But the underlying warmth in Chbosky’s direction and Liz Maccie’s script papers over that, and you get a movie that feels like a nice ode to how food brings us together, and it’s the sense of community that can start to heal our grief.

Brenda Vaccaro, Talia Shire and Linda Cardellini also star in the story of an unusual New York restaurant, directed by Stephen Chbosky and inspired by a real eatery on Staten Island.