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Enoteca Maria has been on my list for years (especially after the Netflix documentary Nonnas of the World came out) but wow, getting a table is no small feat. Walk-ins are basically impossible, and reservations require calling the restaurant since they don't have an online system (yet--they say one is in the works). I must have called at least a hundred times over four consecutive weekends and almost every attempt either rang out or went straight to a busy tone. The first time I finally got through, it was three weeks before my desired date, and I was told they don't book that far in advance and to call back a week out. Luckily I did manage to get through again then. Both successful times were on Fridays around 1pm, so that might be the best bet compared to busier weekend hours (they are only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Once the reservation was secured, the anticipation shifted to finding out which Nonna would be cooking the day we went. We were blessed with Nonna Elizabeth from Puerto Rico, and of course we had to try all her dishes: bacalaitos (codfish fritters), carne guisado, and stir-fry pork. The bacalaitos had great flavor and weren't overly oily. Both the carne guisado and stir-fry pork were tender and well seasoned and were accompanied with savory arroz con gandules and white rice. From the menu della casa, we ordered the lasagna and chicken cacciatore. The lasagna was the definition of hearty home cooking, with a rich, homemade tomato gravy that the jarred stuff can't even come close to. The chicken cacciatore was also flavorful and a lighter complement to the lasagna. Service-wise, our waiter (a bald guy with glasses, John) was fine overall, but he did feel a bit dismissive and talked over our table while we were deciding what to order. He also seemed annoyed that we chose to pay with Venmo rather than cash (mind you, the bill was almost $300) even though Venmo payment is clearly advertised. Any shortcomings in service were more than made up for by the Nonna from Peru who wasn't cooking that day, but was still at the restaurant and came around often to check on us. She was incredibly sweet, and our table loved chatting with her about the food and life in general. She absolutely lit up when a friend in my party shared photos from a recent trip to Peru. For dessert (and to celebrate a birthday) we ordered the gluten-free gateau de chocolate. Our Peruvian Nonna brought it out and sang to celebrate, which was the perfect way to end meal. It was two hours from start to finish, but we didn't feel rushed at all and the seatings are every two hours. Overall, while getting a reservation was a challenge, it was absolutely worth it. The food, the Nonnas, and the overall experience at Enoteca Maria / Nonnas of the World felt genuinely special and personal.
It's been on my list to come here. And I'm so glad to be here! What a delight. Make reservations! It was a breeze! So tonight you had your choice between three NONNA's! Italian Nonna, Chinese Nonna and Japanese Nonna. It was very hard to choose, which grandma's signature dish you wanted... so we tried several dishes and brought home our leftovers! We ordered the meat lasagna, a beet salad, meatballs, and the Japanese eggplant dish. We enjoyed everything. And we also shared with our neighbors. Everything was so flavorful and amazing and so fresh. It was such a delight to be here and to eat here. . Precious staff that treat you as if you're in their home and they really care to share their family recipe. I had to hug Nonna Maria. She greeted everyone at their table. She shared her joyful hospitality. A very precious experience. Such a lovely family to share this dining moment. Thank you for your care , nourishment and hospitality. I loved my time here. I'm really looking forward to forward to coming back.
Finally made it to The Nonnas restaurant Enoteca Maria in Staten Island. (Short walk from the ferry.) The guest Nonna tonight is from Trinidad and Tobago. We had some of her food plus the Italian Nonna who is there all days. It's been featured in Nonnas on Netflix, but I heard about the restaurant years ago and haven't seen Nonnas on Netflix. Party of 5, reserved in advance. (Was supposed to be 6 but one couldn't make it last-minute.) The staff, owners and Nonnas were all so lovely! The water was bottled (Saratoga), and we also shared 2 bottles of white wine. Most dishes were shared, except one person is vegetarian so she couldn't share everything; Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Dip (roasted red pepper feta dip made with yogurt, onion, garlic, parsley and a long hot pepper for just the right mildly spicy kick! Served with home-made flaxseed crackers) Peperoni Ripieni Piccanti (Long hot peppers stuffed with seasoned pork, cheese and breadcrumbs served with roasted potatoes *very spicy*) Trinidadian Stewed Chicken - Flavorful chicken thighs packed with true island flavor served with white rice Capuzzelle: Lamb's head roasted with fresh herbs, vegetables and baked with white wine. Served with side vegetables (takes 45 min to prepare so we ordered this right away). Spinach Lasagna (Layers of pasta with spinach, ricotta and our flavorful, house- made marinara sauce) Char-Grilled zucchini (Gluten Free and Vegan) Char-grilled scored zucchini topped with a delicious ratatouille made with eggplant, tomato, olives and capers Desserts: Gluten free chocolate cake Banana pudding Americanos, Cappuccino Highly recommend, would come back!
I came here shocked to see that this place wasn't all 5 stars, and saw a lot of the bad reviews were about getting a reservation. I'll start off with that I was able to get one, and I am so glad I did. Theres a warmth of nonnas that's made this one of the most unique dining experiences out there. You can feel the love of nonnas cooking in each dish and the joy it brings them. They have a rotating selection of Nonnas along with their classic Italian menu. The Italian menu had food I've never really had before, all executed so well. I had an entire lambs head (not for the weak), so I got to eat cheek, eye, brain, etc. nonna maria had to come teach us out to cook it but it was a fascinating dish. The rabbit was also fall off the bone which I was just so pleasantly surprised by. It came with potatoes and carrots so it just felt so homey. Nonna Elizabeth was Puerto Rico was the featured chef and she made salted cod fritters, which at first, I was like it sounds interesting, but it was so well seasoned I ended up loving it. Got a pork and rice dish also, and the rice was so fascinating. It had olives in it and the pork was well seasoned. They really make you feel valued and that you're in nonnas kitchen. Everytime you go, you're going to get a different experience with the featured Nonna. For real, try this.
