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Cafe Rabelais, Houston, TX

Cafe Rabelais

4.7
4.7
965 Reviews
$31 to $50
French

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 28 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for fine wines
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
Houston’s Café Rabelais serves sumptuous French cuisine in its classic, European-inspired eatery. Fantastic starter options include the mouth-watering smoked salmon plate, the white bean and vegetable soup, as well as a variety of decadent cheese plates. Café Rabelais’s specialty dinner entrées include the seared duck breast with Szechuan demi-glace, the seared snapper in rich beurre blanc, the vegetarian orzo pasta with purple cauliflower and feta cheese and the red wine marinated ribeye with eggplant.

Top off your Café Rabelais French feast with an unforgettable dessert, like the mixed nut and chocolate silk pie “fondant au chocolate sur croute de noix” or the fruity “sorbet du jour” and wash it down with a fresh, hot espresso.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Bistro, Dessert
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Tue–Sat 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue, Wed 6:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu–Sat 6:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (713) 520-8841
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Soriano Frank
  • Area
    Rice Village
  • Cross Street
    5499 kelvin Dr
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Beer, Cafe, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Champagne Dinner

    USD 145.00 per person

    17 Dec 2024 only
    The most awaited event of the year is almost here! Join us for our Annual Champagne Dinner on December 17th, where elegance meets exquisite taste! Indulge in a beautifully curated 5-course dinner that promises to tantalize your taste buds and elevate your dining experience. Each course is thoughtfully paired with a selection of bubbly that will have you toasting to the good life! This enchanting evening begins at 7 PM, and trust us, you won’t want to miss out! With a limited number of tickets available, it’s time to gather your friends and make memories over fine food and even finer champagne. Tickets are priced at $145 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Reserve your spot today, and let’s pop some bubbles together!
    Champagne Dinner photo
  • CHRISTMAS EVE Prix Fixe

    USD 82.00 per person

    24 Dec 2024 only
    ✨🎄 Joyeux Noël from Cafe Rabelais! 🎄✨ This Christmas Eve, we are rolling out the red carpet for a truly magical dining experience. Join us for an exquisite prix fixe dinner that will transport your taste buds straight to the heart of France. Indulge in a carefully crafted menu designed to celebrate the flavors of the season, featuring elevated French dishes that are sure to warm your heart and soul. For just $82 per person, you'll embark on a culinary journey that showcases the best of French cuisine. Don’t miss out on this enchanting evening filled with gastronomic delights, festive cheer, and the warmth of community. Reserve your table today and prepare for a night to remember! Stay tuned for more tantalizing details to come! 🎉🥂
    CHRISTMAS EVE Prix Fixe photo
  • New Year's Eve Prix Fixe

    USD 92.00 per person

    31 Dec 2024 only
    ✨🥂 Join us for a spectacular New Year's Eve celebration at our charming French restaurant! As we bid farewell to the past year and welcome new beginnings, indulge in a delightful 5-course prix fixe menu crafted to tantalize your taste buds and elevate your dining experience to new heights. At just $92 per person, it’s a culinary journey you won’t want to miss! Stay tuned for the reveal of our exquisite menu, featuring seasonal flavors and classic French dishes that will leave you craving more. Don’t wait too long to secure your table; this magical night will fill up fast! Reserve your spot today and be part of our enchanting New Year's Eve celebration! 🥳🍾
    New Year's Eve Prix Fixe photo

What 965 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Houston

    Great for fine wines

  • Houston

    French

  • Houston

    Great for fine wines

  • Houston

    French

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cafe Rabelais brings "a slice of Paris" to Houston, offering a cozy, charming atmosphere reminiscent of a French bistro. Known for "excellent French food," the restaurant's highlights include mussels, escargot, and a diverse wine selection. Consistently praised for "great service," it remains a favorite for authentic French dining experiences.

965 Reviews
  1. Harriet

    Houston

    97 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    97 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We have been eating here for years and even if time goes by, we are always very happy with the food and service. One of the few places that seems like a small French family cafe with great food. They have an exceptional wine list and an interesting menu. You can always find something you like as it diversified.

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  2. Katherine

    Los Angeles

    38 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    38 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always fabulous French food! Never disappoints .

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  3. Rick

    Houston

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This out-of-the way restaurant in Rice Village is one of the best-kept secrets of that area. I have never been disappointed there, despite my eclectic tastes. Today was no exception, and the trout almondine was excellent. Good bread, too.

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  4. Alison

    Houston

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 27 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Another wonderful wine pairing dinner! We really enjoyed the appetizer and entree courses, as well as the pinot noirs. The atmosphere was convivial! We hope to return soon.

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  5. Charles

    Houston

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 23 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cafe Rabelais always delivers. It is a first class restaurant.

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  6. Jay

    Houston

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on 20 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Delightful food and service. Ambiance is a little ... tired.

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  7. janie

    New Orleans

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on 20 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous food and wine in a cozy setting. We’ll be back!

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  8. Sherry

    Houston

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on 20 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed an outstanding meal at Cafe Rabelais last night for my husband's birthday. We started with a small order of the mussels which were plump and perfectly cooked. We then had the onion soup which was also excellent. For entrees, my husband had the Steak au Poivre and I had the Trout Almondine. Both were delicious! Finally, for dessert, we shared the Belle Helene and the Profiteroles. Delightful! The entire dining experience was perfect.

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  9. Jerry

    Houston

    28 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on 16 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our go to gem in Rice Village for life's little special occasions.

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  10. Barbara

    Houston

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 14 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Relaxing, quiet lunch experience. Felt like I was in Europe. I had the baked bone marrow that came with crispy baguette slices. It was delicious and a very generous serving.

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FAQs

Cafe Rabelais is rated 4.7 stars by 965 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 28 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Cafe Rabelais

2442 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    5499 kelvin Dr
  • Area
    Rice Village
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Tue–Sat 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue, Wed 6:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu–Sat 6:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Bistro, Dessert
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Soriano Frank
  • Additional
    Beer, Cafe, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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