The San Marcos City Council recognized two family owners of George Burgers and Sorrento’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant Tuesday with the Civic SMILE Award, short for “San Marcos Inspiration, Leadership and Excellence.”
San Marcos City Council members each nominate a SMILE Award recipient a year. Council Member Danielle LeBlang selected this month’s honorees:
“George Burgers was founded in 1976 by George and Eleni Papoutsis, who came to the United States as immigrants from Greece with little more than determination, hope, and a dream of building a better future for their family. Through hard work, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to serving quality food with genuine hospitality, they built not only a successful restaurant but also a place where generations of families have gathered to share meals and create lasting memories.
George and Eleni (who passed in August 2025) believed deeply in the opportunities that America offered. They embraced the American dream with courage and perseverance.
As they celebrate 50 years in business, they remain committed to carrying forward the values that George and Eleni established in 1976: hard work, honesty, quality, and treating every customer like family. They accept this award with ‘gratitude, humility, and in loving memory of our mother, Eleni, whose legacy continues to inspire us every day.’”
“Rita D’Elia and her husband Tony opened Sorrento’s in 1976 to share their love and passion for authentic Italian food. After Tony’s passing, Rita and her sister Nancy continued ‘carrying the torch lit by Tony’s passion so long ago,’ as beautifully mentioned on their website.
Known for their sweet red sauce Italian dishes, Sorrento’s serves large portions of pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salads and garlic bread. All of their recipes have remained unchanged for 50 years, with the secret ingredient being the love and dedication shared by this heartwarming family.”
Created in 2021, the SMILE Award celebrates individuals and organizations that embody the community’s spirit of service and dedication. See the full list of honorees on the city’s website.
