Bites Nearby: Nonna's Ristorante Italiano

Visit the bar of Nonna’s Ristorante Italiano and you’ll notice a sign above the doorway reading “Enter As Strangers -- Leave As Friends.”

This is more than a slogan. It is the reality at this Manomet restaurant, according to owner Phyllis Antonelli.

She tells how, in cycles, people meet in her restaurant, form groups, become friends and keep returning. Couples have even met and become engaged there, Antonelli said.

The ambience of the whole place, low ceilinged and intimate, straight from the living room of grandma’s house, more than fits such a scenario.

In fact, as Antonelli explains, Nonna’s is named after her grandmother, Filippa DiGiorgio, whose photograph greets patrons. “Nonna” means grandmother in Italian, and Antonelli said she chose this name for her restaurant to “keep her alive.”

As the recipes were passed down from DiGiorgio to Antonelli’s mother and then to Antonelli, she said, the food itself manages to keep Nonna alive as well. Antonelli said she trained the cooks herself.

“It’s a hidden treasure in Manomet,” Joanna Sayce, a member of the staff, said. “They have great food here.”

The menu ranges from pizza and subs to fine Italian cuisine, Sayce noted. Popular dishes include Pollo Alle Melanzane, Chicken Parmesan and Veal Parmesan, she said. For an appetizer, Sayce recommended the "excellent" Shrimp Scampi Bruschetta.

Also featured on the menu are Fried Risotto Balls, Lobster Ravioli and Stuffed Mushrooms for appetizers, as well as pasta and fish dishes.

“I think that our food is delicious,” Antonelli said.

 Antonelli said her role as owner also includes being out in the dining room and creating her own dishes.

“I’ve always loved to cook. I enjoy the people.”

The pizza brings some people in weekly. Antonelli described it as a thin crust, New York style pizza in which all the flavors are noticeable.

This pizza brings Dorothy, a Plymouth resident, into Nonna’s about once a month. She praised the thin crust of the pizza, the quality of the food and the service, while picking up a cheese pizza and a side salad.

“Their Italian dressing is outstanding,” Dorothy added.

Nonna’s is suitable for both families and those seeking fine dining.

“It’s geared toward both,” Sayce said.

Thursdays, Nonna’s also hosts an open mic, and karoke every Friday.

With a visit to Nonna’s, Antonelli said that she hopes guests feel welcomed, love the food and leave with an extra friend or two.

Nonna’s Ristorante Italiano is located at 739 State Road in the Mayflower Plaza and is open from 4-9 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and from 4-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Call (508) 224-2620 to make a reservation or place an order for pickup or delivery.

Seafood Rissotto -- courtesy of Phyllis Antonelli

• Sauté flour-coated shrimp, scallops and haddock in extra-virgin olive oil. Add chicken broth.
• Take a red sauce and mix in a splash of white wine and crushed red pepper.
• Mix parmesan cheese, butter and cream together, and sauté.
• Serve the seafood, the sauce and the cheese mixture over risotto.