Cafe Rabelais

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! more

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 more

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 more

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 more

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 more

unfortunately this adorable french restaurant has gone downhill since its early days. The original owners are not present anymore and the food has suffered. So you would do better to spend your money and time elsewhere. Pros: none Cons: waiting time, service time more

First, don't expect the dishes on the website to be available despite the promise that it's today's dinner menu. The actual menu is invariably different, which is annoying. I'm also annoyed that they don't take reservations. If I'm going to pay over $100 for dinner, I think you should keep a table open for me and not force me to wait around in a cramped space. But my main complaint is that the food is just OK, but it favors the pricey side. I have been twice, and the dishes just aren't seasoned properly. Even the richer or fattier dishes are low on flavor (or are smothered in overpowering cheese), which makes me feel all the guilt but none of the delight. The first visit got me interested because, although the entree was basically flavorless, they used good mushrooms and had dishes with figs--both good signs. But the potential of the ingredients never materialized on either visit. I also think the service is too slow. The servers are not lazy, but rather are spread too thin. We waited 17 minutes for dessert menus that never came while our waiter dashed around the restaurant. Finally, we got the check and left, likely for the last time. I'm convinced that scrambled eggs with a little truffle oil and parmesan are better than almost anything a Houston restaurant will serve you. Pros: good wine at reasonable price; bread is nice Cons: food is only OK, service very slow more

Beware that this restaurant has gone under new management. This place used to go above and beyond to look after their customers even though they didn't have to - given their location, atmosphere, and food. This has drastically changed. It's as if the hot girl is now self aware that she's hot. The food is not as good, the service is very rushed, and the hosts are not accommodating anymore. It's a shame because this was one of the few places my wife and I could go to have a guaranteed nice dinner, but we are now dumping it. I spoke to several people last night and they all agree. Bottom line - if you've never eaten there, you may have a nice time; if you've eaten there, you'll be disappointed and be prepared to waste $100. Pros: Atmosphere, location Cons: new management, food, service more

Cafe Rabelais is a divine dining experience enjoying fine foods in a more casual setting. The food is always superb from their Mussels in white wine to their duck Confit!! However, Reservations are not permitted and the wait can be 1-2 hours, but it's worth the wait!! Pros: Food, Service, Ambiance Cons: Cannot make Reservations more

I absolutely LOVE Cafe Rabelais!!! Definately make reservations at this tiny restaurant though! The wine list and menu were great, I definately recommend the mussels, and the staff was very friendly and knowledgable. The french fries they give as an appetizer is a nice touch. This is a nice change of pace if you are looking for a romantic place to dine.I will definately go back :) Pros: Great Food and Service Cons: Parking more

This was my first experience eating French food and I was very pleased. The menu offers various types of dishes, meat, vegetarian, fish, which makes it hard to choose (prices range from $8 -$30+). I ended up having the pork sandwich, which was out of this world. The wine list was great too - lots of information about the different types of wine. Our waiter was attentive and did not make us feel rushed. All in all, a great choice for a meal out! Pros: Menu variety; service Cons: None more

I'm so happy each time I come here. Everything I order is always wonderful and my dining companions are always equally happy. Service has always been very attentive and the staff is knowledgable about the food and wine. Since they don't take reservations, if there is a wait for a table, we give them our cell phone number, take one of their buzzers and have a beer at the Gingerman across the street. There are no menus. They have a large chalkboard on the wall with their menu on it. I've had lasik but still must be blind because I can never read this thing. Plus I feel bad standing over some diners who had the misfortune of getting the table under the menu. I always end up ordering a special that they've told me about at the table. That is my only complaint about this place and it's just how they do it, so I don't expect them to change it and it definately won't stop me from going. Pros: Everything else! Cons: The menu on the wall more

I've been here several times. We usually just stop by for coffee and dessert. (Try the pear sundae!) - Last time I went it was for lunch. Plan on a slightly longer lunch as the service is slow (but good) - I had the mussels Rabelais which were amazing. No joke the biggest, most flavorful mussels I have ever eaten. It's a wonderful restaurant you must try. Pros: Delicious food, nice atmosphere, romantic. Cons: Parking a little tough, slow service if you are in a hurry. more

The food is decent and the host person is knowledgable but the service is horrendous and they don't hire more people. We waited forever to even be acknowledged. They need to have real menus also so people can read them and you don't have to get up in front of someone's table to read a menu on the wall. The waitstaff are RUDE and the host is RUDE. THEY NEED TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE AND FIRE THE OLD. Pros: o.k. food Cons: service more

