As the old saying goes: When kids are at sleep-away, parents will play…read more With the Progeny off at camp, the Pardner and I are partying hard. And by hard, I mean we're staying up until 11 p.m. instead of going to bed at 10. (Cue Forever Young. Just not too loud, ok? ) Our recent date at Rebellion Gastro Pub in Danbury, CT was absofreakinlutely great. The company was alright, I guess. But the drinks and decor were stellar. The latter reminded me of hip joints in Reykjavík, with its vaguely volcanic / below-decks-on-a-Viking-ship + 1920's lounge aesthetic. Food was sophisticated, but fun, and extremely likable, about 10x better what's usually served in most pubs or even gastropubs. We had: - Beef Tartare (cured yolk. anchovy. caper dust. coal toast. $20) -- The finely chopped beef was tender and very umami on the tongue, sharp with mustard and topped with some grated, salty cheese. I found the dish spectacular. - Beet salad (citrus. feta. mint. toasted sunflower seeds. $16) -- well executed. Sweet, fresh roasted beets + excellent mesclun + neatly suprêmed sweet oranges. - The Glizzy (Waygu beef. street corn. lime crema. cojita cheese. cilantro. chili oil drizzle; $22) -- In case you can't tell from the description, The Glizzy is a hot dog. A very, very good one. Tender, juicy, flavorful, all the good things, like master butchers Erica Nakamura and Jocelyn Guest used to make and sell via J&E Small Goods. It's about a foot long, but comes in a regular size bun. Corn was a wee bit chewy, but nicely dressed, and contributed some welcome vegetable matter. - Brick Chicken (crispy airline chicken. rosemary jus. whipped yukon potatoes. braised kale. $34) -- Airline chicken is a certain cut of chicken, also called Statler chicken, which includes a boneless, skin-on chicken breast with the first wing joint (the drumette) attached. This was nicely made with moist protein and flavorful skin that had either been seared in a pan or by a torch. Kale was a bit tougher than ideal, but the whipped potatoes and jus were likable accompaniments, retro, yet chic. (Perhaps out of nowhere, it made me think of Crown Shy in NYC.) Now a note on service. I had originally ordered the Mussels (saffron broth. fennel. herbs. $18) and was served a beautiful, generously portioned bowl with what appeared to be fat bivalves. Unfortunately, they smelled odd -- strongly and weirdly of human urine -- though the one mussel I ventured to eat tasted fresh and unspoiled. I was Googling for possible benign causes of such a smell and actually prepared to power through if I could -- prima donna types who send dishes back to the kitchen irritate me to no end -- but our amazing server, Mia, noticed my perplexed face, and graciously offered to take the dish away and off the bill. Later, the fantastically nice and charismatic co-owner, Tim Medina, stopped by the table to apologize and chat. And after that, they even generously comped us a dessert. I was too full to want to indulge, but the Pardner ended up requesting the whimsically named C.R.E.A.M. (see below). Even before all this, we were impressed by the gracious staff's sense of hospitality and their excellent team play. The hostess was occupied with other guests when we first arrived and the lovely bartender / mixologist immediately came out from behind the bar to greet and seat us. - C.R.E.A.M. = The CEREAL RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME (vanilla or chocolate gelato. choice of cereal. $10) -- This was deeply nostalgic for me. Like probably just about every other kid, my sister and I made similar concoctions as children. Our favorite was vanilla ice cream mixed with peanut butter and either corn flakes or saltines. Rebellion's version came with an off-menu salted caramel gelato (good mouthfeel) and, at the Pardner's request, Cocoa Pebbles. Fun and irreverent. Also -- shhh -- sophisticated. Given our well-paced and leisurely meal over conversation and the World Cup, we were able to try quite a few cocktails, yet drive home completely sober. The mixologist(s) -- Google tells me chef Tevin Snider is the man in charge, here -- know their game. More than anything else, the drinks stole the show. All cocktails are $15 and well made classics served with those big, classy cocktail ice cubes. The menu is organized by primary spirit. We had: - Mexican Firing Squad (tequila, fresh lime, grenadine, bitters) - Oaxaca Old Fashioned (reposado tequila, mezcal, agave, bitters, orange peel) -- strong, fragrant, not-too-sweet -- my fave - Penicillin (blended Scotch, lemon, honey-ginger, smoky Islay Scotch) - Gold Rush (bourbon, lemon, honey) -- evidently invented at one of our favorite NYC establishments, Milk and Honey, in the early 2000s. Back when we lived a few blocks away. This makes me feel old. - Vieux Carre (rye, cognac, sweet vermouth, benedictine, bitters) It's been a while since we've been to such a fun, funny, classy place. I'm in love!