Was here for lunch saturday and had a great experience! You pay online before you go and get an appetizer, entree, and desert. Every dish I had was great! I got the burrata as my app and that was awesome. The lasagna was massive! Desert was wonderful as well. Staff was friendly and service was very fast! All the dishes came out quickly too! The space is small, so I could see how it's so hard to get a reservation. Overall, great experience!
What a fantastic experience! The most attentive & thoughtful service of any restaurant, anywhere, I can remember. The blintzes special were the absolute best! The creamy custardy filling is so amazing I'm tempted to ask for the recipe. The Nona's Lasagna is HUGE and delicious. One could tell how amazing the banana pudding is just by how passionately our server spoke about it. It's not easy getting reservations here but it is absolutely worth the effort!
It's hard to not leave a stellar review of this restaurant- I really spent a lot of time digesting our experience in order to write a complete and accurate review. Of course, I learned about this restaurant because of the Netflix movie, NONNA's (starring Vince Vaughn). It's really a very heartfelt and sweet movie with a great storyline about family and culture (without proving much spoilers). I guess I kind of resonated with it a little bit, not that I'm Italian, but because my love for food and culture also started because of my parents. Anyways, it became my goal to visit Staten Island and to dine at the establishment. I'd never been before and this really provided me impetus to try something new. I was really excited to support such an awesome cause too, nonna's sharing love and culture with us?? Sign me up. It was really one of the main reasons I planned my trip to the city this year. Of course due to its popularity, it was extremely challenging to make a reservation. I called the phone number so many times I lost count. The website provided some info but not a reservation platform (I hear that is in the works though). Joe (yes, THE Joe, founder and owner and the individual Vince Vaughn plays in the movie) answers the phone. Once I ironed out our dates and reached him, he provided me with all the info I needed: 1. CASH ONLY 2. Text the day of to confirm (I saw with my own eyes how many people come in asking for cancellations) Make sure you call with plenty advance! Joe was respectful always but I couldn't help but feel that he was overwhelmed and perhaps even a little unhappy with the viral success and nonstop callers. I felt a little pang of guilt but I was simply so excited I decided to attend anyways. The Staten Island ferry is an awesome experience and it's FREE! Highly recommend it, it was a great destination and journey. At night on the way home we saw Lady liberty! Once I arrived, Staten Island was pretty quiet and lowkey. A stark contrast to the city. I asked around and really besides the restaurant and the mall there was nothing else recommended to see. Upon arrival, check in was quick and easy. This is a decently small hole in the wall type establishment. Joe was behind the bar making espresso and aerating wine. We sat down and looked at the menu. We knew ahead of time the Nonna of the weekend was from Poland, Agata was her name. She was lovely and we got to meet her and thank her. She hand breaded and prepared our meals with a smile on her face with an open concept kitchen and plexiglass to watch. The NONNAS do in fact cook here. This was authentic. Caveat, the NONNAS cook the cuisine of their culture that weekend, but there is a standard menu of Italian food NOT made by NONNAS. Plenty people around me ordered that and it looked good and prepared well...it just wasn't what I came to experience. I ordered the Borscht soup (soup with potatoes, root veggies cabbage, yummy seasoning (fennel and dill was noticeable), and sausage. My husband and rest of the party ordered the breaded pork dish. Entrees were cooked to order so it took about 25 mins. No problem and we enjoyed some wine and chatting amongst ourselves. The environment was interesting, plenty of people coming from near and far buzzing with excitement, but the decor and the ambiance does not match the vibe. Comic book characters and rock music happy birthdays didn't quite sync with the rest. We met a Nonna from Peru who was cooking the following weekend. She advised that we order all we wanted to try and pack to go, because no take out orders are allowed. The food was delicious honestly. I've never had polish food either so I was happy with the nuance. My husband didn't find the food seasoned very well, I suppose it's a preference. All in all, I left decently happy with having gone thru with my goal to experience this. However, the vibes and general disalignment I felt was noticeable. The group felt it too. I didn't sense that this restaurant and its patronage and notoriety is appreciated by the establishment. Drinks and desserts were pricey. The entrees themselves felt fair. They did have the sheep's head entree from the movie! For the price, you could dine at a finer restaurant. I'm glad I experienced it, and I'm so grateful to the NONNAS and the chance for them to share their culture and love with us. I wish the restaurant plenty of success and Joe to find his flow state and perfect balance with his success.
Well worth the trip to Staten Island. It was a short walk from the ferry. The Nonna in residence was also Italian so we had lots of Italian dishes to choose from. The food was all very, very good. Our server was delightful and we enjoyed talking with one of the Nonnas. We were surprised by how small the restaurant is but it felt cozy and warm.
I still haven't seen "Nonnas" (it's paying long-term rent on my Netflix queue, but I'll get to it, I swear), but knew enough about the story to appreciate my sister randomly inheriting a reservation here and deal with the inconvenience of schelpping to Staten Island on a school night with two other dining companions. I wish I could say it was worth the trip, but it wasn't. We started with the Burrata, which was generously portioned but dully seasoned. I'm no balsamic fan, but I would've welcomed some just to alleviate the snow white blandness. We gave the Japanese nonna's Eggplant Dengaku dish a shot, but it was terrible. I generally like this classic Japanese dish, so it was very depressing to find it overly charred (huh?) with way too much bitter miso flavor and not enough sweetness to balance things out. The accompanying small dishes of vegetables were nice but nothing special. Ugh. My Japanese grandma would be rolling in her grave at the thought of me wasting $28 on this mess. The Lasagna Della Nonna and the Coniglio della Casa were probably our two best dishes. Get these if you want hearty ragu and juicy rabbit respectively. The Capuzzelle (Lamb's Head) turned plenty of (human) heads when it was placed on our table. I've eaten plenty of animal heads, so I wasn't put off by any of the obvious aspects of this dish. What annoyed me was that it just wasn't very well seasoned and lacked flavor. The meat we were able to pull off was tough and chewy with no discernible taste, which is quite something for normally gamey lamb. In fact, the accompanying vegetables were much more flavorful and after about 20 min of painful pulling and chewing, we gave up and just ate those. Even the popular Banana Pudding was lacking. It was 90% cream with almost no actual banana, let alone pudding of cookies. I have no idea what happened in the assembling of this dessert, but I'm mad we paid $16 for what amounted to banana-tinged whipped cream. Sigh. I can't believe I'm negatively reviewing a restaurant run by grandmas making homemade food. This place probably started as a great concept, but now it's just an overpriced disappointment--and unless you live on Staten Island, I don't think you need to travel this far to part with your money.
