By Kate Bartlett
Trattoria Partenope will be opening their second location in the Village of Bemus Point in the location of the former Italian Fisherman. The restaurant will offer a menu similar to their original Ellicottville location, offering authentic Italian cuisine along with a variety of fresh, seafood options with an anticipated opening this June.
Business partners Giovanni Sismondi and Andrea Lucignano both have an extensive culinary back-ground and have worked together for many years. Both originally from Italy, they specialize in authentic Italian food and hospitality. Giovanni and Andrea grew up in Napoli until they moved to London at 18 years old. They launched Trattoria Partenope at 14 Washington Street in partnership with Iuculano Development in 2025 and have enjoyed being a part of the Ellicottville community.
Now, Giovanni and Andrea are looking forward to expanding Trattoria Partenope and offering fresh, authentic Italian cuisine to Bemus Point. The menu will offer homemade pasta, sauce, and other authentic Italian dishes all made in house, from scratch, in addition to seafood entrees, raw bar with oysters and tartar to fully capture the lakeside ambiance. “We are looking forward to expanding to Bemus Point and being a part of the community,” says Giovanni.
The new location is situated on Chautauqua Lake and offers sweeping views from both levels including the dining room and outdoor patio. The lower level features a floating bar that will feature live entertainment throughout the season. The interior is fresh and modern, a Mediterranean style with Italian influence, featuring hand painted European tiles.
The team has been working hard to reach their goal of opening for the summer season. Upon acquiring the property, the restaurant required deep cleaning along with new kitchen equipment, fresh paint and new flooring. “We really wanted to refresh the entire restaurant,” explains Giovanni. “It’s an incredible space and we wanted to optimize on the space and offer our guests the best possible ambiance for their dining experience.”
Trattoria Partenope will offer a unique dining experience, as guests will be able to watch pasta being made and some dishes being prepared tableside. “We want our guests to see the food being prepared and feel a part of the experience. We aim to transport our guests back to our hometown of Napoli.”
According to Giovanni, authentic Italian pays homage to how traditional Italian meals are prepared. “It means keeping it the way it’s meant to be. We keep the tradition of the Italian dishes alive with high standards and fresh ingredients. Our pasta is made from simple, fresh ingredients, only eggs, flour and salt; we invite you to taste and experience our authentic Italian.”
“We are sincerely grateful to be partnering with Iuculano Development again,” remarks Giovanni. “They introduced us to Ellicottville and have been incredible to work with on our second restaurant in Bemus Point.”
The restaurant is currently hiring all positions, and Giovanni encourages enthusiastic individuals to join the Trattoria Partenope team. For more information, visit trattoriapartenope.com, follow Trattoria Partenope on Facebook, Trattoria.partenope on Instagram, email Trattoriaparten-ope1926@gmail.com.