Tag Archives: Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar

Pods arrive in Central Harlem along with a gigantic mural

Dining pods have arrived to part of the restaurant scene in Harlem. And a giant mural on the northwest corner of Frederick Douglass Blvd and 116th Street is going up to commemorate this form of outdoor dining! If you live in the area, you can’t miss the mural (or the pods). The mural looks awesome!

Dining pods are now lining FDB from 116th to 120th Street at the following restaurants: Bixi Harlem, Blvd Bistro, Chocolate, Harlem Burger, Harlem Tavern, Mess Hall/Double Dutch, Silvana and Vinateria. These greenhouse styled dining pods were provided to minority and women-owned restaurants on FBD as part of an initiative sponsored by the Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance and Stella Artois, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch.

The 7-story, 2800 square foot mural was designed and painted by Harlem-based Giannina Gutierrez. Gutierrez created the mural to welcome diners to the area and to showcase the vibrancy of the neighborhood.

Having these dining pods donated to small businesses, who truly need the help during this time, is a great example of private sector, non profits and the community coming together to collaborate for the greater good. This is a wonderful example of corporate social responsibility at its best.

Stop by to see the mural and let’s us know what you think of it here in the comments section! Go out and dine in these donated pods. And drop a line here about your dining experience in a pod too!

Photo by Harlemgal
Photo by Harlemgal

Bixi, new Harlem restaurant opening next to Lido

New York City is officially open! I’ve been waiting to share this picture for quite some time due to covid19 and the recent Black Lives Matter movement. Apparently, there is going to be a new restaurant opening on Harlem‘s restaurant row called Bixi. It’s going to be Asian cuisine I believe and it will be managed and operated by the same individuals who run Lido Italian Restaurant on the corner of 117th and Frederick Douglass Boulevard. That’s all the info I have right now. I’m sure more details will arise soon!

New restaurant opening next to Lido.
Photo by Harlemgal

Harlem business owner marries beau in Harlem made dress

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Some of us love Harlem so much we try to integrate our community into almost everything. Take for example, Harlem business woman Susannah Koteen, who co-owns Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar on Frederick Douglass Blvd. Susannah married Mark Sweeney, a skilled contractor, this past weekend in New York City and this blog learned she had her wedding dress made right here in Harlem for the special occasion. How cool is that?

Apparently, Penny Babel, a seamstress who lives in Harlem, made Susannah’s wedding dress and she does all sorts of custom jobs. Babel has her studio at 220 Manhattan Avenue and 110th Street. If you need a wedding dress, specially made or a custom outfit, Babel is available. Her phone number is 212.879.5844. No need to go far for special clothing!

Susannah will continue her career at Lido Harlem, and she and her husband will reside in Harlem, which means we gain a contractor in Harlem! If you need a contractor, Mark Sweeney is available. Sweeney has a contracting business with his business partner Mustapha Diop. The business is called M & M Property Services and their website is Ionanyc.com. They do all types of jobs for commercial and residential from gut renovations, kitchens and bathrooms, custom cabinetry, and home repairs.

So if you’re dining at Lido anytime soon, be sure to say congrats to Susannah. We certainly will. Wishing her and Mark all the best and many, many years of good health and happiness. Cheers!

UPDATE: Monday Harlem happenings, Uptown Battle of the Bars Finale, Lido Harlem Gayborhood Mixer

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It is going to be a busy Monday evening in Harlem tonight, August 26. There is something to do for everyone along Harlem’s restaurant row.

Update, the event mentioned at Melba’s is by invite only.

Two blocks down, Harlem Tavern at 116th Street and FDB is hosting Uptown Battle of the Bars Showdown Finale event. It starts at 6 pm as well and runs until 9 pm. Three dozen bartenders have been engaged in a competition since the beginning of August dubbed the Uptown Battle of the Bars. Tonight, the winner will be announced. Learn more about the event here.

And last, but certainly not least, Lido Harlem will be hosting another Gayborhood mixer event this evening starting at 6 pm as well running all the way to midnight. Lido Harlem is located at 117th Street and FDB!

There ya have it! A busy Monday evening in Harlem! Enjoy!
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Harlem to celebrate Second Annual Food and Drink Boulevard May 2

The Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance and Experience Harlem invite us all in Harlem to their annual Food and Drink Blvd event, which is an evening of food, cocktails, music, and culture featuring most of the dining establishments on Harlem’s restaurant row, aka Frederick Douglass Blvd. The event takes place Thursday, May 2nd, from 6-10 pm. The cost to attend is $10 in advance. To purchase tickets for this fun event, go here.
FDBA eblast 2013

Ring in 2013 at Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar in Harlem, see menu

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I am sure most of our Harlem restaurants will be doing something special to ring in the New Year. Lido Harlem, located at 117th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., is ready to share their plans and this is what will be happening. Lido Harlem is offering four course prix fixe. It includes a champagne toast for $70 plus tax and service. There will also be a three course for $55 plus tax and service. That will also include a champagne toast.