This was everything I wanted it to be and more. Everything I tasted was delicious, right down to the pickled vegetables they serve with the focaccia bread. Zoe was an incredible server, and being able to watch the Nonnas prep and teach was my favorite part of the experience. I was nervous about the price point when I booked, and it definitely lived up to it. This is now on our "must do list" for all future NYC trips.
I have been wanting to come here for a few years now, but always forget until I'm in NYC for my one week business trip. This year, I remembered, but because of the Netflix movie about this place, it was impossible to get a reservation over the phone. I decided to try my luck, and headed over to Staten Island the day after I got to NYC to make a reservation in person. Fortunately, I was able to get a reservation for the day I was leaving. Perfect! I did try to see if they have a seat for one too, but they had just seated someone at their only one seater spot. That's ok. I have reservations for the following Saturday. The following Saturday, I meet my cousin and her boyfriend there. The three of us decided to share a few plates. Focaccia and pickled veggies - this was complimentary. The focaccia bread was fresh and delicious. I usually not a big fan of pickled stuff, but these veggies were amazing. Just the level of pickle taste. Mint pistachio feta dip - this came with two giant sheets of cracker. The dip was amazing. You can't really taste the mint which I preferred because mint can be overwhelming. It went perfectly with the crackers. Polpette (meatballs) - the meatball was the right level of tenderness. The sauce was great, seasoned just right. Lasagna - this was the perfect blend of meat, sauce, cheese and pasta. Banana pudding - I'm not a big dessert person, but I took one bite to try. I enjoyed it as it wasn't too sweet. I think I could have ate one order myself. My husband happened to be coming to NY the week after, so I asked if they had any availability for the following Friday or Saturday. Paola was so nice and accommodating. They were full but since it was just one person, she took the reservation for him, and said she can seat him at the bar. At the end, we took a picture with Joe, the owner. The concept of this restaurant is so interesting with grandmas cooking their recipes, and after seeing the movie and understanding the story behind it, the experience was even better. I hope to be able to come again on my next visit to NYC.
Came here after watching the Netflix show. I think the concept is great and the atmosphere warm and friendly. We had Nonna Maria talking to us and she was very sweet and welcoming. The food was good but not great. The rabbit dish was interesting and a little tougher than I had expected. Also the recent change to a set price knocks down the experience a little because you are forced to get an appetizer and dessert per person. I would give this about 3.5 stars but had to round up to 4 just for the nonnas!
So the solo nonna was really nice took pictures and walked around and talked to all the tables . The manager and host was really nice we could not get through to make reservations but we came were first in the waitlist and got a Spot at the bar with my son. But after the movie and the set and the way it looked in the movie and the actual place not the same so don't be surprised . Pieces much nicer and cuter. The food was as way over priced and nothing wow about it at all , but I expected something wow knowing how moms and grandmas can cook. 2 pieces of chicken for 32$ no way in hell 15$ maybe but that was plain and nothing to wow or write to anyone about . The lasagna same exact thing zero special flavor nothing all looks like it was made beginner . Really disappointing and the dessert same thing . Creme brûlée was over torched on top to a Burn and small portion would Never recommend . Cheesecake was good id have that again and that's the only thing. Tried it but nothing special at all wouldn't go Agian. Nonas need to step their game up. Sorry but mine cooked way better in comparison. Movie made it look way better than it really is. And IG over hyped it as well. Don't waste your time find a better spot.
After seeing the movie Nonnas on Netflix I knew I had to make my way to the real restaurant depicted in the movie, Enoteca Maria (aka Nonnas of the World). I scheduled time for the trip from Philly to Staten Island NY and made the reservation for lunch. You must pay for the prix fixe meal in advance when making the reservation. Lunch starts at 12:30 and they literally make you wait outside until exactly 12:30. Enoteca Maria is a small restaurant, with lots of superhero action figures scattered about. Lunch lasts for 2 hours, and you get to choose an appetizer, entree, and dessert from a limited menu. The meal starts off with a bread service. The bread was just OK. For my appetizer I had the meatballs. They were the delicious juicy meatballs you would expect from a nonna. My girlfriend has a cheese and tomato appetizer that she liked as well. We both could not resist that meat lasagna entree. It's huge! It's enough for two meals. After the first forkful I was in love. The best lasagna I've tasted. The noodles were so light, with the perfect ratios of noodles, cheese, sauce and meat. My only small complaint is that I wanted more meat. I ended up with some meatless bites. But the bites with the meat... Wow... I was so happy I was going to have plenty to take home for the next day. For dessert I had the carrot cake. After such a heavy entree I was glad the cake was a small piece. The cake was moist and provided a nice sweet ending to the meal. Enoteca Maria did not disappoint. If you've seen the movie and have been curious about what the real restaurant is like, make a reservation and find out for yourself. I think you will be happy with that decision. Check out my YouTube channel Roaming Rails to see my Amtrak trip from Philly to NYC on the high speed NextGen Acela train. https://youtu.be/Y1577lFs5QY?si=A_N7trBDDZRIRJUQ read more
13 days ago
This place is truly a special place to visit. Make the trek to Staten Island, it will be worth it. Joe, his wife, and all the nonnas will make you feel right at home. The food is fantastic, and everything is made from scratch. read more
9 months ago
