My favorite French restaurant great food knowledge service Love the ambiance. My lamb was cooked to perfection.

Such a cute spot ! Excited to come try them for dinner sometime I don't know how I've never been here - especially since it's been around for a long time ! We stopped in for a quick lunch while shopping and it's charm kept us there for a while The space: Cute small French bistro vibes. Probably not ideal for a large group but definitely nice for a small friend meetup or intimate date. Tables are 2 and 4 tops with a few seats outside as well Food selection: We only tried their brunch/lunch menu. My husband had the steak which was massive and impressive. I had a delicious slice of quiche. All the menu items looked delicious but a bit heavy for the hot day we were having (definitely excited to come back for dinner or maybe a lunch on a cooler day) Overall we loved it ! read more

See all

We just stopped in for dessert but wow this place was hopping! The service was friendly and helpful. All the food coming out looked fabulous. We got the poached pear with ice cream and chocolate sauce. This was so well balanced and not overly sweet. I can't wait to stop back by for a glass of wine and an enjoyable laid back atmosphere. read more

Café Rabelais - Poached pear and ice cream - French Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came here on a whim as it had been ages since visiting. There is parking all around Rice Village though you may have to pay. The interior is quaint and delivers casual and unassuming with a wine and champagne list that is next level. Food & Drink - 4* I felt like steak au poivre and it was delicious. The green beans were crunchy and were not overcooked. The frites were hot and had a good crispy crunch. Great selection of wine and champagne. There's a lot of info for those seeking to learn! Service - 4.5* I arrived about an hour to closing and they happily sat and provided great service even past closing. This really is a great family run restaurant. Pricing - 3.5* Always subjective but for the service, quality of food, and supporting a local business it's well worth it. Overall Café Rabelais remains an establishment that delivers and recommend anyone swing by if you're looking to support a great local business that takes pride in their selection! read more

TLDR- This is a classy but casual spot with solid french cuisine and an incredible wine list. Walked in and this spot has a cute Parisian cafe vibe to it. The wine selection immediately wowed us! Our server was so great- gave amazing wine recommendations and explained the menu to us. High marks for service! Food was good. The foie grais was our favorite but the Salmon with leeks was also SO good. Definitely lots of cream and lots of butter, but everything we tried was great. The only course we were a bit underwhelmed by was dessert- it was good but didnt compare to the amazing entrees we had! Parking is readily available but for a small fee $2 an hour in the lot. We went during restaurant week so possibly some things in the review were temporary. read more

See all

Situated inside the Rice Village area, small parking lot but ample garage or street parking. 4-5 tables available on the outdoor patio and intimate dining indoors. Pluses 1) great service 2) yummy hot bread with butter and olives 3) wow best trout almondine in town, veggies carrots and green beans are so fresh and it's a whole trout that has been deboned very delicious 4) steak Sammie so good the beef was tender and juicy Areas to improve None Highly recommended! 5 star food and service. read more

Café Rabelais - Steak Sammie - French Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

This place is cute! Gives mom and pop vibes. This place was chosen on the whim. We wanted bone barrow and it lead us here. Very flavorful. This is the first place I've seen that sold Escargot by the dozen. We were not disappointed. If you like wine, come here. The wine menu is larger than the food menu. We did not get an entree but shall return to try a plate next time. I gave a four because it took a while for us to be served and this place, although cute, is busy and makes you feel like you're too close to the table next to you. Staff was very friendly. read more

See all

It's such a cute French restaurant. Perfect for a great night or small gatherings. I got the mussel, the salmon, and the profiteroles. They were all pretty good but nothing astonishingly amazing. Their price point is pretty high for the type of food they serve. Service is amazing, super friendly staffs. read more

See all

I have been coming to this restaurant since before they relocated. Has always been a great experience for dinner or lunch. I would definitely recommend it. read more

It's been around for over 30 years for a reason . Food is always perfectly prepared, waitstaff are attentive, tasty yet unfussy menu, reasonably priced. Cozy and in the heart of Rice Village. read more

Space is an issue but the food is definitely delicious I do like the atmosphere workers are very knowledgeable about the food

