Staten Island often gets written off as the quietest, most suburban borough of New York City. Accessible by a free ferry and mostly skipped by tourists rushing to Manhattan or Brooklyn, it’s easy to overlook. But that’s exactly the point. Staten Island isn’t just a borough—it’s a world of its own, filled with untold stories, vibrant culture, and a strong sense of community that NYC’s other boroughs sometimes lack.
Enoteca Maria And The Nonna Spirit That Defines Staten Island
If you’ve watched Netflix’s Nonnas (and you should), you already know one of Staten Island’s most heartfelt landmarks: Enoteca Maria. The real-life restaurant, just steps from the Staten Island Ferry terminal, isn’t just a place to eat—it’s a living tribute to family, tradition, and the power of food to connect generations.
Founded by Joe Scaravella, a former MTA worker turned restaurateur, Enoteca Maria features a rotating cast of grandmothers as chefs. These nonnas don’t just cook Italian dishes; they serve memories, emotions, and histories on every plate. What started as a personal homage to Scaravella’s mother and grandmother evolved into a global culinary experiment—with elder women from Mexico, Uzbekistan, Greece, and beyond sharing their recipes and stories.
Scaravella calls it a cultural exchange. And he’s right. Enoteca Maria isn’t chasing trends. It doesn’t take reservations through apps. It even avoids delivery services. This is food in its most honest form—made with care, served fresh, and never sent in a box.
Staten Island’s Waterfront Is A Gateway To More Than Manhattan
Most people see the Staten Island Ferry as just a free ride to downtown Manhattan. But for Staten Islanders, it’s a lifeline. The ferry connects a borough that’s often isolated by geography and perception to the rest of the city. Yet, many who pass through St. George Terminal never stop to explore what’s around it.
Just a few blocks from the terminal, you’ll find Enoteca Maria. Nearby, the historic St. George Theatre hosts concerts, plays, and events that draw crowds from all over the island. Staten Island’s waterfront is slowly being revitalized, but it still holds that grit and authenticity that big cities lose when they become too polished.
Hidden Stories That Give Staten Island Character
Staten Island is full of stories like Scaravella’s—personal, raw, and rooted in family. It’s the kind of place where you can find a portrait of a local hero hanging next to a mural of a superhero. Where a chef might hand you a cooking tip while wiping sauce off his hands, and still call it a “cultural exchange” instead of a business.
These stories aren’t just about survival. They’re about thriving in your own way. Enoteca Maria’s grandmothers fought health code regulations, clashed in the kitchen over which Italian region had the best recipes, and still gamely taught diners how to make gnocchi with their shaky hands. They’re not fictional characters either—they’re Carmelina, Adelina, Teresa. And they lived full lives, finding new purpose in a place that wanted their wisdom, not just their age.
Why Staten Island Matters In The City’s Cultural Landscape
Staten Island may not have the skyline or the nightlife, but it has something NYC often forgets to value: roots. It’s where people go to start over, like Scaravella, who bought a Dutch colonial house and then a vacant storefront. It’s where traditions aren’t just preserved—they’re celebrated by nonnas who refuse to let their recipes fade into obscurity.
With movies like Nonnas shining a spotlight on Staten Island, we’re finally seeing the borough for what it is: a place of resilience, flavor, and unexpected emotion. A place where food is more than sustenance—it’s a language of love, a bridge between generations, and sometimes, the only thing that keeps you going.
What Staten Island Teaches Us About Family And Food
Enoteca Maria’s success isn’t just about Italian food. It’s about the fact that people like Joe Scaravella aren’t afraid to fall in love with loss and turn it into something meaningful. It’s about grandmothers who step into kitchens not for pay, but for purpose. It’s about a borough that may not shout, but certainly speaks volumes when you listen.
So next time you take the Staten Island Ferry, don’t just pass through. Step off. Grab a meal at Enoteca Maria. Call it a nonna, call it a borough, call it what you want. But don’t call it forgotten.