Patricia Lara, Founder of Casa Sensei and Wonder Paws Rescue, Built Fort Lauderdale's Favorite Asian-Latin Restaurant from the Ground Up
Since opening Casa Sensei on Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas waterfront in 2018, Patricia Lara has earned five consecutive "Best Asian Restaurant" wins from Fort Lauderdale Magazine — and co-founded Wonder Paws Rescue, a foster-based nonprofit rehabilitating animals across South Florida.
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Power businesswoman Patricia Lara is the owner of Fort Lauderdale waterfront restaurant Casa Sensei and founder of the nonprofit Wonder Paws Rescue. When she opened Casa Sensei in November 2018, Lara completely transformed the Las Olas culinary scene: the fan-favorite restaurant was voted "Best Asian Restaurant" by Fort Lauderdale Magazine for five consecutive years.
Lara's dedication to her business came from the ground up — she revamped the entire interior, built the bar from scratch, executed successful marketing strategies, and developed a menu that brilliantly blends Latin American and Asian cuisine.
While successfully running Casa Sensei, Lara and her daughter co-founded Wonder Paws Rescue, a foster-based nonprofit that provides temporary housing, medical care, and rehabilitation for animals in South Florida.
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The PGM Edit
Since opening Casa Sensei on Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas waterfront in 2018, Patricia Lara has earned five consecutive "Best Asian Restaurant" wins from Fort Lauderdale Magazine — and co-founded Wonder Paws Rescue, a foster-based nonprofit rehabilitating animals across South Florida.
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