I think I've been eating at this restaurant for almost 20 years (before the birth of my daughter and she's 15 yrs old now). The original place had a tiny upstairs seating (also in Rice Village), but after a few years, they moved to their current location. While we have moved across town so it's not very convenient for us to dine here as often, it's always a treat when we're able to stop in. Because we had missed this place so much, we decided to make the 30 mile drive just to have lunch while we were off for the holidays. This place is like coming home (in a good way). It has kept its charm, while maintaining their high quality. What both my hubby and I were very happy to see is that the same staff and server for 10-15 yrs are still working there. I have tried many of their dishes in the past (which have all been good), but always, always go back to the Moules Rabelais (steamed mussels in a ridiculously decadent cream sauce). Even my family, who are not fans of mussels, will fight for the crusty bread soaked in the mussel's sauce. Served with a side of thin, crispy fries, it's incredibly delicious when dipped in their aioli. If we're there for lunch, my husband's go-to order is the smoked salmon sandwich. Seems like such a simple sandwich, but it packs so much flavor from the aioli, sliced eggs and arugula. You truly can't go wrong with whatever you order. read more

See all

Houston Restaurant Weeks menu The star is the escargot. Sat at the bar and received great service. 1. Escargot 2. Stuffed mushrooms with fried oysters 3. Petite filet, green beans, and mashed potatoes 4. Short ribs and gnocchi 5. Chocolate ganache tart 6. Apple tart Order a la cart another escargot and foie gras. Over all, good dinner and I'll come back. read more

See all

My family loves this restaurant and consider it one of the best restaurants in Houston. They serve classic French food without being fussy and every dish is delicious. We started with some cremont, French onion soup, and for my main I got the trout. If you are a fan of seared rainbow trout (it's one of my favorites) then you will LOVE this dish. The lemon caper sauce was amazing, I could eat this again and again. I also tried the linguine with clams which was great. They also have a nice looking sandwich menu that's only served on weekdays. Cafe Rabelais is definitely worth visit if you're looking for a meal in Rice village! read more

See all

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 tough. 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. read more

Very cool lunch spot although I'm sure dinner would be great too. Food is well prepared and it's cosy and not too loud. Some outdoor seating is possible. I had wonderful onion soup and a great salmon dish for lunch. Highly recommend. read more

Excellent French dining does not have to be stuffy and full of pomp. Some of the best meals I've had in France have been at neighborhood brasseries. An evening at Rabelais transports me back every time. Freshest, highest quality ingredients with technique to lest each one shine. While I've never had a sandwich there, everything else I've had has been great. The cassoulet is a recurring fave of mine, as is the beouf bourguignon. What you can savor in both dishes is the time. Not a typo, not the spice, but the minutes and hours that are needed to prepare each one so well (you can't rush a confit, nor the wizardry of a good demi glace). Don't forget to check out the specials. If they ever have their steak frites with a bavette cut, jump on it. One of the tastiest cuts of beef there is. Love this place! read more

Great neighborhood gem, but worth the trip if you're outside the Loop. French fare with attention to details. Don't miss the amazing French bread. read more

The ambiance and service stand out as excellent. However, the dining room gets quite loud, and I recommend sitting at one of the sidewalk tables if you want to have a conversation. Our server, Diyan, had a great attitude and took really good care of our party of four. There is a wide selection of appetizers. I went with foie gras and onion soup, both of which were outstanding. The table shared one order of pommes frites, which were piping hot and cooked to perfection. Entrees were too limited for my taste. You have a choice among several very expensive steaks, a rather ordinary salmon dish, and duck. So I skipped the entree and saved room for a profiterole, which was delicious. I'll recommend a dessert wine I've never had before, Banyuls, a red that is served chilled. It was great with the profiterole. The limited entrees notwithstanding, I'll return to partake of the great appetizers, bread, and wine. Except for the steaks, prices were quite reasonable, so overall I have to give Café Rabelais unusually high marks for value. read more

Delicious dinner as we celebrated my SIL's b-day. Quaint space w lively staff. Huge wine list. read more

