Must have reservations and cash! Excellent service, fantastic food, causal setting, flip flops & shorts approved. Plan your trip by Staten Island ferry if you're in Manhattan, nice quiet getaway from the throngs of people in the other boroughs.

+1

This place is a definite must. All of the food we had was incredible (especially the gnocchi and cheese stuffed filo dough) and made fresh that day. The menu changes daily as the Nonna's do, but can guarantee each day is phenomenal. Check out some of the Nonna's cooking as you mosey over to the bathroom in the back.

+6

Great food in a truly warm old school atmosphere. Despite the outward appearance the restaurant is not at all too crowded and it is clear that the owner is committed to the experience of each guest. Food is carefully prepared and top notch. Our server Mimi was amazing. The only downside is that it is impossible to get a table here near events at St. George, but there is a good reason why! Definitely try this restaurant if you can get a table.

An absolute must attend. Relive the Netflix episodes. Truly a delight. Nonnas greeting you at the door. Highly recommend 👌

+5

Warm, friendly service with great, flavorful food. The caprese salad was tasty, simple, and fresh. The seaweed salad was delicious, and a neat twist on typical seaweed salad by including cucumbers. The Japanese Dengaku was the star of the show, with a char grilled eggplant with a miso glaze sauce. The vegan vegetarian pie had a great combination of root vegetables, sweet potatoes, and pesto sauce. The mixed berry crumble with strawberry basil gelato was a sweet, but not too sweet, conclusion to a finely crafted meal. Definitely a nice place for a fun weekend dining experience.

+1

I'll remember this dinner for a long while. Visiting Nonna Maral from Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 prepared her Kelem Dolmasi (stuffed cabbage). Also had the Qutab. Never had Azerbaijan cuisine before and I think I found a new favorite cuisine. What a pleasant surprise. I can't wait to dine there again. Certainly the coolest and most down to earth Michelin rated restaurant we've been to.

+2

The 4 of us shared 4 different dishes. The BF Stoganoff from the Russian Nonna, the eggplant from the Japanese Nonna, the lasagne & the Sea Bass. All 4 were excellent!!! 3 of the 4 voted of us voted the stroganoff to be the favorite. Excellent experience! Well done!!

Great place with very warming and welcoming atmosphere and delicious food.It feels like you came to visit friends. Good choice of wines. Prices are very reasonable. We had a great time!

+6

Absolutely incredible meal, top 3 meals Iv ever had. Writing this as soon as we’ve left it was that good. Very small restaurant, cozy and warm. Very very friendly atmosphere. Our waitress (curse me for not getting her name) was perfect. Gave us plenty of time to look over the menu and answer our questions trying to decide what to get. She was able to give me a wine recommendation that Iv fallen in love with (and I’m someone that hadn’t found a wine I enjoyed). The Borscht was delicious and so was the herb roasted rabbit. Gelato was perfect end to a meal. Everyone we talked to was so nice. All the staff was great. Would deff make the journey back to NYC just for diner again. A amazing 100/10 - 10 starts out of 5

Loved the Nonna's of the world concept and loved how the Nonna's came over to say hi. Food was very good. Hated the table we sat at by the door. Cross bar underneath which prevented my legs from being comfortable and froze whenever the door opened.

I will come back! The atmosphere was very welcoming, and truly you feel like at home. The nonnas are adorable and their food spectacular. 10/10

+2

Nonnas of the world was fantastic! Definitely worth going over th Staten island for. Maria, the house nonna, stopped by several times to check on us and chat with us. Such a unique experience

+1

Reservation highly recommended. Super friendly service, authentic (in our case, Italian) food, and a great atmosphere. Definitely a must-visit when in NYC—we'll be back for sure! Combined with a visit to Empire Outlets, it makes for a perfect day trip.

Enoteca Maria is one of the most special places I have ever been in my entire life. The inspiration and commitment to create such a vision is monumental, particularly in the world we live in. The food was absolutely outstanding, so much so that my boyfriend burst into tears on his first bite! It was his birthday and Joe and Paola made everything so perfect for us, replete with a birthday treat with a candle and a song. Everything is made with love, and the fresh ingredients are from Joe's garden, extraordinary! I cannot recommend this restaurant more emphatically. Please go and support this magical slice of heritage...and if you are coming from Manhattan both the Staten Island Ferry and the Midtown Ferries were great fun!

Great food, staff, and energy at this place. I had a party of 2 and tried walking in knowing how popular the place is, and the staff was very friendly and accomodating and was able to seat us the within 20 minutes. Food was very flavorful and comforting. Would absolutely recommend if you’re in the area or even had a long commute there- its worth it. Bring cash as thats what they accept!

It didn’t disappoint. The food was fantastic, with excellent variety. Service was top-notch. Lastly the portions were outstanding which made it a tremendous value. You won’t go home hungry and you won’t go broke. Make your reservation well in advance as they have limited seatings. The restaurant can hold maybe 35/40 people tops. And. It’s cash only.

