‘Nothing like you have in the area’

DANBURY — Diana Rivera and her husband love her mother-in-law’s traditional Mexican dishes — so much that she opened a restaurant inspired by them

Rivera opened Los Rivera Cafe at 1 Ives St. in December. Her mother-in-law, Maricruz Rivera, prepares the food, while a chef cooks it.

“We combine his skills in the kitchen with the flavor she puts in the food,” Diana Rivera said.

The restaurant offers meals that are unique to Danbury, she said. Diners won’t get “Tex-Mex” style food, but “Mexican-Mexican” meals, she said.


“They can expect really tasty food here, traditional Mexican food, nothing like you have in the area,” Rivera said.

The main menu includes various types of tacos, tostadas, nachos, pork and quesadillas, as well as bistec azteca and other entrees. The brunch menu includes omelets and huevos rancheros, which is two fried eggs over a corn tortilla topped with a choice of sauces. There’s a kids’ menu and a cocktails menu with various margaritas and other drinks.

Rivera is Ecuadorian, but her husband’s family is from Oaxaca, Mexico. Her husband was born in California, while her mother-in-law lived in Mexico until she was 18.

The restaurant’s decor is from Mexico, too. She has lamps from Mexico and handmade paintings of famous people from Mexico.