What’s it rated? PG
When? 2025
Where’s it showing? Netflix
Vince Vaughn stars as Joe Scaravella, a grieving man determined to honor the memory of his late mother by opening a restaurant with Italian grandmothers as the chefs, in this wholesome and engaging based-on-a-true-story comedy.
The grandmothers, played by Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire, Lorraine Bracco, and Brenda Vaccaro, bring unique perspectives and menu items to the table at Scaravella’s newly opened and struggling Enoteca Maria. Between silly arguments, food fights, and negative attitudes, the nonnas ultimately find purpose and joy again in bringing dishes from their families and cultures to life. The real-world Enoteca Maria continues to hire grandmothers from around the globe, allowing them to share their meaningful dishes with people outside of their inner circle.
I ended the film teary-eyed and hungry, ready to add Enoteca Maria to the ever-growing list of places I need to go when I visit New York for the first time. Sure, the film features some overdone Italian-American cliches, but it’s a charming story about family, food, and faith. (114 min.) Ī
This article appears in Pride 2025.