All right folks! I don't typically, if ever, write a review. However, I would not feel like I am…read moredoing my duty as a Danburian if I neglected this one. First off, this is a review for two concepts, one staff, and one man. Both Rebellion Gastropub and Rebellion Kitchen + Bar are fantastic. Let me start with the staff, who are excellent in each establishment. Upon entering either location, I am greeted warmly by everyone I see. Special shout-outs to Dorian, Mia, and Julie! These three have made every experience (for both me and anyone I bring along) top-notch. They are knowledgeable, skilled behind the bar, and super kind. They consistently go out of their way to ensure that each item brought to the table, whether a bite or a pour, is perfect. Next, I would like to talk about the Chef/Owner, Tim. Now, I like to fancy myself a foodie; I am a home cook with a ton of technical skill and knowledge. Generally, if I can cook better than the establishment in which I am dining (which in Danbury happens quite often), I simply do not come back. However, the "OG" Rebellion on Padanaram is a mainstay for me. This new space? EVEN BETTER!!! Tim is wildly enthusiastic about food. He consistently pushes his knowledge and skillset to the point of excellence. I understand that some people may look at the prices and say, "no thanks." That would be a mistake. In my mind, you get what you pay for, and in this economy, you certainly have to pay for quality. That is exactly what you get from Tim--day to day, plate to plate. Tim has never served me a dish that I did not happily eat and enjoy. Furthermore, I know firsthand that his kitchen and food prep practices are impeccable. He takes great pride in his food, his facilities, and his desire to grow his business acumen. All one needs to do is visit the new Gastropub. We are talking "80s neon drip" meets modern high-end dining meets sports bar. It has everything anyone could ask for in Danbury: -Date Night: Whether it's a first date or a night out with your spouse, this is the spot. -The Fellas: It's a dope setting to hang out and watch the playoffs. -Girls' Night: It is a great space for friends or colleagues to gather. -Events: It's a wonderful space to host an event where guests will be impressed by the food, ambiance, and drinks. Simply put: don't sleep on this one, folks. There are very few spots around Danbury that live up to the hype and the price, but Rebellion Gastropub is right there as a contender for the top spot. Sorry Rein, sorry The Reserve, sorry Costello's--those are places that, for me, do not live up to the price point or the hype. For my money, if I want a sure thing, I'm going to see Tim and his crew.

From the outside it doesn't look like anything, but inside is amazing. It's a nice big clean space,…read moretables are spaced out you don't have to listen to your neighbors conversations. Food is amazing!. My whole family, we are very gourmet people, so we say amazing we mean it :) . Portions are big and fair, after the check you don't feel hungry :) We live in Westport, now if we will want to go eat out, we will make the drive up to this restaurant, because what you pay it's worth it and service etc all great. Our server Genesis was fantastic. Thanks!

Service was excellent, food was tasty, ample and reasonably priced…read more All and all a delightful evening!

This bar is a cut above your average dive! Their prime rib is better than at the famous BBQ joint…read moredown the street and their rib-eye steak sandwich is also very good! Great place to go have a few cocktails with your friends for happy hour. Decent prices, decent service. It's not too loud although they have a jukebox with a good selection.

I find it exceptionally difficult to assign a 'star-rating' to S J Barrington's. On one hand I…read moreabsolutely love dive bars. The criteria set forth for a good dive bar are all exceeded at S J Barrington's, and for that reason I'd love to give it 5-stars in that genre. On the other hand, stepping into this place from the real world, you can't help but think this is some sort of reality show joke. The decor consists of garden lattice with fake vines. The clientele is nothing but the cream of the working class crop. And the waitstaff... My friend and I went to S J's for a few drinks, some bar food and to watch the game on their 21" cathode tubes. Our buxom 58 year old barkeep served us up some Buffalo wings, potato skins and a round of brew. Half way into the visit, she returned to ask how the wings were, since she'd never tried them. Before we could respond she was dipping into the discarded bones and gnawing on the chicken knuckles from a wing I had just tossed in. I was waiting for Ashton Kutcher to pop out from behind the Big Buck Hunter arcade game and tell us we were being punked. Totally epic!