Enoteca Maria has been on my list for years (especially after the Netflix documentary Nonnas of the World came out) but wow, getting a table is no small feat. Walk-ins are basically impossible, and reservations require calling the restaurant since they don't have an online system (yet--they say one is in the works). I must have called at least a hundred times over four consecutive weekends and almost every attempt either rang out or went straight to a busy tone. The first time I finally got through, it was three weeks before my desired date, and I was told they don't book that far in advance and to call back a week out. Luckily I did manage to get through again then. Both successful times were on Fridays around 1pm, so that might be the best bet compared to busier weekend hours (they are only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Once the reservation was secured, the anticipation shifted to finding out which Nonna would be cooking the day we went. We were blessed with Nonna Elizabeth from Puerto Rico, and of course we had to try all her dishes: bacalaitos (codfish fritters), carne guisado, and stir-fry pork. The bacalaitos had great flavor and weren't overly oily. Both the carne guisado and stir-fry pork were tender and well seasoned and were accompanied with savory arroz con gandules and white rice. From the menu della casa, we ordered the lasagna and chicken cacciatore. The lasagna was the definition of hearty home cooking, with a rich, homemade tomato gravy that the jarred stuff can't even come close to. The chicken cacciatore was also flavorful and a lighter complement to the lasagna. Service-wise, our waiter (a bald guy with glasses, John) was fine overall, but he did feel a bit dismissive and talked over our table while we were deciding what to order. He also seemed annoyed that we chose to pay with Venmo rather than cash (mind you, the bill was almost $300) even though Venmo payment is clearly advertised. Any shortcomings in service were more than made up for by the Nonna from Peru who wasn't cooking that day, but was still at the restaurant and came around often to check on us. She was incredibly sweet, and our table loved chatting with her about the food and life in general. She absolutely lit up when a friend in my party shared photos from a recent trip to Peru. For dessert (and to celebrate a birthday) we ordered the gluten-free gateau de chocolate. Our Peruvian Nonna brought it out and sang to celebrate, which was the perfect way to end meal. It was two hours from start to finish, but we didn't feel rushed at all and the seatings are every two hours. Overall, while getting a reservation was a challenge, it was absolutely worth it. The food, the Nonnas, and the overall experience at Enoteca Maria / Nonnas of the World felt genuinely special and personal. read more
It's been on my list to come here. And I'm so glad to be here! What a delight. Make reservations! It was a breeze! So tonight you had your choice between three NONNA's! Italian Nonna, Chinese Nonna and Japanese Nonna. It was very hard to choose, which grandma's signature dish you wanted... so we tried several dishes and brought home our leftovers! We ordered the meat lasagna, a beet salad, meatballs, and the Japanese eggplant dish. We enjoyed everything. And we also shared with our neighbors. Everything was so flavorful and amazing and so fresh. It was such a delight to be here and to eat here. . Precious staff that treat you as if you're in their home and they really care to share their family recipe. I had to hug Nonna Maria. She greeted everyone at their table. She shared her joyful hospitality. A very precious experience. Such a lovely family to share this dining moment. Thank you for your care , nourishment and hospitality. I loved my time here. I'm really looking forward to forward to coming back. read more
Finally made it to The Nonnas restaurant Enoteca Maria in Staten Island. (Short walk from the ferry.) The guest Nonna tonight is from Trinidad and Tobago. We had some of her food plus the Italian Nonna who is there all days. It's been featured in Nonnas on Netflix, but I heard about the restaurant years ago and haven't seen Nonnas on Netflix. Party of 5, reserved in advance. (Was supposed to be 6 but one couldn't make it last-minute.) The staff, owners and Nonnas were all so lovely! The water was bottled (Saratoga), and we also shared 2 bottles of white wine. Most dishes were shared, except one person is vegetarian so she couldn't share everything; Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Dip (roasted red pepper feta dip made with yogurt, onion, garlic, parsley and a long hot pepper for just the right mildly spicy kick! Served with home-made flaxseed crackers) Peperoni Ripieni Piccanti (Long hot peppers stuffed with seasoned pork, cheese and breadcrumbs served with roasted potatoes *very spicy*) Trinidadian Stewed Chicken - Flavorful chicken thighs packed with true island flavor served with white rice Capuzzelle: Lamb's head roasted with fresh herbs, vegetables and baked with white wine. Served with side vegetables (takes 45 min to prepare so we ordered this right away). Spinach Lasagna (Layers of pasta with spinach, ricotta and our flavorful, house- made marinara sauce) Char-Grilled zucchini (Gluten Free and Vegan) Char-grilled scored zucchini topped with a delicious ratatouille made with eggplant, tomato, olives and capers Desserts: Gluten free chocolate cake Banana pudding Americanos, Cappuccino Highly recommend, would come back! read more
I came here shocked to see that this place wasn't all 5 stars, and saw a lot of the bad reviews were about getting a reservation. I'll start off with that I was able to get one, and I am so glad I did. Theres a warmth of nonnas that's made this one of the most unique dining experiences out there. You can feel the love of nonnas cooking in each dish and the joy it brings them. They have a rotating selection of Nonnas along with their classic Italian menu. The Italian menu had food I've never really had before, all executed so well. I had an entire lambs head (not for the weak), so I got to eat cheek, eye, brain, etc. nonna maria had to come teach us out to cook it but it was a fascinating dish. The rabbit was also fall off the bone which I was just so pleasantly surprised by. It came with potatoes and carrots so it just felt so homey. Nonna Elizabeth was Puerto Rico was the featured chef and she made salted cod fritters, which at first, I was like it sounds interesting, but it was so well seasoned I ended up loving it. Got a pork and rice dish also, and the rice was so fascinating. It had olives in it and the pork was well seasoned. They really make you feel valued and that you're in nonnas kitchen. Everytime you go, you're going to get a different experience with the featured Nonna. For real, try this. read more
4 months ago
Was here for lunch saturday and had a great experience! You pay online before you go and get an appetizer, entree, and desert. Every dish I had was great! I got the burrata as my app and that was awesome. The lasagna was massive! Desert was wonderful as well. Staff was friendly and service was very fast! All the dishes came out quickly too! The space is small, so I could see how it's so hard to get a reservation. Overall, great experience! read more
8 months ago
What a fantastic experience! The most attentive & thoughtful service of any restaurant, anywhere, I can remember. The blintzes special were the absolute best! The creamy custardy filling is so amazing I'm tempted to ask for the recipe. The Nona's Lasagna is HUGE and delicious. One could tell how amazing the banana pudding is just by how passionately our server spoke about it. It's not easy getting reservations here but it is absolutely worth the effort! read more
