Rabble Taphouse and Grill replaced the long-running Rick’s bar on Edinburgh’s Fredrick Street earlier this summer. The new venture looks set to build on Rick’s highly successful run.
Rabble and its predecessor are from the Montpeliers stable of venues and they are a hospitality group which has always realised the value of being design conscious.
Tigerlily and Indigo Yard are two more Montpeliers outlets which underline the group’s commitment to the smart use of interior design.
Rabble: smart design
Rabble is no exception.
The basement space is cleverly divided in to several distinct spaces, each giving a different level of privacy or exposure to the bar.
From the plant-filled conservatory at the back to the sunken terrace at the front of the premises, it offers a variety of nooks, crannies, booths, high tables and bench seating.
Whether you want a breakfast business meeting, a dinner date or a celebration meal with friends, you will find the right space at Rabble.
Pale wood and white tiles give it a fresh, Scandi feel while copper-topped tables add lustre.
The wall of bottles and the horseshoe bar with its gleaming copper beer pipes are talking points. As are the two 500l copper beer tanks which contain unpasteurised Staropramen, trucked over from the Prague brewery each week.
Your blogger was rather sceptical about the rapidly spreading trend for tank beer. However, we talked to a couple of well respected brewers who gave it the thumbs up.
Providing that it is sold at a quick enough rate, unpasteurised tank beer will taste better than keg. Certainly my pint of Staropramen was more interesting than others I’ve had. A bit more lively, more malty, possibly a little more yeasty?
Naturally, Rabbles also serves a good selection of craft beers, plenty of wines; a selection of G ‘n’ Ts plus the sort of innovative cocktail list which Montpeliers bars are known for.
As happy as we are to see a well stocked bar, the 5pm Dining blog is more concerned about the food menus.
Cooked low and slow
And Rabble has lots to offer. Especially if you like your food cooked low and slow.
Rabble Taphouse and Grill serves from breakfast to late. Visitors could start their day with a 100% pure Chi coconut water or, at the other end of the scale, the Rabble full breakfast.
Pancakes, smoothies and brekkie sarnies, including one with smashed avo, add to the morning options.
Taking an admirably liberal view on breakfast, Rabble serves it until 5pm.
If coconut water for lunch doesn’t do it for you, another option is their lunch box. For a minimum of two people, this gives you a house salad and side plus your choice of options such as slow-cooked beef brisket; a 15 hour-cooked half rack of pork ribs or char grilled red pepper and oregano marinated salmon.
Open fire pit
As you might expect, there are intricate sandwiches, sharing plates and a wide array of starters but we’re going to skip to the pride of the menu: dishes from the Robata grill and the steaks.
There are fillet, rib-eye, sirloin and T-bone steaks from Black Angus, Limousin and British Blue cattle. The latter two are billed as grass-fed and aged for 28 days.
The Robata grill slow cooks meat, veg and fish over white oak charcoal in the kitchen’s open fire pit. There are eight different options ranging from char grilled asparagus with a veggie tart to spatchcocked chicken and black lentil daal.
Book Rabble on 5pm Dining
You can investigate the menus at Rabble by booking via 5pm Dining.
They run two offers from Sunday to Friday.
£17.50 will buy you two courses from the 5pm lunch menu plus a glass of house wine, beer or Prosecco.
For £25, you can enjoy two courses from the 5pm dinner menu plus a drink.
You can browse the menus at Rabble and book an offer from here.
