Chatham Server Surprised With $250 Holiday Tip

CHATHAM, NJ — Sorriso Kitchen in Chatham currently faces similar obstacles to restaurants trying to balance safety and profitability during the coronavirus pandemic. But Karen and Jimmy Bellas want their business to survive for one more reason: the future they planned for their son.

Sorriso translates to "smile," and their oldest son, LJ, brings smiles to everyone he meets. Nineteen-year-old LJ has Down syndrome, and the Bellas family opened their restaurant in 2018 partially to give him stable work once he graduates school.

Sorriso Kitchen has brought smiles to Chatham for the past two years, and their servers have been a major part of that, Karen Bellas said. But last weekend, a couple returned the favor for one of those servers with a $250 tip on a $37.21 bill.

"It was just before Christmas," Karen Bellas told Patch. "We tried to call out to them and see if it was a mistake. They said, ‘No, no, no, that’s yours,’ and they just kind of disappeared."

Like many restaurants, Sorriso Kitchen has needed to consistently pivot to navigate the pandemic. They closed their dining room and decided to focus on takeout and outdoor dining would bring greater profits.

But as they face those obstacles, the Bellas family has also tried to keep their servers employed. Rather than using an outside company, Sorriso Kitchen servers have made deliveries whenever possible. And the community has helped the servers with generous tips during this difficult time.

"Our servers are really well-trained," Bellas said. "They anticipate a lot of our customers’ needs before they even know what they want — especially our weekend crew."

Sorriso Kitchen prided itself on more than their farm-to-table food. They also provided an "experience," Bella said. They've tried to bring that atmosphere into people's homes with to-go brunches and suppers.

During the pandemic, however, they lost something else that makes them unique. Sorriso Kitchen closes each Monday. Before the pandemic, they ran a program in conjunction with LJ's school — ECLC of New Jersey in Chatham, which enrolls people with disabilities from kindergarten through age 21.

Each Monday, older ECLC students came to Sorriso Kitchen, grabbed their aprons and learned restaurant skills from greeting to presenting checks. Before they graduate the program, they serve the public — often friends and family.

Sorriso Kitchen has employed several students who completed the program. COVID-19 has thrown obstacles at the restaurant, and students who completed the program haven't been able to work there during the pandemic. But their loyal customers and supporters have tried to ensure they'll make it through to the other side.

Several acts of kindness have helpedSorriso Kitchen stay afloat, including a donation from Rock the 21 — a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating and supporting people with Down syndrome.

They've received anonymous checks in the mail with supportive messages, such as "We don't want to see you fail. Hope this helps."

The Bellas family has lived in Chatham for about 20 years. And many out there want to make sure their restaurants remains a staple of the community after COVID-19.

"It’s really been a very humbling time, a special time," Bellas said. "And people are really very encouraging."

Thanks for reading. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to [email protected].

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store. You can also follow the Chatham Patch Facebook page.