Diners' Choice: French restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall French cuisine in Houston? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Chez Nous French Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (2225)

$31 to $50

French

Kingwood / Humble / Atascocita

About the restaurant

Chez Nous is a modern French Restaurant where traditional French cuisine meets the needs of the American market. Chez Nous is renowned in its new world interpretation of the Parisian Classics. Seasonal menu items are prepared by Chef Stacy Simonson and highlight the fine locally produced ingredients served in an elegant yet comfortable setting.

Top review

Marcyvip

Dined 3 days ago

Lovely, quiet setting, with wonderful food and impeccable service. A true gem!

Bistro 555

4.8

4.8 (761)

$30 and under

French

Westside

About the restaurant

Bistro 555 is under new ownership by a group of long-time friends including the owners of former Le Mistral and Cafe Rabelais, established French institutions in Houston. With a joint-experience of over 5 decades, Bistro 555 will transport you to the different regions of France with traditional bistro fares. Our specialties include Escargot in sizzling garlic butter, onion soup topped with melted gruyere cheese, Moules-Frites, Cassoulet, and profiteroles. We also serve wood-oven fired pizzas. Bon appetit!

Top review

Cvip

Dined 2 days ago

Total experience is always awesome!!! Outstanding service and food is delicious!! My favorite!!

Bistro Menil

4.8

4.8 (1742)

$30 and under

French

Montrose

About the restaurant

Bistro Menil offers European-inspired, American fare paired with craft beer, cask wine and thoughtfully selected wines by the glass or bottle.

Top review

Margaret

Dined 6 days ago

We had a wonderful experience for brunch. Our server, Richard was very attentive without hovering and he gave excellent advice about the brunch menu. I've been raring to try this restaurant for a while and was not disappointed; will definitely make another visit or more. Would try outdoor seating on a nice weather day.

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Le Jardinier - Houston

4.7

4.7 (121)

$50 and over

French

Heights / Washington

About the restaurant

Le Jardinier is a unique and refined restaurant from Michelin-starred Chef Alain Verzeroli located in The Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

Rooted in timeless French approach, Chef Verzeroli has created a menu where plants play a prominent role: seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs, and greens are complemented by wild and sustainable fish with local Texas meats. All our breads are gluten-free and baked in house.

Le Jardinier's light-filled space will evoke a feeling of relaxed-luxury and incorporate custom art pieces with outdoor dining set within an Isamu Noguchi-designed sculpture garden.

Top review

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

This restaurant never disappoints. There is no where in Houston to compare it to because it is in a league of its own. The food was spectacular, the wait staff were on top of everything, and the restaurant is stunning. I also appreciate that they maintained the quality of their food during restaurant weeks, instead of just throwing something together for the sake of it like some other restaurants we’ve been to over the course of the last month. Thank you for a perfect experience!

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Experience

A Taste of Switzerland in Houston - Dinner

Experience

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Etoile Cuisine Et Bar

4.7

4.7 (3767)

$31 to $50

French

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

The owners of Étoile Cuisine et Bar, Chef Philippe Verpiand and Monica Bui, have created an inviting, warm European environment where both traditional and seasonal French food are front and center. "We want to dispel the notion that French food is heavy and pretentious," says the team, recently transplanted to Houston from San Diego, where they owned the famed Cavaillon Restaurant. Everything about Étoile Cuisine et Bar, from the inviting outside facade to the intriguing interior design to the high quality service, is meant to convey a feeling of truly being in France. With Chef Philippe's take on a seasonal menu using a French technique, it's a place where fine food lovers come together, not on a special occasion, but to enjoy every day.

Top review

Barbara

Dined 2 days ago

Wonderfully delicious food, attentive staff, lovely decor and easy to hear everyone talk at the table. A special place to eat at!

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4.7

4.7 (1818)

$31 to $50

French

Heights / Washington

About the restaurant

Maison Pucha Bistro is the culmination of Chef Manuel's 25 year culinary journey. Securing a location in Houston's historic Heights neighborhood, Manuel, Cristian and Victor have reunited in the true sense of fraternité, to open their very own restaurant to showcase their talents and vision of true hospitality. We hope you will join us and be a part of something, truly special...

