Café Rabelais

10/26/2026

A Special Guest. A Remarkable Story.

Meet the W**emaker!

Tomorrow evening, we're delighted to welcome Kate McKinlay, proprietor of Domaine de Mourchon, who is traveling from the southern Rhône Valley in France to join us for an intimate evening of exceptional food, w**e, and conversation.

The Story of Domaine de Mourchon

Domaine de Mourchon began as a retirement plan that took an unexpected turn. After successful careers in oil and gas and hospitality, respectively, Walter and Ronnie McKinlay sold their businesses in the northeast of Scotland and headed to the south of France in search of sunshine and a new project. They discovered a parcel of old vines perched high on the hillside above the medieval village of Séguret and set about building a state-of-the-art w**ery and establishing Domaine de Mourchon.

Walter's career in oil and gas had given him strong connections to Houston, and it was here that he first began exporting Mourchon's w**es. The city has held a special place in the estate's story ever since.

Their daughter Kate's journey into w**e followed a similarly unconventional path. Educated in the Scottish Highlands, she worked as a tour leader in South America before returning to pursue a career in radio production, making programmes for the BBC. Eventually, she swapped the microphones of London for the vineyards of Provence and joined the family w**e estate in the southern Rhône Valley.

Since 2019, Kate has managed Domaine de Mourchon alongside long-standing w**emaker Sébastien Magnouac, continuing her parents' vision with a strong commitment to organic farming, biodiversity and producing w**es that express the distinctive character of their terroir.

An Invitation to Meet Kate

Tomorrow evening, this remarkable story comes to our table at Café Rabelais.

Join us for the rare opportunity to meet Kate in person, hear firsthand about her family's vineyard, and experience five distinctive Domaine de Mourchon w**es alongside five thoughtfully paired courses prepared by our kitchen.

From the hills of Séguret to the heart of Houston, it's a story best shared over a beautiful glass of w**e.

Tuesday, October 27 | 7:00 PM

Five Courses · Five W**es · $135 per person

Tax and gratuity not included.

We have only a few spots left for this very special evening, so reserve yours today!

À demain!

Café Rabelais

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10/21/2026

Who says a beautiful French meal should be reserved for the evening?

Introducing Our New $32 Lunch Prix Fixe

Escape the ordinary and join us at Café Rabelais for a leisurely lunch filled with the flavors of France.

Our new $32 prix fixe menu brings together comforting French classics and seasonal favorites, thoughtfully prepared for a midday indulgence.

Begin with a velvety butternut squash soup or delicate crab cake served with saffron aioli. For your main course, savor Parmesan-crusted red fish with tomato-basil sauce or tender flank steak accompanied by gnocchi and a rich Bordelaise sauce.

And for a sweet finish? A classic French apple tart with caramel sauce or a refreshing selection of sorbets.

Whether you're catching up with a friend, entertaining a client, or simply treating yourself to something lovely, there's always a good reason to linger a little longer over lunch.

A taste of France. A moment to savor. All for $32.

We look forward to welcoming you.

À bientôt,
Café Rabelais

RESERVE YOUR TABLE TODAY

Don't forget to reserve your seat for our Domaine de Mourchon W**e Dinner on Tuesday, October 27, at 7 PM!

Join us for an exquisite evening of French cuisine and Rhône Valley w**es, featuring special guest Kate McKinlay, proprietor of Domaine de Mourchon, joining us all the way from Séguret, France.

Enjoy a beautifully paired multi-course dinner and the rare opportunity to meet the woman behind the w**es.

October 27 | 7 PM | $135 per person

Seating is limited. We hope you'll join us!

Reserve Your Seat

Click here for an update from CAFE RABELAIS!

10/14/2026

Golden, crispy, and here for a limited time! ✨

Our latest special features crawfish cakes with bell pepper, perfectly pan-seared and served over rich saffron aioli, with a fresh arugula salad on the side.

A little indulgence, a little freshness, and a whole lot of flavor.

Available until they’re gone! Come enjoy them while you can.

10/09/2026

A little taste of the coast, with a French twist. 🇫🇷✨

Our latest special features beautifully seared red snapper nestled in a velvety spinach cream sauce with sautéed fennel and mushrooms, finished with a delicate tangle of golden, crispy leeks.

Rich, delicate, and just the right amount of indulgent. Pair it with a chilled glass of French white w**e, and let the evening unfold. 🥂

Bon appétit!

DinnerSpecial

10/08/2026

A little taste of the South of France, right here in Houston. 🍷✨

For one unforgettable evening, we’re bringing the romance of the Rhône Valley to your table.

