Diana's Cucina — Restaurant in Winnipeg

I've heard about Dianna's "Award Winning Pizzas" on a local radio station and was very interested with the interview that they hosted with the owner, Dianna. Yesterday, I happened to be in the right part of town at the right time to drop in and place an order for Take Out. There was a scant menu on the chalk board, but I soon found a paper menu and explored it. I was asked what I wanted to order. I couldn't really decide as there were so many interesting choices. I asked for a recommendation. I was told "It depends what you like, there's the menu.", to which I responded " I like pretty much anything, what would you recommend for someone's first time here that would make me want to keep coming back." I literally live across the city from this restaurant, but if the food and service are good, I usually make the effort to return.

This is where the little bit of service I had received so far totally disappeared. I was given a blank look, then I was ignored for 10 minutes, left standing and waiting. I thought about leaving and going over to Pizza Gusto on the other block, but was determined to try this pizza. I chose a random pizza from the menu, and waited. My order was finally taken, and I was told 20 minutes. I waited in the car due to the current pandemic situation, and after 25 minutes went in. I was told it would be a little longer...not a problem. After 10 more minutes, my pie was ready, and I left for for home.

On the way home, I picked up my wife from work. She said that the pizza smelled good, to which I replied " I hope it is, $50 and horrible service...the pizza better be good.

The pizza was incredible, but based on the lack of service, at the end of it all I don't know why I would want to make an effort to go there, even if I lived across the street.

UPDATE November 20 After the owner Diana, reached out and contacted me with her concerns about my experience at her restaurant, I soon realized that this particular experience was probably more of an anomaly than the norm.

Her determination to make right this situation by addressing it with her staff and offering me a sincere apology from their and her behalf have convinced me of this.

The fact the the food was through the roof excellent, and her recommendations on a few of her favourites have convinced me to edit my review and bump it up from 2 to 4 stars.

I will be re-visiting this restaurant and hopefully not be disappointed...perhaps the next review...

My wife and I frequently dine in, but decided to takeout this particular night. We were looking forward to the ultimate pepperoni as the last time we’d gone it really hit the spot. I ordered an ultimate pepperoni and a farmers boy. Pizza was ready when I arrived so I paid (even left a very generous tip which i completely regret now), and went home w/ the Za. Opened the boxes at home and discovered we got a deluxe and a farmers boy, no pepperoni. My wife called back and I was shocked to hear how she was talked to by the very rude Asian guy. He demanded she bring the deluxe back and get the pepperoni. She’s got a food handlers certificate and knows that’s not even remotely acceptable. My wife then drove back to the restaurant where the guy did give her the pepperoni, but when she told him (with other paying customers waiting in the foyer listening), that she wasn’t giving him the deluxe back, he goes “now I have to remake that!?”…. Ummm yes. She looked over at the other customers waiting and said I hope you didn’t order a deluxe as it sitting on my counter at home opened. Can you imagine, taking a pizza home and not realizing that someone else had already done the same, opened it, AND returned it!?? Pretty sure that’s a health code violation for obvious reasons. I’ll be personally contacting public health inspectors so they’re aware of what this rude idiot tried to do. Finally, I’ll never go back again and share this story with everyone I know. Just disgusted by the...

We live in the country & when we drive to the City, always like to stop in at Diana’s. Sometimes we eat in, sometimes we take out. We were here for pizza in mid-December. We went to the restaurant and ordered pizza to go, and we like to have a glass or two of wine while we wait. We couldn’t get wine because they have a new partner and have to change the liquor license. Isn’t it still Diana’s & wouldn’t she have a license in her name? We got our pizzas and left. Pizza was excellent. Fast forward to the end of January. We go in to get our pizza and have wine. A young Asian guy who barely speaks English told us the restaurant section was turned into an Asian restaurant. We didn’t come to a cucina to eat Asian! You can only order pizza from the take-out side and sit in the cold, dingy waiting area. And you still can’t even get a glass of wine because they don’t have a liquor license yet! I was totally pissed off. The young girl that was working the pizza side was very sweet, though. Winnipeg is saturated with Asian restaurants; we don’t need any more. We need a good quality eat in pizzeria. Ordered our pizzas and left. I informed them I won’t be coming back. I guess Diana is selling out to other interests. So sad and very, very...