Superb Americano pub. Amazing food, service and atmosphere. Pint of Guinness was spot on too! I had…read morethe burger, which was excellent and my wife had the brisket sandwich, which she loved! Definitely heading back soon.

Waitress was super friendly and service was quick. Sadly, they were sold out of the soup I wanted,…read moreand the dinner I had was ok, but too much cheese. There was a table with kids that was really loud; they could use some acoustical tiles or something. The vibe was pretty nice. It's a decent spot, in this nice little downtown.

I've been to the Georgetown Owl Saloon a few times now, and it's becoming one of those places I…read morekeep coming back to. The food is just solid every time, reliably delicious, well done, and honestly some of the best in the area. The atmosphere is easygoing and comfortable, the kind of place where you can settle in with friends. And the service has been great on every visit, friendly, on point, and consistent. All around, just a good, dependable spot with great vibes.

Missing my 7:20am train sucked however the brighter side is that allowed me to finally try the…read morecoffee at Quartertone and the fresh baked pastry at the Owl Market! I guess the hours were a bit off because the market opens at 7am for pastries - and their house made croissant is almost as good as the ones at random corner cafe in Paris! Get there early and get the croissants!

Quaint wine bar tucked at the corner of a plaza. They had a nice large bar, tables lining the room…read moreand a patio area as well. Good selection of wines, and lots of yummy looking charcuterie and sandwich options. Pours were generous and staff were friendly and attentive. Prices were fair too. Perfect for a date night or girls night out. Definitely stopping in again!

This is a wine bar with food limited to a bevy of charcuterie board choices. They have a liquor…read morelicense so you won't have to miss out on a GENUINE Margherita, made from real lime juice (not a mix) and is a very refreshing change from what every other restaurant in our area is doing . Four of us had a couple drinks each, covering the whole spectrum of beer, wine, and liquor. Everything including the service was very good . A cozy, beautifully decorated space is perfect for a pre-dinner rendezvous or a first date. Even the non-gender specific restroom is decorated in a very bold, coloful manner. The owners were tending bar the evening we went, and were very chatty and fun to interact with. We'll definitely be back!

Tried to consider my rating bell curve and keep this a 4/5 rating but there was nothing big enough…read moreto knock it from 5/5 5/5 ceasar salad much better than most I've had. Maybe the best ceaser salad ever. Appreciate the small cuttings of the lettuce. Maine lunch beer will always get 5/5 from me. Ahi tuna tacos were divine wish I ate them last. The Tostito ahi tuna was great as was the ice cream and whipped cream in the desert. Amy our server was so lovely and attentive despite a slamming Friday night. Oh seated right away. 4/5 the smores brownie was good not great a bit dry. Wife says I'm being overly critical. Probably. Margarita was very good. Salmon tacos also very good but really suffered in comparison to my ahi tuna tacos. Had I eaten them first they'd be 5/5

The food at Tequila Escape is pretty good. It's nothing that will blow you away, but there are many…read moresolid options on the menu. One thing that drives me nuts is I don't think they have updated the menu on their website literally in years. YEARS. There are items still listed on there that I know they haven't had in ages. In this day and age, I find it unacceptable for any restaurant to neglect the upkeep of their website, but I find it especially unacceptable when it's a restaurant that's trying to be somewhat high end-ish. This isn't the diner. Fix ya website!

First time at Milestone, and we really enjoyed the food, drink and atmosphere. We had a group of…read morenine, and everything was handled well. Wait service was prompt and the food was well-paced. We ordered a mix of individual entrées and shared dishes. You can tell when a restaurant is well run and organized, and this is one of those. At our end of the table, we enjoyed the Greek salad, cheese pizza, and salmon. Several people took advantage of the Taco Tuesday drink specials. There's patio seating available as well, though I'm not sure if it's heated. I'd definitely come back.

Tasty brick oven pizza and great cocktails . Easy online ordering and friendly staff.read more