amily and food are two of the most important ingredients in Italian culture, so it’s only natural that they go together like spaghetti and meatballs. Calgary’s newest culinary edition, Capriccio, is a fresh incarnation of the tried-and-true family-owned Italian restaurant. Manager Vincenzo Izzo can be seen schmoozing with customers while his daughter, Sara, seats people; even his granddaughter, Maria Elena, pours water and busses tables. The love of family is felt all through the place and helps create a warm, comfortable atmosphere.

The location was the Vagabondo Restaurant for thirteen years before the Izzos moved in. Slight, decorative renovations were done to the 54-seat dining room. Fresh new tablecloths and curtains make the room look crisp and new. Wall decorations and bronze napkins add a bit of ambiance to the fresh feel. The real work was done on the kitchen, which is brand spanking new. Chef Salvatore Velotti (Da Paolo Ristorante) had a clean slate to create the menu from and he didn’t disappoint.

Velotti makes everything he can from scratch from the tomato sauce to the lasagna. It is the homemade aspect that makes Capriccio a dinner destination because the menu is exactly what you’d expect from a family-run Italian eatery. Velotti’s touch gives that loved quality to the food that emanates throughout the place. If you’re looking for a standout menu choice that will leave you satisfied and back for dinner the following week, try the osso bucco. This succulent, slow cooked veal shank simply falls off the bone. Enough said.

Vincenzo is a busy man being The Cappuccino King and all. Izzo owns and runs the popular Cappuccino King empire with his son Peter. He was the landlord of the Vagabondo location and decided not to scoff at opportunity when the aging restaurant folded.

Capriccio does home-cooked Italian to die for. Bring your family, soak up the love (and the fresh tomato sauce) and don’t forget to have an espresso at the end of your meal. Izzo is the King, after all. –J.T.