Chef Suzanne Lara's LARA Restaurant Celebrates First Anniversary in Ybor City

The gastropub continues to evolve its food program that blends global comfort with Tampa roots.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 2:56am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After opening her namesake restaurant LARA in Ybor City in February 2025, Chef Suzanne "Suz" Lara has now celebrated the first anniversary of her 52-seat gastropub concept. LARA has refined its food program to blend global comfort food with Tampa's local flavors, attracting a mix of local regulars and tourists.

Why it matters

As Ybor City continues to evolve beyond its late-night reputation, LARA represents a new wave of thoughtful, neighborhood-focused restaurants that are helping shape the area's changing cultural fabric. Lara's personal journey and commitment to experimentation have allowed LARA to find its footing and balance creativity with the tastes of a growing local crowd.

The details

Located at 1919 E. Seventh Ave., LARA was conceived as more than just a dining room, featuring an apothecary bar theme with craft cocktails and a menu blending Latin, Asian, and Italian influences. The dishes reflect Lara's extensive culinary resume and Ybor's layered identity, with popular items like Korean drunk eggs, Filipino-style Loganisa hot dogs, and chicken wings roasted over a Japanese charcoal grill. As LARA enters its second year, the restaurant plans to expand its dinner menu with more seafood-forward plates, handmade pastas, and Cuban-style pork and beans.

  • LARA opened in February 2025.
  • LARA celebrated its first anniversary in February 2026.

The players

Suzanne "Suz" Lara

The chef and owner of LARA, a 20-year veteran of Tampa's culinary scene who has worked at restaurants like Viva La Frida, Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe, Cass Street Deli, and Rooster & the Till.

LARA

A 52-seat gastropub in Ybor City that blends global comfort food with Tampa's local flavors, featuring an apothecary bar theme with craft cocktails.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The first year has been great because we finally have a sense of who's walking through the door. About sixty percent of our guests are locals from around Tampa Bay, and the rest are tourists, and they're looking for different things.”

— Suzanne "Suz" Lara, Chef and Owner, LARA

“We've learned where to push the creativity and where to keep things approachable. Lunch tends to be quicker and more casual, but dinner is where we can really stretch and put interesting food on the menu.”

— Suzanne "Suz" Lara, Chef and Owner, LARA

What’s next

LARA plans to expand its dinner menu with more seafood-forward plates, handmade pastas, and Cuban-style pork and beans as it enters its second year of operation.

The takeaway

LARA's success in its first year highlights the evolving culinary landscape of Ybor City, as thoughtful, neighborhood-focused restaurants like Lara's gastropub help shape the area's changing cultural identity beyond its late-night reputation.