Café Rabelais - Rack of lamb w green beans & roasted carrots. - French Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is a such cute little French café in the village! One of my friends recommended this place for me to go on a date and I gotta say that he was right on the money: the service was excellent and the food was great. Also, despite the small dining area, I didn't feel like we were cramped on top of one another - my date and I had enough space between our table to the next that we could still able to enjoy our conversations. We tried the escargots and they were delicious. It was my date's first time trying out escargots and she absolutely loved it. Pro tip: if they ask you whether or not you want more bread, just say yes. You will definitely want more bread to dip in the escargots' butter sauce. I had the stuffed chicken and my date had the mussels: both were excellent. Our waiter also recommended some great wines to go with the meals (we are not well versed in the art of wine). I'd definitely come back and will also recommend this cute little place to others. read more

See all

Good and service were outstanding! A bit small but cozy. Not too loud. Would definitely come again

Service was excellent, wine selection extensive. Food was authentic French cuisine and quite delicious. Restaurant appeared as a French cafe with outdoor and indoor dining. read more

Feels like I'm teleported to a Paris bistro here! I love this cafe! The last time I went was during HRW & it was the Best of many delicious meals here! I had their salmon which was perfection! I cannot go here without ordering Belle Pear Helene dessert! It's the best version I've had & I'm extra happy it is now served with two balls of ice cream. Great service, fab cuisine! read more

Café Rabelais - Salmon with sauce - French Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Small yet cozy ambiance! Food was really good~ I had the mussels and the sauce was amazing to use for bread! Great place for date night imo! read more

See all

Super resto! Un des meilleurs restaurants Français qu'on ait trouvé au Texas depuis nos 4 ans ici. Si vous voulez une expérience et ambiance vraiment quasi-Française, n'hésitez surtout pas à manger ici! Service super! Et alimentation top! read more

Café Rabelais - Cafe - French Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Came back to this hidden gem since its been over 2 years since I been back. -The escargot is still great as we remembered . -Mussels + frits is still our fav item there. -Duck Confit is good but wasn't as great as I remember. Not sure if it the new mustard sauce they put on duck but it was off. The last sauce was orange-demi which paired well with duck. Overall still good & service great. read more

Café Rabelais - Duck confit - French Near Me - Houston, Texas

Wow my review for Cafe Rebelais was written 5 years ago! I thought I'd come back and update it since I've been here quite a few handful of times since then. Café Rebelais is definitely our go-to French Place whenever we're craving some French food close to home. With a French Canadian friend, whom the restaurant knows by name, that's quite often. Cafe Rebelais is always pretty consistent and consistently delicious. We love their escargots, though it takes awhile to prepare, so definitely order this first! There's been a few times the escargots are under seasoned - in terms of salt in the garlic butter - but most of the time, we soak it all up with the hot bread. My favorite! My other favorites are the smoked salmon sandwich, such a great dish for a decent price. Loaded with smoked salmon, greens, hard boiled eggs and served with frites - it's one of my go-to dishes when I'm not craving anything heavy! The Rebelais mussels are also another favorite. Served in a creamy wine sauce - the mussels are cooked perfectly and the sauce is amazing. We also love their soup, the Duck confit, the steak and the scallops!! They have a great selection of cheese and their desserts are fantastic! Creme brûlée, amazing trio of sorbets, and of course their profiteroles in a chocolate sauce are to die for! The sandwiches stay the same but some of the dishes on the main dinner menu changes daily. Overall, nice atmosphere and delicious French food! Great French wine selection as well! read more

