Walking into The Rebel on Wednesday night invites a lot of questions: Is it karaoke night? Is this still a dive bar? Should a cheesesteak really be $21? Ultimately, the answer is another question: Who cares?
It’s situated on the edge of Wallingford. The Underberg – an herbal bitter and digestif – is well-stocked. The Rainier is $5. The pool table is vibrant green, and the TVs are tuned to soul-crushing games of baseball. The clock on the wall doesn’t tell you the time. Instead, it just says “who cares.”
The proof is all around.
For some, a dive bar should feel gritty and dangerous. If you stay long enough, you should stick to the floor or the bar. There is no official register of dive bars. It’s all about perception and feel. Seattle Redditors love to claim and unclaim it as a dive bar…