YBOR CITY, FL – LARA Tampa is truly something unique growing in Ybor City. Chef Suzanne “Suz” Lara is building community through art, food, music, and libations. Tampa Bay Times Food Critic Helen Freund recently named LARA “the most exciting restaurant to open this year” and I couldn’t agree more.

Ybor has always been a place for artists and culture, back to when it was a cigar city. The city has went through a number of changes in recent years including the rise of luxury living entering the neighborhood and a shift from being just a party town, which is an opportunity for chefs who want to bring something different (in fact Mise en Place recently announced they are relocating to Ybor). Some serious chefs have tried and failed, but I think LARA understands how to bridge that gap. Chef Suz keeps things simple with a classic menu of dishes that are well known to any Tampeño including the classic Palomilla Steak Sandwich while working in chef favorites and shareables that are approachable to anyone.

This Palomilla Steak Sandwich isn’t your average sandwich though, the steak melts perfectly in your mouth and the Cuban bread is the super Tampa quality that always makes me miss home when I’m gone from Tampa for too long. There will be no tough bites in this sandwich, it is well-beaten and tender. You can taste the quality of the steak in every bite from local farms. Make sure to get the fries too and cilantro dip.

The Longanisa Hot Dogs are just as good as any Filipino restaurant and have a nice chef touch to them that I enjoy with atchara topping that is well done. It’s filling too. The libations are a mixture of mixology and craft, with bartenders that are some of the best in town. I do hope they expand their list as they grow though as the choices are sometimes limiting. Servers are a mixture of people who Chef Suz has met and worked with over the years, ensuring consistency and quality with each visit. Suz worked at Ella’s during the renaissance of Seminole Heights after the 2008 financial crisis wrecked Tampa and opened new opportunities for chefs and restaurateurs.

The restaurant has a rustic feel to it, you could be in Miami or historic Tampa with the tall ceilings and lounge vibe that feels tropical. The bar is the most comfortable place to sit for me, but there is plenty of seating around. There is a market on the second floor with food-related items for sale and a speakeasy in the back for special events that has already drawn well-known locals and creators/innovators.

A restaurant with commitment to culture is really needed during a time of transformation and growth in Ybor City and LARA delivers. Once someone discovers it, they are sure to go back with friends and family. This is also some of the best food I have ever eaten in Tampa and multiple visits have left me satisfied every single time. Community pop-ups have been underway since late spring and are allowing different chefs to bring their talent to Ybor City and to expose different crowds to the restaurant.

This is what the restaurant and hospitality industry is really all about right? If you haven’t been, I highly recommend LARA. When you are dining there, you are supporting Tampa’s culture and creatives and enjoying a quality experience that will fill your soul. What could be better than that?

Restaurant Name: LARA Tampa

Address: 1919 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605

Website: tampalara.com

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a writer and journalist with over 15 years of experience. I write the food and travel blog Carlos Eats (https://www.carloseats.com​) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines on numerous topics​.