Top review

MichaelWvip

Dined 4 days ago

Our only regret is that we didn’t try this restaurant sooner!

Bistro Le Cep

4.7

4.7 (984)

$30 and under

French

Westchase

About the restaurant

Opened in 2001, Bistro Le Cep features French home cooking at its finest that can be best described as deeply flavored, elegant, yet straightforward. Combining traditional fine dining with a modern perspective, Bistro Le Cep will impress you and your guests with mouth-watering specialties inspired by authentic age old country recipes. We feature a well stocked bar and our extensive wine list includes an exceptional selection of grand vintages, as well as coveted wines from small producers.

Top review

Steven

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

Everything was good as usual. We plan on returning soon.

Cafe Rabelais

4.7

4.7 (933)

$31 to $50

French

Rice Village

About the restaurant

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.

Top review

phillipvip

Dined 2 days ago

Our favorite rice village spot. VERY local quaint French vibe ! Never disappointed

Artisans Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (2835)

$50 and over

French

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

Artisans Restaurant, under the visionary leadership of owner Jacques Fox and the culinary expertise of Executive Chef Eric Cruz, delivers a unique dining experience that melds French eclectic cuisine with fine steaks and fresh seafood. The expansive menu includes French favorites such as Le Tartare de Bœuf, Les Escargots Bourguignon à la Crème d’Ail, La Poêlée de Foie Gras, Le Loup de Mer du Chili, La Longe d’Agneau Poêlée, Le Canard Confit with Sauce à l’Orange Pimentée, and La Côte de Veau. Each dish showcases artistic flair and is served in a setting of breathtaking décor. Guests at the Chef’s Table can watch as the culinary team expertly crafts these creations, making every visit a memorable event. Recognized as one of the "Best of the Best" by the Houston Chronicle, Artisans sets the standard for exquisite dining. For connoisseurs of the finer things in life, Artisans is the quintessential culinary destination.

Top review

Michelvip

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

We really enjoyed to eat at l'Artisan. The food is always perfect. It is very easy to go there and there is a very convenient valet parking. On the top of the excellent food ( my wife and I took a business lunch) , we had an opportunity to visit the back of the restaurant. The chef Jacques Fox, a very experienced chef , showed us the way the kitchen is organized , the different places where the food is prepared. Compared to other restaurants , the kitchen is very very clean. For regular customer , there is even a special cabinet where they can store their bottles of wine. Jacques Fox explained to us all the innovative ideas he implemented to have a smooth move of the food from the refrigerator to the table of the customer.Our dishes were perfectly cooked and at the perfect temperature. Previously l"Artisan was located midtown at Louisianna street. We are living inside the loop and we think it is even more convenient to go to the new location. Less traffic. We have gone and are planning to go regularly to l"artisan

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Une Poêlée de Foie Gras

The Marigold Club

4.6

4.6 (88)

$50 and over

French

Montrose

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Marigold Club, where the opulence of Mayfair London meets the vibrant energy of our beloved Houston. As the fourth jewel in the crown of Goodnight Hospitality, The Marigold Club embraces French cuisine while celebrating the global influences of London culture. Picture lavishly adorned interiors, exuding warmth and sophistication, where every detail whispers luxury.

Helmed by Chef Partner Austin Waiter, our culinary journey transports you to the heart of French cuisine, reimagined through the lens of British dining clubs. From meticulously crafted dishes to impeccable service, and overflowing glasses of Champagne, every moment at The Marigold Club is a world where posh elegance meets lively Southern charm.

Top review

Carlyvip

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

Vibes, customer service, and food all 10/10. This is definitely an expensive place, so those 3 factors better be great. It makes spending the money worth it because its a beautiful restaurant, the staff there is knowledgeable and kind and the food has incredible flavors that you are not expecting when looking at the menu items. I sat at the bar and wanted just wanted to try a few items. I had a boujie caviar service and the it had great accompaniments, I loved this! I had the mussel toast and that was my favorite dish. Super unique and tons of flavor. This was recommended by the bar tender. This was not on my list to try and so glad I did. I had at Marigold Salad - seems simple but so refreshing and flavorful and the sides were great too! And lovely cocktail selection! Definitely worth checking out!

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