Victor Lopez, who most recently served as executive chef at Barcelona Wine Bar, has opened his own restaurant at 2238 E. Seventh Ave. in Ybor City. D'Rose Gastrobar is now taking reservations, with Lopez operating as both owner and head chef.
Lopez, born in Colombia, describes D'Rose as a modern gastrobar with Colombian DNA. He runs the kitchen alongside executive chef Osyamil Milian. The menu reworks Colombian home cooking through French, Japanese, and American technique — running from small shareable plates up to steak, chicken, and seafood entrees.
The 130-seat dining room centers on a wraparound bar positioned in the middle of the floor. Lopez has built the drinks program outward from that bar, making it the spatial and programmatic anchor of the room rather than a perimeter feature. Outdoor seating is planned and currently pending city approval; once cleared, it would add a street-level component to the E. Seventh Avenue address.
Going from executive chef at Barcelona Wine Bar to owner at D'Rose positions Lopez as the primary creative and operational force behind the concept. The Colombian culinary foundation — filtered through French, Japanese, and American technique — gives the 130-seat room a defined identity on one of Ybor's main commercial corridors.
D'Rose Gastrobar is open now. The pending outdoor expansion, contingent on city approval, would extend the concept's street presence on Seventh Avenue. Reservations are at drosegastrobar.com.
