Netflix Releases Italian Restaurant Drama 'Nonnas' Celebrating Multigenerational Women Chefs

Netflix's film "Nonnas" stars Vince Vaughn as Joe Scaravella, a man who opens an Italian restaurant staffed by grandmothers, or "nonnas," to honor his late mother and grandmother and recreate the warmth of family dinners from his childhood. The film is inspired by the real-life Enoteca Maria in Staten Island, a restaurant featuring grandmothers from diverse backgrounds cooking traditional dishes. "Nonnas" embraces Italian food clichés and nostalgia, using cuisine as a vehicle for love, grief, and connection, with notable performances by Lorraine Bracco, Susan Sarandon, Brenda Vaccaro, and Talia Shire as the feisty nonnas. Critics note the film's heartfelt and earnest tone, celebrating family traditions and community, though some story elements and scenes feel predictable or on-the-nose. The movie features evocative food montages and integrates Billy Joel's "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" to underscore its themes of passion and belonging. While not without flaws, Vaughn's performance and the charming portrayal of the nonnas provide an engaging, sentimental experience centered on Italian-American culture and family bonds.