Craving some home-cooked comfort food just like grandma used to make? Look no further than Staten Island’s Enoteca Maria. In the kitchen, you won’t find any traditionally trained chefs, but rather “nonnas” from various parts of the world.
Owner Jody Scaravella came up with the novel concept of having nonnas in the kitchen around 10 years ago after losing his mother and grandmother. He told Gothamist, he initially put out an ad for “Italian housewives looking to cook regional dishes.” But since then, the restaurant has grown into so much more.
Today, there are over 20 nonnas ― or grandmothers ― listed on the restaurant’s website, representing cultures around the world, from Ecuador and Algeria to the Czech Republic and Syria. That’s a lot of nonnas in one kitchen, no? Scaravella joked that it can “get dicey” when every nonna thinks she knows best.
“My idea is to celebrate the diversity instead of using that diversity to divide us,” Scaravella said. “It brings us all together.”
As for the menu, in addition to traditional Italian fare like mouthwatering ravioli, flavorful lasagna and delicious gnocchi, you’ll find a different cuisine represented each night as two nonnas take the helm ― one Italian nonna and one from a different heritage.
Located just a stone’s throw from Manhattan, Scaravella says most nights the nonnas get a standing ovation for their authentic meals. And people genuinely seem to love it.
The eatery has a 4-star rating on Yelp and the nonnas seem to be pretty popular, too.
“Who wouldn’t want to have that great, tasty, comfort food cooked by a grandmother?” wrote one reviewer. “Since Nonna is cooking, everything is made fresh, from scratch!”
“There’s something about this place that goes beyond the excellent cuisine. They truly make you feel like you’re home,” wrote another.
Finally, it seems, there’s a restaurant that tastes just like grandma’s very own kitchen.
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