Rebel Rebel — Restaurant in District of Canberra Central

I really don't wish to come across rude. I'm just going to be stating observations from my experience. On arrival the staff were polite and well mannered. A bit of an alternative look amongst them, but each to their own. The tables (at least where we sat) are very close together. So close that it's impossible to have a romantic dinner without hearing the conversations of the people next to you.... It was painful listening, not the restaurants' fault that the girls next to us were annoying of course. When the waitress served them, her butt would be a few inches away from my face due to the lack of space between tables. Trust me, I know this sounds alright, but it really wasn't. We took the advice of the waitress and went with the 90$pp set meal, consisting of 7 courses. This was an error on our part. I wanted the steak, but my missus wanted the set. Unfortunately, both of us had to have it. One person option for set meal wasn't allowed for some reason. The oysters were soaked in an overpowering vinaigrette. The quail was dry and bland. One course was just cabbage. This actually tasted alright, but it's just cabbage. Remember this is $90 per person. Overall, the food was poor in my opinion. The portions sizes were small. It's never a good sign to still be hungry after your meal was finished. I got a Maccas after! The waitress who I believe to be the owner, after EVERY course would ask us "how was the food?" It was painfully awkward every time, as you don't wish to be rude but at the same time your annoyed as it was poor. It felt she was looking for praise and was annoyed she wasn't getting it. She was quite brass and almost rude as she wasn't getting the praise she was looking for. Don't get me wrong we were very polite. I was replying with things like, "thank you but not really my cup of tea." After the meal we were hit with a $20, it's a Sunday fee. I would never go back here, such a disappointment after reading such...

Words of the English lexicon cannot articulate my love for this restaurant.

The service was excellent. The young man with messy hair made every effort to allow us to have the best experience. He was charismatic and funny. He would check on us every now and then and would ask if we needed anything else. The only shame was that I did not ask for his name, had I done so, his name would be in this review right now.

The atmosphere is "rustic", as the restaurant likes to describe itself. It has some interesting decor with abstract meaning that has no apparent significance to the customer. The lighting is dim which I find suitable for a night out. We were sat at the "communal table" which seems a lot less comfortable than normal seats, but that is due to a late reservation I placed (if you want to eat here, you have to reserve your spot early - a day or two in advance).

My feelings about the food cannot be expressed using words. Calling it perfect would be an understatement. All the dishes carried their own individual ethereal experiences when dining. I encourage prospectful customers to order the 550gm Grass-fed Ribeye Steak ($60) and the Beef Tartare ($24), they are both made with quality ingredients and seasoned immaculately. The steak is cooked to a degree between rare and medium-rare that allows it to melt in your mouth. I am not a fan of raw meat but the beef tartare simply lit my indulgence for it (go easy on the hot English mustard, it is spicy and tastes very similar to wasabi). I believe some other dishes on the menu are overpriced such as the Sydney rocks oysters ($5 each) and the grilled prawns ($9 each).

So that's it - that's my review and experience. Apart from the atmosphere, everything in this review has been an understatement, as words simply cannot express my love for this place. If I ever return to Canberra for whatever reason, this is the first restaurant I am visiting.

Thank you,...

We stumbled upon Rebel Rebel without much planning — it was just next to our hotel (Ovolo Nishi), and we were craving a decent 3pm meal. Honestly, we were not expecting much. But what a surprise this place turned out to be.

The vibe inside? Warm, minimal, a touch of fine-dining energy without feeling snobby. The only thing we struggled with at first was actually finding the entrance — you walk through the building, and there’s no main signage from the outside. It felt like a hidden gem, but I wish it looked more inviting from the street, especially considering how gorgeous it is inside.

We ordered: • Beef Tartare with anchovy, pickles, and hot English mustard • Lamb Rump with burnt eggplant and pine nut toum • Blue Mackerel with fregola, sweet corn, and ’nduja • Brussels Sprouts with guanciale, soft egg, and Reggiano

Every single dish was a standout, but that brussels sprouts side? It was served by the chef himself, who told us to mix it well. We did — and it was divine. The mackerel had the crispiest skin and paired beautifully with that buttery fregola and sweet corn. I could smell it grilling before it even arrived, and yes — I called it right, it was our fish.

The lamb? Super juicy, fatty in the best way, and we almost fell asleep after eating it. No kidding — it was so satisfying, we had to fight a nap before heading to Mount Ainslie. And the tartare? That anchovy-mustard combo hits hard — one bite and my eyes legit teared up (in a good way). Be warned: the hot mustard is a punch to the nose!

Service was friendly and relaxed. Prices were totally reasonable for what we got. We kind of wish we came for dinner — the evening vibe here must be unreal. But even in the lazy late afternoon, it felt special.

Would I come back? 100%. Especially for a calm date night or a cheeky fine-dine lunch. And yes, this is your Little Daddy + Big Daddy seal...