Many people know Sorriso Kitchen for its breakfast, brunch, and lunch favorites, from breakfast sandwiches to cinnamon roll pancakes. Voted Best Brunch in Chatham, Sorriso is also known for its warm, welcoming atmosphere. But behind every meal is a story that began long before the restaurant opened.
In Italian, Sorriso means “smile,” a fitting name for a place built on bringing people together. Today, it’s one of Chatham’s favorite gathering places, but for owners Jimmy and Karen Bellas, it started with a dream to create something their family had been searching for.
Jimmy grew up in the restaurant business, first at his family’s waterfront restaurant on Long Island and later with a restaurant of his own, before building a 20-year career in corporate America. Karen worked as an art director and creative director in advertising before stepping away to raise their sons, LJ and Nico, later transforming their garage into an art studio where she taught local children.
As the years passed, Jimmy longed for work that felt more meaningful. Conversations about opening “a little place someday” became more frequent. Then, in 2018, opportunity knocked.
The couple stopped into Angie’s Family Restaurant in Chatham for coffee and learned the owners were preparing to retire. A conversation soon became something bigger. Jimmy and Karen purchased the restaurant and began creating the neighborhood breakfast and lunch destination they wished had existed while raising their family.
Karen designed the logo, envisioned the welcoming interior, and chose Sorriso’s signature yellow because “it felt happy.” Their search for the right chef led them to Culinary Institute of America graduate Ryan Chatfield. Around the Bellas family’s kitchen table, ideas became recipes and signature dishes, including the Sorriso Breakfast Sandwich, Rise & Shine, and crispy fingerling breakfast potatoes.
When Sorriso opened, the response was immediate. During opening weekend, demand was so overwhelming the restaurant ran out of food. What Jimmy and Karen imagined as a small neighborhood restaurant quickly became a gathering place for family traditions and everyday moments.
But the Bellas family always believed Sorriso could serve a greater purpose.
Their son, LJ, who has Down syndrome, inspired them to think differently about opportunity. They envisioned Sorriso as a place where he and others with intellectual and developmental disabilities could develop meaningful workplace skills. On Mondays, when Sorriso is closed, the dining room transforms into a classroom through its Job Training Program in partnership with local schools. Students practice everything from greeting guests and setting tables to operating the point-of-sale system and building confidence.
As customers learned about the program, they continually asked: How can we help? Their support inspired the Reason to Smile Foundation, which has grown to include a baking program, employment opportunities, and popular Breakfast for Dinner events. Graduates return to work alongside the Sorriso team, putting their skills into practice while serving guests.
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived just over a year after opening, Sorriso adapted by preparing meals for healthcare workers, offering family suppers to-go and finding ways to keep employees and the community connected.
Today, Sorriso is far more than a place for breakfast and lunch. It is where first jobs begin, traditions are created, and neighbors become friends. What began as one family’s dream has grown into a place where opportunities are created and every smile tells a story.
“We wanted more than a restaurant, a place where everyone felt welcomed and connected.”
“Sorriso became more than a restaurant. It became a place where community, opportunity, connection and meaningful moments come together daily.”