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Cafe Rabelais, Houston, TX

Cafe Rabelais

4.8
4.8
960 Reviews
$31 to $50
French

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 16 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Great for fine wines
  • Charming
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 11:00–14:00 Dinner Tue, Wed 18:00–21:00 Thu–Sat 18:00–22:00
  • 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

  • Pinot Noir Wine Dinner

    US$120.00 per person

    26 Nov 2024 only
    🍷✨ Get ready for an unforgettable evening of fine dining and exquisite wines at our upcoming Pinot Wine Dinner! Join us on November 26th at 7 PM as we explore the captivating world of Pinot varieties. While Burgundy may have put Pinots on the map, we’re excited to showcase the incredible diversity and depth of this beloved grape that you may not have experienced yet! Indulge your senses as we craft a beautifully curated 5-course dinner that complements each carefully selected Pinot. Spaces are limited, so don't wait! Reserve your spot today!
    Pinot Noir Wine Dinner photo
  • Champagne Dinner

    US$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

    US$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

What 960 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8
4.8 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 offers a "slice of Paris" with its authentic French bistro ambiance. Known for an "amazing wine list" and "delicious" food, it's a neighborhood favorite. Many diners praise the "excellent service" and cozy atmosphere. Despite a few inconsistencies, it's a "must visit" for a memorable dining experience.

960 Reviews
  1. Jay

    Houston

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    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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  2. janie

    New Orleans

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    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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  3. Sherry

    Houston

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    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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  4. Jerry

    Houston

    28 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    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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  5. 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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  6. John

    Houston

    97 reviews

    4.0

    97 reviews

    Dined on 10 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We are regular visitors to the restaurant as we appreciate the staff who are exceptional and the wine list has an excellent range of French wine. The food is very good, the moules are probably the best in Houston. We would prefer changes in the menu from time to time with seafood and different fish options added. Good atmosphere and as mentioned, first rate staff.

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  7. Ryan

    Houston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Top Notch Original French! Quality and wine is impeccable!

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  8. Bri

    Houston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 6 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cute spot in Rice Village, music was low enough to still have a conversation with your date or friend. The food was great and we loved the wine recommendation from our waiter.

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  9. John

    Phoenix

    62 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    62 reviews

    Dined on 2 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a beautiful, French country atmosphere with an amazing wine list and excellent foods with a French flavor. Our waiter was superb and helpful as we reviewed the wine list and selected our dinner. It was a wonderful experience!

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    Denver

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 2 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was outstanding! My husband and I had the escargot, the onion soup, the beef bourguignon and the lamb. Everything was cooked to perfection. The host even gave us a complimentary dessert because we were seated in a snug area. The dessert was amazing and it made our night and experience. Great place for authentic French cuisine.

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FAQs

Cafe Rabelais is rated 4.8 stars by 960 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 16 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 11:00–14:00 Dinner Tue, Wed 18:00–21:00 Thu–Sat 18:00–22:00
  • 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
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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