Wagyu tongue with peppers. Photo: Wendy Johnson

Mango, lychee and coconut ice cream sandwich. Photo: Wendy Johnson

Yellowfin tuna and cubed watermelon. Photo: Wendy Johnson

Appellation premium-grade Sydney Rock Oysters. Photo: Wendy Johnson

Zucchini flowers. Photo: Wendy Johnson

The grass-fed beef served rare with Wakame butter. Photo: Wendy Johnson

Award-winning Rebel Rebel, in the NewActon precinct, always dares to be different, says dining reviewer WENDY JOHNSON.  

Although the menu changes over the seasons, Rebel Rebel’s intense desire to dish up award-winning, innovative and scrumptious food does not. I love the place and promise to visit more often. 

Under the watchful eye of colourful David Bowie – featured on a framed poster near the large, open-concept kitchen –  Rebel Rebel’s team operates with care, detail and attention.

The fit-out is as amazing as the food (visit to discover more).

We started our long lunch with the smart decision to select the “all in” menu for $90 per person, letting the chef choose on our behalf. 

Pomelo and pink peppercorn perked up our Appellation premium-grade Sydney Rock Oysters, served at a perfect temperature. This was a gastronomic experience in its own right – the oysters were creamy and sweet, and the pomelo (a large citrus fruit) was not too sharp or bitter.

Zucchini flowers are an art to make and present and Rebel Rebel’s were light, crispy and divine with buffalo ricotta, chilli and lemon. 

Colourful and refreshing was the yellowfin tuna and refreshing ripe watermelon, all meticulously cubed. These ingredients were artfully placed on top of whipped feta and sprinkled with small pieces of red onion.

Although many may be turned off by tongue, trust Rebel Rebel with this dish. The Wagyu tongue, which the restaurant is famous for, was tender and soft. It was served with Pedro Ximénez, decorated with green, long Aleppo peppers and arrived with the warning that one in 10 of the peppers is super-duper hot.

We indulged in too many dishes to (sadly) mention them all. One of our party was new to Rebel Rebel and he declared the ribeye the best he had had in Canberra. This assessment is easy to back. The grass-fed beef was earthy and slightly gamey. It was served rare as promised and the Wakame butter elevated the dish to great heights.

Dessert was a mango, lychee and coconut ice cream sandwich, which some of us adored more than others.

Cocktails are adventurous, including the Diplomatic Immunity created with Diplomatico white rum, cucumber, mint and lime ($22). The wine list is there to impress with a wide range of intriguing options. Prices start from about $75 a bottle.

Rebel Rebel opened in 2019 and continues to please diners. It has held strong in a tough, competitive market for good reason. If you’ve not been, book. If you’ve been, book again. 

Canberrans need to support long-standing dining establishments, not just newbies. And congrats to Rebel Rebel for appearing in the popular TV comedy-drama Austin, with the first series filmed here in the capital. How fun is that?