It's hard to not leave a stellar review of this restaurant- I really spent a lot of time digesting our experience in order to write a complete and accurate review. Of course, I learned about this restaurant because of the Netflix movie, NONNA's (starring Vince Vaughn). It's really a very heartfelt and sweet movie with a great storyline about family and culture (without proving much spoilers). I guess I kind of resonated with it a little bit, not that I'm Italian, but because my love for food and culture also started because of my parents. Anyways, it became my goal to visit Staten Island and to dine at the establishment. I'd never been before and this really provided me impetus to try something new. I was really excited to support such an awesome cause too, nonna's sharing love and culture with us?? Sign me up. It was really one of the main reasons I planned my trip to the city this year. Of course due to its popularity, it was extremely challenging to make a reservation. I called the phone number so many times I lost count. The website provided some info but not a reservation platform (I hear that is in the works though). Joe (yes, THE Joe, founder and owner and the individual Vince Vaughn plays in the movie) answers the phone. Once I ironed out our dates and reached him, he provided me with all the info I needed: 1. CASH ONLY 2. Text the day of to confirm (I saw with my own eyes how many people come in asking for cancellations) Make sure you call with plenty advance! Joe was respectful always but I couldn't help but feel that he was overwhelmed and perhaps even a little unhappy with the viral success and nonstop callers. I felt a little pang of guilt but I was simply so excited I decided to attend anyways. The Staten Island ferry is an awesome experience and it's FREE! Highly recommend it, it was a great destination and journey. At night on the way home we saw Lady liberty! Once I arrived, Staten Island was pretty quiet and lowkey. A stark contrast to the city. I asked around and really besides the restaurant and the mall there was nothing else recommended to see. Upon arrival, check in was quick and easy. This is a decently small hole in the wall type establishment. Joe was behind the bar making espresso and aerating wine. We sat down and looked at the menu. We knew ahead of time the Nonna of the weekend was from Poland, Agata was her name. She was lovely and we got to meet her and thank her. She hand breaded and prepared our meals with a smile on her face with an open concept kitchen and plexiglass to watch. The NONNAS do in fact cook here. This was authentic. Caveat, the NONNAS cook the cuisine of their culture that weekend, but there is a standard menu of Italian food NOT made by NONNAS. Plenty people around me ordered that and it looked good and prepared well...it just wasn't what I came to experience. I ordered the Borscht soup (soup with potatoes, root veggies cabbage, yummy seasoning (fennel and dill was noticeable), and sausage. My husband and rest of the party ordered the breaded pork dish. Entrees were cooked to order so it took about 25 mins. No problem and we enjoyed some wine and chatting amongst ourselves. The environment was interesting, plenty of people coming from near and far buzzing with excitement, but the decor and the ambiance does not match the vibe. Comic book characters and rock music happy birthdays didn't quite sync with the rest. We met a Nonna from Peru who was cooking the following weekend. She advised that we order all we wanted to try and pack to go, because no take out orders are allowed. The food was delicious honestly. I've never had polish food either so I was happy with the nuance. My husband didn't find the food seasoned very well, I suppose it's a preference. All in all, I left decently happy with having gone thru with my goal to experience this. However, the vibes and general disalignment I felt was noticeable. The group felt it too. I didn't sense that this restaurant and its patronage and notoriety is appreciated by the establishment. Drinks and desserts were pricey. The entrees themselves felt fair. They did have the sheep's head entree from the movie! For the price, you could dine at a finer restaurant. I'm glad I experienced it, and I'm so grateful to the NONNAS and the chance for them to share their culture and love with us. I wish the restaurant plenty of success and Joe to find his flow state and perfect balance with his success. read more
Well worth the trip to Staten Island. It was a short walk from the ferry. The Nonna in residence was also Italian so we had lots of Italian dishes to choose from. The food was all very, very good. Our server was delightful and we enjoyed talking with one of the Nonnas. We were surprised by how small the restaurant is but it felt cozy and warm. read more
1 year ago
I still haven't seen "Nonnas" (it's paying long-term rent on my Netflix queue, but I'll get to it, I swear), but knew enough about the story to appreciate my sister randomly inheriting a reservation here and deal with the inconvenience of schelpping to Staten Island on a school night with two other dining companions. I wish I could say it was worth the trip, but it wasn't. We started with the Burrata, which was generously portioned but dully seasoned. I'm no balsamic fan, but I would've welcomed some just to alleviate the snow white blandness. We gave the Japanese nonna's Eggplant Dengaku dish a shot, but it was terrible. I generally like this classic Japanese dish, so it was very depressing to find it overly charred (huh?) with way too much bitter miso flavor and not enough sweetness to balance things out. The accompanying small dishes of vegetables were nice but nothing special. Ugh. My Japanese grandma would be rolling in her grave at the thought of me wasting $28 on this mess. The Lasagna Della Nonna and the Coniglio della Casa were probably our two best dishes. Get these if you want hearty ragu and juicy rabbit respectively. The Capuzzelle (Lamb's Head) turned plenty of (human) heads when it was placed on our table. I've eaten plenty of animal heads, so I wasn't put off by any of the obvious aspects of this dish. What annoyed me was that it just wasn't very well seasoned and lacked flavor. The meat we were able to pull off was tough and chewy with no discernible taste, which is quite something for normally gamey lamb. In fact, the accompanying vegetables were much more flavorful and after about 20 min of painful pulling and chewing, we gave up and just ate those. Even the popular Banana Pudding was lacking. It was 90% cream with almost no actual banana, let alone pudding of cookies. I have no idea what happened in the assembling of this dessert, but I'm mad we paid $16 for what amounted to banana-tinged whipped cream. Sigh. I can't believe I'm negatively reviewing a restaurant run by grandmas making homemade food. This place probably started as a great concept, but now it's just an overpriced disappointment--and unless you live on Staten Island, I don't think you need to travel this far to part with your money. read more
3 months ago
