CASH ONLY (or Venmo!) I love the concept of Enoteca Maria, so I feel slightly guilty for the 3-star rating, but 3-stars means it was alright! I'm obsessed with hole-in-the-wall restaurants where the food tastes like your grandma made it. When my friend told me about Enoteca Maria, I decided I had a reason to go to Staten Island. It is conveniently located near the ferry, so it is definitely worth a visit! I called two weeks ahead to get a 2:30pm seating on a Sunday. They are closed in the beginning of the week so plan ahead if you want to make a reservation. The interior is no-frills, which makes sense for the concept! We had a nonna from Italy and one from Japan working the day we went, though did not see the nonna from Japan. I ordered the risotto ($18) and my friend had eggplant dengaku ($25). The highlight of the risotto was the sausage, which had nice flavor. Otherwise, the risotto did not have much flavor. My friend's dish tasted like a steak meal with an eggplant substitution. The sauce was delicious, and the eggplant texture was nice. The whipped potatoes were pretty cool and complemented the dish nicely. We had a bread pudding for dessert ($14) that was also decent. I was missing more texture from wafers, but the vanilla pudding was good. Service was alright. The waiter who helped us was courteous, and we didn't need a water refill. I was just personally not wowed by the food. If I do end up coming back with someone else who wants to try it, and I have an outstanding dish, I will update my review accordingly. That being said, I do think this is an experience every New Yorker should try at least once!
Wir waren am 18.2.2024 zum Mittagessen da und es war ausgezeichnet. Das Restaurant war komplett ausgebucht doch zum unserem Glück waren wir sehr früh da und konnten trotzdem was essen. Wir fanden die Bedienung unglaublich freundlich und sie hat unseren Aufenthalt ganz besonders gemacht. Wir würden jederzeit wiederkommen.
We came here from Queens. What an absolutely delightful meal. Great, interesting wine at very reasonable prices. Food was good excellent, with good portions priced accordingly. Very warm service. We had to wait Peruvian and Italian food, and everything was wonderful. Will definitely be back and bring friends. Highly recommend