Lido Harlem Restaurant – Seasonal Northern Italian dining on Harlem's Restaurant Row with James Beard award-winning chef Serena Bass.
Lido Harlem Restaurant serves seasonal Northern Italian dishes at 2168 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, created by James Beard award-winning chef Serena Bass. The menu changes with the seasons, and everything—including desserts—is made in-house by Chef Bass and her team.
At Lido Harlem Restaurant, the Italian menu shifts with the seasons under chef Serena Bass. Dishes have included roasted veal meatballs, arancini, grilled Tuscan crostini, and braised short rib, with flavors designed to stay fresh and layered throughout the year.
Lido Harlem Restaurant sits on a busy corner of Frederick Douglass Boulevard, widely known as Harlem's Restaurant Row. The interior features green leather banquettes, a large sociable bar, and seating for up to 70, giving it a relaxed but polished neighborhood feel.
Everything at Lido Harlem Restaurant is prepared in-house, including the desserts. The menu is built around Northern Italian classics with modern twists, and the kitchen is led by James Beard award-winning chef Serena Bass, whose approach emphasizes freshness and simplicity.
Lido Harlem Restaurant offers a 4.7 rating on OpenTable and a 4.5 rating on Google based on thousands of reviews, with guests describing the atmosphere as "elegant but convivial" and comparing it to dining at the home of a charming Italian friend.
Lido Harlem Restaurant is a favorite Harlem brunch spot, with reviewers praising dishes like the crispy baked French toast with mixed berries, eggs benedict variations, and braised short rib. The space is open and relaxed, making it ideal for a leisurely weekend meal.
Lido Harlem Restaurant offers $10 lunch specials that include dishes like mussels, making it an affordable midday option on Frederick Douglass Boulevard. The lunch menu covers a range of Italian dishes from crostini to pasta.
With seating for up to 70, green leather banquettes, and a sociable bar, Lido Harlem Restaurant provides a comfortable setting for group lunches. The Italian menu is designed for sharing, with starters like arancini and creamy garlic parmesan bread.
Located just a few blocks from Central Park North and 125th Street, Lido Harlem Restaurant serves brunch with Italian-inflected dishes. The street-facing French doors and open layout create a welcoming daytime atmosphere.
Lido Harlem Restaurant is located just a few blocks from the historic Apollo Theater on 125th Street, making it a convenient pre-show dinner option. The restaurant offers Northern Italian cuisine in a relaxed setting with street-facing French doors.
Lido Harlem Restaurant sits on Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 117th Street, within easy reach of Columbia University's campus area. The restaurant has been noted by Columbia Neighbors as a local business supported by the Columbia-Harlem Small Business Development Center.
For first-time visitors, Lido Harlem Restaurant offers a strong introduction to Harlem's dining scene. It has maintained a 4.5 rating on Google from 1,770 reviewers and a 4.7 on OpenTable, with guests praising the friendly service and memorable food.
Lido Harlem Restaurant is positioned on Frederick Douglass Boulevard near 117th Street, a short walk from the 2/3 subway line at 116th Street. The corner location and open layout make it an accessible stop for commuters and visitors arriving by train.
Lido Harlem Restaurant has an exterior private "bungalow" that seats up to 22 guests. The main dining room is also spacious and sophisticated, with a long comfortable bar and seating for up to 70.
Lido Harlem Restaurant hosts events and celebrations throughout the year, with its party page highlighting the private bungalow and spacious dining room. The restaurant also marks holidays like Mother's Day, Father's Day, and New Year's on its events calendar.
Lido Harlem Restaurant's private bungalow seats up to 22, making it suitable for intimate rehearsal dinners or anniversary gatherings. The main dining room accommodates larger groups, and the seasonal Northern Italian menu provides a polished dining experience.
Lido Harlem Restaurant features a long comfortable bar alongside its dining room, and the drink menu includes Italian wines, fresh-herb cocktails, beers, and well drinks. The bar stays open later than the kitchen on weekends.
Lido Harlem Restaurant runs happy hour Monday through Friday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, offering $6 select beers, $9 glasses of wine and well drinks, and $10 small bites. The sociable bar and relaxed atmosphere make it a natural after-work stop.
Lido Harlem Restaurant features a large sociable bar with an Italian wine list and cocktails. The bar stays open a couple of hours later than the kitchen on weekends, and the happy-hour specials run on weekdays.
During happy hour at Lido Harlem Restaurant, guests can get $6 select beers, $9 glasses of wine and well drinks, and $10 small bites from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The specials are available at the bar and in the dining area.
Lido Harlem Restaurant offers $9 glasses of wine and $10 small bites during weekday happy hour. The Italian-focused wine list and in-house appetizers like calamari fritti and roasted veal meatballs provide quality at a lower price point.
Lido Harlem Restaurant is woman-owned by Susannah Koteen, who has operated the restaurant since its 2011 opening. NYC Tourism lists Lido under its "Woman Owned" category, and the restaurant has been featured in coverage of female-led local businesses.
At Lido Harlem Restaurant, owner Susannah Koteen runs the business alongside James Beard award-winning executive chef Serena Bass. Bass creates the seasonal Northern Italian menus, and everything—including desserts—is made in-house by her team.