This was everything I wanted it to be and more. Everything I tasted was delicious, right down to the pickled vegetables they serve with the focaccia bread. Zoe was an incredible server, and being able to watch the Nonnas prep and teach was my favorite part of the experience. I was nervous about the price point when I booked, and it definitely lived up to it. This is now on our "must do list" for all future NYC trips. read more
I have been wanting to come here for a few years now, but always forget until I'm in NYC for my one week business trip. This year, I remembered, but because of the Netflix movie about this place, it was impossible to get a reservation over the phone. I decided to try my luck, and headed over to Staten Island the day after I got to NYC to make a reservation in person. Fortunately, I was able to get a reservation for the day I was leaving. Perfect! I did try to see if they have a seat for one too, but they had just seated someone at their only one seater spot. That's ok. I have reservations for the following Saturday. The following Saturday, I meet my cousin and her boyfriend there. The three of us decided to share a few plates. Focaccia and pickled veggies - this was complimentary. The focaccia bread was fresh and delicious. I usually not a big fan of pickled stuff, but these veggies were amazing. Just the level of pickle taste. Mint pistachio feta dip - this came with two giant sheets of cracker. The dip was amazing. You can't really taste the mint which I preferred because mint can be overwhelming. It went perfectly with the crackers. Polpette (meatballs) - the meatball was the right level of tenderness. The sauce was great, seasoned just right. Lasagna - this was the perfect blend of meat, sauce, cheese and pasta. Banana pudding - I'm not a big dessert person, but I took one bite to try. I enjoyed it as it wasn't too sweet. I think I could have ate one order myself. My husband happened to be coming to NY the week after, so I asked if they had any availability for the following Friday or Saturday. Paola was so nice and accommodating. They were full but since it was just one person, she took the reservation for him, and said she can seat him at the bar. At the end, we took a picture with Joe, the owner. The concept of this restaurant is so interesting with grandmas cooking their recipes, and after seeing the movie and understanding the story behind it, the experience was even better. I hope to be able to come again on my next visit to NYC. read more
Came here after watching the Netflix show. I think the concept is great and the atmosphere warm and friendly. We had Nonna Maria talking to us and she was very sweet and welcoming. The food was good but not great. The rabbit dish was interesting and a little tougher than I had expected. Also the recent change to a set price knocks down the experience a little because you are forced to get an appetizer and dessert per person. I would give this about 3.5 stars but had to round up to 4 just for the nonnas! read more
So the solo nonna was really nice took pictures and walked around and talked to all the tables . The manager and host was really nice we could not get through to make reservations but we came were first in the waitlist and got a Spot at the bar with my son. But after the movie and the set and the way it looked in the movie and the actual place not the same so don't be surprised . Pieces much nicer and cuter. The food was as way over priced and nothing wow about it at all , but I expected something wow knowing how moms and grandmas can cook. 2 pieces of chicken for 32$ no way in hell 15$ maybe but that was plain and nothing to wow or write to anyone about . The lasagna same exact thing zero special flavor nothing all looks like it was made beginner . Really disappointing and the dessert same thing . Creme brûlée was over torched on top to a Burn and small portion would Never recommend . Cheesecake was good id have that again and that's the only thing. Tried it but nothing special at all wouldn't go Agian. Nonas need to step their game up. Sorry but mine cooked way better in comparison. Movie made it look way better than it really is. And IG over hyped it as well. Don't waste your time find a better spot. read more
1 year ago
We had a Japanese, Sri Lankan and Italian nonna Wow wow wow wow wow We were blown away. We tried the rabbit, zucchini, spinach lasagna and meatballs from the normal menu-the lasagna wasn't fresh so it was a tad dry-but everything else was absolutely bonkers ridiculous with flavors. We tried the Japanese eggplant and Sri Lankan noodles. This place is 10/10 for flavors and food. It's small and for anyone complaining it doesn't look like the film-omg no shit. It's the actual place where they didn't film. Make a reservation or you can't go. read more
9 months ago
Wow! What a gastronomic and fun experience! Was lucky to get a reservation , even came with a 9 month old, which initially felt like a very bad decision since the interior is very small/ tight. After knocking over a water bottle at the table that was beautifully set, we settled down and baby was enjoying his people watching. Staff are super friendly , helpful and accommodating. Absolutely couldn't ask for more. Owner , servers and the OG Nona coming over through the night to talk and make sure all is well. Food was delicious and several vegetarian and even gluten free dishes. This night had the OG Nona as well as Japanese and Egyptian Nona's. All dishes were good portions and very tasty. Lots of good appetizers . The wine is a must. I don't usually get red wine, but theirs was excellent. Keep in mind the menu changes as it depends on the cooks who are there. It's a cute cozy place with exceptional service and great vibes would love to go again, next time, even though baby was perfect, would go without him, just easier. read more
1 month ago
Visited tonight and had a wonderful experience. We were celebrating my sister's birthday. We even got to meet Nonna Maria who was lovely. It was a very warm and friendly atmosphere. We got started with homemade focaccia bread, and I had the burrata appetizer, lasagna entree and carrot cake for dessert. Here is a picture of my entree. It is a small place and you need to book your reservation well in advance. The service was excellent. My party of four totally enjoyed the entire experience!! read more
While visiting NYC for New Years, the family and I made the drive to Staten Island to this little gem. We had the pleasure of meeting Nonna Maria. What an awesome experience, from the food and the service, it was with the drive. We started with the burrato, which was amazing. Then we had the meatballs, the lasagna and the chicken cacciatore. And finished off with the cheesecake, gluten free chocolate cake and the crème brûlée. Everything, and I mean everything was amazing. The food tasted great and Nonna Maria was a pleasure as she walked by and shared her story and her food making technique. The ambiance is quaint. It's a small place. We loved this place and it was all worth the visit. Would go back for sure. read more
