Cafe Asante

Good Food, Poor Service. I was in the Shops of Winnipeg Square at lunch time and I decided to give this place a try. I couldn't help but notice that it is one of the busier places in the concourse.

It is decorated a lot better than your usual deli. The walls are brown tones with a large artwork of an African landscape along the far wall. The rest of the walls have portraits of various African animals on them. There are about 20-25 tables in the place. Some seat 2, others seat 4. They employ a low lighting, but it isn't too dark.

I took a seat and waited for a few minutes for my server to appear. She was not very friendly...she was borderline rude. She plunked down a menu and quickly left. She returned a couple of minutes later and barked "do ya know what ya want?" I ordered a pulled pork sandwich and a bottle of pop. She snapped back that they only sell soft drinks in cans...uh, the menu gives you an option. I ordered a can of pop. I was never brought the pop. She did come by and plunked down a glass of water on the table, just leaving it there without even looking at me.

The menu is comprised of breakfast, sandwiches, wraps and salads. It is culturally diverse mix of options. Tandoori chicken and roti stand alongside the Reuben, tuna melt and lasagna. They have the usual deli options as well. They also have omelettes. Prices range from $7-$9. Sandwiches and wraps come with a side order. The choices are potato salad, pasta salad or coleslaw. I don't recall seeing dessert items on the menu, but there were puffed wheat squares, butter tarts and imperial cookies at the front counter by the cashier.

My pulled pork sandwich took about 15 minutes to arrive. It was on a fresh Kaiser bun, but it wasn't overly big. The sandwich was served upon a Styrofoam plate placed atop a small dinner plate. The sandwich was very tasty though. The pork was very tender and the sauce was slightly vinegary but not overpowering. A good ratio of sauce to meat. I wish there was a little bit more of it. The pulled pork sandwich was $7.59.

The waitress slapped the bill on the table and I never heard from her again until I finally managed to flag her down with the assistance of another customer. I pointed out that I was charged for a can of pop that was never delivered. She was apologetic for this. To her credit she seemed sincere.

One takes their bill up to the cashier to pay.

Overall, I thought the quality of the food outweighed the poor quality of the service...I would likely go back.

Impressed. Great place for a lunch in the heart of the winnipeg square. Food is made to order and service is quite quick.The service is hurried, but responsive. I reccommend it to anyone who is on the go, but wants a nice sit down for a fresh hearty lunch. The salads,sandwhiches and soups made here are exactly what I´ve been looking for! They´re just perfect so are the prices very good value for money. Owner of the resturant is very friendly and personable which makes the whole experience very pleasent. Its hard to find room to sit during lunch sometimes so i try to get there early. Overall excelent experience and one of the best places i have found to have a great lunch .

Was having a bad day today at work and ordered a salad to go from Cafe Asante. Best thing that has happened to me all day. Gorgeous chunks of avocado, fresh cherry tomatoes, and tender roast chicken on beautiful mixed greens. I could eat this every day! Thanks for improving my afternoon drastically :)

Boring lunch spot... the homemade soup is a safe bet. Other than that this place is nothing special. Your usual club house sandwich and few wraps... If you're in a hurry and stuck in wpg square, give it a go. But don't expect anything special.

Great food, however restaurant is now permanently closed.

Very good food, friendly staff, meals arrive quickly and the prices are very good for downtown Winnipeg. A meal at Cafe Asante is exactly what you expect from a diner and it doesn't disappoint.