I can't praise this restaurant highly enough! I recommend everyone who reads this review to book a table immediately - you will not regret it and experience a very special evening. The concept offers every week changing dishes from all over the world, prepared by a Nonna from the respective country. But the menu also offers enduring house classics. The food was fanatical on both of our visits and was truly prepared with heart. In addition, there is an excellent selection of wines from all around the world. Topping it all off is the excellent service. Very attentive and courteous service made us feel right at home. The whole team really cares that you have a very good time. Thank you for that and see you soon! 🌝 Only cash is accepted, as it is so common in Italy 😉

Everything here was so good and everyone was so nice! It’s a relatively small space so best to make reservations beforehand. The miso salmon was the best I ever had and the meatballs and sausage were so soft and flavorful. Would definitely come back again!!

+2

We visited this amazing place to celebrate my birthday. I’ve been wanting to go for years, do we drive up from Philly for dinner - it was well with the wait and the drive. Nonna Maria made everyone feel like they were in her home. Our nonnas were from Italy, Syria and Japan. Some of the food was unfamiliar to us but our server, Eli, was warm, helpful and knowledgeable - simply one of the best. AND THE FOOD! Wow! Just wow! We ordered appetizers, entrees and desserts to share from all three regions. All of us loved everything we tried. Every bite.

+1

The cutest most amazing restaurant! The Nonnas make your food for you! Can’t get any more authentic then that! The food is absolutely delicious! You can order anything on the menu and you will not be disappointed! It’s a cozy little spot maybe about 25 seats in the restaurant. Definitely need to make reservations! We hopped on the SI Ferry just to come to this place.

+5

It felt like you were at a home with family. The nonna's were greeting veryone at the table. The host squeexed me in at the last moment. I was very grateful. The food option was awesome. Trinadad and Tobigo food (oxtail, curry chicken and butternut squash soup). Yummy!!!

I loved the concept of a restaurant where the menu is run by nonnas - the featured nonna tends to only do dinner but there is a regular menu by the Italian and Japanese nonna for lunch. Yakitori was really good and the lasagna is hearty. Service is kind and friendly!

Wow. This was easily one of my favorite meals… ever. The concept in itself is such a unique and cool concept. We were fortunate enough to be there when Nonna Sahar from Egypt was sharing her delicacies with us. I’ve never had a calamari soup, but it was amazing and would highly recommend. The branzino was cooked perfectly. The lasagna was very saucy (a miss with many other lasagnas) and had a nice tangy-ness to it. Start to finish, no letdowns. Take the free ferry!

+6

I had known about this place long before the movie came out and finally made it for a meal. Note - go in person at 5 pm to make a reservation bc their phone reservations are overwhelmed. There were 2 Nonna’s and the food did not disappoint. The mint pistachio feta dip was my absolute favorite. Get all the courses. Chat with all the people. Enjoy the lovely food!

+1

The food was comfortable and felt homemade, just like going home to family. Even better than the food was the ambiance, Nona's talking to us a few times and clearly creating the food. I felt welcome and couldn't stop smiling. Very glad we went. Tip: Get a reservation

Went to Staten Island to accompany my mother to try out a Michelin-recommended restaurant near the pier. The chef is a very funny and nice Italian granny who greets every table warmly as if we're family. All her dishes are of the traditional family style. Tried the lasagna, meatballs, and braised duck. The red sauce meatballs have a classic taste, and the meat is soft as it should be and well seasoned. The Lasagna is baked dry enough and topped with a rich chunky tomato sauce. The most outstanding one is the braised duck, which is stewed with potatoes, carrots, onions and spices. The duck is braised to perfection and is richly flavoured but not too salty. The most delicious part is the head, neck and back (from an Asian palate perspective). The atmosphere is comfortable and there are many classic super hero action figures as decorations. The service is friendly and attentive. The wine list is okay but they store their wines in quality wine fridges. What’s special about this restaurant is that they invite a granny or nonna from a different country to be their guest chef every night to cook their own local dishes. This time, the nonna is from Armenia. We tried a grape leaf wrapped dolma with seasoned rice which has the Mediterranean homey flavour and was delicious. I heard that they have nonnas from China, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Greece, Poland, France, Algeria, Turkey, Columbia, etc as guest chefs. Dinner time is 5:30 or 7:30, reservations are recommended and the restaurant only accepts cash or Venmo.

+6

Really enjoyed our dining experience, the concept is fantastic, they feature a Nonna from a different country every week. The owners and staff are very friendly, you can really see that they care about the restaurant. Not too expensive either, great time and they gave us free dessert!

We went there for lunch and were the only visitors at that time. The service was very nice and the food was amazing. We had the lasagna and a greek salad with apples and pears. Portion size is really big as well. If you ever visit Staten Island, make sure to visit Enoteca Maria. It's also conveniently located, only a couple of minutes from the ferry.

Let me start out by saying this place is amazing. It felt like I was being welcomed into someone’s home. Nonna Maria is a sweetheart. The focaccia was brought to us with the beat little salad dip mix which was right tasty the perfect amount. We ordered the Grandpas Cha Cha red wine (which happens to be suggested by Nonna Maria although we were already looking at it so we had to go ahead and get it). We ordered the feta mushroom dip. It was the perfect amount. It was so good. I was surprised of how much it didn’t taste like overwhelming feta. I did order the lamb stew, but it was sold out. So we ordered the red lasagna and lasagna Blanca. The red lasagna was so good like the right amount of cheese at meat and pasta ratio, and the lasagna Blanca was good but it was sort of heavy and I’m not sure if it’s because we also had the red lasagna. This is a place that I will be returning to very soon because there are a bunch of Nonna’s that I would love to try their food. All of the staff were pleasant offered great choices and came out so quickly, and it tasted so fresh. This is a concept unlike any other.

