Nonnas is a Netflix comedy-drama built around food, family, and second chances. The film follows Joe Scaravella (Vince Vaughn), who pours his grief into a risky idea: opening a Staten Island restaurant staffed by local grandmothers as the chefs.
What Nonnas is about
Netflix describes the setup plainly: after losing his mother, a man risks everything to honor her by opening an Italian restaurant with grandmothers running the kitchen.
The story is rooted in real life. Netflix Tudum says Scaravella opened Enoteca Maria in 2007 after missing his grandmother’s home-cooked dishes, creating a space where nonnas could share regional recipes and traditions.
The Italian grandmothers at the heart of the movie
Lorraine Bracco as Roberta
Joe’s mom’s longtime friend and the first to sign on, a proud Sicilian with strong opinions about Italian food who gradually softens as the restaurant becomes a community.
Brenda Vaccaro as Antonella
A feisty, big-hearted cook tied to Staten Island’s Italian market who joins as the second chef and finds new purpose after being widowed.
Talia Shire as Teresa
A former nun who comes across as quiet and diligent, with a personal backstory the other nonnas help her work through.
Susan Sarandon as Gia
The last to join as the pastry chef, a hairdresser and lifelong family friend who brings a confident, modern outlook on aging and visibility.
The main supporting cast around the restaurant
Vince Vaughn as Joe Scaravella
A Brooklyn native who uses his mother’s insurance money to open Enoteca Maria, trying to stay connected to what he’s lost.
Linda Cardellini as Olivia
A former classmate who reconnects with Joe and helps with the legal side of getting the restaurant off the ground.
Joe Manganiello as Bruno
Joe’s best friend, sceptical at first but ultimately supportive, including helping rebuild the space with his contractor skills.
Drea de Matteo as Stella
Bruno’s wife, a neighborhood presence who helps design the restaurant’s interiors and pushes Joe toward forward motion after loss.
Netflix also lists additional cast members, including Campbell Scott and Michael Rispoli.
Why the “nonnas” concept matters to the story
Tudum frames the real Enoteca Maria as a place where grandmothers can share culinary traditions, and notes that Scaravella later expanded the idea beyond Italian cooking to include grandmothers from other cultures as well.
That real-world foundation is the movie’s emotional engine: the restaurant becomes less about “a business” and more about preserving memory, community, and identity through food.
Where to watch
Nonnas is streaming on Netflix.
