Cafe Rabelais

4.7

1020 Reviews

$31 to $50

French

Make a booking

2 people

11 Mar 2025

19:00

Booked 12 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Charming
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
Area
Rice Village
Cross Street
5499 kelvin Dr
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Beer, Cafe, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Domaine Rouge Bleu Wine Dinner: Meet the Winemaker
US$150.00 per person
25 Mar 2025 only
You're invited to Meet the Winemaker from Domaine Rouge Bleu! On March 25th at 7 PM, we're hosting a 6-course wine dinner and a very special meet and greet! Join us for a sensational 6-course wine dinner that promises to awaken your palate and connect you with the artistry behind each bottle. As you savor each carefully crafted dish, you’ll be accompanied by a selection of fine wines, personally curated by our special guest from Domaine Rouge Bleu. From the delicate Amuse Bouche Tapenade paired with the refreshing Dentelles Rosé to the rich Blackberry Tarte Fine with a luscious dark chocolate mousse, every course has been thoughtfully designed to elevate your dining experience. This is your chance to not only taste exceptional wines but also to learn about the passion and craftsmanship that goes into every vintage! Spaces are limited, and reservations are required. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to enjoy great food, fine wine, and engaging conversations. Reserve your spot today!

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

Sandwiches

All Sandwiches Served w/ Pomme Frites

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

What 1,020 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
4.5Service
4.6Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

Houston
French
Houston
French

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Cafe Rabelais is a charming French bistro in Houston with "excellent service" and "delicious food." Known for its "cozy atmosphere" reminiscent of a Parisian café, it offers a wide selection of authentic French dishes and an extensive wine list. Ideal for quiet conversation, this "neighborhood gem" consistently delights patrons.

1,020 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Houston1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always great food great people, I love this place
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N
Nora VIP
New York City17 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had an amazing lunch at Cafe Rebelais. We ordered the mussels and the escargot, the mussels were very creamy, I wosh we had ordered fries but the gave us bread and it was delicious. We also had the salmon, the chicken and the beef burgignon. All three plates were fantastic. I would totally go back!
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TH
ThorndikeH
Houston7 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Told them it was a birthday for a friend, but they did not acknowledge the birthday. But food was excellent! Wine was great…recommended by our waitress.
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LM
LoriM
Houston12 reviews
5.0
Dined on 1 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
As always, the food and the service is perfect. Our waiter was attentive and quick to serve.
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C
Carrie VIP
Houston133 reviews
5.0
Dined on 28 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Such a wonderful lunch spot! This is a beautiful restaurant so small cute and quaint. I absolutely love the mismatched dishes. It’s like eating at someone’s French home. The food is outstanding. I’ve been once for dinner and twice for lunch. Lunch I’ve opted for a sandwich and they’re all wonderful with perfectly done frites! If you can’t make it to France, this feels close.
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L
LEONARDO
Houston1 review
5.0
Dined on 27 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fantastic French cuisine and served by the amazing Tes our very helpful guide. Tes and the cuisine made our experience very memorable and nostalgic !
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P
Pamela VIP
Houston281 reviews
4.0
Dined on 21 February 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
We had not been to Cafe Rabelais for years and it was lovely to see it looked almost exactly the same: walls of wine, chalk board menu, wooden tables packed closely together. It was a cold day and the draft from the front door kept us cooler than we would have preferred. The menu has changed a lot. No more croque monsieur, the trout did not have the rice and simple green beans. The bread was no longer a boule but a very tasty baguette, warm, fresh and crusty. The boeuf bourginon was excellent! Perfectly cooked, hot, with a wonderful wine infused sauce. Though they were out of the wine we wanted, the glasses we ordered were generous pours. We had a lovely time.
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W
Walter VIP
Houston32 reviews
5.0
Dined on 16 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food, superior wine list and excellent staff makes this an absolute for a return visit.
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P
Pedro
Houston1 review
5.0
Dined on 16 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Dining here for over 20 years. Great food. Highly recommend!
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M
Mark
San Francisco9 reviews
5.0
Dined on 15 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful Valentine’s Day pre-fix menu! We always enjoy or visits to Cafe Rabelais!
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FAQs

Cafe Rabelais is rated 4.7 stars by 1020 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people

11 Mar 2025

19:00

Booked 12 times today

Experiences are available.

2442 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005

Additional information

Cross Street
5499 kelvin Dr
Area
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 booking

Additional information

Experiences

Domaine Rouge Bleu Wine Dinner: Meet the Winemaker

Menu

Salads

Heirloom Tomato SaladUS$9.50

Caesar SaladUS$9.50

Nicoise SaladUS$15.50

Frisee SaladUS$9.50

Salade de Bleu d'AuvergneUS$11.00

Salade de Chevre de PanéUS$10.50

Salade MaisonUS$7.00

Sandwiches

Chicken Salad SandwichUS$10.95

Bavette FritesUS$12.50

Herb Crusted Pork Loin SandwichUS$13.00

Merguez SandwichUS$13.50

Smoked Salmon SandwichUS$12.50

Provencal SandwichUS$11.50

Sandwich BayonnaisUS$12.50

What 1,020 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

FAQs

How is Cafe Rabelais restaurant rated?

Is Cafe Rabelais currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Additional information