Steve Garcia, left, who is now a restaurateur in Santa Fe, N.M., and chef John Rivera Sedlar at Sedlar’s Rivera restaurant. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Cook Christina Enriquez, left, prepares kachina mosaic plates at Rivera. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Detail of a plate of kachina mosaic at Rivera restaurant in Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Steve Garcia, left, shares a laugh with Alexia Haidos at Rivera. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Willette and Manny Klausner look at old photos with chef John Rivera Sedlar, right, at Sedlar’s Rivera restaurant in Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Rivera is on South Flower Street in downtown Los Angeles, near the Staples Center. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Diners enjoy the food and company at a communal table at Rivera. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