+2

The food was absolutely amazing! I went with my mom yesterday and our server was amazing and I loved his energy! Definitely going back! Probably on Valentine's Day...

I feel so lucky a last minute table opened up. Wholesome, relaxed atmosphere and totally original dishes. Had the privilege to eat a dish of featured Nonna Carmen from Argentina and dang was it good. Their house menu is also great with one of the most generous lasagnas ever !

10/10 everyone in the house was phenomenal!!! So sweet and the food is out of this world! If you can get a reservation, do it!!

+2

My favorite restaurant in New York - everything is handmade by grandmothers! The fact that this place is Michelin rated is an afterthought. Great ambiance, great service, and out of this world food. It is worth coming to Staten Island just to eat here! I will be eager to return!

We loved everything here! The food is absolutely delicious! Everyone is friendly and nice! We couldn't make a reservation over the phone, so we went there in person on Friday afternoon. It was fully booked that day, but we got a table for Sunday afternoon. There isxa waiting list too. Worth a try. The restaurant opens at 12.30 pm.

I felt like some random person's grandma was cooking for me and was a very warm atmosphere. The lasagna is the best though

It has been on my list of restaurants to visit for a long time, I took advantage of the arrival of friends and we decided to go. The people who served us and gave us information were extremely kind and had incredible energy. The recommendations for food and desserts as well as the history of the place are wonderful. The place when you enter feels like entering your grandmother's house, decorated with wooden furniture, small and with very colorful walls with images, banknotes and action figures. It has a little bit of everything but feels cozy and transports you to Italy. Food: As a starter, they gave us some focaccia bread and some vegetables to go with it. The bread was super soft and the vegetables a little sweet, but we devoured 3 baskets of it 🤣. Our main order was lasagna for everyone, and we could tell it was made in a traditional way, the portions were quite generous, and it tasted exquisite. The beef pot was my favorite, it was accompanied by a spicy green sauce and a bed of green salad. The meat was very tender and the puff pastry covering it was very crispy. For dessert, we ordered banana pudding (the best we've ever tasted), I would go back from Brooklyn to Staten Island just for that dessert. We devoured everything in a matter of seconds. We also ordered a coffee creme brulee that had a strong coffee flavor and was just right on the sweet side. One of us also ordered a chocolate dessert, quite soft and very chocolatey, with a citrus fruit sauce that was perfect for balancing the flavors. I think the star of the place has also been the nonna who comes to the tables to chat, to tell us stories and is always attentive to make sure that we are all having a good time, it has been very fun. I also want to mention Paola's incredible energy and joy, she gave us the best recommendations and told us a little about the history of the place and the future movie that will be released on Netflix which was recorded at the restaurant to tell its story and the beautiful meaning of their work. We left very happy, full, and with wonderful memories. Thank you! Highly recommended!💐🍝🍲🥗🥧🍷

+4

I cannot say enough about this sweet Restaurant with a big heart. The food, the atmosphere the staff it is a complete package of Italian deliciousness. We celebrated my daughter Daughter’s 21st birthday and they made her feel like family.

Well I will say we added this stop in because I had to try it! No chefs, just Grandmas! We took a long hike and a Ferry.. then a short hike. On the way up the hill I started thinking.. we didn't make a reservation!!! It wasn't really on our way home so I was worried about it rightfully! They are only open Friday. We were so lucky they were very kind and served us! I am so thankful to them for that! So be sure to be more organized than me and call ahead! Now let me begin to say, cute cozy environment! Very kind servers and the food was amazing! I recommend if you are ever close by it's worth a long hike and ferry ride to make it happen!

+5

Great food cooked by real nonnas. Very reasonable prices considering the quality. Cash only. They are getting their reservation system worked out so contacting them can be difficult but the food is great.

+1

Went without a reservation with fingers crossed. Had to wait a few minutes for a no show and it was well worth the wait. It was lunch so we shared an app, and entree but both had to get our own desserts. We saw the movie when it came out, so when we were in NY, decided to take the ferry over to see if we could get a table. Best decision we made on our short stay. Highly recommend. When I asked how lucky we were to get a table, Joe said, "sometimes you're just supposed to be where you are". Love it. PEACE!

We were a bit hesitant to try this place since many places in NYC are just hype and not as good as advertised. However, we were pleasantly surprised by this one. It had the best lasagna I’ve ever had. Everything was delicious, and the portions were generous enough to share. We’ll definitely be back!

had an absolutely wonderful experience at nonnas of the world.From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, with tasteful decor and a comfortable vibe that immediately put us at ease. The staff were attentive, friendly, and genuinely enthusiastic about ensuring we had a great experience. The food was the real star. Every dish we tried was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The [specific dish] was cooked to perfection, and the [another dish] was a delightful surprise—rich, fresh, and satisfying. The drink selection was equally impressive, with creative cocktails and a thoughtfully curated wine list.

Always wanted to try this little place. Finally did! Very cozy and welcoming. The house "Nonna" is the cutest, most pleasant lady. And her meatballs are incredible. The concept her is really nice. We had a house menu, Japanese Nonna, or Mexican Nonna to choose from. All of the dishes were great.

