Exclusive | NYC restaurant owner who inspired Nonnas movie bombarded with calls: Theres 350 messages on there!

Jody Scaravella knew right away that Enoteca Maria, the Staten Island restaurant he opened in 2007 where grandmothers cook traditional meals for customers, would make a perfect movie.How could he not? Scaravella, who also goes by Joe, was being told so non-stop.“Almost from day one, we’ve been contacted about a reality show, about a movie, about a documentary, just constantly, constantly,” the owner of the hotspot in the St.George neighborhood of the borough told The Post.

“I certainly knew we had struck a nerve.”And then about eight years ago, the filmmakers of “Nonnas,” the feel-good comedy directed by Stephen Chbosky that drops on Netflix Friday, finally convinced him.“This was really heartfelt and the people actually stepped up to the plate,” he said.“It unfolded very quickly.”Now, Scaravella is getting the Hollywood treatment.

The Brooklyn native is being played onscreen by “Wedding Crashers” star Vince Vaughn.And the quartet of lively Italian nonnas heating up the kitchen are a formidable bunch: Lorraine Bracco, Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire and Brenda Vaccaro.The kitchen can get spicy — and not just because of the red pepper flakes. “I love Lorraine Bracco and Brenda Vaccaro when they’re having it out,” Scaravella said. Their characters’ head-butting is about more than whose Sunday sauce is tastier.Bracco’s forthright Roberta hails from Sicily, while Vaccaro’s nonna, Antonella, is a proud native of Bologna.“There’s definitely a certain amount of prejudice, depending on what part of Italy you’re from,” Scaravella said.

“The one moment when Vince turns to the ladies and says, ‘You ladies are killing me!’ — I’ve said that.”The proprietor helped Vaughn, who he calls a “really down to earth and sweet guy,” and writer Liz Maccie turn the remarkable Enoteca Maria journey into a heart-tugging movie.“He came to the restaurant with Joe Mangianello, [who plays best friend Bruno],” Scaravella said.�...