Toulouse Café and Bar recalls a Fin de Siecle Parisian Café where you are likely to bump into friends and find yourself in conversations with neighboring tables. At first glance you will notice the bustling activity that characterizes Toulouse: wait staff with wine openers and hot plates of food, people chatting and laughing, the clink of wine glasses… the atmosphere is sophisticated and good moods are contagious.In the tradition of all fine bistros, Toulouse has imaginative and seasonal menus that provide exactly what its patrons long for: cozy tables open to the street, mouth-watering specialties a la Française, delicious desserts made from scratch and an extensive wine list. Enjoy the tastes of France with our exciting yet comforting dishes such as our famous quiches, an expertly cooked trout almondine or the best mussels in the city.Dine with us and be transported to Paris, if only for a moment.
Restauranteur Shawn Virene put the POP into Houston with his wildly successful a’Bouzy. This champagne-fueled spot located in the tony River Oaks neighborhood of town attracts a stylish crowd all day. The bar is always bustling and the patio echoes with the cry – “a Bouzy!” every time a bottle is sabered tableside. In fact, most tables will have multiple wine buckets close by, keeping the bubbly cool. The fresh, ripe American menu features seasonal seafood, salads, small-shareable plates, large raw bar and prime meats. The wine list curated by Virene, is both the best-priced on bubbly and wines in the city. The interiors have a sophisticated rustic vibe with exposed brick, reclaimed woods and a color palate of creams and blues. The effervescent appeal of bubbles is reflected in a light installation that mimics bubbles floating overhead. The spacious patio is a magnet for the stylish clientele that enjoy the year-round garden. The best thing is Champagne and wine is at or below retail
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.
