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Dropping just in time for Mother’s Day in the US, Nonnas is bound to have you rushing into the kitchen as soon as the credits roll.
Based on a true story, the Netflix comedy follows a group of Italian grandmothers – affectionately dubbed ‘nonnas’ – who become chefs in a New York hotspot.
The restaurant it's based on, Enoteca Maria, is usually fully-booked and now the popularity of Nonnas will only make it harder to secure a reservation.
Here’s all you need to know about the heartwarming movie.
What’s the true story behind Nonnas?
Nonnas is based on the true story of Joe Scaravella, a transportation worker who opened a restaurant in Staten Island, New York, in 2007 after missing the home-cooked Italian dishes made by his grandmother.
After falling into depression following several family deaths, Scaravella used inheritance money to buy the property that would soon become known as Enoteca Maria, a local hotspot where Italian grandmothers could share their culinary traditions and signature recipes with the rest of the neighborhood.
Since 2015, Enoteca Maria – named after Scaravella’s mother – has hired grandmothers from all over the world -– Japan, Poland, Ukraine, Greece, China and many other countries – who all bring their recipes to life alongside the Italian staples.
While the four nonnas featured in the movie share many similar traits to the real-life chefs who launched the restaurant, they aren’t directly based on them. Instead there were three original nonnas, who are all featured in Scaravella’s cookbook Nonna’s House.
The original women were Carmelina Pica, Adelina Orazzo and Teresa Scalici, but Scaravella told Time that much of what happens in the movie took place in the real kitchen, including arguments over family recipes and a moment when one nonna prays for customers to show up.
Their prayers were answered and business has never slowed down, something that is unlikely to change now the story has made it to screens.
Can you visit the real Nonnas restaurant?
Yes! But be warned, Enoteca Maria is so popular that securing a table can be like winning the lottery, although we have it on good authority that it’s worth the wait.
Located in Staten Island, New York, the restaurant is open from Friday through to Sunday and you can even order some of the same dishes featured in the movie, including the capuzzelle (lamb’s head) or Scaravella’s grandmother’s famous Sunday Gravy.
Enoteca Maria’s menu has now expanded beyond its regular Italian fare, with nightly takeovers of different cuisines from across the world, as nonnas bringing their country’s dishes to the dining hotspot.
Check out the restaurant’s website for more info, although to book a table you’ll need to make a reservation over the phone.
Who is in the cast of Nonnas?
Vince Vaughn plays Joe, a native New Yorker who opens a restaurant after the passing of his beloved grandmother, in a bid to stay connected to those he’s lost through the power of food.
Linda Cardellini (Green Book) plays Olivia, Joe’s estranged childhood sweetheart. The pair reconnect as Olivia helps Joe with the legal side of running a restaurant.
Magic Mike’s Joe Manganiello portrays Joe’s long-time best pal Bruno.
Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco (Goodfellas), Talia Shire (Rocky), and Brenda Vaccaro (Gypsy) play the titular nonnas-turned-chefs, who each has their own reason for finding solace in the kitchen and friendship.
Where was Nonnas movie filmed?
Despite being set in Staten Island, most of the movie was actually filmed in New Jersey back in 2023.
Specific locations include the Paterson district of New Jersey, including the Paterson Great Falls National Park. Other New Jersey filming locations included Judicke’s Bakery in the Bayonne area.
With the real restaurant, Enoteca Maria, still being a popular hotspot, filming for the restaurant scenes had to take place elsewhere. The crew recreated the restaurant at Spiritos, an Italian restaurant in Elizabeth, New Jersey, which opened in 1932 but closed doors in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Scenes showing restaurant owner Joe Scaravella’s other job as a transport officer were filmed at Raritan Valley Bus Station in Edison, New Jersey.
Is there a trailer for Nonnas?
Si, sicuramente! Check out the clip below. Nonnas is streaming now on Netflix.