Cafe Rabelais

4.8

961 Reviews

$31 to $50

French

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 26, 2024

11:30 PM

Booked 12 times today

Experiences are available.

Charming
Neighborhood gem
Great for fine wines

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

Champagne Dinner
$145.00 per person
Dec 17, 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!
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! Stay tuned for more tantalizing details to come! 🎉🥂
New Year's Eve Prix Fixe
$92.00 per person
Dec 31, 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! 🥳🍾

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 961 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
4.8Service
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 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.

961 Reviews

C
Charles
Houston
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
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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J
Jay
Houston
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined 7 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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j
janie
New Orleans
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined 7 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!
Is this helpful?
S
Sherry
Houston
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined 7 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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J
Jerry
Houston
28 reviews
vip
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on November 16, 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.
Is this helpful?
B
Barbara
Houston
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 14, 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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J
John
Houston
97 reviews
4.0
97 reviews
Dined on November 10, 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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R
Ryan
Houston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 7, 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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B
Bri
Houston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 6, 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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J
John
Phoenix
62 reviews
vip
5.0
62 reviews
Dined on November 2, 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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FAQs

Cafe Rabelais is rated 4.8 stars by 961 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 26, 2024

11:30 PM

Booked 12 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

Champagne Dinner

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 961 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