LARA finds its rhythm in Ybor

When Chef Suzanne “Suz” Lara opened her namesake restaurant LARA in February 2025, it wasn’t just another restaurant debut. It was the culmination of a 20-year journey through Tampa’s kitchens and a bet on Ybor City’s next chapter.

Now, LARA has passed its first anniversary in Ybor, and the gastropub continues to evolve, refining a food program that blends global comfort with Tampa roots.

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

Located at 1919 E. Seventh Ave., LARA was conceived as more than a dining room. The 52-seat restaurant’s apothecary bar theme features a craft cocktail program with both zero-proof and spirited drinks alongside a menu with Latin, Asian, and Italian influences.

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

The dishes reflect her extensive culinary résumé and Ybor’s layered identity. Korean drunk eggs and Filipino-style Loganisa hot dogs are popular. They’re playful but deliberate, comfort food filtered through the lens of a chef who’s spent two decades sharpening her instincts.

The fan favorite? It’s chicken wings roasted over a Japanese charcoal grill. The super hot lump charcoal renders the fat nice and crispy, a delicious flavor that’s different from deep-fried wings.

A new, expanded dinner menu will likely include seafood-forward plates, handmade pastas, and Cuban-style pork and beans.

Lara’s professional culinary journey in Tampa began as a dishwasher at the now-closed Viva La Frida. From there, she worked her way up to line cook. She went on to help open Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe and led its kitchen for nearly a decade. She helped shape concepts like Cass Street Deli and contributed to the kitchen at Rooster & the Till.

LARA represents something more personal: a namesake concept built from scratch and grounded in relationships with longtime collaborators who joined her in the move to Ybor.

“I want LARA to be known for interesting food that still feels familiar,” Lara says. “A good example is our plantain pie; it’s our spin on banana cream pie, but with caramelized plantains, miso, and sesame.”

“That’s the balance we’re always chasing,” she adds.

As Ybor City continues to evolve beyond its late-night reputation, places like LARA help shape a different rhythm on Seventh Avenue, one built around thoughtful cooking, neighborhood regulars, and a chef willing to experiment. One year in, Lara has found her footing, balancing creativity with the tastes of a growing local crowd. The result is a restaurant that feels both personal and rooted in place. Another layer in Ybor’s ever-changing cultural fabric.

For more information, go to LARA Tampa