We returned to a place we went to when we first dated more than 20 years ago, Cafe Rabelais. They used to have a tiny section on the second floor before a renovation. We were going to sit on the patio, but the cigar smoke of a person smoking next door was so overwhelming that it gives us a slight headache, so we move to a table indoors closest to the window light. We always like to order an appetizer at a French restaurant to dip the bread with. Instead of the usual ESCARGOTS BEURRE MAÎTRE D'HÔTEL, we opted for OS À MOELLE À LA PERSILLADE, Broiled bone marrow | Garlic persillade |Sea salt |Toasted French baguette | French pickles. If we just had this appetizer alone, we would still walk away satisfied, it is sublime! We used up all the Biscotte then the Baguette to soak and mop up all the fragrant rich delectable Bone Marrow. SALADE NIÇOISE "TRADITION", Albacore tuna| Tomatoes | Poached French green beans | Bell peppers | cage-free hard-boiled egg | sliced potatoes | vinaigrette, is always a favorite salad of ours. All the ingredients used are fresh and of high quality. A refreshing salad that goes with any meal. TRUITE GRENOBLOISE AMANDINE, Pan-seared trout filet |Lemon caper shallot sauce| Grilled almonds |Green beans| Fingerling potatoes, is one of my favorite rendition in town. I find some places make the dish too greasy and heavy, and some overcook the fish, they've done it perfectly here, bursting with complex flavor, yet tasted clean. I don't know why I type so much just to share what we had for lunch. Cafe Rabelais is one of our top picks in town. It's nice to have a walk in the lovely Rich Village after the meal. read more

See all

We have eaten here about 3 times in the last 3-4 times. The food has been very hit or miss. The last 2 times have been a wine tasting and tonight was A price fixe menu. The food for the wine tasting was just mediocre and the wines chosen were not appropriately paired. Tonight my husband was prepared to have the duck and they weren't able to get it and substituted the pheasant instead. He said it was extremely dry and bad tasting. I had the filet which was good. For dessert there was a Noel log-cake w chocolate something. The cake was very dry, so much so that I wouldn't eat it and my husband dipped his in his coffee to make it palatable. We did mention all of this to our waiter who we've we have known for years but he was disinterested in our feedback. We are certainly going to take a break from this once, One of our favorite restaurants. read more

Celebrated our 13th anniversary here June 8, 2022. About 6 times we've celebrated here. Only disappointment this trip was no longer serving seared foie gras The mussels and frites were exceptional and the chocolate mousse was delicious. read more

See all

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. 5 stars all the way!!! read more

This place offers a quaint soft atmosphere... it's a cute spot for an intimate date night, or just a nice last minute outing. The wine is superb, along with some delicious mussels and bone marrow appetizer to get things started. Et voila...bon appetit! read more

Covid: Staff had mask on and seated with social distancing in mind. Outdoor seating is also available. *I didn't pay attention if mask were required for entry, bc I always wear my mask. Parking: It's rice village. For those who aren't familiar, parking can be challenging. There is parking in front of the Café, street parking, and I thought I seen a garage when leaving out. I went on a Wed. evening (6 pm) and luckily found meter parking right in front of the Café. $4 for 3 hours. Ambiance: Very nice. Low lighting, nice table setup, and warm. ALL of the staff were very professional and polite. They asked if we had reservations and we did not, but we were still seated. I'd encourage you to make reservations. We ordered a lot of food, so I'll go down the list. *It appears they have a limited menu for now. Starters: 1. Escargot - AMAZING price and great taste 2. Mushroom soup - good 3. French onion soup - excellent 4. Table bread & butter - good, if you like hard bread (I don't) 5. Bone marrow - different, but actually very good. If you are a conservative eater or have issues with food texture, this isn't for you. 6. Mussels - great. sitting in a lite, creamy sauce Entrees: 1. Lamb w/mashed potatoes, stuffed tomatoes, and garlic - excellent!! The lamb made medium, was so tender and seasoned perfectly!! By far, the best restaurant lamb I've tasted! The sides were good. French fries - good. Cut thin and fried crispy. It's french fries - what more can I say ‍ 2. Steak w/caramelized onions, brussel sprouts w/bacon, tomato, and garlic. Steak cooked medium rare and it was simply perfect!! *I didn't get the ounce of the steak, but if I had to guess - it's "you'll be full when finished" ounces If you order starters, eat the bread, and sip, then it's possible you won't finish your steak. Drinks: We ordered a bottle of dessert wine. It was so good!!! Sweet, white, and lite! I know nothing about wine, but the bottle was $60 and I've never seen such a small bottle for that price before......but it was worth experiencing! Definitely a spot I'd dine at again and recommend!! Please see pictures and like. Thank you!! read more

See all

Always a favorite. Excellent food. Excellent service. Quaint and cozy. No one regrets a visit. read more

Café Rabelais - The good stuff. A glass of Laurent-Perrier and mussels w/pomme frites. Perfect end of the week lunch. - French Near Me - Houston, Texas