+4

Number one; the owner and the entire staff is extremely kind and also much fun to get to know. On our way there, running very late to our reservations, because of subway shut down and NYC parade causing road closures every way our Uber driver went, we just knew we were going to miss out on a lovely Nonna's dinner. When we got there they had given our table away but after a few minutes looking at all the amazing movie and toy memorabilia, they gave us a seat at the bar. Completely unexpected and WOW, so kind! We honestly didn't expect to eat after missing our time frame, but I was over the top thrilled that I got to eat Nonna Maria's lasagna 😘🤌🏼 and it was just as scrumptious as my heart was expecting! Not only that, Nonna Maria was so lovely. 91 years old beautiful woman rocking the animal print looking no more than 70 years young and sweet sweet sweet. She loved my dimples and stuck a finger in them, just like my late grandmother would do, which nearly had me in tears. I loved her instantly and felt utterly warm and fuzzy just from getting to meet her. Jody was a charming character with the most bad ass spectacles I have ever seen on a man! Had great conversations with him and all of the staff and learned a lot about the history of the restaurant. Our server was Jamie, who was attentive and kind and gave me the recommendation of the Nutella cheesecake (YUM!) and met the other sweet Nonna (I didn't catch her name) but her rice on point. YES, rice!! I never knew rice could have that much flavor. Also met funny, sweet, John who was another server who dared me to finish my lasagna after me boisterously proclaiming that I starved myself all day and WOULD eat every bite. 🤣 I couldn't even put down half because the portion was so large, however I did enjoy more lasagna at 6am the following morning and yet, still couldn't finish it. Bottom line, if you want to just eat good food, there are 10s of 1000s of restaurants but if you want to leave feeling like you made connections and have a new family; this is the place you want to eat at. Thank you to all who make this place function effortlessly, from the Nonnas to the back of the house doing the dishes and an extra shoutout to Jody and his amazing hostess for helping me make my 50th birthday celebration vacation by making space for us at your bar. I couldn't have asked for anything better that night. It was better than I could've ever wished. Wish everyone much success but more importantly tons of happiness 💓

+6

Such a lovely experience and absolutely lived up to the hype! The food was hearty, homey, and unpretentious. Nonna Maria was the quintessential Italian grandma, so warm and funny and genuine. No notes!

Very special experience, the staple menu is great (lasagna is huge, but I didn’t love the sauce) and the rotating Nona’s provide unique menus. Hard to get a booking but very friendly process—book 2 weeks in advance or just call @12pm day of to ask about res cancellations or try to get a late seating. We sat at the small bar and got to see the kitchen.

+1

My sisters brought me here, and the concept is incredible — dishes inspired by grandmothers from all over the world. Everything was absolutely delicious! We even got to take photos with the restaurant’s grandma and the owner, who’s appeared in Netflix films. A truly memorable and heartwarming experience!

Some of the best food I've ever had at a restaurant. Really feels like your own grandma cooked it for you. Hype is REAL. We came with no res on a Friday afternoon. Missed the 12:30 opening, waited about 1 hour to get in. This week it was Italian cooking only. Ordered the meatballs for $26 and the rabbit for $38. Came with free foccacia and cold veggie salad. Excellent and herby. Meatballs were huge and meat was so tender it was falling apart. Comes with 4 pieces of foccacia. The rabbit was beautiful with olive oil sauce and steamed veggies. We cleaned up our plates! Everything we ordered I am already craving again. Absolutely a must try on Staten Island 🥰

Got a last-minute reservation on the day after Christmas. The Nonna that night was Bangladeshi and her chicken specialty was delicious!

a cozy little Italian restaurant in Staten Island that you would think is touristy as it's next to the St. George's theater, but it's actually traditional in a sense in that it serves homemade food with a nonna who greets you warmly as if family. we visited here for my sister-in-law's birthday and enjoyed the ambience and overall vibe of the place and had the stuffed cabbage, branzino, Buffalo mozzarella, lasagna, and the rabbit. The flavors overall were pretty authentic and homemade and I liked the rabbit the most and it was my first time having it, and we had a bottle of the prosecco which was a nice little addition for the family, and they also surprised the birthday girl with candles on a cake and the whole restaurant clapped in unison. felt like a very private experience and would visit here before a show if it were easier to get a reservation lol.

+6

Whenever I discovered about this restaurant on Instagram, I knew I needed to try it. Me and my friend have been warmly welcomed in the Enoteca Maria by Joe. Our waitress Paola was super nice and kind. While waiting for our lasagna, we had this focaccia with red onions and “giardiniera”. The food was tasty and worth the price. Definitely felt like I was in a grandma’s house. This place is great and as an Italian in the States, I enjoyed this home feeling that the restaurant gives. Highly recommended!!! Best of luck to Nonnas of the world for the future :)

The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The food was flavorful and the nonnas make you feel at home.

Last night, we had the pleasure of having dinner at Nonnas of the World (Enoteca Maria) in Staten Island. We had watched the movie and we were excited to try it. Its owner, Joey, was able to fit us in on short notice. Everything lived up to all the hype! The food is fantastic, everyone is friendly and the Nonnas are there to greet you and tell you about their recipes. Joey and the staff are extremely friendly and welcoming. We had a superb night as a family on our last night in NYC. Thank Joey and to all the staff of Nonnas for inviting us to your restaurant, we will for sure come back next time we are in town.

