It appears that the Settepani Bakery at 120th and Lenox has closed. I had heard a rumor they weren't doing too well and might close temporarily (in New York restaurant talk "temporarily closed" and "under renovation" are usually euphemisms for "permanently closed"). The rumor surprised me because they always seemed busy. I walked by this evening and the place was shuttered.
Settepani opened a few months after I moved to the neighborhood. It, along with Native, was one of the first new businesses on Lenox Ave south of 125th Street. I went there often for about a year after they opened but it has probably been a least a year since I last visited. The service gave the impression of being intentionally awkward. I never did figure out if you were supposed to order at the register and take your pastry to a seat or take a seat and be served.
I do have one fond memory of eating there. This would have been the first summer they were open, before they had their sidewalk permit and just had a couple of tables and chairs outside. It was early on a Sunday morning, around 8 o'clock. I was sitting outside reading the paper and enjoying an iced tea and a croissant*. A guy stops at the corner, opens up his case and starts playing the trumpet. Really, really LOUD and not with a lot of skill. He was blowing as hard as he could and pressing whatever buttons pleased him. It was simultaneously irritating and wonderful. A guy working at Settepani came out and said "Please stop." There was a half-hearted protest about constitutional rights that was trumped by the suggestion that the NYPD would be called to see who was correct. The trumpet player packed up his horn and went on his merry way.
*I don't remember what I ate or drank but iced tea and a croissant sound good.
what a doog memory have you done. so sad that its close
Posted by: mutuelle chomeur | 22 January 2010 at 02:08 AM
They are closed for 10 days to renovate the space. They should be open again at the end of the month.
Posted by: toomuchbetter | 24 January 2010 at 07:51 AM
Thanks for the info! I walked by yesterday and saw a sign in the window that they were going to reopen as a wine bar. I'm not entirely convinced it is going to happen but time will tell.
Posted by: Joe | 24 January 2010 at 11:05 AM
Eh. My problem with this (and many other) Harlem spots is that they are way overpriced for sub par service and food. If more places would open and just try to deliver consistently good food at reasonable prices for the area, they'd do just fine. Not to mention spur more business in the area.
Posted by: jada | 24 January 2010 at 06:59 PM
They didn't close. Stop in to talk to the owners if you can. They will reopen very shortly and I think the new restaurant/wine bar concept will be awesome.
Posted by: amy | 27 January 2010 at 06:33 PM
Is any work being done? I walked by on Saturday and in the morning and early evening this week and haven't seen any sign of work being done.
Posted by: Joe | 27 January 2010 at 10:49 PM