"4"^^ . . . "1"^^ . "2010-11-02T00:00:00"^^ . . "3"^^ . "Riviera Bakery is not for the connoisseurs of interior restaurant design, or for foodies making a career out of writing reviews. It's not going to win awards for customer service. BUT - I can't help coming back here again and again. Mind you - I am not making a special trip across the city, I work across the street. Still - with the variety of options for a caffeine boost, a quick bite or a sweet craving on College - the fact that I'm always here with a nice loud crowd is a testament to well deserved Riviera popularity. It's a friendly neighborhood place. The glum ladies behind the counter often forgave me 15 cents or a quarter. They always try to guess what I want. The place has a very genuine vibe about it. It's damn good coffee, damn good pastries, damn good salads and soups. And damn nice owners - once you bother to look behind the stern appearance. I've never been to Italy. But I imagine that's what a bakery somewhere on the outskirts of Bari or Palermo feels like. Thumbs up"^^ . "4"^^ .