Lido Harlem plans on creating a social atmosphere so they are not doing two seatings because they want to keep it fun and casual. Reservations are required, except at the bar. If you plan to sit at the bar, it is recommended to go early.

See all the details below along with Lido Harlem’s holiday hours!
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Harlem’s Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar to host ‘Gay-borhood Mixer’ November 12

Harlem is a very diverse community that is inclusive of all people. Lido Harlem, located on the southeast corner of 117th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., enjoys and succeeds at serving up fine dishes  to all walks of life.  They recognize-and I agree with them-there appears to be a growing presence of the gay community in South Harlem. To cater to this particular demographic, they are hosting their first Harlem LGBT Community Mixer on November 12 from 9 pm to 11 pm with an extended happy hour that will feature drink specials!

I raise my glass to Lido Harlem for organizing this mixer.  We all know they are not the first to cater to the gay community in Harlem. Billies Black, Natives Restaurant and more have always catered and welcomed the LGBT Community of Harlem long before most of us moved here. However,  for Lido Harlem to do this, I say why not and go for it!

Gay-Borhood Mixer
November 12, 2012  |  9pm-11pm
Lido Harlem
2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd @ 117th
646.490.8575

Attend Harlem Pop-up Green Market October 11 in Harlem

More information has come in regarding the pop-up farmers market planned for October 11 at The Harlem Treasure Chest. According to a flier, this event is being organized by the Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance, Grow NYC Green Market and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. It starts at 4 pm and ends at 9 pm on the corner of 117th Street and FDB. Prepared food will be provided by 5 and Diamond Harlem, Lido Harlem and Harlem Tavern. For additional details, see flier below.

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Introducing Belle, a new restaurant coming to Harlem by Chef Darryl Burnett

The restaurant scene in Central Harlem continues to grow with new places planned for this year and 2013. Recently mentioned was Vinatería, which is opening up (hopefully this year) on Frederick Douglass Blvd and 119th. Maison Harlem on 127th Street and St. Nick is getting close to opening up. That place looks practically ready. Chef Stephen Putnam, the former chef at Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, recently announced he is planning to open up his own restaurant in Harlem in the near future.

Next up is Darryl Burnett, a former chef at Bergdorf Goodman, 5 and Diamond Harlem and a resident of Harlem. Burnett recently announced on Kickstarter that he is starting his own restaurant in Harlem, which will be called Belle. As for location, Chef Burnett says Belle will be located “in the center of Harlem’s restaurant row and within walking distance of other new and hot Harlem restaurants, bars, and lounges.”

According to Burnett, Belle Harlem will be a “casual dining restaurant focusing on Southern classics with a modern vision with touches of French, Italian, Moroccan and Asian.” Belle Harlem already has a Facebook page where friends can see some of Burnett’s delicious creations. I have experienced Chef Burnett’s delectables and it is fantastic!

Interested in helping Chef Darryl Burnett and his Belle restaurant, go here to learn more.

Chef Stephen Putnam moves on from Lido Harlem, sought-after caterer Serena Bass steps in

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Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar in Harlem is experiencing some changes, but don’t worry. These changes are positive for everyone involved, especially the consumer. Lido Harlem, located at 117th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., exclusively tells HarlemGal Inc. that British-born, celeb following caterer, Serena Bass has been hired by the Harlem eatery to redevelop their menu. This decision to hire Bass to redevelop Lido’s menu is right out of the oven practically. Bass will start working with the Lido team effective immediately! In her bio, it reads: Bass’ most recent venture is at Lido Harlem where she is taking the popular neighborhood restaurant to a new level. So let’s all pay attention to the menu at Lido. I am confident it will have that similar ingredient: quality food.

These changes are happening at Lido due to initial Chef Stephen Putnam giving notice last week to the management team that he was departing the Harlem dining place to start his own restaurant in Harlem, along with his wife Dera. Putnam will not comment on the exact location of his Harlem restaurant or the starting date because he is in the midst of negotiations. However, Putnam does say that he plans on serving cuisine at his new place that garnered him a 26 out of 30 rating from Zagat while at Lido.

And for those of us who like dining at Lido Harlem, like I do, the service, ambiance and quality of food will remain the same, according to its management team. Lido will continue to provide the same level of service it has been consistently offering since it opened about a year and a half ago. And be on the look out for Serena Bass in Harlem. Just so you know, her clients include Sarah Jessica Parker and Oscar de la Renta.