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Cafe Rabelais, Houston, TX

Cafe Rabelais

4.8
4.8
962 Reviews
$31 to $50
French

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 13 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood 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
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Soriano Frank
  • Neighbourhood
    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

    US$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!
    Champagne Dinner photo
  • CHRISTMAS EVE Prix Fixe

    US$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! 🎉🥂
    CHRISTMAS EVE Prix Fixe photo
  • New Year's Eve Prix Fixe

    US$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! 🥳🍾
    New Year's Eve Prix Fixe photo

What 962 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

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.

962 Reviews
  1. Alison

    Houston

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    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.

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  2. Charles

    Houston

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 7 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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  3. Jay

    Houston

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2024

    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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  4. janie

    New Orleans

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2024

    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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  5. Sherry

    Houston

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2024

    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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  6. 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.

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  7. 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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  8. 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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  9. 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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  10. 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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FAQs

Cafe Rabelais is rated 4.8 stars by 962 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 13 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Cafe Rabelais

2442 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    5499 kelvin Dr
  • Neighbourhood
    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
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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