Lara Closes Ybor City Restaurant
Chef Suzanne Lara announced on Instagram that her Ybor City restaurant has closed after opening in 2025.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Dining Out
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Chef Suzanne Lara has closed Lara, her restaurant on Seventh Avenue in Ybor City, according to an announcement on the restaurant's Instagram page on Wednesday. The restaurant opened in 2025 and was named the most exciting restaurant to open that year by food critic Helen Freund.
Why it matters
The closure removes a restaurant that earned a No. 12 ranking on Helen Freund's Top 50 Restaurants list for 2025 within its first year. It also marks a change for Tampa's dining scene, where Lara had drawn attention after its debut.
Lara ranked No. 12 on food critic Helen Freund's Top 50 Restaurants list for 2025, the year it opened. The announcement did not explain why the restaurant closed.
The players
Suzanne Lara
Suzanne Lara is a longtime Tampa chef who spent two decades in Tampa Bay kitchens before opening her own restaurant.
Helen Freund
Helen Freund is a food critic who named Lara the most exciting restaurant to open in 2025 and ranked it No. 12 on her year-end list.
The details
Suzanne Lara announced the closure in a post on the restaurant's Instagram account. Before opening Lara, she spent two decades working in other Tampa Bay kitchens.
Timeline
2025: Lara opens on Seventh Avenue in Ybor City.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Closure is announced on Instagram.
Culture Shift
Lara's closure comes shortly after Helen Freund's Top 50 Restaurants list for 2025 named it the most exciting new restaurant of the year. The sequence shows that critical acclaim does not guarantee a restaurant's long-term survival in the Tampa Bay market.
Diners who planned to visit Lara in Ybor City will need to choose another restaurant. The closure removes one of the newer options in the neighborhood's dining scene.
The takeaway
Restaurants can earn strong early recognition and still close quickly, so readers who want to try a new spot should book early and check recent announcements before visiting. Following chef announcements on social media is one way to catch closures and openings sooner.
Further reading
Explore more local coverage in Dining Out to see how other Tampa restaurants are faring.
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Do you think local restaurants with great reviews usually stay open long-term in your area?
