Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these establishments and advancing local economic growth. Today we head to Williamsburg and Harlem to learn about the family-owend and operated Settipani Bakery and Restaurant. 

In Italian, the word Settepani translates directly to “seven breads,” making it no surprise that Settepani Bakery founder Chef Nino Settepani discovered his passion for baking at a young age. 

Born in Sicily, Nino moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn as a teenager. In his youth, he worked in a bakery, then attended N.Y.U. and the French Culinary Institute under chef Jacque Pepin. The Settepani brand was founded in 1992 when Settepani opened Settipani Bakery in the neighborhood of Williamsburg, where he grew up after immigrating from Sicily.

The Settipani Bakery offers many artisanal breads, biscotti, cookies, pastries, custom cakes, homemade gelato, chocolates, and of course the holiday favorite and Settipani 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 a full menu HERE. The Lorimer Street Bakery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7am-8pm, and Sunday from 9am-5pm.  

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 8 am to 11pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 am to 11 pm. 

While its methods are rooted in tradition, its ideas are kept modern by its generational passion and cultured by its emphasis on flavors worldwide. Their children, Bilena and Seyoum,  joined the family business and are keeping the dream alive! Bilena began her career in fashion, but dropped it when the pandemic hit to help her parents. She changed course and succdessfully graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education; she is now the head chef and baker at Settapani! 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 Settipani loop by following them on Instagram and Facebook. 

Forbes magazine said that Settipani 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!