"Opened by restaurateur Christopher Bredesen on Monday, May 6 in the prime waterfront spot previously occupied by a Brazilian steakhouse, Riviera Mexican Cantina represents his most ambitious project to date. I see the 10,000-square-foot building, renovated beginning October 2023, as a Tulum-inspired space that keeps the original vaulted wood ceilings while adding white paint, new blonde wood floors, and wicker chandeliers and chairs to create a bright, beachy dining room with oceanfront views from every angle. The menu updates the coastal Mexican cuisine of his other restaurant for a more upscale location, with starters like shrimp taquitos and mini sopes; mains including slow-braised carnitas, lobster enchiladas, grilled seabass, and birria quesatacos; and desserts such as churros, flan, and arroz con leche. The drink program is comprehensive, offering nine margaritas (including cucumber-tamarind and smoky blood orange), a margarita flight with classic, hibiscus strawberry, and Chile con Piña with jalapeno-infused tequila, plus beer, wine, and agave-based cocktails like an añejo Old Fashioned." - Rebecca Roland