The food is outstanding. The water is filtered and bottled when brought to the table. The service is off the charts and amazing. The servers are very kind and courteous. They will honor any dietary restrictions or needs that one might have. The ambiance is elegant. The lights are dimmed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Bourguignon
L. G. Siller
Last visit unfortunately disappointed. We had reservation for 830 and restaurant was not crowded but we were seated in a dark corner, we couldnt even read the menu! Service was spotty. French onion soup was good, beef bourguignon was mediocre at best, although my niece loved the mussels. The star of this show is still the profiteroles. I think, overall, the menu needs an overhaul, and service needs to be addressed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Marcia Barnett
The quality and service of Cafe Rabelais is not what it used to be.
I recently went to Cafe Rabelais with my mother while visiting from out of town. From 2015-2019, I lived near Rice Village/Med Center and would occasionally go to Cafe Rabelais with my mother as a treat. It used to be that the wait staff had been there long term or was well trained; we would remember the waiters and they would remember us (if not by name, at least by face!) The service was excellent and the tables wer packed.
Of course, I expected the atmosphere to be different post-pandemic... But not like this.
My first impression was confusion after being handed a menu. As I remember being told by a waiter 'back in the day', the menu of appetizers and entrees used to be handcrafted daily based on market availability and what the chef/staff had found was fresh for the day. Sure, there were a handful of items which remained consistent (usually just the sandwiches and a couple of entrees). There used to be the excitement of ordering an item off of the chalkboard and then having the staff erase it off the menu. "Yes! I got the last filet mignon of the day!"
Now, the food tastes not like it was picked with care and an eye for quality, but from the produce section of a Walmart. My tomato was unflavorful and watery, instead of a rich umami. The steak was "meh", where it used to melt in my mouth. And to top it off, they forgot the garlic. However, the fries were great. But so are the fries at Whataburger...
The chicken, to it's credit, was moist and cooked well. However, the flavor was bland, and the sauce tasted too sweet, with no counterbalancing flavor or acidity. It seemed like an idea that may have been well executed well the first few times the permanent menu was introduced, but has declined over time.
The wine seemed like it was being served without care. We weren't offered a tasting glass, and when my mom ordered a refill of a white wine, her glass inexplicably changed from a white wine glass to a red wine glass.
And while we're talking about service, it didn't seem like our wait staff was even familiar with the menu. When we asked about specials of the day, we were told that there were none. Later, after we had been served, a couple next to us were offered the scallops on "special". If you're going to not change your menu at all, at least have your staff know the one special of the day.
I used to, but now would not recommend this restaurant to my friends and family who are looking for a relaxed, but fine dining experience. Go elsewhere with your money.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
EOne Seba
Good food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rack of Lamb
Eric Tang
This place offers your traditional French cuisine. The overall taste of their dishes are above average. Their portion sizes are similar for the Houston area. The quality of their beef was slightly below average especially with the price they are charging. I really like their big and juicy muscles. But don't get the duck breast, it is dry not juicy at all.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Mussels Rabelais
Dag Sandbakken
In our quest for the best moules frites, ever, we have found a new contender in Cafe Rabelais. Plump mussles in a rich, tasty rosemary-whitewine-creamsauce, with perfect firites. And with a glass of sancerre, what more is there to desire for lunch?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sasa Sasa
The bone marrow and escargots are to die for! Everything at this place is just so good! Our server was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable—he helped us pick a wine that paired perfectly with the rest of our meal. Amazing food and service, we can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
MC
Such a cozy restaurant that feels so much like many of the cafes I visited in Paris! The garlicky escargot was delicious! Sopping up the savory hot butter was a treat. The foie gras torchon was a stunning bite, the beautifully caramelized onions perfectly balancing the richness of that coveted foie gras flavor and creaminess. Unfortunately the beauty of the meal ended there for me. I was so looking forward to the Entrecôte, so the inevitable disappointment was that much more disenchanting. The steak was overdone and incredibly touch. I was quite literally sawing the meat in my attempts to take each bite. While those at the table raved about their filets,, this steak - which was supposed to be a star - was horribly disappointing. I appreciated that they took it off the check (it was an entire steak minus 2 bites that was sent back.) Still, I loved the experience enough to want to return, and I will. I look forward to trying other classic French dishes.
