Almost a month ago, I was looking for a place to kill time with my youngest daughter whilst my oldest daughter was busy with her school's Kerstdiner. That meant that I had about 2 hours to pass the time during the dinner time of the day.
I had asked the little one what she would like to eat... and pizza was the answer.... in fact, it pretty much is always going to be pizza... or ice-cream!
So, I did a quick search of decent sounding but not too expensive pizza places in the neighbourhood and came up with this little place! Close enough to drive to and have enough time to eat a decent dinner...
In the website, they mention that the restaurant was a family run business that had been there since 1977... not too bad for a restaurant, these things are pretty risky ventures! So, that means that the food is pretty okay... or that the restaurant is a front for something else (Ha, where do the cliches of Italian restaurants come from... movies...)!
The Space
Now, to say that this place was dimly lit would be a bit of an understatement. Don't come here if you are planning to read a book with dinner! I actually like the dimly lit area, but it is definitely something that isn't everyone's cup of tea...
The spacing of the tables is quite decent, you won't be running up against the other diners... again, somethign that I look for in a place when I eat!
The decor is... quaint! Old fashioned might also describe it... it is quite cluttered, which does give it a bit of a cosy feeling...
The open pizza area in the front (there is a kitchen for other stuff in the back) was not really a symbol of hope for the pizzas... It really isn't a traditional wood-fired pizza oven... more of an electric imitation...
The Menu
Ha... I never thought that I would see the day that the dark/night theme would be implemented in a physical menu! I LOVE IT!
Anyway, vast selection of Italian favourites (pizzas, pastas and various appetisers) adorn the menu... more than enough for the discerning and hungry diner!
... and a standalone DESERT menu! Unfortunately, the dark theming never made it to these part of the menu. However, there is something really awesome about having a seperate dessert menu... a little surprise delivered after you finish your main meal, no dinner... no dessert!
The Food
After seeing the "pizza oven" in the front... I was starting to wonder if the pizza would be any good at all, despite the website... however, it turned out to be quite good! There wasn't an over-cheesing of the Four Seasons that I had ordered... the toppings were generous but not overloaded, and the dough was decent.
I can only imagine that if it was cooked in a proper pizza oven, that the dough would have been perfect! However, seeing as this restaurant is part of an apartment (the lower floor corner), it is possible that they aren't allowed to build a proper pizza oven for fire safety reasons?
Following the delicious and light pizza, was an equally delicious and light dessert... a sorbet trio with cream and strawberry sauce. My little girl also got herself a dessert... a kid's ice cream that was served with cream and was about the size of her head... She wolfed it all down... and was completely hyper for the rest of the night until she collapsed in bed. Top parenting....
Normally, I wouldn't have a coffee after dinner... it affects me too much to be able to sleep easily afterwards. However, on this particular day, I had travelled early (really early...) in the morning to make it back home for a parent/child juggling... So, I needed to stay awake for at least another couple of hours as none of the kids could drive the car...
As you would expect in an Italian restaurant... the coffee was strong and good! Not the best... but decent!
The Experience
Restaurants are notoriously risky business ventures. If they have lasted a long time, it is going to be partly due to a loyal clientele which sometimes (not always...) suggests that the food is decent. In the Netherlands, it can be somewhat harder to tell... the appreciation of quality food has improved markedly since my time in my adopted country... but there was easily a time when any sort of food passed muster.
Il Vesuvio does pass muster though... it appears to have had a loyal enough following to keep it in business, attracted by what appears to be a decent trade and quality in pizzas.
The staff were friendly, but would leave you alone... always a plus, no one likes being annoyed whilst eating... I think this place will be a place to remember for me, either for sitting to eat to kill time or for a take away pizza!
Opening Times
Sunday 5–10pm
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 5–10pm
Thursday 5–10pm
Friday 5–11pm
Saturday 5–11pm
Contact Details
Address: Laan van Meerdervoort 14, 2517 AK Den Haag, NETHERLANDS
Phone: +31 (0) 70 360 3735
Website: https://vesuvio.nl/
Account banner by jimramones
Restaurant Information
Pizzeria Il Vesuvio
Laan van Meerdervoort 14, 2517 AK Den Haag, Netherlands
This post participated in the Tasteem contest Pasta vs Pizza
