If the cheerful mustard yellow and ketchup red color scheme of The Happy Cheesesteak at 150 South Main Street, or the logo of a grinning grinder roll stuffed with steak and cheese and giving the “thumbs up” is not enough to put a smile on the customer’s face, then owner Adam Watt is certain that something on the menu will make that person happy.

And Adam Watt is willing to make customers “Happy” any way that he can at the light and bright 24-seat eatery. He had a vision to meet the hard economic times with a place that served exceptional food at great prices, and that would give Newtown something different from the usual fare, when he came up with the concept this past July. Those ideals all came together when he opened The Happy Cheesesteak on September 1, serving up a classic Philadelphia-style cheesesteak, as well as variations on that theme. A cheesesteak is a stack of thinly sliced steak on a long roll, topped with melted cheese, traditionally Cheese Whiz. It is served “with” or “without” grilled onions.

“The cheesesteak is flying out the door,” reported Mr Watt, less than one month after the opening date. “People love them — the classic with Cheese Whiz, the pastrami, the sausage and peppers, the chicken cheesesteak. I’m getting rave reviews on all of them,” he said. He is especially proud of the compliment he recently received from Philadelphia-based customers: The Happy Cheesesteak is better than Gino’s in Philadelphia. Less conventional cheesesteak lovers who are not fans of Cheese Whiz can opt for American, mozzarella, Swiss, or provolone cheese on the classic Philly sandwich.

Mr Watt is not unfamiliar with the restaurant business. Earlier this decade, he owned and operated the Roadrunner Kitchen, housed in the Mobil station on South Main Street, near the Monroe line. A builder by trade, the Newtown resident decided to return to the restaurant business when the economy turned the building trade upside down.

The Happy Cheesesteak uses only USDA rib eye/sirloin on the original sandwich, and USDA beef, pork, and poultry on the other “happy” menu items. Those include the Happy Pastrami, with grilled pastrami, onions, and Swiss cheese; the Happy Porketta, a sandwich of seasoned roast pork, onions, hot cherry peppers, and “happy” gravy; the Happy eggplant with grilled eggplant, roasted peppers, mozzarella, and balsamic vinaigrette; sausage and peppers; and several other sandwiches flowing over with flavors and ingredients inspired by Mr Watt’s Italian heritage.

In a nod to the popularity of mini-hamburgers known as “sliders,” The Happy Cheesesteak offers Happy Pork Squealers and Happy Chicken Cluckers. The Squealer is seasoned roast pork, American cheese, onions, and “happy gravy; ” the Clucker is grilled chicken breast, grilled peppers, bacon, and “happy” barbeque sauce. Both fill up a bite-sized grinder roll, and sell for just $1.89 and $1.99 each, respectively.

Two of The Happy Cheesesteak’s best sellers are named for Mr Watt’s 5-year-old niece and 3-year-old nephew, Jessie and Nicky. The Happy Jesse, with grilled chicken breast, roasted peppers, sautéed broccoli rabe, bacon, and mozzarella honors not only his niece, but his late brother, as well. The Happy Nicky D. features sweet Italian sausage with broccoli rabe.

The Happy Veggie, as well as the Happy Fish-n-Chips, or a fish grinder with beer-battered cod filet, makes nonmeat eaters as happy as any other customer. Light eaters are pleased with the steak or Caesar salads on the menu.

There is a secret to making customers “happy,” beyond great food and great service, though. The “happy” gravy and barbeque found on many of the cheesesteaks and sandwiches contain Mr Watt’s special seasonings. “Not even the kitchen staff knows what goes into it,” he said. The “happy” seasoning is what makes his wings the “best in the area,” according to customers that have tried them.

All of the cheesesteaks and sandwiches served at The Happy Cheesesteak are made on grinder rolls from the Purdy Hill Bakery in Monroe. “It’s fantastic bread,” declared Mr Watt. Sandwiches are also available on a wrap for $1 extra.

An even bigger smile is put on the faces of those who opt for one or more of the 40-cent add-ons to a sandwich: sweet or hot cherry peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, onion, lettuce, “happy” cheese sauce, or provolone, American, Swiss, mozzarella, or bleu cheese. For 85 cents, bacon can be added to any sandwich.

Children are not forgotten at the Happy Cheesesteak. While adults find bliss in a reasonably priced “happy” meal (cheesesteaks and grinders are priced between $4.79 and $5.49, and can be upgraded to a combo that includes fries and a soda for $6.85 to $7.65), little diners are equally content with a $4 order of either a small Happy Pork Squealer or Chicken Clucker, mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, a grilled cheese, or a corn dog, with fries, a soda — and a yo-yo.

Diners can grab a soda or water from the well-stocked two-door cooler and a bag of chips from the rack near the large pickup window that looks into the kitchen. Nearby, wall mounted dispensers provide an ultra sanitary method of providing utensils, whether dining in at The Happy Cheesesteak or taking the generous sandwiches to go. Condiments and napkins are handily located on a table beneath the dispensers.

Sunday customers will not mind a short wait for their orders: a flat screen television mounted in the corner of the dining room the Sunday football game on Direct TV each week.

A former band member and guitarist before he became a builder or restaurateur, music remains a big part of Mr Watt’s life. Putting a smile on yet more faces are the many autographed prints and photographs of stars like LeAnn Rimes, George Harrison, Faith Hill, Charlie Daniels, the Stray Cats, Eric Clapton, master chef Rocco Dispirito, and female body builder Sandy Riddell that decorate the walls of The Happy Cheesesteak. Mr Watt pays his respects to the King of Rock-n-Roll with an Elvis Presley favorite — the deep-fried pickle. The half-sour pickle, quartered, battered, breaded, and deep-fried is a Happy Cheesesteak best seller.

Mr Watt looks forward to building up his clientele in Newtown, and hopes that his dream of three locations within three years can be achieved. “The Happy Cheesesteak has the sound of a franchise,” he said, “and that’s my vision. Without a vision, people perish.”

The Happy Cheesesteak, located at 150 South Main Street, across from the Citgo gas station, is open Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 7 pm; Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm; and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. No credit or debit cards are accepted — cash only. For takeout orders, call 203-270-3301.