This review is from August 2025, so it's slightly overdue. I'm also unsure if anything has changed in the past few months. This restaurant has become extremely popular after the Nonna's movie on Netflix, so it was extremely difficult to get a reservation. They're only open Friday-Sunday with 2 lunch and 2 dinner seatings. We were traveling from out of town, so we really only had one weekend to eat here. We tried calling multiple times about two weeks in advance, but either no one picked up or they were fully booked. PRO TIP: text them the morning of and see if anyone drops their reservations. I did this on Saturday, and they had one opening - unfortunately, I was not checking my phone and didn't respond in time and someone else got it. On Sunday, they called me at lunch letting me know there was an opening for dinner that day, and of course we had to take it! We rode the ferry over to Staten Island, and it's a short walk from the terminal to the restaurant. We had the 5:30 reservation, so while we were waiting to get seated, one of the Nonna's was outside talking to all of us. She continued to walk around the tables while dinner was being served. We got seated at the one window seat, which was probably the most I've photobombed pictures in one night. For the food, we ordered the lasagna Della nonna, imam bayildi, and banana pudding. The featured Nonna of the day was Fatma from Turkey, and her dish was the imam bayildi. It was an eggplant dish with tomatoes, onion, and garlic served with rice and salad. The banana pudding was the best banana pudding I've had in my life. The texture of it was very light, yet still had a rich flavor. All food was very homey and delicious, and you could tell it was made with love. This was definitely a great experience, and I would definitely recommend trying to get a reservation here! read more
2 months ago
I've been talking about this restaurant long before the movie, but, as it is located in Staten Island it is a long ride from any other boro. When the movie came out I knew it's popularity would skyrocket and I am glad it has. Now everyone I had mentioned the restaurant to now wanted to go. Reservations were difficult during 2025. Traveling through Staten Island we wanted to make a detour to try and get a reservation in person. We got lucky and were told that we could wait and there would be a couple of spots available. Service is excellent. A few of the nonas wak around taking pictures with patrons and sharing stories about their involvement with enoteca Maria. Once we sat, we informed them we knew what we wanted and were served promptly. We had the meatballs and lasagna. Both were hearty and full of flavor. Wine was very nice but I can't remember the name. The cheesecake is different and not bad. A though I enjoyed the experience I am not sure if I'll make the long trip if I am not in the area. It is a bit pricey but all in all an interesting experience. Nona Maria was pleased that we had chosen her dishes for our meal. read more
I made sure to book a reservation at Enoteca Maria a week ahead of time because I knew they would be packed the day of and thank God we did. From the moment we arrived, the experience was incredible. We ordered the rabbit stew, and it was by far the best rabbit I've ever had in my life soft, tender, and cooked perfectly, just the way we like it. The nonnas were the sweetest part of the whole visit. They even came out to welcome us, which made the meal feel extra special and homey. Emoteca Maria is truly a gem, and I can't wait to go back! read more
2 months ago
Wonderful experience! Portions are larger than expected and wonderful. The staff was incredibly kind and when ordering the lasagna the Italian Nonna personally came out to make sure we liked it. read more
2 months ago
We all had a wonderful meal. Lasagna, meatballs, chicken cacciatore were all excellent. The price is good. Our server was very attentive even though it was at full capacity. So happy that we made the trip to check out the nonnas. read more
11 months ago
Fabulous restaurant! We got in with no rez due to a couple leaving early. So thankful they did. Best lasagna we have ever had. Service was perfect & the restaurant had a great family vibe. Like being home for the holidays. Can't wait to go back. Remember: Cash Only establishment! read more
Finally! The restaurant now has an online reservation system and we were able to make a dinner reservation for one of the nights we were going to be in NY. We were so excited "to get in". I like the system of making a prepaid dinner reservation for a three course meal. Wine ordered at the table is additional and they don't take credit cards, which was well explained on the many confirmation emails. We had a great time and enjoyed the ambiance. A friendly and personable Nonna came out and greeted the diners. Our three courses were great, the portions were too large, and the desserts were oh so delicious. The bottle of white was good too, although could have been better chilled. We were excited to know the owner's wife was our server, and she advised the owner would pose for pictures if we wanted. The restaurant was well packed with fellow enthusiastic diners. They gave us a few choices for all three courses. For appetizers, we had chicken matzoh ball soup and meatballs. My husband chose lasagna, and I had chicken cacciatore. The wonderful gourmet desserts were original cheesecake and banana pudding with a crème brûlée style banana! This restaurant allots your dining time for 2 hours, which is generous to have the table that long, being they need the tables for the next set of reservations at 7:30 pm. read more
7 months ago
3 months ago
Awesomeness! We had Nonnas from Bulgaria, Japan and Italy! Food was great, severing was better! Cayled our waiter waiter was just delightful! A++ read more
1 year ago
The food here was great! I am crazy for saying this, but Italian food is not my favorite. However, this is the second lasagna I've had in my entire 30 years of living that I actually enjoyed! To me lasagna, is one of those foods that everyone should like, so I strive to find ones that I do like! This was a place to get it, and I'm so happy I did! And the focaccia bread was amazing! The service was great. Unfortunately I did not get to meet the Nonna's, but that was probably my fault for not asking! My waitress was always around and very happy to help! My thoughts of the restaurant were that it was really small, but I loved the atmosphere! You must get a reservation here or you'll be waiting outside for quite a long time and possibly not even get in. However, once seated, you will be treated well, it's not too loud, and you'll have a great time! I would highly recommend visiting in Enoteca Maria!! read more
The lady at the front desk was very nice, she let us have a seat even though we did not have a reservation. The food tastes amazing. I don't know why anyone will give this place a negative review. It's simple, if you don't get a reservation you might not be seated. That doesn't mean the folks are mean or the food is bad. If you watched the show you would be appalled by the way people talk bad about this place. Do you know how difficult for this man to get to where he is today? The hate is just disgusting! This place is good, the food is good, the service was great. The restaurant itself is smaller than on the show that is true but were you expecting it to be the exact same? Lol yall are just bitter. The man will get a bigger place but the logistics to get this place alone was difficult, now imagine him doing this in a bigger magnitude in a short period of time. Show some grace! read more