Mary
It is always a delicious pleasure to dine at Cafe Rabalais! The food is very good the service friendly and attentive. The only negative in the evening is, if you sit outside, the cigar bar next door is unpleasant!
The escargot is to die for - she has the chicken breast with brown raspberry sauce, green beans, and fingerling potatoes. I opted for the special which was steak, roasted tomatoes with bread crumbs, and an au gratin style potatoes that was exceptional. Dessert was a poached pear and ice cream dish and it was also sublime.
service was a little lacking - we weren't checked on as much as the other patrons and we found one of the waitresses to not be as knowledgeable about the wine menu as we would've expected. it didn't ruin the evening at all, just a small hiccup.
this place is exceptional, we can't wait to go back
Vincent Gutierrez
We had Saturday night reservations and were seated promptly. The overall ambience was very romantic and perfect for date night.
The escargot was delightful, get the 12, don't bother with the 6.
She ordered the chicken breast with the raspberry sauce and I had the special which was a steak dish with incredible potatoes.
Dessert was their pear dish and it was surprising in all the good ways.
Service was a little sub par - the waitress was unable to help with the vast wine selection, other patrons seemed to be checked on more than us, etc, but it was nothing that spoiled the evening.
We loved our experience and can't wait to go back. Lovely little restaurant, so happy we found this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Mickey Marvins
Great restaurant. Our server was great. The escargot, mussels, bone marrow, beef bourguignonne, quail, lamb were all wonderful. We had a group of 8. Cote du Rhone was perfect. Chocolate mousse and profiteroles were wonderful too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fafa
Fantastic experience all around! The decoration is very charming and makes you want to just *be* in that place for a long while. The wine menu is great and helps with that feeling. Although a few days short of the month with r-rule I dared taking the Mussels. Steamed/cooked just right. The French fries are in French allumettes style. The overall presentation is lovely and I enjoyed the broth. It’s good to know this place exists, whenever the craving for foods from home comes up again ?↔️.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tom
This meal was a delight from the pate to the profiteroles. One of the few places in Houston for authentic French country cooking. They have not changed a thing in 25 years and it is still wonderful.
Lovely place - excellent food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sandwiches, Mussels Rabelais, Poire Belle-Helene
The food is outstanding. The water is filtered and bottled when brought to the table. The service is off the charts and amazing. The servers are very kind and courteous. They will honor any dietary restrictions or needs that one might have. The ambiance is elegant. The lights are dimmed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Bourguignon
Last visit unfortunately disappointed. We had reservation for 830 and restaurant was not crowded but we were seated in a dark corner, we couldnt even read the menu! Service was spotty. French onion soup was good, beef bourguignon was mediocre at best, although my niece loved the mussels. The star of this show is still the profiteroles. I think, overall, the menu needs an overhaul, and service needs to be addressed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
The quality and service of Cafe Rabelais is not what it used to be.
I recently went to Cafe Rabelais with my mother while visiting from out of town. From 2015-2019, I lived near Rice Village/Med Center and would occasionally go to Cafe Rabelais with my mother as a treat. It used to be that the wait staff had been there long term or was well trained; we would remember the waiters and they would remember us (if not by name, at least by face!) The service was excellent and the tables wer packed.
Of course, I expected the atmosphere to be different post-pandemic... But not like this.
My first impression was confusion after being handed a menu. As I remember being told by a waiter 'back in the day', the menu of appetizers and entrees used to be handcrafted daily based on market availability and what the chef/staff had found was fresh for the day. Sure, there were a handful of items which remained consistent (usually just the sandwiches and a couple of entrees). There used to be the excitement of ordering an item off of the chalkboard and then having the staff erase it off the menu. "Yes! I got the last filet mignon of the day!"
Now, the food tastes not like it was picked with care and an eye for quality, but from the produce section of a Walmart. My tomato was unflavorful and watery, instead of a rich umami. The steak was "meh", where it used to melt in my mouth. And to top it off, they forgot the garlic. However, the fries were great. But so are the fries at Whataburger...
The chicken, to it's credit, was moist and cooked well. However, the flavor was bland, and the sauce tasted too sweet, with no counterbalancing flavor or acidity. It seemed like an idea that may have been well executed well the first few times the permanent menu was introduced, but has declined over time.
