Rivera's Mexican Restaurant

[Greg S]

It's funny when I've got to "authentic" Mexican restaraunts in southern Texas, I always thought the food was more bland. Loved some of the drinks but the food itself was bland.

I really like spicy/hot style, and it just wasn't there.


Greg

[bbinks]

Temporarily closed..

The recent fire at Pettits pastry caused significant damage to the building. I had lunch at Phoenix and asked the bartender what the status was. He said that whole side of the strip has to be torn down, as bringing in up to code with a remodel would not work. Said probably next summer until anything would reopen. My mom used the groomer (Dog House) and that owner said at least 6-8 months.

[Brad]

He said that whole side of the strip has to be torn down, as bringing in up to code with a remodel would not work. Said probably next summer until anything would reopen.

Oh, that's terrible news. I was hoping it would be a quick cleanup.

[MadMartin8]

Oh this news sucks I love going to this place!

[onelocalfoods]

cant keep them down. Owner is looking for temp location right now.

[Coyote]

$40k repairs remodel

[ita]

$40k repairs remodel

Sign is back up. There was a dumpster out front last week, so it looks like work is being done right now.

[Brad]

Rivera's posted a video of their kitchen on Facebook. Looks like its all done and ready to go! Can't wait.

[bbinks]

I tried them, once.

Not the fare I am accustomed to from living in New Mexico. But to each their own.

[ThatGuy]

Rivera's posted a video of their kitchen on Facebook. Looks like its all done and ready to go! Can't wait.

Any year now.

[ThatGuy]

I tried them, once.

Not the fare I am accustomed to from living in New Mexico. But to each their own.

Most of their food is greasy as heck, but the margaritas and mayan pork are worth the wait.

[bigredmed1]

I tried them, once.

Not the fare I am accustomed to from living in New Mexico. But to each their own.

Agreed. They found their niche locally by actually serving hot food and they do make a sopapilla that can represent. Lots of people from the SW liked it due to the spiciness back when Omaha's Mexican food scene thought that Taco Bell was exotic. Like Fernando's ability to draw a crowd due to large portions of food that is not hot enough spice-wise to be noticeable on the palate of a resident of ABQ (and thus their niche of being a "Mexican place" that they could take the kids to), Rivera's has a community of fans and hopefully will come back strong.

My wife hates spicy food and as a former NM resident, I yearn for green chile and even red chile Chimayo that has a more subtle heat and complex flavor, so it was a one and done experience for us.

[ChadJK]

Fernando's, El Bee's, Romeo's, and Julio's are all that old school Omaha Tex-Mex that people seem to eat out of habit. They cater to that "I've been coming here since I was a kid" crowd but if they sprang into being today with their menu they'd rapidly fail.

[nativeomahan]

It was maybe 2 years ago that My husband and I got into a “discussion” with the manager of the Cilantro’s “Mexican” restaurant on Pacific Street about their claim to be serving authentic Mexican food. Our waitress had stopped over to ask how our meal was, and my husband expressed disappointment (he phrased it more strongly than that) about his meal. I think he said something like if he wanted to eat Taco Bell he would have gone to a Taco Bell. Well she sent the manager over, who arrived with a defensive attitude. The guy was Latino. I tried to smooth things over, like I always do, saying that my meal was okay, but agreeing that the recipes didn’t seem truly Mexican to us. For one thing, we pointed out that tacos in México do not contain cheese. I also mentioned how no one in México has ever heard of “Monterrey Jack” cheese. Likewise, ground beef is not an ingredient listed on menu in México, unless one is ordering hamburguesas. The manager ended up apologizing, and admitting that they didn’t actually serve Mexican food at Cilantros, but rather Tex-Mex, which is something altogether different. I asked the man why then their outdoor signage claimed to be a Mexican restaurant. He said it was not his call, he just worked there.
Many of you know that that Cilantro’s restaurant closed about a year ago.
I have never eaten at Rivera’s but heard that the food was excellent. Reading many of the above posts I may reconsider my desire to eat there. I have no huge beef (pun intended) with Tex-Mex places, if they actually label themselves as such. Fernando’s, Cilantro’s, Julio’s and those sorts of places have a definite following, and puffy tacos and enchiladas loaded with iceberg lettuce, ground beef and Monterrey Jack cheese are as tasty as they are greasy. But please don’t call them Mexican food.
At least where we live most tacos, tortas, tamales and enchiladas come with your choice of various cuts of beef or pork, or shrimp or fish, along with diced onions, peppers, cilantro and/or cabbage. Tables are usually adorned with complimentary setups of onions, pico and at least 3 salsas, two of which will render most gringos speechless for about 10 minutes. Cheese is reserved for quesadillas (hence the name).
If any of you ever make it down to PV (winter is coming, don’t you know), I would be happy to hook you up on one of several popular low or no cost “Taco Walks.” The Street food is amazing, and tacos typically sell for about 70¢ apiece, unless you order shrimp or other seafood, when you might pay about a $1.10 US.

