CINCINNATI — Alara, a fine-dining restaurant in Madisonville, abruptly closed its doors Tuesday without any explanation.
The restaurant, located in the Madison Square development, opened in spring 2024 by Looking Glass Hospitality, which was founded in 2016 by Scott Schmidt.
While Alara didn't formally announce the closure, the restaurant's Google Business listing says "permanently closed," and its website now leads to a "this site can't be reached" page. Alara's social media accounts have also been removed.
Many Facebook users in various Cincinnati groups also said their OpenTable reservations showed a message saying, "We regret to inform you that Alara Restaurant has closed effective immediately. This was a difficult decision, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience."
The OpenTable notification says that Madison Square's nearby restaurant, Zingaro Italian Restaurant & Bar by Fabio Viviani, will honor previously booked reservations at Alara. Zingaro recently opened in the development in March.
The 10,000-square-foot restaurant was integrated with an open-concept kitchen that allowed dining guests to have a window into the hustle and bustle of the kitchen. Ahead of its opening, Looking Glass Hospitality said it wanted to "create an immersive experience" that stripped away the conventional formalities of fine dining.
Alara's menu ranged with a variety of "contemporary American cuisine" from seafood options, to pastas, various meats and more, including traditional fine dining items like Wagyu beef, lobster or a 32-ounce tomahawk ribeye.
Other than Alara, Looking Glass Hospitality owns Fretboard Brewing, Tahona Kitchen and Bar, Clyborne Provisions and Spirits, Emery and more.
