Divine little spot right in the neighborhood with the feel of authentic European ding complete with an extensive wine list to pair with the many french dishes they serve expertly made to order! We started with the tomato and blue cheese salad topped with fresh basil and micro greens. The steak au poive was tender and served with fries that were freshly fried to crispy perfection. We were a little disappointed with the trout menier being dry but the flavor was good overall. We paired our dinner with a library Marsanay from 2011 that was nice but was probably beyond its optimal drinking window. We love this little place and we will always return for another gastro-venture very soon!
Michael
Every dish delicious and if not real hungry consider sharing A very tasty French restaurant
Peter
Authentic French bistro with good food, nice wine selection and excellent service. Highly recommended
Roger
Amazing dinner with the whole family. Food and service were on point as always. Consistently great place!
Dragonmilk X
Went for lunch, mussel sauce was great, as was the fresh bread with butter (would recommend combining them). Prices for lunch at least were quite reasonable for sandwiches and we just got croque monsieur and stuffed quail in addition to a roast beef sandwich. Would highly recommend checking it out for lunch
JAMES
Let me get the negatives out of the way first... The lighting quality was pretty poor. A bit tough to read the wine list and menu. Some supplemental accent lights on the tables or nearby would help a lot. And the noise level was a bit much, but not something the management or wait staff could do anything about. Problem with the clientele there, really and no fault of the restaurant. The food, however, was just excellent. My date had the salmon papillote and I the steak poivre. Meat and vegetables were perfectly prepared. The wine, a 2020 Chateau Vieux Meyney Bordeaux, was a luck of the draw selection that paired wonderfully. Delicious foie gras appetizer and a very nicely done creme brulee. The coffee, interestingly and pleasantly surprising, was absolutely terrific. All in all a great meal with great service. We'll be back.
Tenley
My escargots, mussels and fries were excellent and a large portion. My husband's mushroom soup and bavette steak were great. It's hard to get a perfect medium rare. I've gone to Cafe Rabelais for 30 years. I'll keep going back.
Denis
Went for lunch with one of my friends. We were promptly seated and enjoyed the tasteful decor of the room with an amazing assortment of French wine bottles. We tried the ‘salade de chèvre chaud' and the ‘bœuf bourguignon'. Both were excellent and exactly as you would have gotten it in a reputable place in Paris. We also had Poire Belle Helene for dessert. Service was very attentive and the waitress had perfect French. Will be back soon to try more!
Miggs Salazar
Went to the village for some gourmet Mexican dessert and ended up having some French cuisine next door! The place looks very inviting, so we walked in, not knowing what to expect. The atmosphere was very cozy and the food was great! They have an amazing wine list, but unfortunately, I am not familiar with European wines but ended up picking an enjoyable medium bodied bottle. For starters, we had mussels and bone marrow. We truly enjoyed both! Our entrées were Filet Mignon and Trout. We love the experience, and the only downside was that we felt a little left out by our server. We noticed all his other tables were constantly getting their waters and wine poured but not ours. Maybe they were all his regulars, and we were new faces, and the fact that we were completely under dressed, I am sure, didn't help! Dinner was not part of the plan, so we were extremely casual. Overall, we enjoyed it very much and will definitely go back.
Austin
My steak was overcooked and dry. I am a little sad that I didn't just make one at home. The red fish special was a bit better but still a little over. The chicken was superb! Service was amazing, everyone was so so nice.
Excellent in every aspect. The only place in Houston where you can get sweetbreads. Probably ditto for the quail – which is excellent. Friendly, attentive service.
Lu Ann
The food was delicious and the service professional and helpful. I would highly recommend Cafe Rabelais.
Susan Ratterree
Hands down the best French cuisine in Houston. Our favorite go to date night place. Quiet, exceptional food and service!
Conor
Quaint restaurant tucked into Rice village. The wine was excellent with incredible selection. This feels like a local hotspot without trying too hard.