The wine seemed like it was being served without care. We weren't offered a tasting glass, and when my mom ordered a refill of a white wine, her glass inexplicably changed from a white wine glass to a red wine glass.
And while we're talking about service, it didn't seem like our wait staff was even familiar with the menu. When we asked about specials of the day, we were told that there were none. Later, after we had been served, a couple next to us were offered the scallops on "special". If you're going to not change your menu at all, at least have your staff know the one special of the day.
I used to, but now would not recommend this restaurant to my friends and family who are looking for a relaxed, but fine dining experience. Go elsewhere with your money.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Good food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rack of Lamb
This place offers your traditional French cuisine. The overall taste of their dishes are above average.
Their portion sizes are similar for the Houston area.
The quality of their beef was slightly below average especially with the price they are charging.
I really like their big and juicy muscles.
But don't get the duck breast, it is dry not juicy at all.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Mussels Rabelais
In our quest for the best moules frites, ever, we have found a new contender in Cafe Rabelais. Plump mussles in a rich, tasty rosemary-whitewine-creamsauce, with perfect firites. And with a glass of sancerre, what more is there to desire for lunch?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The bone marrow and escargots are to die for! Everything at this place is just so good! Our server was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable—he helped us pick a wine that paired perfectly with the rest of our meal. Amazing food and service, we can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Such a cozy restaurant that feels so much like many of the cafes I visited in Paris! The garlicky escargot was delicious! Sopping up the savory hot butter was a treat. The foie gras torchon was a stunning bite, the beautifully caramelized onions perfectly balancing the richness of that coveted foie gras flavor and creaminess. Unfortunately the beauty of the meal ended there for me. I was so looking forward to the Entrecôte, so the inevitable disappointment was that much more disenchanting. The steak was overdone and incredibly touch. I was quite literally sawing the meat in my attempts to take each bite. While those at the table raved about their filets,, this steak - which was supposed to be a star - was horribly disappointing. I appreciated that they took it off the check (it was an entire steak minus 2 bites that was sent back.) Still, I loved the experience enough to want to return, and I will. I look forward to trying other classic French dishes.
It is always a delicious pleasure to dine at Cafe Rabalais! The food is very good the service friendly and attentive. The only negative in the evening is, if you sit outside, the cigar bar next door is unpleasant!
Restaurantji Recommends
The escargot is to die for - she has the chicken breast with brown raspberry sauce, green beans, and fingerling potatoes. I opted for the special which was steak, roasted tomatoes with bread crumbs, and an au gratin style potatoes that was exceptional. Dessert was a poached pear and ice cream dish and it was also sublime. service was a little lacking - we weren't checked on as much as the other patrons and we found one of the waitresses to not be as knowledgeable about the wine menu as we would've expected. it didn't ruin the evening at all, just a small hiccup. this place is exceptional, we can't wait to go back
We had Saturday night reservations and were seated promptly. The overall ambience was very romantic and perfect for date night.
The escargot was delightful, get the 12, don't bother with the 6.
She ordered the chicken breast with the raspberry sauce and I had the special which was a steak dish with incredible potatoes.
Dessert was their pear dish and it was surprising in all the good ways.
Service was a little sub par - the waitress was unable to help with the vast wine selection, other patrons seemed to be checked on more than us, etc, but it was nothing that spoiled the evening.
We loved our experience and can't wait to go back. Lovely little restaurant, so happy we found this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Great restaurant. Our server was great. The escargot, mussels, bone marrow, beef bourguignonne, quail, lamb were all wonderful. We had a group of 8. Cote du Rhone was perfect. Chocolate mousse and profiteroles were wonderful too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic experience all around! The decoration is very charming and makes you want to just *be* in that place for a long while. The wine menu is great and helps with that feeling. Although a few days short of the month with r-rule I dared taking the Mussels. Steamed/cooked just right. The French fries are in French allumettes style. The overall presentation is lovely and I enjoyed the broth. It’s good to know this place exists, whenever the craving for foods from home comes up again ?↔️.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This meal was a delight from the pate to the profiteroles. One of the few places in Houston for authentic French country cooking. They have not changed a thing in 25 years and it is still wonderful.
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