Cafe Rabelais

4.7

971 Reviews

$31 to $50

French

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 21, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

Experiences are available.

Great for fine wines
Charming
Neighborhood 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
Website
http://www.caferabelais.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Soriano Frank

Location
2442 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
Neighborhood
Rice Village
Cross street
5499 kelvin Dr
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Beer, Cafe, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

CHRISTMAS EVE Prix Fixe
$82.00 per person
Dec 24, 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! 🎉🥂
New Year's Eve Prix Fixe
$92.00 per person
Dec 31, 2024 only
As the year draws to a close, we invite you to join us at Café Rabelais for a night of exquisite culinary artistry and elegant ambiance. Our 5-course prix fixe dinner is a celebration of flavors, meticulously crafted to entice your palate and create memorable moments. Imagine savoring each dish, from the delicate amuse-bouche of smoked salmon on toast to the sumptuous mille-feuille for dessert, as we bid farewell to the year in style. Each course is a reflection of our passion for French cuisine. Whether you choose the house foie gras or the pepper-crusted salmon, every bite promises to transport you to the heart of France. Reservations are available between 5-10pm. Book yours today! Let’s toast to new beginnings together! 🥂

Heirloom Tomato Salad$9.50
w/ Cheese of The Day, Red Onion & Balsamic Vinaigrette
Caesar Salad$9.50
- W/ Salmon$3.50
- W/ Chicken$4.00
- W/ Beef or Shrimp$5.00
Nicoise Salad$15.50
Tuna, Mixed Greens, Hard Boiled Egg, Green Beans, Olives & Anchovies
Frisee Salad$9.50
Avocado & Citrus w/ Citrus Vinaigrette
Salade de Bleu d'Auvergne$11.00
Bibb Lettuce, Bacon, Walnuts, Apple
Salade de Chevre de Pané$10.50
w/ Mixed Greens, Hazelnuts, Country Ham & Panko Crusted Goat Cheese
Salade Maison$7.00
w/ Mixed Greens, Tomato & Carrots

Sandwiches

All Sandwiches Served w/ Pomme Frites

Chicken Salad Sandwich$10.95
on Croissant w/ Bibb Lettuce & Tomato
Bavette Frites$12.50
w/ Onion, Lettuce, Tomato, Mustard, Melted Swiss
Herb Crusted Pork Loin Sandwich$13.00
w/ Tomato, Spring Mix & Cabbage Slaw
Merguez Sandwich$13.50
w/ Lettuce, Tomato & Mustard
Smoked Salmon Sandwich$12.50
w/ Lettuce, Tomato, Hard Boiled Egg & Gribiche
Provencal Sandwich$11.50
w/ Roasted Bell Pepper, Lettuce, Tomato, Caramelized Onion, Garlic Aioli & Goat Cheese
Sandwich Bayonnais$12.50
w/ Ham, Tomme De Savoie, Lettuce, Tomato & Butter

What 971 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

Noise • Moderate

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.

971 Reviews

a
anna
VIP
Houston
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Attended the annual fixed price champagne dinner. Food and champagne were excellent
Is this helpful?
N
Nik
VIP
Houston
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
The Champagne experience was very enjoyable. The food was delicious and in very generous portions. The Champagne tastings were small portions and not so generous but still very interesting. The pairings of the Champagne to the food was very good and each mouthful of food bought out more sparkle in each sip of Champagne. Service could have been better. We were missed out and had to chase for bread, and for two entrees, aswell as the first serving of Champagne, it may have been the location of the table, although disappointing, it did not distract from a wonderful evening by Christophe Paul and his team.
Is this helpful?
K
Katie
VIP
Houston
17 reviews
5.0
17 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and service. Ginger cake was phenomenal!
Is this helpful?
Z
Zac
VIP
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Consistently one of the best restaurants in Houston.
Is this helpful?
L
Larry or Lori
VIP
Houston
159 reviews
5.0
159 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Three of us went for a holiday celebration. We had reservations - a must at Cafe Rabelais. We were seated immediately. The restaurant was crowded, which adds to the ambiance of being in a little French bistro. We had a wonderful bottle of red Bordeaux at a very reasonable price. The entrecote, beef bourginon, and mussels were wonderfully prepared. We tried the special ginger chocolate cake, and it was amazing. The sponge was light as a feather. Service was attentive but not intrusive.
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H
Harriet
VIP
Houston
97 reviews
5.0
97 reviews
Dined on December 6, 2024
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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K
Katherine
VIP
Los Angeles
38 reviews
5.0
38 reviews
Dined on December 6, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always fabulous French food! Never disappoints .
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R
Rick
Houston
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 5, 2024
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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j
jennifer
Houston
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 4, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Still a favorite. Excellent ribere and salad to share.
Is this helpful?
A
Alison
Houston
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 27, 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.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Cafe Rabelais is rated 4.7 stars by 971 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 21, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

Experiences are available.

2442 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005

Additional information

Cross street
5499 kelvin Dr
Neighborhood
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

Website
http://www.caferabelais.com/
Phone number
(713) 520-8841

Cafe Rabelais

Make a reservation

Additional information

Experiences

CHRISTMAS EVE Prix Fixe

New Year's Eve Prix Fixe

Menu

Salads

Heirloom Tomato Salad$9.50

Caesar Salad$9.50

Nicoise Salad$15.50

Frisee Salad$9.50

Salade de Bleu d'Auvergne$11.00

Salade de Chevre de Pané$10.50

Salade Maison$7.00

Sandwiches

Chicken Salad Sandwich$10.95

Bavette Frites$12.50

Herb Crusted Pork Loin Sandwich$13.00

Merguez Sandwich$13.50

Smoked Salmon Sandwich$12.50

Provencal Sandwich$11.50

Sandwich Bayonnais$12.50

What 971 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Cafe Rabelais restaurant rated?

Is Cafe Rabelais currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information