KMH

This place is the real deal. Despite not having a booking, I was able to sit with 3 others (we were from all parts of the world) and had the most wonderful lunch and experience. The Lasagna was huge and delicious ( took more than half away) the Bellini just perfect, as was the company of new friends at the table. Recommended booking if possible.

My wife and I had, for our money, the BEST dining experience I can think of in recent memory this past Valentine's weekend, all thanks to the wonderful people at Enoteca Maria. Paula greeted us and immediately made us feel welcome. John, our server, was friendly and incredibly knowledgeable of the food and drink selection. We took all of his recommendations, which included me trying capuzzelle, or slow roasted sheep's head, for the first time. Everything from that dish (an Italian delicacy I would highly recommend trying if you are an adventurous eater), to the spicy stuffed peppers we shared as an appetizer, to the next level desserts we had to finish off our evening were just stellar. They make the best connoli you will ever taste. Nonna Maria spent some time with us at our table and we even took photos with her -- she was kind and light hearted and offered helpful suggestions to make the most out of our meal choices. We said a quick hello to Jody, the owner, on our way out, although I am remiss to have forgotten to compliment him on all of his super hero and pop culture memorabilia he has decorating the restaurant. In less deft hands, this whole concept could certainly come off as tacky and insincere. Not so here. We felt like we had been treated as extended family, the whole evening full of the kind of warmth and love you only experience in Nonna's kitchen.

My eldest daughter and I watched Nonna’s and had an upcoming trip planned to NYC as a family. I did not expect to be able to get in at all. However, was completely surprised that given we had flexibility, Joe was able to accommodate. Having married into an Italian family, we don’t really eat out at Italian restaurants because almost all falls short of what we experience on Sundays. My youngest won’t touch another red sauce that is not her grandmothers. The food was phenomenal (we had the lasagna, meatballs, and burrata), and even my husband commented it was the second favorite sauce he’s ever had to his mother’s. My youngest actually ate, to our surprise (not the same but very good was her review). The service made you feel like you were a lifelong regular. We made a special stop out to Staten Island to visit, and we are so happy we did. What a wonderful concept, run by absolutely charming people.

Aside from the movie hype, this place is exactly the same vibe shown in the movie. The nonnas, Joe, and the team truly make you feel like you are eating at home. It is such a warm and welcome place that you just don’t want to leave. Nonna Maria is just ❤️ The food is insane, for real out of this world. This place has my entire heart and gratitude for feeling like a close family hug in the midst of the city chaos.

The BEST dinner!!!! We were in love with the meatballs. Had the best time & everyone is so friendly. We will be coming back!!!

What an exhilarating culinary adventure! Dining at Enoteca Maria, known as the “Nonnas of the world,” felt just like gathering around a bustling Italian grandma’s table for a lively Sunday dinner, surrounded by all the cousins! My friend brought me along, and we indulged in delicious food and delightful drinks. To top it off, she introduced me to the incredible Melanie, one of the talented Nonna chefs!

+2

Sabrina Martinez

Amazing experience and atmosphere! I imagined all the laughter, the noise, made it feel like you were at home. This is truly a special place and hope everyone gets to enjoy a wonderful home cooked meal! Very fortunate to have made this a part of our trip, visiting from Houston! Nonna Maria was the sweetest, most wonderful grandma, walking around making sure we were having a great meal, checking on you like your grandma would! I had the Capuzelle and she immediately took it and started pulling it apart. The meat was tender, juicy and my first time having the whole head. It was fun getting my hands dirty! My mom had the pasta primavera from Nonna Christina and it was like having comfort food, made you feel like you were having a part of the tradition. And lastly, finishing with basque cheesecake. Really creamy, loved the burnt top and the raspberry drizzle!

Matthias H. Chalupa

Today we had the pleasure to visit this wonderful place. The quality of the food was so amazing. The taste of our meals was wonderfully delicious. For all people the service has been a pleasure to all guests. Impressive to feel how important it was to them. The restaurant itself had a nice familiar atmosphere. We felt very comfortable in each minute. Also a nonna came to us for a talk, that was so lovely. We are looking forward to our next visit. Please do not forget to book a table. Have a good time here and enjoy your stay! 👋

Vedangee Ambekar

We watched the movie about three months ago and casually said, “we have to visit.” And it truly manifested! Nonna’s of the World did not disappoint. The staff were incredibly friendly, and our Sri Lankan nonna was so sweet. The food she prepared was authentic, hearty, and full of love. We even got to take a picture with the owner, which made the experience extra special. A beautiful place that feels like home. Highly recommended!

Bahareh samsami

After watching the Nonnas movie on Netflix, we knew we had to visit this special place during our trip from Canada to New York. The story touched our hearts—and visiting the restaurant turned out to be even more meaningful than we imagined. When we arrived, we didn’t realize they were fully booked until the end of the month. But when we shared that we had come all the way from Canada, the staff went above and beyond. They kindly offered us a table until the next reservation arrived, and we were so grateful for their warmth and generosity. The moment we stepped inside, it felt like walking into a real Italian home. The kitchen, the smells, the energy—it was like being welcomed into a family gathering. And then the most magical thing happened: we met Nonna Maria herself. She gave me a hug, and it was incredibly emotional. I’ve lost both of my own nonnas, and in that moment, her embrace brought back so many memories I didn’t know I needed. This experience was more than just a meal—it was food for the soul. Thank you for the hospitality, the love, and the reminder that food, family, and kindness transcend borders.