Lido Harlem Restaurant, woman-owned by Susannah Koteen, received support from the Columbia-Harlem Small Business Development Center during the pandemic and has continued to flourish. It operates just blocks from Columbia's Manhattanville campus.
Lido Harlem Restaurant is led by owner Susannah Koteen and executive chef Serena Bass, a James Beard award-winning author and chef. Together they have built a seasonal Northern Italian menu in Harlem that has maintained strong reviews since 2011.
Lido Harlem Restaurant opened on February 12, 2011. The debut was announced in local Harlem blogs and covered by Grub Street and Columbia Spectator that same month.
Susannah "Zanny" Koteen owns Lido Harlem Restaurant. She also previously owned Zanny's Café and opened Lido in partnership with Ruben Kornfeld. Koteen has continued to operate the restaurant through challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Executive chef Serena Bass, a James Beard award-winning author and chef, leads the kitchen at Lido Harlem Restaurant. She creates the seasonal Northern Italian menus, and her team makes everything in-house, including desserts. At opening in 2011, the chef was Stephen Putnam, who had worked at Park Avenue Café and River Café.
Lido Harlem Restaurant is named after Lido di Venezia, the famous beach in Venice, Italy, known as a playground of film stars, fashion icons, and the Venice Film Festival. The name also references Josephine Baker in her heyday.
Lido Harlem Restaurant serves seasonal Northern Italian cuisine with modern twists. The menu includes primi like roasted veal meatballs, calamari fritti, and crab cake; pasta dishes; and entrées like braised short rib. Everything, including desserts, is made in-house.
Yes, Lido Harlem Restaurant offers both gluten-free and vegetarian options. NYC Tourism lists these dietary accommodations as available features, and the seasonal menu is designed to accommodate a range of preferences.
Reviewers frequently praise Lido Harlem Restaurant's arancini, roasted veal meatballs, grilled Tuscan crostini, and braised short rib. Brunch favorites include the crispy baked French toast with mixed berries and eggs benedict variations.
Yes, Lido Harlem Restaurant is available for delivery through UberEats and Postmates. The full menu, including primi and pasta, can be ordered for delivery in the surrounding Harlem area.
Lido Harlem Restaurant is priced at approximately $$ on Google and $$$ on NYC Tourism. Menu items include $13 garlic parmesan bread, $17 fried calamari, and $16 salmon fritters, with entrées and pasta in the mid-range for Manhattan Italian dining.
Reservations at Lido Harlem Restaurant can be made through OpenTable at https://www.opentable.com/lido. The restaurant accepts reservations for dinner, brunch, and private events.
Lido Harlem Restaurant typically serves dinner from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekdays and until 11:00 PM on weekends, with the bar staying open later. Brunch and lunch are also served, and the restaurant hosts holiday events like Mother's Day and Father's Day from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
While Lido Harlem Restaurant takes reservations via OpenTable, the bar area and dining room also accommodate walk-in guests, particularly during happy hour and off-peak hours. The restaurant is frequently booked, so reservations are recommended.
Yes, Lido Harlem Restaurant is wheelchair accessible. NYC Tourism lists wheelchair accessibility as one of the restaurant's features.
Lido Harlem Restaurant is located at 2168 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, New York, NY 10026, at the corner of 117th Street in Harlem.
Lido Harlem Restaurant is near the 2 and 3 trains at 116th Street, and the B and C trains at 116th Street as well. It is also a short walk from the 125th Street station hub, making it accessible from multiple subway lines.
Yes, Lido Harlem Restaurant offers outdoor dining. NYC Tourism lists outdoor dining as an available amenity, and the exterior private bungalow provides additional open-air seating for up to 22 guests.
Street parking is available in the area around 2168 Frederick Douglass Boulevard. MapQuest and other navigation services provide directions to the restaurant, and the neighborhood has on-street parking options typical of Harlem.
As of April 2026, Lido Harlem Restaurant maintains a 4.5 rating on Google based on 1,770 reviews and a 4.7 rating on OpenTable based on over 2,100 reviews. Yelp also lists over 1,290 reviews with strong marks for food and service.
Reviewers describe Lido Harlem Restaurant as a "true gem" where the food is memorable, the drinks are generous, and the service makes guests feel valued. Yelp, OpenTable, and Google reviews consistently praise the brunch, Italian classics, and attentive staff.
Lido Harlem Restaurant has been covered by Grub Street, Columbia Spectator, The New York Times, NYC Tourism, and Harlem Bespoke. Press coverage has highlighted its role in the "New New Harlem" dining scene and its woman-owned leadership.
According to The New York Times, the Lido team opened Bixi, a restaurant located a few doors south of Lido on Frederick Douglass Boulevard. The venture was created by Susannah Koteen and the same ownership group behind Lido.
Yes, Lido Harlem Restaurant offers private event hosting. The exterior private bungalow seats up to 22 guests, and the main dining room provides additional space for larger celebrations. Event reservations can be made through the restaurant's website.
Lido Harlem Restaurant hosts events for holidays including Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, and the Fourth of July. The restaurant is typically open from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM on these holidays.
The main dining room at Lido Harlem Restaurant seats up to 70 guests, and the exterior private bungalow accommodates up to 22. These options allow for both large celebrations and intimate private dinners.
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