[Louie]

You guys sound like a real pleasure to wait on.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I drive by that Rivera’s location nearly every day during the week and from the street, the vision is always the same- a closed storefront with a large dumpster out front..

I hope at some point, the place opens back up.. It really does have some solid Tex-Mex food...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[MadMartin8]

I drive by that Rivera’s location nearly every day during the week and from the street, the vision is always the same- a closed storefront with a large dumpster out front..

I hope at some point, the place opens back up.. It really does have some solid Tex-Mex food...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Agreed completely. Frankly I don't really care which region or classification their food is, it's good and it's locally owned. Margaritas are good too...

[ScrattyB]

No chips until after you order?
No check splitting?
So loud you cannot even hear your friends/family sitting in front of you?

I will never ever return to this place.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I drive by that Rivera’s location nearly every day during the week and from the street, the vision is always the same- a closed storefront with a large dumpster out front..

I hope at some point, the place opens back up.. It really does have some solid Tex-Mex food...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Agreed completely. Frankly I don't really care which region or classification their food is, it's good and it's locally owned. Margaritas are good too...

Great minds ...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[GenX]

They appear to be open again. I drove by there on my way to lunch, the dumpster is gone, and there was a beer truck making a delivery.

[Brad]

They appear to be open again. I drove by there on my way to lunch, the dumpster is gone, and there was a beer truck making a delivery.

Not quite, they are still working hard to get everything ready. Hopefully in a week or so.

[ThatGuy]

So probably sometime in December. Actually, I drove by Monday night and the lights were on inside. It looked like they were pretty much ready to go from the street.

[nativeomahan]

Perhaps they hired the same gang who took 9 months to fix the fire damage at the Drover.

[Brad]

Perhaps they hired the same gang who took 9 months to fix the fire damage at the Drover.

I'm sure they were both dictated by insurance more than the owner wanting to re-open.

[Brad]

Opening today at 5pm.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Good news..

Last night I drove by and the lights were on and people were moving about inside...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[bbinks]

Other than Riveras and Stems floral is any other business coming back? My mom used the pet groomer and never heard from them. It doesn't look like Pettits is returning. Were there others?

[ChadJK]

I hear Rivera's at 120th & Blondo has reopened.

[Brad]

I hear Rivera's at 120th & Blondo has reopened.

Scroll up 3 posts, it opened a month ago...

[nativeomahan]

It has anyone eaten there since they reopened?

[Brad]

It has anyone eaten there since they reopened?

Yes, place was packed and the food was great as always.

[lisanstan]

Regarding "authentic" <insert ethnic type here> food. There is not "authentic" Mexican, Asian (which covers more than just Chinese/Japanese), American, French, English, etc, etc, etc... If someone asked for "authentic" American food like hot dogs, who's to say what is authentic? Hot dogs can be grilled, boiled, steamed, microwaved, fried. They can be beef, pork, chicken, a mixture of throw away parts. The options for buns and toppings are unlimited. Who's to say what is authentic? A Chicago dog may be authentic to Chicago, but that doesn't mean my hot dog with Hormel chili, mayo, and cheese isn't also authentic. I am an American, so I think I can class it as authentic American cuisine.

Regarding cheese in tacos in Mexico, if you go to northern Mexico on the border with California you are going to find cheese. Just like you will find beans in chili the further you get from Terlingua TX.

[ChadJK]

I've been saying something similar about authenticity for years. It's mostly food elitists that think because they lived in or near or certain country for a period of time that they're culinary experts on what is and isn't "authentic" cuisine from that country. You can't even get two Americans to agree on what potato salad should taste like so how would you argue that a particular American potato salad recipe being served in, for example, an American restaurant in Madrid is "authentic?"

The closest you can come to making an authenticity argument is perhaps by ingredients. However, people don't seem to be as educated on this as they think they are. For example, flour tortillas are authentic to Northern areas of Mexico. However, let one of these "authentic" Mexican food elitists be served a flour tortilla in a Mexican restaurant and their head will explode.

Honestly, I could give sh_t less about authenticity. For me it's all about taste. Cook me a great tasting meal and I could care less how authentic it is.

[Busguy2010]

[Omaha Cowboy]

Honestly, I could give sh_t less about authenticity. For me it's all about taste. Cook me a great tasting meal and I could care less how authentic it is.

In the end, this is pretty much all I care about as it relates to a meal..

In any case, now that they’re back up and running, I need to get back to Rivera’s. It’s been awhile...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Padre]

Heard on Facebook that they were closing in late October. Lots of older restaurants going away.

[MadJack]

Don't worry. I can't give details but there is a good chance they'll reopen in a new location. ;)

[Brad]

Don't worry. I can't give details but there is a good chance they'll reopen in a new location. ;)

That’s great! Can’t wait to hear where.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Don't worry. I can't give details but there is a good chance they'll reopen in a new location. ;)

That’s great! Can’t wait to hear where.

…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[nativeomahan]

I have yet to eat there. I seldom think of west Omaha in the same sentence as Mexican food.