This downtown
locale cleverly
uses the letter
‘R’ as their
focal point,
reminding you
that in Latin
America they
roll their R’s.
If your gringo
heritage limits
you in the
language
department,
don’t worry,
Rivera
proves to be
just as sexy
even without a
Latin accent.
Inspired by the
culture and
cuisine of Latin
America, Chef
John Rivera
Sedlar brings a
refined French
technique to the
mix which will
surely tickle
all your senses.
Despite the odd
location on the
ground floor of
the Met lofts in
Downtown Los
Angeles,
Rivera’s
creative and
sleek décor will
take your breath
away, offering
three different
rooms to
accommodate your
ever-changing
mood. Choose to
dine in the
deliciously
sultry Samba
Lounge, the more
formal Sangre
Dining Room, or
the bright and
open Playa Bar.
The restaurant
features a large
communal table,
ceviche bar and
tequila tasting
chairs designed
by Italian
designers Eddie
Sotto and
Osvaldo Maiozzi.
Now to the real
reason Rivera is
worth a visit…
the food.
Sedlar’s menu is
fascinating and
complex. He
manages to
seamlessly
integrate spices
and chiles into
all his dishes.
Try the long
roasted chilaca
chile pepper
served with
juicy Cara Cara
orange slices in
a vinaigrette
infused with
black garlic. Or
the duck
enfrijolada, a
stack of blue
corn tortillas
and shredded
confit bathed in
black bean purée
and a deep
scarlet-black
Cabernet chile
rojo sauce
scattered with
crimson rose
petals. But
before all that,
you have to try
the tortillas
or, florales:
four warm,
homemade
tortillas with
beautiful
flowers or herbs
pressed into the
surface and
served with a
creamy avocado
butter. Unless
you have a
bottomless pit
for a stomach,
you may need to
make 1, 2, or 3
visits to
Rivera; there is
just so much
good stuff.
For the full
Rivera
experience, you
must try one of
their signature
cocktails.
Resembling your
high school
science class,
drink mixers are
cleverly placed
in beakers and
test tubes
behind the bar.
All made fresh
daily, using
fruits and herbs
purchased at
Downtown’s
produce markets.
Rivera’s
mixologist,
Julien Cox,
emphasizes that
Spanish-inspired
cocktails do not
need to start
and end with
tequila. Other
elements such as
agave nectar,
Cachaca rum, and
Serrano chiles
add to their
cocktail list’s
Latin flavor.
Rivera’s menu
reflects decades
of Sedlar’s
passion for
Latin culinary
history,
awarding him the
title “Best Come
Back Chef of the
Year.” And once
you taste the
food he is
dishing up, you
will most
definitely come
back yourself.
~ Shadi Bailey
Where:
Rivera Restaurant, 1050 S. Flower
St. #102, Downtown Los Angeles
When:
Lunch, Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 2:00pm;
Dinner, Monday - Saturday: 5:30pm - 10:30pm,
Sunday: 5:30pm - 10:00pm; Late Night @Rivera
Thursday-Saturday 10:30-1:00 am (special
late night menu served until 12:00)
Cost:
Lunch: Appetizers $6 to $12, Entrees $12 to
$18; Dinner: Appetizers $9 to $14, Entrees
$16 to $29; Dessert $7
