Playa is from the folks behind my very favorite restaurant downtown, Rivera.

So, it had high expectations to meet.

Phew! It made all of them.

“Oh sh*t, another boring review!” you say?

Yes. So sit down and shut up, you son of a…

Playa is one of those establishments that is just as much lounge as it is restaurant. Everyone knows it’s the booze that makes or breaks a restaurant (when else do you gladly pay 100% markup??)

Maybe the airport…and that ain’t gladly…

It was a Wednesday night though, and I don’t normally imbibe on a school night, so Playa thankfully didn’t rob me blind.

Only my friend Clyde decided to imbibe. (I put that rhyme in there for him!)

Most of the plates here are tapas style (where in LA is that NOT the case anymore??) so there we see another sneaky way for Playa to make some greenbacks.

Charging $9 for a few dwarf roasted red peppers stuffed with the amount of cheese a mouse might be hiding in his cheeks is muy intelligente.

I have no problems with tiny portions. Just shove some incredible flavors en mi boca….

….Which they did!

Double Phew!

I said earlier this was going to be a positive review, ya’ll!

The tamale with reduced mushrooms and filet minion was the star of the show, fo sho. When do mushrooms and beef not marry well?? Vegetarians, shut it.

The maize cakes were fun and gorgeously presented.

The Cauliflower cake reminded me of a surreal, Lord of the Rings meal.

While, I may not have loved them to death, I was grateful for some new, unique flavors and some great camera fodder!

Ok, I’m tired now. I’m cutting this review short. Can’t keep my ojos open.

P.S., I’m assuming everyone loves the spanglish I’ve been throwing in. If not, feel free to callate.

7360 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 933-5300
www.playarivera.com