I really wanted to hate this place. I have long been elated with Queens Pizzeria as being a truely unique Downtown Mesa pizza destination- and have rooted for it's success since the beginning. But the Cucina is just too good to me.
No doubt Dave's "keepin it real" brand of sandwiches and pizza is exceedingly good for the soul- but when I want a Panini that can actually teach me something I don't yet know about real Italian Deli style without being a superficial snob, Cucina di Vita is that irresistible new acquaintance.
Sometimes restaurants actually hire food artists to make their dishes look photogenic for marketing, but the pizza I got from Cucina would make a NYPD pie blush with envy right out of the oven. Now it's not a buttery-crusted, slathered in goatcheese and garlic, trendy California pizza that you're already tired of- it's a pie with European sensibilities plumped full of real Italian ingredients that are as titillating to look at as they are to eat.
Overall, everything is beautifully executed, but has a nice casual style and is reasonably priced. A tremendously friendly crew is great also.