Cindi Miller

What a privilege to get to have lunch here today! The food was like being at Grandma's house. Joey made me the an amazing cup of coffee and the cheesecake melted my heart. It's a must go if you can get a reservation.

+1

This place is truly one of a kind. I went the other day with my aunt and we both agreed it was worth the trip up from Philly. The food was phenomenal and came out quick. Our server John was an absolute delight and a pleasure to talk with. Can’t wait to go back! Also if you take the ferry over you get an amazing view of the Statue of Liberty.

+1

Exceptional service in a small, but lovely restaurant where warmth and care are abundant. Our meal was well-prepared (meatballs and lasagna) and absolutely delicious and nicely presented.

Brenda Rohena

Had lunch at Nona’s Restaurant and wow—absolutely amazing! The Nona’s Lasagna was rich and comforting, the Chicken Cacciatore was full of flavor and perfectly cooked, and don’t even get me started on dessert 😍 The Nutella crème brûlée and banana pudding were the perfect sweet ending. Every bite was delicious. Excellent customer service. Highly recommend!

+1

Taryn Miracle

Our visit to Enoteca Maria was the highlight of our trip. Nonna was standing outside greeting people and although we didn’t have a reservation, they were able to squeeze us in, in between seatings. Everyone was warm and welcoming and we truly felt like family. We ordered the lasagna, polpette and the harvest salad. The best lasagna I’ve ever had and the meatballs were delish. Salad was very fresh and perfect components. If you’re struggling to make reservations, they are beginning online towards the end of October. If you’re going before that, they do one week at a time and in person. Highly recommend making this a part of your trip to the city!

Craig Agnew

Had been looking to book this restaurant since early this year. Emailed two months before visiting NY but advised they were fully booked for months ahead. Got the ferry over to Staten Island today and thought we’d try our luck…turns out we got lucky and they managed to give us a table. So hospitable, greeted so kindly and one of the wee Nona’s taking the time to speak to everyone was brilliant….all staff so welcoming and food was delicious. Thank you Nona’s of the world

Colette Hauzeur

Feels Just Like Home ❤️🍝 Walking into Nonnas of the World felt like stepping into a warm family home. The cozy ambiance and the delicious, comforting food made by the noonas is nothing short of amazing — every bite tasted like love. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, who clearly pours his heart into this place. He was so kind and thankful when I shared how much I enjoyed the experience. It truly felt like a hug in the form of a meal. Me encantó!

Davita Gardner

First you should make a reservation, second they only take cash and third they are very accommodating and NICE. I felt kinda bad because I was so needy. I had rushed there from getting off my train, dropping off my suitcase in Manhattan and then caught the subway and ferry to the restaurant. I sat at the bar and talked with Joe for a bit. Asked if I could share his barstool for my purse, then I needed to charge my phone so I’d know which subway to take back to my hotel. Whew…. Me the Needy customer! But my waitress and everyone was so nice. I ordered from the Puerto Rican menu, empaladas and from the Italian menu, chicken cacciatore with a salad. I ate the empanadas there at the restaurant, delicious, filled with meat, cheese and veggies and the chicken cacciatore also delicious, with tomatoes, onions and herbs and the most tender chicken. The salad was crisp and fresh. I got the chicken and salad to go. Packed very well for a long ferry and subway ride to the hotel. Didn’t spill a bit! I had dessert there too cheesecake, it wasn’t bad. I got to meet Irene the visiting nonna from Puerto Rico.

+6

David Baechle

It is super rare for me to give five stars, especially to a restaurant that is not considered fine dining. But I rate the Restaurant for what it really is. This is an excellent restaurant. The experience is fantastic and the food is superb. The service leaves nothing to be needed by the customer. Special attention is given to every plate and every single customer from the owner to the waitress to the way the food is prepared. The owner Joe is very personable and approachable. Although he is busy as heck running the restaurant he still will take time to say hi. Highly recommended and because of menu changes almost daily is impossible to recommend anything specific, but I will say anything we ate at this restaurant was superb!

Alexa Boyle

We had a wonderful time at Enoteca Maria! The food from Argentina was cooked to perfection, and the hospitality was absolutely amazing. We also couldn’t resist trying their classic Italian grandmas’ meatballs — comforting and delicious! It’s truly such a special place, and the black garlic gelato was the perfect, phenomenal finish to the meal. Highly recommend!

We came in during the snowstorm getting lucky calling for a last minute reservation. If you have not been here please go. What a idea to have different foods prepared by Nonnas. A delicious opportunity to try unique dishes from all over the world. The service was just beyond warm and inviting. I cannot wait to come back- already looking at the Nonnas calendar. YUMIKO thank you for coming and chatting with us- the chicken Katsu just wow- it was a privilege to meet you. We loved seeing you in the kitchen prepping!! Everyone there was lovely. The burrata was so beyond creamy, basil so fresh, the meatballs were like my grandma made them - really I do not have enough words for this review !!!! Please go try. Staten Island gem.

