Rivera restaurant review
![Diners relax at Rivera, a new Latin-themed restaurant in the Met Lofts building in downtown L.A. from chef John Sedlar with its own tequila tasting bar with specially made tequila tasting chairs.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8d136b0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x300+0+0/resize/500x300!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9d%2F39%2F21ff51c2d32a1252d6cbd3e42b32%2Fla-0401-review01-khbwmwnc.jpg)
Diners relax at Rivera, a new Latin-themed restaurant in the Met Lofts building in downtown L.A. from chef John Sedlar with its own tequila tasting bar with specially made tequila tasting chairs. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Rivera](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/93fa079/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x382+0+0/resize/586x382!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F47%2Fea%2F534dfd76f4bb562c1eeea527cbc1%2Fla-0401-review02-khbwlhnc.jpg)
A wall at Rivera is lined with tequila bottles, a new Latin-themed restaurant in the Met Lofts building in downtown Los Angeles. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Rivera](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/73803b1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x381+0+0/resize/586x381!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2F1c%2F647284833747c0fd5d3bdc37de07%2Fla-0401-review03-khbxs5nc.jpg)
Dinners at the bar in Rivera. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Rivera](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1dd3dc3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/283x425+0+0/resize/283x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2F47%2F73766b323e4d09a3f596f4c7af51%2Fla-0401-review04-khbxsinc.jpg)
The space designed by Italian architect Osvaldo Maiozzi and designer (and business partner) Eddie Sotto is a long, sleek room with ceviche bar and a huge, square communal table at one end. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
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![Rivera](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4030804/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x403+0+0/resize/586x403!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fed%2F6e%2F4fca4217b0322590f4dc11bd72ff%2Fla-0401-review05-khbxr6nc.jpg)
Diners enjoy the food and drink in the dining room near walls made of tequila bottles. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Rivera](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/912a9ab/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x406+0+0/resize/586x406!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F7f%2Ff3ed86c6c040009271773808db7f%2Fla-0401-review06-khbxuxnc.jpg)
Rivera has a tequila tasting bar. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Rivera](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fc252e1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/282x425+0+0/resize/282x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc1%2F2d%2F76fe0cbbb8c48d4ffcfb03e78959%2Fla-0401-review07-khbwkdnc.jpg)
Chef/owner John Sedlar prepares the estudio en flan, which is one of the desserts. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Rivera](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fb0f2e1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x407+0+0/resize/586x407!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9f%2Fa5%2F0572b19a6ef18412717684c91804%2Fla-0401-review08-khbwpbnc.jpg)
Rivera’s estudio en flan, with three different styles of the classic dessert and three complementary sauces. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
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Maya braised pork shoulder on a banana leaf and Peruvian potatoes. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Rivera](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dad1995/2147483647/strip/true/crop/283x425+0+0/resize/283x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F55%2F5a6d08ea8320d14f4b38bf8b42f2%2Fla-0401-review10-khbwoinc.jpg)
Rivera’s mole de pavo with Kurobuta pork chop, mole and carrots. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Rivera](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2c84963/2147483647/strip/true/crop/283x425+0+0/resize/283x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5f%2F41%2Fae190f7d7b986033d64c2dbf7035%2Fla-0401-review11-khbwpqnc.jpg)
Rivera’s vegetarian plate with cheese, piquillo pepper and corn chowder. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Rivera](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f9d214e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x391+0+0/resize/586x391!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F62%2Fb2%2Fa5de605cca589ac184d86d61b775%2Fla-0401-review12-khbwn7nc.jpg)
Tamale with braised pork short rib, hedgehog mushrooms and sauce. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
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![Rivera](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/54b0638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x377+0+0/resize/586x377!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3d%2Fe9%2F03cff3deb6920ca5dfadf8134985%2Fla-0401-review13-khbwmnnc.jpg)
TV screens on the wall keep changing images at Rivera. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)