The tidal disruption of a star by a massive black hole is a rare event that results in a spectacular flare of electromagnetic radiation. Visible from infrared to X-ray wavelengths, tidal disruption flares are a unique probe to study massive black holes and the nucleus of their host galaxies. The advent of optical transient surveys has accelerated this relatively young field; the detection rate keeps increasing and we are discovering many new—and often unexpected—results. I will present some of these discoveries, including recent results from the Zwicky Transient Facility.