This restaurant was highly recommended as a small, romantic place with a great wine list. I have to admit to being turned off when I first pulled up to see that it was in a strip center, but once you enter, the big city location is forgotten. This restaurant is charming. The waiters are knowledgable and attentive without being all over you. There are no reservations so go early because we had a two and a half hour dinner (arriving at 6:30) and did not see anyone leave while we were there - Tables don't turn often! We ordered two bottles of wine (one white & one red) and corked them & took them with us when we left. Their wine list is wonderfully extensive with a focus on French wines of course. The escargot was fairly flavorless, so I would not order that again, but my friend's crawfish was delightful in a delicate sauce with a puff pastry. We both ordered steaks as our entree. I had the filet mignon with goat cheese and pine nuts. My friend had the ribeye steak with mustard sauce. My steak melted in your mouth and was rich and flavorful, accompanied by an assortment of vegtables. My friend's steak was unremarkable, served with fries ("pomme frittes") and all of the seasonings on the side. We were surprised by this since the waiter recommended it as one of his favorite entrees. We skipped dessert, opting instead to continue drinking our wine and eating some of the delicious crusty bread that they have on all the tables. Overall, I loved the restaurant. I felt like I really found a secret little gem, tucked away on a small side street in Rice Village. I look forward to returning and exploring more of the menu and their vast wine list! Pros: Charming, good food & wine Cons: No reservations & not many tables more

My husband eat here about once a month and we just love it! Both romantic and lively. The mussels are divine and the pomme frittes are crispy. I've had several fish dishes and all of them have melted in my mouth. My husband loves the duck. The wine list is extensive. Talk to JJ and ask him for a recommendation. They have something for every price range. We recommend it highly!! Pros: Service, wine list, fantastic food Cons: No reservations, parking is always challenging in Rice Village more

After dining at Cafe Rabelais on Saturday evening, I was in awe of just how special of a place this is. From the moment we walked in we were greeted warmly by the staff and told of a 30 minute wait. We thought this to be excellent as the restaurant does not take reservations, it was a Saturday evening, and every table was full. We were directed to the bar where we enjoyed a recommended glass of wine while waiting. A mere 15 minutes later we were shown to our seats for the start of one of the most romantic evenings we have experienced in a long time. From appetizers through to dessert, each course was prepared and served to perfection. The staff was excellent in making recommendations from the food to the wine list, and we felt we were in very expert and caring hands. The food is marvelous, the atmosphere absolutely outstanding, and the courtesy and professionalism of the staff unequaled. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for that special place to take that special someone! Pros: ambiance, food, service Cons: none visible more

Some friends and I went to Cafe Rabelais last night and were so disappointed I doubt any of us will ever return. First off I want to list the good qualities- the ambience is divine -although noisy- it's quite a romantic spot. The wait staff seems frazzled but that is too be expected when you go during peak business hours and are pretty attentive. The wine list is not only full but also very informative. Now the bad news I ordered escargot to begin...it's a treat since many Houston restaurants don't serve it and it's a favorite of mine- the menu warned it took 20 minutes to prep yet much to our surprise 10 minutes later it was delivered to our table. The taste was displeasing - like chewing on sea water. Actually, there was not even a hint of any other flavor other than diluted sea water...yuck! Moving on to our soup - potato- it was served slightly above luke warm temperature and tasted like butter...just butter. yuck #2! Finally the entree - I ordered the chicken sandwich- it's supposed to be served with fries but my plate didnt have any and there wasn't even enough chicken to create a thin layer across the baguette it was served on. My friend ordered the tuna steak salad only to have the tuna sandwich delivered. When she corrected the waiter her sandwich (containing 4 large pieces of tuna) was replaced 10 minutes later with a handful of spring mix, a few black olives, and only 1 piece of tuna (the salad is more expensive than the sandwich, btw)- no dressing or anything. Yuck #3 In conclusion, although the ambience is very romantic the food leaves too much to be desired. Pros: romantic, wine list Cons: horrible food more

Despite the recent negative reviews, my date and I decided to try Rabelais, and we were truly delighted! The food (beef medallions, duck breast) was great and the service excellent. The decor totally reminded me of France!! The manager/sommelier was friendly and helped us pick out an outstanding bottle of Gigondas that was reasonably priced. Overall, we truly enjoyed the transporting experience and plan on going back often. As someone who's been to France twice and lived in NYC for 10 years, I can honestly say that Rabelais compares favorably to other provencal restaurants I've been to. Also, each table is candle-lit and the whole experience quite romantic. Pros: French wine list, decor Cons: chalk board menu more

The restaurant was highly recomended here and in the wine press, so my experience was a real let down. It's a neat place in a very relaxing part of Houston, very much the French bistro on first blush. My visit started well with the wine list (the manager decanted my 1/2 bottle as I sipped a white), but fell apart from there. The service was barely there and the food was totally flavorless. My venison was the texture of liver and the weak flavors that were there were not well matched to one another. The arugula salad with beets was also essentially flavorless. Pros: Good wine list, Good idea.... Cons: Poor Service, Poor food more