Rivera in downtown L.A. info

Rivera *** 1/2 LOCATION 1050 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, (213) 749-1460, www.riverarestaurant.com.AMBIENCE Cozy and elegant Latin restaurant with ceviche bar and communal table at one end, banquettes along the wall and a small bar with specially designed tequila tasting chairs. John Sedlar pulls out all the stops with a terrific small plates menu.SERVICE Friendly and professional.PRICE Snacks, $2 to $6; starters, $9 to $44 (for jamón iberico de bellota pata negra); larger plates, $16 to $29; sides, $5; desserts, $7.BEST DISHES Tortillas florales, xnipec, grilled quail with black beans, duck confit in Rioja reduction, tamale, chilaca chile salad, pork chop in mole, Maya puerco pibil, duck enfrijolada, baba cachaça, estudio en flan.WINE LIST Fine list of wines from Spain, Portugal and South America, plus sherries and Madeira by the glass and tequila-based cocktails. Corkage fee, $25.BEST TABLE One along the banquette or a corner seat at the communal table.DETAILS Open 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday and 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Late night menu served 10:30 p.m. to midnight Thursday to Saturday. Full bar. Valet parking, $5 with validation.Rating is based on food, service and ambience, with price taken into account in relation to quality. ****: Outstanding on every level. ***: Excellent. **: Very good. *: Good. No star: Poor to satisfactory.