Grandmas Unite to Serve Home-Cooked Meals at Unique New York Restaurant

The idea for the restaurant came from the owner’s love of his own grandmother’s traditional Italian meals. (Courtesy: THIRTEEN)

If you’ve ever longed for a meal just like grandma used to make, there’s a restaurant in New York that might be your dream come true. Enoteca Maria, located in Staten Island, has taken the internet by storm with its heartwarming concept: a rotating team of grandmothers from around the globe, each bringing their culture’s home-cooked specialties to the table.

The idea for the restaurant came from the owner’s love of his own grandmother’s traditional Italian meals. As he missed those cherished dishes, he decided to create a space where others could experience the same warmth and nostalgia. Initially, the restaurant only featured Italian grandmothers, or “nonnas,” but it has since grown to include grandmothers from countries like Trinidad, Peru, Japan, Turkey, Argentina, and even Azerbaijan.

Grandmas Around the World

The restaurant currently features about 30 grandmothers from diverse cultural backgrounds, each taking turns in the kitchen. This unique setup ensures that every visit to Enoteca Maria offers a new and authentic culinary experience.

A Global Celebration of Tradition

At the heart of Enoteca Maria is a celebration of heritage and tradition.

The restaurant doesn’t just serve food—it tells stories, bridging cultures and generations through the universal language of a home-cooked meal.

The Internet Reacts

As you might expect, the internet is absolutely loving this concept. Reactions have poured in from TikTok and YouTube, with fans calling it a “novel idea” and emphasizing how quickly reservations fill up.

@travelandleisuremag

There’s nothing quite like grandma’s cooking Get a meal home cooked by a nonna at this New York restaurant 🎥 @Kareema Bee, T+L senior video producer #nyc #statenisland #thingstodoinnyc #nycrestaurants #nonna

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@thatgoodnewsgirl

Good news of the day: all of the chefs at a restaurant in Staten Island, New York are grandmas from around the world. 🌎 The restaurant is called Enoteca Maria. #enoteca #enotecamaria #grandmasoftiktok #statenisland #newyork #ny #statenislandny #grandmas #wholesome #goodnews #dailygoodnews #wholesometiktok #food #foodtiktok #greenscreen

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Should Toronto Get Its Own Grandma Restaurant?

The story has sparked conversations about whether cities like Toronto could benefit from a similar concept. After all, who wouldn’t want to enjoy a rotating menu of lovingly prepared dishes from all corners of the globe?

What do you think, BG Squad? Should Toronto get its own grandma-run restaurant? Share your thoughts in the comments below!