Join us on Tuesday, October 27, as we celebrate the exceptional w**es of Domaine de Mourchon, nestled in the picturesque village of Séguret in Southern France.

Five distinctive w**es. Five beautifully paired courses. An evening made for savoring every sip, every bite, and every moment.

From delicate seared shrimp with Pastis beurre blanc to savory quail pâté en croûte, tender lamb fillet, and decadent chocolate mousse, each course is designed to bring out the very best in the w**es.

Tuesday, October 27 | 7 PM
Five Courses • Five W**es • $135 per person

Good w**e. Beautiful food. A little French magic.

🥂 Reservations are limited. Reserve your seat through the link in our bio.

À votre santé!

**eDinner **es HoustonRestaurants

10/08/2026

You're Invited to a Very Special Evening at Café Rabelais

Five exquisite w**es. Five inspired courses. One unforgettable evening.

For one special evening, let Café Rabelais transport you to the sun-drenched vineyards of Southern France.

On Tuesday, October 27, we invite you to discover the remarkable w**es of Domaine de Mourchon, nestled among the picturesque hills of Séguret in the Rhône Valley.

Imagine beginning your evening with a chilled glass of Loubié Rosé alongside a refreshing gazpacho, followed by delicate seared shrimp with roasted fennel and Pastis beurre blanc.

As the evening unfolds, savor buttery quail pâté en croûte, a beautifully prepared lamb fillet, and a decadent chocolate mousse with fresh red berries. Each course is thoughtfully paired with a different Mourchon w**e, revealing new flavors with every sip and bite.

It's an evening designed for lingering conversations, unexpected discoveries, and the simple pleasure of exceptional French food and w**e.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | 7:00 PM

Five Courses · Five W**es · $135 per person;
tax & gratuity not included.

An exceptional evening deserves a place at the table.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT

We look forward to raising a glass with you.

À votre santé!
Café Rabelais

Click here for event details from CAFE RABELAIS!

09/22/2026

A NEW LUNCH TRADITION AT CAFÉ RABELAIS

There may be a little construction happening outside, but inside Café Rabelais, it’s business as usual—and lunch is waiting.

Our new Tradition et Terroir Prix Fixe Lunch Menu is here, featuring a choice of two courses for $32 and a fresh selection of French favorites made for a leisurely midday escape.

Begin with our Velouté de tomates, a silky tomato soup with blue cheese, or the Salade de betteraves au chèvre, with arugula, beets, goat cheese, green apple and balsamic vinaigrette.

For your entrée, choose between Truite Amandine, served with seasonal vegetables and amandine sauce, or our comforting Chicken Fricassee, with chicken in a creamy white w**e and mushroom sauce.

Or save room for something sweet and pair your entrée with dessert: refreshing lemon, raspberry or mango sorbet, or Le pudding au pain, our bread pudding served with crème anglaise.

Two courses. $32. A little taste of France in the middle of your day.

AND YES—WE’RE OPEN!

If you’ve driven through Rice Village recently, you may have noticed construction in our parking lot. Café Rabelais remains open and ready to welcome you. Please don’t let the construction keep you away—the w**e is still pouring, the kitchen is still cooking, and your table is waiting inside.

Come escape the construction, settle in with a glass of French w**e, and discover our new lunch menu.

Bon appétit!

09/22/2026

Our new $32 Tradition et Terroir lunch menu has arrived, and yes, we’re open during construction!

There may be a little construction happening outside, but inside Café Rabelais, it’s business as usual, and lunch is waiting.

Our new Tradition et Terroir Prix Fixe Lunch Menu is here, featuring a choice of two courses for $32 and a fresh selection of French favorites made for a leisurely midday escape.

Begin with our Velouté de tomates, a silky tomato soup with blue cheese, or the Salade de betteraves au chèvre, with arugula, beets, goat cheese, green apple, and balsamic vinaigrette.

For your entrée, choose between Truite Amandine, served with seasonal vegetables and amandine sauce, or our comforting Chicken Fricassee, with chicken in a creamy white w**e and mushroom sauce.

Or save room for something sweet and pair your entrée with dessert: refreshing lemon, raspberry, or mango sorbet, or Le pudding au pain, our bread pudding served with crème anglaise.

Two courses. $32. A little taste of France in the middle of your day.

AND YES, WE’RE OPEN!

If you’ve driven through Rice Village recently, you may have noticed construction in our parking lot. Café Rabelais remains open and ready to welcome you. Please don’t let the construction keep you away; the w**e is still pouring, the kitchen is still cooking, and your table is waiting inside.