This is the real life restaurant behind the Netflix movie NONNAS and it lives up to the hype! The grandmas here are so sweet, warm, & welcoming! We had the most delicious and GENEROUS servings of Italian & Japanese food. We watched the grandma from Paraguay cooking. Everyone from the servers to the owner and even the other patrons were so happy. The food was amazing - just look at the layers of lasagna. I adore this concept and hope you all have a chance to try! read more
7 months ago
One of my favorite restaurant experiences ever. Feels like such a family owned spot, all the staff always so welcoming and attentive. I've gone twice now, once getting to try Algerian food and the other Sri Lankan! I've never had their Italian menu items but all the food I've tried there has been sooooo great. So much fun and I love bringing people here for a unique dining experience! read more
The restaurant is very popular that you will need a reservation. If you don't have a reservation, your chances of getting in is probably less than 5%. The service was amazing. The server explained that one of the Nonna does not come in until after two. The Japanese and Italian Nonna were the Chefs. The Japanese Nonna has three items on the menu. We got two out of the three (roasted red peppers and feta dip and eggplant Dengaku). The Italian Nonna has more menu selection. We got the meatball, grilled zucchini, lasagne, and branzino. All of the dishes from the Italian Nonna were delicious. read more
4 months ago
After trying forever to get a reservation we finally dined there on Saturday. So glad we did. Dinner was delicious, we ordered items from both chefs and really enjoyed then. We even got to chat with Nonna Maria. I can't wait to go back. read more
2 years ago
The service was super friendly, and we were able to get dinner reservations by calling ahead in the morning. It was so nice to meet Nonna Maria, who was going around to greet and check in on each of the tables while two other grandmothers took charge of the kitchen. The dining room is intimate, and we were graced by the presence of a birthday at a neighboring table, which was fun. (They played a song over the speakers instead of prompting singing.) The decor is a mix of superhero stuff, family pictures, etc., but the ambiance is really created by the grandmothers, staff, and other diners. Just has a warm feel to it, and the food was very good. They gave us a plate of focaccia and pickled peppers to start, which was yummy, then my boyfriend and I both went for the pasta with Sunday sauce, which came with one meatball and two sausages. The sausages were nice, but the meatball was the star. Of course, because they have a rotating schedule of grandmothers cooking and varying menus, you're just going to have to go in and see for yourself, but we had a great time overall and would love to go again. They are cash only, so be sure to make a res and hit the ATM. read more
1 year ago
We loved it! The vibe inside was very different than expected as far as the look and decor. We came for the food most importantly and it didn't disappoint. They started us off with a rice wine roasted veggies and some onion focaccia and wow the veggie mix was out of this world! It was mainly the Argentinian Nonna Carmen as well with some Japanese dishes on the menu today. We got a red pepper feta dip that was creamy and tasty. We had empanadas that came with a basil olive oil to dip, and I would have eaten five more of these places. I wanted more more more!!! Then we had Polpettas and Lasagna and both were the closest I've found to my family cooking, real Italian style and flavor. Outstanding and will definitely come back when in town! Service was nice, little slower but hey I didn't mind it. Thank you Nonna! read more
This is a great restaurant with a super unique concept. In addition to the regular Italian and Japanese menus, there is a rotating feature menu. And all the food, made by "real nonnas," has a homey feel to it. The plates are large and designed to be shared. On the night I visited, the featured grandma was from Sri Lanka. There were three dishes from that menu. We also ordered one dish from the Italian menu and one from the Japanese menu. Hoppers with chicken coconut curry - I didn't try the curry, but rhe hoppers (like a dosa) were nice and light. Potato cutlets - just like an aloo tikki, crispy on the outside with subtle spices on the inside. Noodles - the rice vermicelli at room temperature was served alongside a lentil curry that is a bit more like yellow dal. There were also some pineapple and potato dishes on the side. This was my favorite of the three feature items. Spinach lasagna - super rich from all the layers, a good amount of cheese and spinach, and a comforting sauce. I'm rarely impressed by Italian food but this was incredible. Eggplant dengaku - seemed more like a Mediterranean dish than a Japanese one, but still great. The grilled eggplant was served alongside a salad kind of like tabbouleh, a vegetable dip, and Japanese style cucumbers. All of this came to about $145 before tax and tip. The restaurant is cash only. read more
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Ask the Community - Enoteca Maria
Do they only respond to WhatsApp messages or can I send them a regular text message?
I tried both, also emails, and calls and i got response. Hopefully you have better luck!
Called a dozen times. Gets a recording. Want to visit from out of state. How can I make the reservation?
I found it is easiest to send a message on WhatsApp. They responded to my initial request about one week out saying they were booked about 3-4 weeks out.…
How to reserve is nobody picks up the phone? Nobody answers the whatsapp messages?
I reserved by going there and the lady was very nice. They then confirmed via WhatsApp msg.
Hello guys , I'm curious how to make a reservation to this amazing restaurant?
You call!
Do they accept walk ins or we have to make reservations to get in?
Yes. But a reservation is a good idea as it is small.... But WORTH IT!
What night is Italian night?
Every night is Italian night. There's always the famous Italian nonna that cooks.
How long in advance do you need to make reservations? Is it a good space for a group of 8?
They take parties. The larger the party, you should book 2-3 weeks in advance. Totally worth it!
Is this restaurant baby/child friendly? I'd like to bring my 2 year old for a family dinner.
I wouldn't say it is "baby" friendly, only because of the size of the restaurant. They don't really have space for a baby stroller in there. I have seen kids in the restaurant, but not babies... If you are not bringing a stroller, then I think it…
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