+1

I first heard about this place from a documentary, then saw the movie last year, had to make sure I got over to Staten Island for a bite. The food offered today was Italian, Japanese and Sri Lankan. It all looked amazing. The owner is still taking non-stop calls for reservations. I was lucky to have gotten in since I came in on my own. I was sat at the counter and enjoyed watching all of the hustle and bustle in this cozy kitchen. The size helps you feel like you're waiting for your Mama to finish cooking your meal as you watch. I ordered the lasagna which was very good, but really, the star of the meal was the fresh banana pudding. Never have I enjoyed such a delicious, creamy, well-balanced and fresh pudding. It was divine. The cost is a little high but it is so worth it for the freshness. They serve some alcohols but they offer good pairings for the meals offered. I am so happy to have been able to enjoy this meal I had waited so long for. They only take cash and for now reservations are done in person or by phone. From what I heard they will soon have an online platform to do these. Also, they only take reservations on a rolling, monthly basis. If you get to go, I hope you enjoy it too.

+6

Simon’s Travels

The heart warming film staring an amazing cast made us want to come here to see it in ‘real life’ all the way from the UK 🇬🇧 It did not disappoint. We were greeted by the fabulous owner ‘Joey’ and we got to meet today’s ‘Nonnas’ who were cooking. The food was of the highest quality and the service was second to none. We had the Mozzarella starter which was beautifully presented and tasted superb. For mains we had the lasagna and meatballs again absolutely top notch! THIS FOOD IS MADE WITH LOVE ❤️ and that’s the difference……. The wine is of excellent quality and it truly represents great value for money 💰 The service again gets a 10 out of 10 for us so well done 👏 We enjoy good food and wine and Nonnas was as good if not better than anything we could ask for! Thank you Joey for your beautiful concept and following your dreams! You are an inspiration.

+5

C C

Imagine a simpler time. You’re at your Italian friend’s grandmother’s house, where dinner is made the slow way because there’s nowhere else to be. It’s a long weekend, time is generous. You’ve already had her signature tipple, the one she still argues about with her doctor, and a little wine she schlepped back from Napoli. Her Trini friend drops by, bringing family recipes and big energy, sharing stories and food with her adopted New Yorker grandkids (you and your goober friends). This table is everything: cozy, welcoming, eclectic. You eat a hearty meal. She teaches you how to eat lamb brains, how to get every last bit of meat from the head. When you finish, she tells you she’s proud of you. Then the bill comes, and some of the magic slips away. You take a little home with you. This is what the world is supposed to be: a place where people are welcomed in, where differences are shared, and where you leave more open, more curious, more human than when you arrived. There’s plenty for everyone. We just have to learn how to share.

+5

Eman Eshmawy

Absolutely, undeniably, incredibly spectacular!! We had 7:30PM reservations on 12/27 with two adults and three kids. Joe was so nice and kind; he knew us by name because we made the reservation directly with him. Nonna Maria herself greeted us and told us a bit about her. She was delightful! We ordered her perfectly made meatballs and scrumptious lasagna. We also ordered from the Puerto Rican menu (fried fish cod — it was delicious). The food was fantastic, the wait staff precise and friendly and the atmosphere was everything we expected. Our recommendation is to contact them via phone because reservations are always needed (and rightfully so — the food and people are amazing). This is worth every penny and we will be coming back again! Remember!! It’s cash only! Thank you Joe & company!

+1

The restaurant has the information wrong on Google. Call before going to the restaurant. We arrived at 4:40 pm and the kitchen was closed. We have to wait until 5:15 pm they opened it again. We ate Italian food today. María is a lovely lady who is 89 years old with an amazing actitud. She is an amazing woman. She remains me, my husband's Nonna. The food is good, nothing outstanding. Homemade food. You feel you are eating on your grandma's home on sunday !! The guy behind the bar is not very friendly. We asked him for two glasses of prosseco, and he never offered us a bottle of $ 39. Instead, we paid for 4 glasses $52. But besides that, he was grumpy. Good experience, but we won't return it. The check was $ 145.00 to much money for someone who cooked italian food as a Nonna. Only cash or Venmo payment. 75 % recommended it.

+6

Lovely to be able to eat at Nonna’s and to eat a genuine dish cooked. Reservation inadvance is strongly encourage as sit and waits are not guaranteed. Big portions!

This restaurant is well known for its unique menu and rotation of Nanas who determine the menu of the day. The food is excellent. The decor is very nice also. Very friendly staff. My only knock was, l would have liked an oil dip with the great bread they serve, and if you like garlic a lot, make sure you ask for it when you order...

+2

A quaint shop in Staten Island. Every dish was fairly well planned out. The dishes took a bit long to order, but it was well worth the wait. The shop keeper randomly came in and startled us in the middle of our dinner, but otherwise was a great experience

I got extremely lucky by showing up before opening and putting myself on a waitlist, and was able to secure a walk-in spot at one of the counter seats (there seems to be just two). If your group is more than that, I'm afraid you'll have to try and get a reservation, which are currently notoriously difficult to secure. Given the size of the space (about 30 seats), there are only a few parties that can be seated at once, and there were at least two large parties of 8, at least at the time I was there. I initially tried to get a reservation, but now I understand better why it's so incredibly difficult to get one — it's basically a small business (e.g. seems to still handle its admin tasks manually on paper) suddenly dealing with a recent global demand from their Netflix success that understandably outscales their existing processes. Food-wise, I ordered the Argentinian Rolled Flank Steak, and the rolls were not well rolled in terms of presentation, but the taste was okay and the amount of meat was quite generous (as I would expect in typical nonna/grandma fashion). Service was overall fine, although it did take a bit of time initially for them to realize I wasn't being served yet, but once they did, John, who was my waiter, was incredibly friendly and attentive. Also kudos to the other male staff who handled taking down names and handling the reservation arrival at the door, he was friendly too. Atmosphere-wise, the vibes are very family-friendly and has that casual old school Italian energy to it. If you're incredibly persistent at attempting to call/message the restaurant to get a reservation or at least willing to spend the time to go there physically for a walk-in waitlist attempt that may not actually happen, I think it's worth the effort as the concept of the space is still heartwarming to me. Otherwise, I'd suggest waiting until they finish setting up their online booking reservation system.

