The restaurateur, who runs Asian dining spots in Notting Hill, Chelsea and Marylebone, spent his early years in Highgate attending the village primary school in North Hill.
He now lives in Maida Vale with partner Adam Wilkie and they are “really excited” to be opening Huo in Belsize Lane in early September.
“I was born in the Whittington and grew up in Highgate until I was 13 and have fond memories of riding my bike up and down,” he says.
Rebak says the economic backdrop “seems gloom and doom” – but you have to put it to one side and make the best of it.
“The hospitality industry is not facing a great time at the moment,” he adds.
“Employers’ National Insurance is a tax on jobs that deters you putting people into gainful employment – it’s at odds with a Government that says it wants growth.”
“However wealthy or not people are, they still want to have value, quality, and consistency in a great setting,” he says. “If you give them that they will keep coming back.”
Vibe wise they are aiming for “Australian beach vibe, light, friendly and casual, a local restaurant you don’t feel you have to dress up to come to.”
The design features natural blonde wood floors and bamboo lights with comfy banquettes, while the exterior paintwork is a subtle heritage shade in keeping with the architecture.
Dogs and children are welcome, and food will be served daily from noon to evening by friendly, knowledgeable staff in denim shirts.
Huo’s sister restaurant in Chelsea has also proved popular for takeaways and Rebak believes people’s eating habits have changed since he started in hospitality – working his way up from pot wash in Pizza Express to managing restaurants.
“The idea of getting a take-away delivered in a taxi would seem extravagant a few years ago, then food delivery exploded in lockdown,” he says.
“People love having take-aways from their favourite restaurants. When you come home from work you don’t have to got out again and can have it at home.”
He also says of Asian food: “You can buy pizzas in a supermarket or cook a steak at home, but to have the variety of an Asian restaurant, all the cooking styles required is a huge amount of effort.”
When it opens in mid-September, Huo will have a front bar serving cocktails and draught beers, plus tables outside, a private dining space for 18, and the main dining room.
Rebak says owning various bars and restaurants in Shoreditch and Notting Hill “back in the day” was fun.
But it was Uli in Notting Hill that captured his heart and stomach.
“It used to be our favourite haunt, the food was fantastic and we’d eat there two or three times a week and held birthday parties and special occasions there,” he says.
“But one day when we came back from our holidays, the restaurant had closed.
“I called Michael and said ‘this is a disaster what can we do?'”
“He had felt it was time to retire but then he realised he missed it – restaurants are either in your blood or they aren’t – and we said if he took care of the food, we would do the rest.”
After reopening Uli in a former convenience store in Ladbroke Road nine years ago, it’s now a “local institution.”
He loves Belsize Village: “It has it’s own vibe, a lovely little village with great local residents and we’ve got to know the local businesses.
“We hope the locals come, use it and enjoy it.”
