Sorriso Kitchen Gears Up For 3rd Anniversary Celebration

CHATHAM, NJ — It was three years ago on Small Business Saturday that Sorriso Kitchen opened its doors to the community.

The eatery, on 252 Main Street, has become a cornerstone, including for its special needs students' work program, which ended being spotlighted in a “Lifetime” segment.

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Part of Sorriso’s mission, with “Sorisso” the Italian word for “smile,” has been to spark smiles for its patrons, as well as the special needs students from the ECLC campus in Chatham, who are learning through the hands-on work program.

“We have so much to celebrate,” said Karen Bellas, who opened the restaurant with her husband Jimmy and their two sons LJ, a student at the ECLC; and Nico, a Chatham High School student.

“Happy birthday to us,” she added.

The family created the restaurant and opened it up on Nov. 24, 2018, as a “safe place where LJ could work and be a vibrant part of the community he lives in.”

RELATED: Chatham Restaurant Special Needs Program Makes 'Lifetime' Segment

“We've had the support of a dedicated staff starting with our Executive Chef John Acosta, Sous Chef Nick Fuschetti, amazing servers Christine, Val and Vlad, Melissa, Pam and Jasmine,” Karen Bellas continued. “They've gotten us through this difficult time of COVID and we're delighted to have them as part of our family.”

She said on the day of Saturday’s celebration, its first-come, first-served, with the restaurant’s hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The restaurant is planning to decorate for the festivities and will spin a prize wheel for hourly guest giveaways that include free mugs, t-shirts, gift certificates and the possibility of the winner having their meal paid for on the spot.

For more information about Sorriso Kitchen visit www.sorrisokitchen.com or call 973-229-9443.

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