The Rebel House

What is The Rebel House? Stationed on Yonge Street just north of Rosedale station, The Rebel House has anchored the local tavern scene since 1994 with a concept paying homage to the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion. The narrow two-storey space features vintage wood paneling and Canadiana relics, anchored by a long downstairs bar, an upstairs loft, and a leafy backyard patio shaded by a parachute canopy. Chef Karen Vaz steers the kitchen, turning out hearty, scratch-made comfort food that sets this pub well apart from run-of-the-mill watering holes.

The Rebel House Menu & What to Order Start with the spicy spinach cheese pennies—freshly baked, savoury cheddar biscuits adapted from a 19th-century farmhouse recipe—or the Great Rebel Poutine served over house kettle fries with curds and smoked mozzarella. The classic Rebel grilled cheese stuffed with aged cheddars and thick peameal bacon on shallot-buttered bread is an essential order, as is Karen's buttermilk fried chicken with spicy wildflower honey. Drinks highlight an all-Ontario tap list and VQA wines, supplemented by an unexpectedly deep selection of over 80 pure agave tequilas and mezcals.

Know Before You Go Tables are strictly first-come, first-served with no reservations taken, so expect a wait during prime dinner hours and Sunday brunch. Rosedale subway station is less than a two-minute walk away, making the TTC by far the best way to arrive. The tavern is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for brunch, remaining closed on Mondays.