By Jon Schuppe
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
HARLEM — An Italian restaurant that was part of the acclaimed explosion of new food and drink establishments on Frederick Douglass Boulevard has closed after less than a year, and a new one is already taking its place.
Workers are putting the finishing touches on the renovated space on the southeast corner of Frederick Douglass and West 117th Street, where Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar will open Feb 1.
Lido will replace Frizzante, which opened in early 2010 but never caught fire like some of its neighbors on the boulevard.
The initial excitement last January about an upscale-looking Italian food in the neighborhood gave way to tepid reviews. After some sporadic, temporary, closings, Frizzante finally went dark late last year.
It isn't clear whether the lackluster reviews — and dwindling crowds — doomed Frizzante, or if it was something else. The restaurant received poor ratings from the Department of Health; inspectors who visited in June cited "evidence of mice or live mice” and other serious code violations, according to the department's website.
Local blogs have been following the changes at the location, and have excitedly reported about Lido.
One of Lido’s owners is Susannah Koteen, who used to own Zanny’s Café in Morningside Heights. She said her partner, whom she declined to name, used to be an owner of Caffe Taci, the former restaurant at Broadway near West 110th Street that held popular opera nights.
Their new venture will feature "fresh, modern" Italian food in an atmosphere that is "sophisticated but … comfortable,” she said.
Koteen said she lives on 110th Street and is proud to introduce a new restaurant to her neighborhood.
"I just think that it’s a nice time to open up and be a part of the excitement on Frederick Douglass Boulevard," she said.