Come escape the construction, settle in with a glass of French w**e, and discover our new lunch menu.

Bon appétit!

Click here for an update from CAFE RABELAIS!

09/10/2026

POV: You found the little French restaurant in Houston that feels like it belongs on a side street in Paris. 🇫🇷🍷

For more than 25 years, Café Rabelais has been a Rice Village favorite for authentic French cuisine, beautiful bottles of w**e, intimate tables, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to linger just a little longer.

Come for the escargot, mussels, steak frites and decadent desserts. Stay for a bottle of French w**e, a cozy table, and an evening that feels like you’ve slipped away to Paris without ever leaving Houston.

Whether it’s date night, dinner with friends, or simply an excuse to indulge, your table in France is waiting.

🍷 Make tonight a little more French. Reserve your table at Café Rabelais today.

📍 Rice Village | Houston, Texas
🇫🇷 Authentic French cuisine • French w**e • Parisian charm
**elover

08/26/2026

New Lunch Special!!

✨ TRADITION ET TERROIR ✨
Our new prix fixe lunch menu features your choice of two courses for $32 per person.

Begin with a chilled Vichyssoise or classic Salade Frisée aux Lardons, then discover Poisson Rouge with broccolini, creamy crawfish and tomato coulis or Pappardelle au Poulet et Pesto.

And if dessert is calling? Choose from lemon, raspberry or mango sorbet, or our Gâteau Roulé à la Vanille with raspberry and strawberry coulis.

Add a bottle of French w**e, a favorite person across the table, and the unmistakable charm of Café Rabelais. ❤️

Somehow, Rice Village starts to feel a little more like Paris.

$32 per person · Choice of two courses
Tax, w**e & gratuity not included.

🇫🇷 Come discover the new Tradition et Terroir menu at Café Rabelais.

À bientôt, Houston. 🍷

07/18/2026

Brunch at Café Rabelais has a very French way of slowing the day down.
A crisp glass of w**e. A table tucked into the warmth of the room. Something buttery, something savory, something sweet. The kind of meal that begins with coffee and somehow turns into a bottle, a second course, and a reason to stay a little longer.
It is brunch without the rush. Elegant, comforting, and quietly indulgent, the way weekends should feel.
Join us for brunch in Rice Village every Saturday from 11am-2pm.

**ebar

07/15/2026

Houston's Little Corner of France Is Still Here

Over the past few weeks, many of you reached out after hearing that Café Rabelais would be closing. The messages, memories, and kind words have meant more to us than we can express.

Today, we're grateful to share some good news.

Our doors are still open.

While we don't know exactly what the coming months will bring, we're thankful to continue welcoming guests and sharing the food, w**e, and hospitality that have made Café Rabelais a part of Houston for the past 26 years.

If you've been meaning to come back, we'd love to see you. Bring a friend. Order a favorite bottle. Stay for dessert. Make another memory with us.

And if it's been a while since your last visit, there's never been a better time to rediscover your neighborhood French café.

This Month's Tradition et Terroir Lunch Prix Fixe

Two Courses • $32 per person

Begin your lunch with your choice of:

Salmon Tartare
Fresh salmon delicately prepared with shallots, capers, herbs, and crostini.

or

Butternut Squash Velouté
A silky, comforting soup that celebrates the season.

For your entrée, enjoy either:

Trout with Crawfish & Red Pepper Coulis
Perfectly cooked trout served with creamy carrot purée, sautéed Brussels sprouts, and a vibrant crawfish and roasted red pepper coulis.

or

Chicken Ratatouille
Tender chicken layered with spinach and seasonal vegetables, finished with a rich brown cream sauce.

Complete your meal with:

Fresh Berry Crêpes with almond cream and raspberry coulis

or

Sorbet du Jour

For 26 years, Café Rabelais has been more than a restaurant. It's been the setting for anniversaries, first dates, celebrations, business lunches, family traditions, and quiet afternoons over a glass of French w**e.

That only happens because of people like you.

Thank you for making Café Rabelais part of your lives, and for continuing to support a truly independent Houston restaurant. Every reservation, every lunch, every bottle shared around the table means more than ever.

We look forward to welcoming you back soon.

À bientôt,

Christophe and the Café Rabelais Family

Click here for an update from CAFE RABELAIS!

07/15/2026

Truite Grenobloise- Trout with caper butter sauce, croutons, and root vegetables. Bright, buttery, and beautifully balanced. A classic French preparation that lets the fish shine.

**ebar