raditional Italian family restaurants aren’t usually run by Vietnamese cooks, but that’s the story at Green Olive, the family’s second location in Calgary. Sisters Nhung Thai, Hao Thai and Vien Thai cook up creamy Italian comfort food in an atmosphere comfortable enough to bring your two-tear-old to.

The trio makes everything, including their pasta in house – a trait that makes the difference between good Italian and great Italian. The heart-stopping but irresistible Fonduta al Green Olive ($7.95) offers molten cream cheese right out of the oven smattered with artichoke bits and crab meat to dip your fresh focaccia in. Another Green Olive bestseller is the Frutti di Mare Affoglara ($18.25). This thick seafood linguine is bathed in Dijon mustard cream sauce and full of ocean treats like jumbo shrimp, scampi, mussels and scallops.

For a down-to-earth vibe, caring service and filling Italian cuisine Green Olive is as good as it gets. –J.T.