(713) 520-8841
2442 Times Blvd
Houston,
TX
77005
29.7168
-95.4157
Neighborhoods: University Place, South Central
Price:
$$
Last updated 5.07.10
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Cash, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Outdoor Dining, Private Rooms, People Watching, Lunch Spot, Notable Wine List
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
No
What People Are Saying About Cafe Rabelais
Featured Review
Contributor
Contributor
In Short – Who wouldn't be captivated by this rustic French cafe sporting gothic candleholders and friendly, French-speaking servers? Order from the chalkboard menu: Escargots, boeuf au poivre (sirloin with pepper cream sauce), merguez & frites (lamb sausage sandwich/fries) or blue cheese quiche when available. For lunch, try the exquisite salade de chevre with goat cheese-eggplant croutons, apples and hazelnuts. Finish your lingering repast with dessert crepes. –
Editor's Tips
- What to Drink:
- There are a number of reasonably priced French wines.
- The Extras:
- They also offer wine dinners and classes--call ahead for more information.
Oh my gosh, I just landed in France!
by DCAllen at Citysearch
Go to Rabelais, have the hostess take down your cell number and she'll call when your table is ready so you are free to browse the Village. When that blessed moment comes, get ready to be wowed. Start with a Kir Royale to set the mood and then move on to a simple, fresh salad with DIY French dressing. Next you MUST have the mussels and lamb chops or other daily offering of your choosing, but do not skip the frites! They are amazing! Finish off your night with a chocolate mousse and you will go home satisfied and dreaming of your next visit. Au revoir!
I will Not Return
by robintx at Citysearch
This entire experience was not a good one for me. I found the food to be bland. The wait time for our waiter's attention and then again for our food to be prepared, was unreasonably long. The hours were inconvenient. Prior to my visit, I reviewed the menu on their website at length so I already knew what I wanted to order. The salad I ordered did not exist, they walnut vinagerette dressing shown on several of the salads "was a misprint" per the waiter. If you wish to dine on good french food I would stick with Chez Nous in Humble.
- Pros: The wine was very good
- Cons: Limited hours, Bland Food, Long wait, False Advertising
Not what we anticipated
by jnd1038 at Citysearch
I venture to Spec's for my wine and to see the prices on this establishments wine list is theft at at best. The cuisine is edible but nothing memorable. The service is sloppy and there didn't seem to be a manager around to ask us how our evening was. Maybe we caught them on a bad night, but we won't be back. With so many options in Houston, we'll venture out to the better establishments.
- Pros: Romantic Setting
- Cons: Over priced food and wine, poor service
Increadible wine selection and food
by kfuchs at Citysearch
We love Cafe Rabelais and have been coming back for years. The menu is always fresh, the wait staff is extremely friendly and helpful, especially with the huge wine list, and the cozy atmosphere is perfect for a romantic dinner or catching up with friends. I highly reccomend it to both those that love French food and those who may be intimidated by it. The menu includes sandwiches and salads as well as entrees that can satisfy an array of tastes.
- Pros: rotating menue, wine selection, small and cozy
wish i had tried this when it was good
by seanofthefed at Citysearch
It seems like everyone used to like this place. I didn't read the reviews closely before I went, but there is clearly a point in time when people changed their minds about the quality of the restaurant. I can't speak to what it was because I just went for the first time recently, but the food isn't really good at all. And boy is it expensive.
If you're trying to decide whether to try this place, I'd recommend looking at recent reviews, as the restaurant I visited is not the one described in early reviews but matches the recent (scathing) reviews much more closely.
- Pros: none to speak of
- Cons: middling quality, poor value










