A surprise to some, this Northeast suburb of Houston harbors one of the best French restaurants in the country. Chez Nous exudes a homey feel while bringing to the table an evolving menu of French favorites, including a charcuterie platter with Normany duck mouse, pork rillettes, and smoked duck pastrami; a delightful combination of blue crab, mango, avocado, and tomato assembled into a tower; and the Bowfin caviar and egg confection dish, which features vodka-infused minced eggs with herb Chantilly. The piece de resistance of the restaurant, though, is the Chateaubriand— a hearty two-person portion of roasted beef tenderloin in sauce Bearnaise. Though the menu changes from time to time (the executive chef Stacy Crowe-Simonson likes to mix it up), the souffles, available in flavors like Grand Marnier, passion fruit-raspberry, and chocolate — remain a mainstay and are available all day Wednesday through Friday and after 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Though croissants, sandwiches, and salads make an appearance on the menu, crepes are front and center at this contemporary cafe and coffee hotspot. Act like a Parisian and order an espresso (or two) before diving into its list of warm crepes for a light lunch. If you’re leaning toward savory, opt for the croque madame crepe, or the chicken Florentine crepe, a combination of grilled chicken, onions, creamy Florentine sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Feeling dessert? Try the dulce de leche crepes, which are filled with an Argentinan dulce leche, or the Nutella-stuffed crepe for an easy classic, and choose between a list of add-ons like bananas or strawberries for a sweeter experience.

One of the only organic French bakeries in the city, Magnol offers all the breads and patisseries you’d expect from a Parisian boulangerie. Stop in for a latte and a chocolate croissant or sampler platter of bread and pastries, and stock up on its freshly baked baguettes, campagne boule, and cranberry walnut bread. Keep an eye on its seasonal offerings, which feature a rotation of mille-feuille flavors, and be sure to visit during the weekend, the only time you can score its twice-baked chocolate almond croissant and pain au raisin.

A star in Houston’s French dining scene, Etoile is an essential restaurant to add to your list. Helmed by a husband-and-wife duo chef of France Philippe Verpiand and Monica Bui, the restaurant offers classic and modern dishes, like wild boar ragout bolognese, an impeccable coq au vin, buttery escargots de Bourgogne, creamy lobster bisque, and fresh catches served with beurre blanc and sauteed vegetables. Dessert here is also an affair, with a standout cheese plate with an assortment of fromage and dried fruit and a black cherry jam, apple tarte a la mode, and a warm chocolate pastilla with mango gel and coconut sorbet.

Located on the ground floor of the One Park Place apartment complex Downtown, this industrial-chic all-day French cafe is home to some of the city’s best crepes and French bistro dishes. Entrees read as a glossary of classics, with the coq au vin, mussels meuniere, duck confit, and steaks, accompanied by your choice of bearnaise, Bordelaise, or au poivre sauces, or maitre d’hotel cultured butter. Mornings and afternoons call for its bustling brunch, which boasts crowd favorites like the crab omelet and the creme brulee French toast served with creme chantilly and mixed berries. Don’t skip dessert. The crepe souffle is a pleasant hybrid of two dessert classics, made with a dreamy orange pastry cream and a Grand Manier creme.

This newly-opened vibe dining destination marries Japanese cuisine and French sensibilities in a lively atmosphere that blends the glitz and glamour of Vegas with the style and architecture of Europe. But besides it being a great spot to pop a bottle, the menu offers intriguing dishes like a Chilean sea bass plated with miso pomme puree, wasabi, and chives, and the Ora King salmon, which is served with charred cabbage, dashi, and creme fraiche. So, put on a Met-Gala-worthy fit and head to this lounge and restaurant for drinks and food all under one roof.

For a modern riff on French-inspired Belgian cuisine with an enticing patio, head to the River Oaks outpost of this renowned cafe and bar. Start with the caviar tacos, which are stuffed with a dollop of crème fraiche and caviar, and topped with crispy potatoes, ahi, lemon oil, and chives. Then, choose between the showstopping Dover sole meuniere, which is prepared table-side, with seasonal vegetables, roasted potatoes, and a white wine lemon sauce, or the duck confit, a French staple, served with a sweet potato mousseline, caramelized apples, and an orange cognac reduction. Visit on Monday or Tuesday for half-priced bottles of French wine, on the weekends for brunch and half-priced bottles of rose, and on Thursday and Friday for live music.

This long-running cafe serves up breakfast, lunch, and delightful snacks in the form of baguettes, croissants, pastries, cookies, and everything in between, Try its flaky and golden quiches, which come brimming with gooey Swiss cheese, or its thumbprint cookies and cinnamon crunch rolls if you have a sweet tooth. The tarts, coffee cakes, and eclairs are what transform the bakery into a full-fledged patisserie. 

This trendy Louisiana street French hotspot is a go-to for locals looking to get bistro bites that pair magnificently with robust French wines. The dining room is a ravishing Art Nouveau meets rustic-chic space, and the food is equally as stunning, with enchanting entrees like the cote de veau gascon — a pan-seared veal chop swimming in a creamy wild mushroom risotto and plated with Brussels sprouts and a raisin demi-glace. Though a bit of a splurge, the caviar trio — a combination of white sturgeon, Bowfin and smoked trout roe — is divinely paired with pillowy blinis, sour cream, and egg salad, making it totally worth it.

Situated in the Menil Collection campus, this bistro led by chef Greg Martin ties in his travels throughout Europe with French techniques to create a comforting all-day restaurant. Indulge in salads, pizzas, and entrees like its signature crab cakes with caper mayonnaise pepper and its 12-hour beef short rib topped with port wine and shallot reduction. Or, for a nice change of pace, try the afternoon tea service. For $65 per person, you’ll experience a pairing of elegant bites and pastries alongside a selection of soothing, fragrant teas. 

The cuisine of la Campagne shines through at this quaint bistro through its wine offerings and dishes like the lapin aux haricots verts — rabbit roasted in a light mustard sauce with green beans and buttered spaetzle, or the cotelettes d’agneau grillees — a savory plate of grilled lamb chops. Start with the onion soup, topped with gooey gruyere, and finish with the tarte tatin — its caramelized apple tart served with a side of vanilla ice cream — for a perfect, well-rounded meal. Be sure to stay up to date with their special events and wine tastings, where diners can meet the chef.

There are museum restaurants, and then there is Le Jardinier. Located in the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, or MFAH, this sleek hotspot offers French-leaning chef-driven dishes, a polished brunch menu, and a seasonal expression tasting menu experience all under one roof. Expect mains like a spring onion risotto with blue oyster and morel mushrooms, and grilled swordfish with soubise, leeks, and a black garlic coulis. The restaurant’s technique and attention to detail are especially apparent in its desserts, like the butterfly — a delicate yuzu mousse and raspberry compote with pistachio sable. 

This new French concept by restaurateur Benjy Levit offers a fun seafood-centric approach to French and European cuisine in Rice Village. Find delicious crudites, baked mussels drenched in rich snail butter as a call to escargot, the bone-in crispy pork Milanese that nearly covers the plate, and standout caviar service, with selections ranging from Kaluga Amber to the ultra-premium Calvisiis Oscietra Royal. The restaurant’s bright and flowery decor adds to the experience and is complimented by its flirty cocktail menu, with creative offerings like the Spa Day — a refreshing mix of Haku charcoal vodka, aloe liqueur, nori simple citrus, and aquafaba — and the Mean Left Hook, a combination of rhum agricole, green chartreuse, coconut, pineapple, and lime served in a fish-shaped glass.