Bar of the month

Rebel Bar & Grill
3462 N. Clark

The Basics
Where you’ll find it: 3462 N. Clark, just down from Wrigley Field near the Clark/Newport/Sheffield intersection. (773) 975-2010. www.rebelchicago.com

When it’s open: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday. Rebel opens at 10 a.m. on Cubs home game days.

Peak time: Before but especially after any Cubs game, day or night. Rebel starts filling up by 8 or 9 p.m. usually on the weekends and is pretty steady on Thursdays for half-price drinks.

What you’ve heard: From the owners of the popular Waterhouse and Bluelight and previous owners of Bowman’s and Matisse, you know that Rebel will have the staying power in Wrigleyville. ... In the previous location of The Ivy on Clark, the bar was purchased on March 1 and given a serious facelift. ... Great food and drink specials. ... It’s shocking what they’ve done to the upstairs — it’s like being at another bar.

Visual Aids
First impressions: We’re not sure if it was their main intention, but Rebel’s renovation of the spot formerly called The Ivy on Clark added a serious touch of class to the southern part of Wrigleyville. ... Red walls with dark wood floors and a black ceiling with exposed pipe and modern light fixtures give it a warm, contemporary feel, and the low lighting with candles at every table adds a lot to the ambiance. ... Plenty of seating (padded booth backing is a plus) is available without sacrificing the needed space to make your way through the room between the bar and the tables. ... Rebel boasts 20 total flat screens between both levels. They are spaced out nicely to where they’re not overwhelming but remain easy to view from any angle in the bar. This is Cubs country, after all. ... Black and white photos of revolutionary celebs (rebels) from the world of movies and sports like Jack Nicholson, James Dean, Pete Rose and Mike Ditka adorn the walls. ... Upstairs is so much more than just a party room.

The atmosphere: Rebel is trendy, but very unpretentious. Crowd typically hovers in the 25-35 range with DJs spinning tunes Thursday-Sunday. ... “We were trying to create an environment that fits everyone from the neighborhood,” says Pete, the manager. “It’s not your typical Wrigleyville bar, but we can party better than the rest of ’em.”

What you’ll tell your friends: “Really fun place to come and hang, whether it’s after a Cubs game or if you’re going out for a Wednesday glass of wine to catch up with friends.”
— Sherry

“I’m looking forward to using this as my post-Cubs hangout this summer because they staff doesn’t treat you like a piece of meat when it’s busy, and it’s much more enjoyable than some of the sweat boxes down the street.”
— Thomas

The Experience
At your service: If you’ve frequented Waterhouse (Lincoln & Paulina) and Bluelight (Belmont & Western) or Matisse and Bowman’s when they owned them, you know you’re going to get top-notch service from the folks at Rebel. Servers operate quickly and with a smile, and they know the menu, which is surprisingly rare in Wrigleyville. “Everyone who works here is very down to earth, and the same could be said for the crowd,” says Nina, a waitress.

Get your drink on: Rebel offers 12 beer options on draft, with favorites such as Fat Tire, Blue Moon, Guinness, Miller Lite, Bud Light, Stella, Sam’s Seasonal, Brooklyn Brown Ale and Goose Island Matilda in addition to another 20 or so in bottle form. Mike Tyson’s Punchout is a big hit. It arrives at your table in the form of a 60-ounce fishbowl — a concoction of orange and cranberry juice with a rum mix, a splash of amaretto and other goods. At Rebel, like its sister establishments, they know how to make a mean martini (try the chocolate-covered caramel or pound cake flavors) and offer a vast array of wines (16) compared to their competition on Clark Street.

Menu variety: Rebel, much like Waterhouse, takes pride in its food, and it’s easy to tell from the satisfied looks on the faces of their repeat customers. Appetizer options like mac & cheese bits, baked soft pretzels, wings and mini corn dogs start things off right. Six salad options are available for the healthy appetites, and burgers and a host of sandwiches such as a Cuban, turkey club wrap or sweet pear and chicken panini will cost you just $5-8. For dessert, top things off with their famous “cookie monster,” a plate-sized warm chocolate chip cookie topped with ice cream and whipped cream. You won’t regret it.

Daily specials: Monday: $3 burger and fries, $3 all drafts; Tuesday: $4 Bacardi flavored mojitos, $4 quesadillas; Wednesday: half-price wine, $4 chocolate martinis; Thursday: half-price well drinks and drafts, $5 Chicago beef sandwiches; Friday: $5 martinis; Saturday: $3 bellinis, $4 bloody marys with beer back; Sunday: $4 bloody marys with beer back, $5 cereal buffet, half-price industry night. Specials are not valid on the days of Cubs home games.

Who you can expect to see there: From what we noticed, the crowd typically ranges from mid-20s not long removed from their college days up to 40-something Cub fans, with everything in between. On the weekends, expect to see mid-20s to mid-30s, but it’s not the frat house atmosphere of other Wrigleyville bars.

It’s a good spot to … “book a private party for up to 80 people in the remodeled upstairs, which is like a separate bar in itself, and a sharp one at that. The management will set you and your group up right. ... stop in pre- or post-Cubs game for a classier atmosphere. ... play Nintendo Wii or Guitar Hero with your friends. ... get your club team sponsored with great deals. ... avoid missing a second of the sports action.”

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