Deborah
Café Rabelais is a regular stop for me and my friends. All the items on their menu are superbly prepared. An excellent choice for anyone!
Divine little spot right in the neighborhood with the feel of authentic European ding complete with an extensive wine list to pair with the many french dishes they serve expertly made to order! We started with the tomato and blue cheese salad topped with fresh basil and micro greens. The steak au poive was tender and served with fries that were freshly fried to crispy perfection. We were a little disappointed with the trout menier being dry but the flavor was good overall. We paired our dinner with a library Marsanay from 2011 that was nice but was probably beyond its optimal drinking window. We love this little place and we will always return for another gastro-venture very soon!
Every dish delicious and if not real hungry consider sharing A very tasty French restaurant
Authentic French bistro with good food, nice wine selection and excellent service. Highly recommended
Amazing dinner with the whole family. Food and service were on point as always. Consistently great place!
Went for lunch, mussel sauce was great, as was the fresh bread with butter (would recommend combining them). Prices for lunch at least were quite reasonable for sandwiches and we just got croque monsieur and stuffed quail in addition to a roast beef sandwich. Would highly recommend checking it out for lunch
Let me get the negatives out of the way first... The lighting quality was pretty poor. A bit tough to read the wine list and menu. Some supplemental accent lights on the tables or nearby would help a lot. And the noise level was a bit much, but not something the management or wait staff could do anything about. Problem with the clientele there, really and no fault of the restaurant. The food, however, was just excellent. My date had the salmon papillote and I the steak poivre. Meat and vegetables were perfectly prepared. The wine, a 2020 Chateau Vieux Meyney Bordeaux, was a luck of the draw selection that paired wonderfully. Delicious foie gras appetizer and a very nicely done creme brulee. The coffee, interestingly and pleasantly surprising, was absolutely terrific. All in all a great meal with great service. We'll be back.
My escargots, mussels and fries were excellent and a large portion. My husband's mushroom soup and bavette steak were great. It's hard to get a perfect medium rare. I've gone to Cafe Rabelais for 30 years. I'll keep going back.
Went for lunch with one of my friends. We were promptly seated and enjoyed the tasteful decor of the room with an amazing assortment of French wine bottles. We tried the ‘salade de chèvre chaud' and the ‘bœuf bourguignon'. Both were excellent and exactly as you would have gotten it in a reputable place in Paris. We also had Poire Belle Helene for dessert. Service was very attentive and the waitress had perfect French. Will be back soon to try more!
Went to the village for some gourmet Mexican dessert and ended up having some French cuisine next door! The place looks very inviting, so we walked in, not knowing what to expect. The atmosphere was very cozy and the food was great! They have an amazing wine list, but unfortunately, I am not familiar with European wines but ended up picking an enjoyable medium bodied bottle. For starters, we had mussels and bone marrow. We truly enjoyed both! Our entrées were Filet Mignon and Trout. We love the experience, and the only downside was that we felt a little left out by our server. We noticed all his other tables were constantly getting their waters and wine poured but not ours. Maybe they were all his regulars, and we were new faces, and the fact that we were completely under dressed, I am sure, didn't help! Dinner was not part of the plan, so we were extremely casual. Overall, we enjoyed it very much and will definitely go back.
My steak was overcooked and dry. I am a little sad that I didn't just make one at home. The red fish special was a bit better but still a little over. The chicken was superb! Service was amazing, everyone was so so nice.
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent in every aspect. The only place in Houston where you can get sweetbreads. Probably ditto for the quail – which is excellent. Friendly, attentive service.
The food was delicious and the service professional and helpful. I would highly recommend Cafe Rabelais.
Hands down the best French cuisine in Houston. Our favorite go to date night place. Quiet, exceptional food and service!
Quaint restaurant tucked into Rice village. The wine was excellent with incredible selection. This feels like a local hotspot without trying too hard.
Café Rabelais is a regular stop for me and my friends. All the items on their menu are superbly prepared. An excellent choice for anyone!
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