garlic, and smoked paprika, then toast them until crisp and golden. Cooling the croutons before adding them to the salad helps them stay crunchy rather than absorbing moisture from the dressing.

While the croutons cool, whisk together the dressing ingredients until well combined. The combination of garlic, vinegar, lemon juice, and olive oil creates the bold, garlicky flavor that defines this salad. Whisking the oil in gradually helps create a stable emulsion, ensuring the dressing coats the ingredients evenly.

To assemble the salad, combine the lettuce, ham, Swiss cheese, onion, olives, and Parmesan in a large bowl. Toss with the dressing until everything is lightly coated, then add the tomatoes and croutons just before serving. Adding these ingredients at the end helps preserve their texture and keeps the tomatoes from breaking down as the salad is tossed.

Tested Tips

Cut the ham and cheese into similar-sized pieces: Uniform pieces distribute more evenly throughout the salad, ensuring every serving gets a balanced mix of flavors.
Let the garlic sit for a few minutes before making the dressing: After mincing, allow the garlic to rest briefly before whisking the dressing. This helps its flavor develop and creates a more pronounced garlic profile.
Dress the salad just before serving: The crisp lettuce is part of what makes this salad appealing. Tossing it too far in advance can soften the greens and dilute the contrast between the crunchy vegetables and the creamy cheese.

Serving Suggestions

This recipe makes four generous servings and pairs nicely with a bowl of soup for a light lunch or casual dinner. To complement the salad’s Spanish-Cuban roots, we like to serve it with chilled homemade gazpacho or a hearty bowl of black bean soup. Both options balance the bold garlic dressing and stay true to the flavors that made this Tampa classic famous.

1905 salad with romaine, ham, Swiss cheese, green olives, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and smoked paprika croutons.

More Main Dish Salads to Explore

If you enjoy hearty salads built around bold flavors and satisfying ingredients, try our Classic Greek Salad with Shrimp, a Mediterranean-inspired combination of crisp romaine, feta, olives, and sautéed shrimp with a bright lemon dressing; Mexican Caesar Salad with Chicken, a fresh take on Caesar salad with Mexican-inspired flavors and plenty of texture; or Salade Niçoise with Pan-Seared Tuna, a classic French composed salad featuring tuna, potatoes, green beans, eggs, olives, and capers for a complete meal.