Tribeca residents Linda and Claudio Marini signed a lease at 21 Ann two years ago, but then one thing and another—and a lot of permit-related red tape—kept their new Italian restaurant, Da Claudio, from opening. While they were certainly ready to be back in business after Sandy devastated Barbarini Alimentari, the Seaport restaurant they co-owned with Stefano Barbagallo and Adriana Luque (now of Barbalu), Linda says the wait had its benefits: “We had time to really think about what we wanted.”

And that leads to one of the main differences between Da Claudio and Barbarini: a long, handsome bar that serves not just wine and beer, but also cocktails. At a July 4 rooftop party at the Lara—the building that the new restaurant is in—the Marinis spoke with a lot of the residents. “They asked how late we’d be open, and when we said 10 p.m., they were like, ‘What?!'” Realizing that a lot of young professionals live in north FiDi, and more and more offices are opening nearby (especially with the World Trade Center), they enlarged the bar and hired a bar expert—introduced to them through parent in the neighborhood—who developed a craft cocktail program with fresh juices, homemade syrups, and striking garnishes of edible dehydrated fruit. And they applied for extended hours: Da Claudio is staying open till midnight Sunday through Wednesday and 2 a.m. Thursday to Saturday.

Sleek and contemporary, befitting its location in a new tower, Da Claudio is much bigger than Barbarini, with seating for around 100 and a huge open kitchen. Chef Mattia Meneghetti worked at Barbarini, but none of the menu (posted below) is the same. “In the interim, he went to work at a German-Austrian restaurant, and he really refined his skills,” says Linda.

Of special note to nearby residents is the salumeria counter stocked with Italian meats and cheeses, not only to be served at the restaurant and bar—including in panini when Da Claudio kicks off lunch in two weeks—but to take home.

Da Claudio is at 21 Ann (between Broadway and Nassau), 212-285-2668; daclaudionyc.com; delivery will begin in a few weeks.

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