Spotlight | Settepani

Welcome to Broadway Stages' Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to consider supporting these organizations to advance the local community. Today, we head to Williamsburg and Harlem to learn about the family-owned and -operated Settepani Bakery and Restaurant.

Today, we head to Williamsburg and Harlem to learn about the family-owned and -operated Settepani Bakery and Restaurant.  

Settepani Bakery founder Chef Nino Settepani moved from Sicily to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, as a boy. In his youth, he worked in a bakery, then attended NYU and the French Culinary Institute under chef Jacques Pépin, ultimately opening Settepani Bakery in Williamsburg in 1992.

The Settepani Bakery offers many artisanal breads, biscotti, cookies, pastries, custom cakes, homemade gelato, chocolates, and, of course, the holiday favorite and Settepani's famous Nutella panettone! In addition to providing great old-world Italian specialties, Settepani satisfies various tastes with mousse cakes, nut cakes, muffins, breads, and American favorites baked goods. You can view the full menu here. The Lorimer Street Bakery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

The family-owned and operated bakery grew significantly when Chef Nino met his wife, Leah Abraham. Leah, an Ethiopian-Eritrean immigrant, grew up in Harlem. In 2000, Leah and Nino reached out to Leah's neighborhood of Harlem and established the Settepani bakery and café. In 2010, they transformed the bakery in Harlem into an Italian restaurant, raising the bar once again. Panini is offered only at lunch, but there are ten antipasti, ten kinds of pasta, six pizzas, and seven main courses at dinner. While Settepani Restaurant offers contemporary Italian-Mediterranean cuisine, don't be surprised if you see some Ethiopian influence throughout its menu. You can view the full menu here. The Malcolm X Boulevard restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Their children, Bilena and Seyoum, joined the family business and are keeping the dream alive! Bilena began her career in fashion but dropped it to help her parents when the pandemic hit. She changed course and successfully graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education; she is now the head chef and baker at Settepani! Seyoum, with an M.A. from the University of Richmond, is the restaurant's general manager.

One menu item that Bilena has added is the famed Nutella panettone. One customer said, "From the first time I went, Bilena was so sweet and helpful with her service, and I've been going back at least once a week since. They have so many fresh baked options, but their specialty, the panettones, is the best part." Be sure to feast with your eyes and stay in the Settepani loop by following them on Instagram and Facebook. 

Forbes magazine said that Settepani manifests "...the importance of being a tight family in the service of people who can feel their sincerity and their desire to please and make their guests very happy and satisfied." This sentiment hits close to home for Broadway Stages. We hope you take advantage of this local treasure soon. And when you do, don't forget the Nutella panettone, and be sure to tell them Broadway Stages sent you!