Reviews of Nonnas have been overwhelmingly positive, with many critics praising the film’s heartfelt storytelling and charming sense of humor.

Much of Nonnas centers around Vaughn’s protagonist as he struggles to get his new restaurant off the ground, facing countless obstacles from both the Italian locals of Staten Island and the inspection company that seems poised against him. It’s a rags-to-riches success story that seems unbelievable on the surface, but Nonnas is actually inspired by a real-life restaurant that was created under very similar circumstances. The success of Nonnas comes, at least in part, thanks to its unwavering authenticity and loyalty to this true story.

Nonnas Is Based On The True Story Of Enoteca Maria & Joe Scaravella

The Restaurant Really Exists In New York

While the story of Nonnas may seem unbelievable on the surface, the character of Joe Scaravella is actually based on a real man of the same name, who opened a restaurant centered around Italian grandmothers’ cooking. The real restaurant was opened in 2007 after Joe Scaravella suffered a major family loss and wanted to maintain his family’s culture and promote it to others. Exactly as the movie suggests, he stumbled across the property one day while walking through Staten Island and decided to take the leap.

The fact that Nonnas is based on a true story simply makes the film even more engaging. Knowing that Joe Scaravella really undertook this business venture in his family’s honor really elevates this film beyond a piece of fiction, rooting its message about family and grief in the real world. The entire movie has a clear message about following your dreams and accepting grief, and knowing that Scaravella actually did this makes the message even more potent.

How Accurate Is Nonnas To The Real Enoteca Maria?

The Film Takes Some Minor Creative Liberties

Overall, Nonnas is a fairly accurate portrayal of how Joe Scaravella came to open the Enoteca Maria restaurant in Staten Island. He really did suffer the loss of his mother, after whom the restaurant is named, and this really did inspire him to employ real-life Italian grandmothers in the kitchens to create an authentic atmosphere of home cooking and family dinners. Although much of the obstacles that he faced from the local citizens and the inspection company were exaggerated for dramatic effect, his real-life story is one that’s equally as compelling as the movie.

Ultimately, Nonnas is a very accurate representation of how Joe Scaravella came to be the most unlikely restaurant owner in Staten Island. The rest of Nonnas’ cast are also inspired by real people, as Enoteca Maria originally opened with three Italian grandmothers working alongside Scaravella - Cermelina Pica, Adelina Orazzo, and Teresa Scalici.

The History & Status Of The Real Enoteca Maria Restaurant

The Restaurant Is Still Open To This Day

The original Enoteca Maria opened in 2007 and still operates today, with Nonnas bringing a huge amount of publicity and attention to the establishment. But it’s much more than just a place to eat: Scaravella’s restaurant also offers a free class where visitors can get individual cooking lessons from local Italian grandmothers. It’s more than a restaurant; it’s a celebration of family culture and cooking. The owner is also working on an online group where people can share their family recipes with the world (via TIME).

As many audiences have noted, there’s even a strong potential for a sequel to this story, following Scaravalla’s adventures managing the restaurant and pushing it to further success with Olivia at his side.

Nonnas doesn’t go into much detail about what happens to Enoteca Maria after Edward Durant’s positive review brings plenty more customers to the establishment. But based on the true story the movie is based on, Scaravalla's restaurant is just beginning its successful run. With nearly two decades of experience serving customers, Enoteca Maria remains a well-regarded establishment with excellent food. Nonnas' ending sets up the next chapter in Enoteca Maria's real life history.

What Nonnas Leaves About Joe Scaravella & Enoteca Maria's Real Story

The Film Doesn't Cover Joe's Story In Perfect Depth

Naturally, certain aspects of Joe Scaravella’s story had to be altered slightly to make Nonnas more engaging as a film. The most obvious example of this is the relationship between Joe and Olivia, which provides a strong emotional core in Stephen Chbosky’s movie. While it’s inspired by romances that Scaravella had in the past, the business owner never dated the neighbor of one of Enoteca Maria’s founding chefs. Instead, Scaravella met his current partner (one of Enoteca Maria’s head chefs) under different circumstances.

Nonnas also simplifies Scaravella’s story quite severely, presenting Enoteca Maria as merely a tribute to his late mother. However, it was actually a much greater loss that spurred the real-life figure to upend his life and buy a restaurant: Scaravella lost both of his grandparents, both of his parents, and his sister in very quick succession shortly before undertaking this massive professional endeavor. Nonnas ignored these additional losses to focus more clearly on the bond between Joe and his mother, but the grief in real life was much greater.

While Joe’s story is fairly accurately presented in Nonnas, the stories of those around him have been greatly altered to allow for a smoother, more natural story progression. The ing cast are mostly fictional, merely inspired by the real-life nonnas who lent their talents to Joe’s business. Characters like Olivia and Bruno only exist to give the film a more familiar structure, tugging on the audience’s heartstrings by straining Joe’s friendships and relationships. Nonnas is a very accurate presentation of Joe Scaravella’s story and the establishment of Enoteca Maria, but it’s also one that’s been greatly enhanced by storytelling techniques.

Source: TIME