Dutch Delights – Restaurant Review: Happy Italy

When Happy Italy opened in Rotterdam last year, it was nearly impossible to go anywhere without coming face-to-face with one of their advertising posters. Which makes it extra funny that we walked right past the restaurant despite having checked the map before heading there for lunch.

Happy Italy, a “fast Italian” restaurant is located on the Binnenrotte, near the Rotterdam library and within the vicinity of the Tuesday/Saturday market. Since we were having a rare sun appearance, we decided to sit outside at one of the handful of bistro tables. We were quickly noticed and a cheerful waiter chuckled along with us as we mumbled the Italian words that made up our order.

If you are in the mood for pizza, pasta or even a panini, then you are not going to be disappointed with the menu. The dishes on offer are varied and extensive. Struggling to choose but in the mood for pasta, I went for the salsiccia con il vino – a topping of white wine, salami, fresh spinach and goats cheese – and since I was with company, I went for the easy eating pasta option of penne.

When the dish arrived in a stylish slanted white bowl I knew there would be no way that I would manage to finish it all. The pasta was well cooked and the topping featured plenty of flavour. The salami was less of the flat thin salami I know and more of a thicker, cubed like cut, which I must admit I preferred. Less could be said for the goats cheese, which seemed a bit out of sync with the other flavours. Although, I have never been an overly big fan of goats cheese, so this might have just been personal taste.

What would have made the dish more enjoyable would have been some fresh parmesan on top and a side order of fresh (garlic) bread. However, side dishes are sorely lacking at Happy Italy and their dessert menu is rather small.

By the time we got that far the sun had started to hide behind the clouds, so we retreated inside. What a great choice because the inside of Happy Italy is a real plus. It is quite a large venue, creatively decorated (a lamp fixture made out of lamps!) and with a play area for children downstairs.

My cioccolato (code word for chocolate cake) was again a large portion and well presented but lacked the punch of flavour I was hoping it would have. But for €3.75 perhaps my expectations were a bit too high.

Happy Italy has several things going for it – huge portions, decent prices, a great interior, a large menu – but its real gem is the staff. Everyone we came into contact with was friendly, helpful and just downright nice. A few additions to their dessert and starter options and you’d have a pretty excellent combination of taste, price and selection.

[box] What I Ate: Salsiccia con il vino (€8.75) and Cioccolato (€3.75)
Where: Binnenrotte 102, Rotterdam, 3011 HC
Recommended? Yes – for a decent, quick and reasonably priced Italian meal.[/box]