Went there in 2017 with my family, it was really great. The Argentine nonna was amazing. We showed up with no reservation because I had sent an email with anticipation and they never answered. They still served my family and I when we showed up and told them about this. "we are not like that!" they said. Now, 2025, I tried to make a reservation again. With one month anticipation, I sent 4 messages: one through Instagram and 3 through whatsapp, with around 5 days spacing between them. Ive been back from my trip for a week now and of course I never got an answer. Very disrespectful. I won't be attempting a reservation or coming back again.

CASH ONLY (or Venmo!) I love the concept of Enoteca Maria, so I feel slightly guilty for the 3-star rating, but 3-stars means it was alright! I'm obsessed with hole-in-the-wall restaurants where the food tastes like your grandma made it. When my friend told me about Enoteca Maria, I decided I had a reason to go to Staten Island. It is conveniently located near the ferry, so it is definitely worth a visit! I called two weeks ahead to get a 2:30pm seating on a Sunday. They are closed in the beginning of the week so plan ahead if you want to make a reservation. The interior is no-frills, which makes sense for the concept! We had a nonna from Italy and one from Japan working the day we went, though did not see the nonna from Japan. I ordered the risotto ($18) and my friend had eggplant dengaku ($25). The highlight of the risotto was the sausage, which had nice flavor. Otherwise, the risotto did not have much flavor. My friend's dish tasted like a steak meal with an eggplant substitution. The sauce was delicious, and the eggplant texture was nice. The whipped potatoes were pretty cool and complemented the dish nicely. We had a bread pudding for dessert ($14) that was also decent. I was missing more texture from wafers, but the vanilla pudding was good. Service was alright. The waiter who helped us was courteous, and we didn't need a water refill. I was just personally not wowed by the food. If I do end up coming back with someone else who wants to try it, and I have an outstanding dish, I will update my review accordingly. That being said, I do think this is an experience every New Yorker should try at least once!

shirley wang

Honest review: Was really expecting better food for the price and the hype. We didn’t have a reservation but they were able to fit us in due to a cancellation. We had the branzino and the spinach lasagna. I’m not sure if it’s just me but the lasagna was very salty (maybe I received a defective one?). I felt there was too much ricotta because that’s all I tasted. The branzino was good but not amazing especially for the price ($38). Restaurant was very small and extremely noisy.

Amanda T

My family and I have been trying to get a reservation for over 6 months! My husband has been calling in weekly with no luck until yesterday. He got a call back from Joe and we got in! We were so thrilled as I found out about this restaurant years ago and been telling my husband I wanted to go. He wanted to take me originally for my birthday in June. So here we are, got out of work got kids ready to go and drove 3 hrs with traffic. Got there in the nick of time. We sat down, server was nice and greeted us in a short time. We saw one of the Nonnas walking around to table to table. But she decided to stay clear of us the whole time. She talked and talked with the other tables and took photos etc. I was kind of taken back by this. I couldn’t wrap my head around it, felt bad when my kids asked why she did not come to us at all. The food was amazing without saying. The kids thought it was right to try a little from each Nonna as they said we don’t want anyone to be lefted out all nonnas are important. The Japanese nonna made them feel special by giving them a special treat she made for the holidays they were so happy to get although our server said she is shy and doesn’t come out, which of course we respected and my sons asked the server to thank her for them. Joe said bye to us and thanked us for coming but not much more interaction. The service was good by the server , food was amazing just disappointed by the atmosphere of picking who to interact with. Seemed wrong and not something I would expect, this was something I thought was supposed to feel like warm family restaurant by the business environment. I never write reviews but I’m doing so for my kids.

Old-school Italian food that surpasses any Italian restaurant in Little Italy. However, the atmosphere doesn’t quite match the name or the movie. I’m puzzled by all the action figures like Batman and Superman scattered around. It's called 'Nonnas,' yet I only saw a picture of actual nonnas."

Shirl Shirl

Pros: The food is good and has a "homemade" flavor and the portions are generous. The price per entree is not bad either. Con: The only issue we had was the reservation system. It was impossible to get a response from WhatsApp or email when we attempted to make a reservation. We had to go in person to Staten Island to make a reservation in person with the owner. The system is not optimal. In the end, we ended up securing a reservation and ate at Nonnas. We came across people who had traveled from abroad to eat there, and had the same issue, no response when reaching out. So be warned, please. I am not local to NYC. It took my cousin 3.5 hrs to get there from Long Island, and my friend from Queens 2.5 hours to only be told, we are at capacity, please make a reservation to come back another day. The only reason as to why we went back is because this was a dream for my family member.

+2

Josephine Lee

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.

+3