This charming bistro offers a market-driven menu of authentic French cuisine paired with an extensive collection of over 600 wines, making it a perfect romantic spot.
"This Rice Village brasserie is a great spot to grab classic French fare, with small plates like escargot and foie gras terrine, and rich dishes like cassoulet, boeuf à la Bourguignonne, and its tender roasted rack of lamb served with a honey-thyme brown sauce. Choose from its extensive wine list, which features more than 600 varieties of wine, and then, settle into the cozy dining room and pretend you're in Paris. Order the profiteroles. You won’t regret it." - Brittany Britto Garley
"Small enough to feel cozy but not quite cramped, the interior of the French bistro Cafe Rabelais is tailored for an intimate, quiet meal. If the bottles lining every available wall or the textbook masquerading as a wine list aren’t indication enough, this place takes wine seriously. With literally hundreds of options to choose from, you can dig through the pages for the exact glass you’re looking for, or let your server take the helm and make the decision for you. Whatever you decide to sip on, pair it with some mussels in a rich cream sauce, or with escargots swimming in garlic butter. And maybe imagine what the Parisian countryside feels like for a while." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas
"This Rice Village brasserie is a great spot to grab classic French fare, with small plates like escargot and foie gras terrine, and rich dishes like cassoulet, boeuf à la Bourguignonne, and its tender roasted rack of lamb served with a honey-thyme brown sauce. Choose from its extensive wine list, which features more than 600 varieties of wine, and then, settle into the cozy dining room and pretend you're in Paris. Order the profiteroles. You won’t regret it." - Brittany Britto Garley, Sean Hekmat
"Classics are such for a reason, and Café Rabelais is a prime example of that. French staples like beef bourguignon and trout amandine remain some of the restaurant’s most prized dishes, but don’t forget to explore the restaurant’s board of ever-changing specials — especially if the foie gras torchon is on the menu." - Megha McSwain, Brittany Britto Garley
"Pop bottles of French wine and cheers to a wonderful 2024 with a five-course meal at one of Houston’s favorite French restaurants. From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., this Rice Village restaurant will offer dishes like sauteed frog legs or octopus, wild mushroom bisque, and braised beef veal cheeks vol au vent in a Madeira brown sauce, plus an apple tart for two. Reserve your tickets for $87 per person." - Brittany Britto Garley