The moment you walk into this restaurant you feel like you are in cafe in Paris. Dark wood, small tables, intimate setting. The waitstaff also has the French attitude of being helpful, but on top of you. I have read other reviews complaining about the slow service, but the French believe that dining is a leisurely experience so service is slow compared to the typical American restaurant. The food was excellent. We started with escargot and ended with profiteroles . The French bread was perfection. Crusty on outside and soft inside with delicious whipped butter. The escargot was very good. Our entrees were excellently prepared. We ordered traditional French. I had the trout almandine with fresh lightly sautéed green beans and carrots. It was cooked to perfection. My husband had the lamp chops which were juicy and tender, our friends had the steak and sea scallops! All excellent. We ended the meal with profiteroles. It was lightly crusted with creamy ice cream and fresh whipped cream. I definitely will go back. They also have an excellent wine list ! read more

Café Rabelais - Profiterole dessert - French Near Me - Houston, Texas

The food tasted good but service was extremely slow so the experience was not as good as we hoped for. The profiteroles didn't taste fresh.

Had an excellent dinner there last night - soupe l'oignon, steak frites & poire belle Hélène for shared dessert. Soup served in a hot crock, steak was tender & done exactly as I ordered & the frites were tasty & crispy. Dessert was good but a lot more than I expected. And, service was friendly & accurate but a little slow with the restaurant being full. Nice selection of wines to go with the meal. Cozy atmosphere- one of my favorite French restaurants. read more

Came for a weekend lunch with two others and we were seated in a nice nook by the door - with the cafe being relatively small I feel that the tables were well spaced out. I can't believe that I've passed by this area in Rice Village and never noticed it here! We ordered the soup of the day (potato and leek soup), escargots, mussels and the croque madam on the brunch menu. Both the mussels as the croque madam had fries that came along with it. Something about those little baskets that look like shopping cart gets me every time! The soup was on the lighter side for a cream based soup which I appreciate but I know some of y'all want soups so thick you feel it moving through your gastrointestinal system for the rest of the day. Escargots were ten outta ten, with a very generous portion for a starter. Mussels were highly recommended from you internet folks and did not disappoint either! The only miss for me was the croque madam as I've had better madames and the sauce just wasn't hitting the spot like it usually does. The only downside: it might've just been the curse of the weekend rush but service was tuuuurtle pace slow. It was not to the fault of the servers though as they were clearly understaffed for a weekend brunch period. read more

See all

Lived n WestU 25 years- I used to love this place and we came often as a family, just for lunch or business dinners. Had not been for a while. Called to reserve a table for a special 60th birthday. Wow- horrible experience. Service was terrible. Had to ask server about specials- she could not describe them. Asked about entries- again just said meat comes with carrot and mixed vegetables. This was not true. Carrots only. My $43 lamb "rack" was 4 extremely small lamb chops, and had to be sent back. Just raw. Came with a covert few green beans a more carrots- that's it. This time the lamb came back- was just tough and over done. It was the same meat I sent back just over cooked this time and it took forever. My daughter and her dad had finished when I received my redone lamb rack. Do not get lamb. 3 people- $225 ( with tip) dollars later ( we 3 people who had one wine each) Too many good places to go here. And no atmosphere- deathly quiet. No quiet music. Roma on Morningside is fabulous and never misses! Went there for my birthday a month ago and they were so attentive.6 great atmosphere and food is outstanding. Much less expensive. Miss the old Rabelais Waitress said chef said - "sorry- about lamb - no offer to prepare something else and they literally served the same meat I had cut into and found it raw. The rack was fatty and not good. No sauce. Bleh. The veal cheek special was good but gnocchi was clearly from a dry package. The beef stew was fine- again so many carrots. Water glasses not filled. Wine not filled, Terrible service and waiter knew nothing of the food entries. She was completely absent. She was outside walking around and eating g at a table!!!!! Such a disappointing experience when we choose this place to celebrate a 60th birthday! They did not care it was a birthday celebration which I said when I called and when we sat down. No excuse bc the place was flat empty. One table beside our party of 3. read more