There's a lot of rumors going around about the shuttered Frizzante space at FDB/8th Avenue and 117th Street but we just got some reliable information that a new restaurant will be arriving in about a month's time. The new Italian eatery will be called Lido and will have a completely different interior, staff and menu than its predecessor. This location is pretty central to all the new condos which have seen an influx of buyers this past year so if these guys get the quality and service right, they should succeed nicely. The storefront itself is one of the nicest new ones on the block so it's really what the new proprietors do with the rest of it that will make or break the new business. Check out the Craig's List ad for staff and line cooks that was recently placed online:
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The interior was rather generic and way too brightly lit. Softer, dimmer lighting can do wonders and would make it feel less like a cafeteria.
ReplyDeleteUh oh. Another Italian place? Every neighborhood seems to have a cursed corner on which, mysteriously,no restaurant succeeds. I hope that is not the case here but I have my doubts.
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand it's good to see that somebody is going to pick up Frizzante's slack.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, would it kill these businessfolk to try opening up a frendly neighborhood pub/diner for once instead of a flash joint?
Amen.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the Harlem Tavern continues apace. They have installed the world’s largest HVAC unit on the roof.
Totally agree UptownGirl. Just got back from Amsterdam. They have soft, dim lighting down to a tee!
ReplyDeleteAgree on the dim lighting. And who say Italian food has to cost more than pub food? Fact is italian food is really popular and most people like it - this isn't some super niche thing, like a caviar bar.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a way to do Italian food that is chef driven, and then there is the vast generic world of Italian food - heavy on the pasta. I don't know which the Lido will be, but something tells me it will be the latter. Hopefully whoever took over the restaurant-ready space learned from the previous entrepreneurs' mistakes.
ReplyDeleteJust add my 2 cents Harlem could use a friendly neighbourhood Italian restaurant in a similar vane to this one http://www.supperrestaurant.com/ great food great space and most importantly, extremely consistent.
ReplyDeleteI big part of the dining experience is presentation, this space has head start for presentation having a beautiful frontage with the corner wrap around French doors which illuminate the sidewalk making it an inviting space from afar. That quality experience has to be carried through to the dining area and finally the quality of food and service. This space could be something great.
ReplyDeleteHarlemBBC, I like your suggestion, and a great web site.
ReplyDeleteWestsider, it is one of the best value eateries in the city and is almost always packed. For a cash only place that is saying something.
ReplyDeleteI actually kind of hope this is just a solid pasta joint not a "chef-driven" place. It's pretty easy to do basic, tasty. pasta dishes at affordable prices. Agree with Westsider that decor is 9/10 of the game. If I were them I'd dim the lights a little, and in the winter draw curtains over the space to warm it up. In spring and summer I'd leave it more open. Could be a really nice space.
ReplyDeleteHarlemBBC, the people behind Supper run all the Frank and Frankie places in the East Village also. They definitely know what they are doing - the places are all packed every night.
ReplyDeleteFood i know them and have been trying to get them to open a spot up here for a year now, because they are all cash and it is so far away from their base they have been very apprehensive. It would be awesome to have them come up and show us how it's done ;)
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