Between the universities of applied sciences and the University of Groningen, the city has more than 50,000 students among its residents, and lots of restaurants are vying to get them in the door.
By Hans de Preter / Translation by Traci White
New Italian restaurants – especially pizza places – seem to be opening every week, vying to serve the cheapest pie in town. The latest addition is Happy Italy on the Oosterstraat, where you can get a pizza for less than five euros.
Happy Italy came to Groningen after national chain Vapiano opened their massive restaurant on the Poelestraat. The new restaurant is located at Oosterstraat 56 – next door to the Jumbo – in the space formerly occupied by “Mijn Tafeltje”.
The restaurant is open daily from noon to midnight, and customers can dig into all kinds of Italian dishes on the cheap: pasta, salad and pizza all start at 4.95 euros. The menu only features one item that costs more than 10 euros – if you’re curious, it’s the ravioli.
Happy Italy is also a chain restaurant, and with 20 locations expected to open nationwide this year, it is quickly gaining popularity. Their first location opened in Zoetermeer, and the Groningen store is the second.
Another cheap and fast Italian option in Groningen is the Pastafabriek on the Folkingestraat, but there are plenty of pasta and pizza-focused eateries across town – albeit a bit pricier.
Photo source: Happy Italy
