by Best of Knoxville
Rebel Kitchen Restaurant Review
This year for my 40th birthday, I had the opportunity to celebrate it in style at the newly opened Rebel Kitchen with my husband. We were invited as guests of the restaurant and were given seats at the Chef’s Table. Here we had a chance to not only taste the amazing dishes but we were able to watch the chef and his staff prepare the food that was served to the restaurant’s patrons. This was an incredible opportunity and if you are ever given the chance, I highly recommend it.
I first learned about the chef behind Rebel Kitchen when we attended one of his pop-up dinners last year. That experience was also a “first” and you can read about that evening in our post – Rebel Kitchen’s Pop-Up Dinners. After the pop-up dinner, I followed them on social media and when I discovered they were opening a restaurant in downtown Knoxville, I knew that we had to give it a try.
Rebel Kitchen focuses on using ingredients that are in season and sustainable so their menu is ever changing based on what is available. This means that each visit is a culinary adventure that you haven’t tasted before. Their menu is small in size but that means that they are able to devote all their attention to the food they are preparing. Like decadent creations, each dish is created with care and precision to capture the full flavors of the ingredients.
They do offer a lengthy drink menu that consists of craft cocktails and quality drinks. You can also select wine from the extensive wine list at Old City Wine Bar, which shares their space with Rebel Kitchen. This provides a win-win for both establishments as the patrons at Old City Wine Bar can enjoy the flavorful dishes from Rebel Kitchen. If you are still in need of some convincing as to why you should visit this unique restaurant, check out our meal in pictures and let your appetite decide.
Rebel Kitchen starts off your meal with a bread basket filled with a variety of fresh, warm breads made in house. The bread was the perfect way to soak up the extra sauce left behind from our first starter.
The rich and hearty appetizer we started off with was Mushroom “Bologonese” – Mossy Creek Mushrooms, Scratch Pasta, and Aged Mahon Cheese
We wanted to try something different for our second starter and opted for the “Surf, Turf, Salad” – New Zealand Langoustine, A-5 Japanese Waygu Beef, Spiced Bibb Salad, and Gazebo Dressing
The staff takes care in making sure that you don’t feel rush so we had time to truly enjoy all the flavors in our dishes. The quality of ingredients is evident in each bite. It doesn’t take long to realize what sets Rebel Kitchen apart from other restaurants in the area. When it was time for the entree round, we each opted for a different dish so we could share. My husband opted for the Painted Hills Beef Hanger – 2 Hour Sous Vide, Classic Bernaise, Pommes Puree, and House “A-R” Steak Sauce
While I opted for the Lamb Pappardelle – Braised Lamb Shoulder, Scratch Pasta, Preserved Tomatoes, and Mizithra
To finish off our meal, we were treated to one of each of the featured desserts that evening. Each dessert had just the right amount of sweetness without overpowering the dish to provide the perfect, final note to our meal.
Besides the decadent flavors of the food, our evening out was further enhanced by our seats at the Chef’s Table. It transformed our dinner from a meal into an experience. We were able to witness first-hand how each dish was created and enjoyed discussing the ingredients, techniques, and experience with the chef and his staff.
Whether you live in the Knoxville area or are visiting from out of town and are looking for a place to eat, make sure to check out what is on the menu at Rebel Kitchen and make plans to dine in. If you don’t have time for a full meal, then consider stopping into Old City Wine Bar for a drink and sample one of the menu options available from Rebel Kitchen.
To learn more about Rebel Kitchen, see their current menu, and and make reservations, visit them online at Rebel Kitchen.
Restaurant Information:
Rebel Kitchen
108 W Jackson Ave Knoxville, TN 37902
865.851.7676
Make sure to come back each Friday to discover even more things that we love about Knoxville,TN and discover all that this amazing city, and the surrounding areas, have to offer. You can also check out all the Best of Knoxville posts anytime by clicking BEST OF KNOXVILLE!
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