<PAGE>   1
   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 20, 1997.
                                                    Registration No. 33-________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                         --------------------------
                                  FORM S-8
                           REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    Under
                         THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         --------------------------

                     RICK'S CABARET INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

         Texas                                                76-0458229
(State of incorporation                                    (I.R.S. Employer
    or organization)                                      Identification No.)

                   3113 Bering Drive, Houston, Texas 77057
                  (Address of principal executive offices)

                               CONSULTING PLAN
                          (Full title of the plan)

                         --------------------------
                              Robert L. Watters
                                  President
                      RICK'S CABARET INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                              3113 Bering Drive
                            Houston, Texas 77057
                               (713) 785-0444
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                         --------------------------
                                  Copy to:
                              Robert D. Axelrod
                         Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum
                       5300 Memorial Drive, Suite 700
                            Houston, Texas 77007

                         --------------------------
IF ANY OF THE SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED ON THIS FORM ARE TO BE OFFERED ON A
DELAYED OR CONTINUOUS BASIS PURSUANT TO RULE 415 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, OTHER THAN SECURITIES OFFERED ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH DIVIDEND OR
INTEREST REINVESTMENT PLANS, CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX:   [x]

                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Proposed                  Proposed
           Title of                                          maximum                    maximum
         securities                Amount                    offering                  aggregate           Amount of
            to be                  to be                      price                     offering          registration
         registered               registered                per share(*)                price(*)             fee        
         ----------               ----------                ------------                --------          ------------    
         <S>                      <C>                         <C>                    <C>                    <C>
         Common stock,            125,000 shares              $2.00                  $250,000.00            $75.76
            par value $.01
            underlying options
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* Estimated pursuant to Rule 457 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 
  solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.
<PAGE>   2
                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents, which have been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by Rick's Cabaret International, Inc.
(the "Company"), are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof:
(a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1996; and (b) all other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since September 30, 1996; and (c) the Company's
registration on Form S-3 effective with the Commission on July 24, 1997.

         All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subsequent to
the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein and to be part hereof from the date of the filing of such
documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be modified or superseded for purposes
of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any other subsequently filed document which also is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum, who has prepared this Registration
Statement and Opinion regarding the authorization, issuance and fully-paid and
non-assessable status of the securities covered by this Registration Statement,
has represented the Registrant in the past on certain legal matters.  Excluding
any shares of common stock that may be issued to Robert D. Axelrod pursuant to
this Registration Statement, Mr. Axelrod owns 2,000 shares of common stock of
the Registrant and 20,000 Warrants to purchase shares of common stock.  In
addition, Mr. Axelrod's children own 3,000 shares of Common stock of the
Registrant.  Otherwise, his entire relationship with the Registrant has been as
legal counsel, and there are no arrangements or understandings which would in
any way cause him to be deemed an affiliate of the Registrant or a person
associated with an affiliate of the Registrant.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.

         It is the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") that indemnification against liabilities for violations under the
federal securities laws, rules and regulations is against public policy.  See
subparagraph (c) of Item 9 below.

         The Articles of Incorporation of the Company ("Articles") provide for
indemnification of Directors and Officers in accordance with the Texas Business
Corporation Act.  Article Eight of the Articles provides as follows:

         A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or
omissions not in good





                                       2
<PAGE>   3
faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the
law, or for which the person is found liable to the Corporation, (iii) under
Article 2.41 of the Texas Business Corporation Act, or (iv) for any transaction
from which the director derived an improper personal benefit, whether or not
the benefit resulted from an action taken in the person's official capacity.

         Article Nine of the Articles provides as follows:

         Section 9.1  The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is
a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation)
by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer employee or agent
of the corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The termination of any
action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon
a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the
Corporation and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

         Section 9.2  The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is
a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall
be made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the
extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine
upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all
the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.

         Section 9.3  To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent
of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of
any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 9.1 and 9.2., or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection therewith.

         Section 9.4  Any indemnification under Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this
Article Nine (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only
as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of
the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because
he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 9.1 and 9.2.
Such determination shall be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority
vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action,
suit or proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if
obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal
counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the shareholders in a vote that
excludes the shares held by directors who are parties to such action, suit or
proceeding.





                                       3
<PAGE>   4
         Section 9.5  Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal
action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the
final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board
of Directors upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director,
officer, employee or agent of his good faith belief that he has met the
standard of conduct necessary for indemnification under Sections 9.1 and 9.2
and a written undertaking to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be
determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as
authorized in this Article Nine.

         Section 9.6  The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by, or granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Article Nine shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification
or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his
official capacity and as to acting in another capacity while holding such
office.

         Section 9.7  The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of
the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any
liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or
arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have
the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this
Article Nine.

         Section 9.8  For the purpose of this Article Nine, references to "the
Corporation" shall include, in addition to the resulting Corporation, any
constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed
in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued,
would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and
employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this
Article Nine with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he would
have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had
continued.

         Section 9.9  For purposes of this Article Nine, referenced to "other
enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall
include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee
benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the Corporation"
shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director,
officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its
participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and
beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a
manner "not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation" as referred to in
this Article Nine.

         Section 9.10 The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by, or granted pursuant to, this Article Nine shall, unless otherwise provided
when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

         Section 9.11 The provisions of this Article Nine:  (i) are for the
benefit of, and may be enforced by, each person entitled to indemnification
hereunder, the same as if set forth in their entirety in a written instrument
duly executed and delivered by the Corporation and such person; and (ii)
constitute a continuing offer to all present and future persons entitled to
indemnification hereunder.  The Corporation,





                                       4
<PAGE>   5
by its filing of these Articles of Incorporation:  (a) acknowledges and agrees
that each person entitled to indemnification hereunder has relied upon and will
continue to rely upon the provisions of this Article Nine in accepting and
serving in any of the capacities entitling such person to indemnification
hereunder; (b) waives reliance upon, and all notices of acceptance of, such
provisions by such persons; and (c) acknowledges and agrees that no present or
future person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall be prejudiced in such
person's right to enforce the provisions of this Article Nine in accordance
with their terms by any act or failure to act on the part of the Corporation.

         Section 9.12 No amendment, modification, or repeal of this Article
Nine or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce, or impair
the right of any past, present or future person entitled to indemnification
hereunder to be indemnified by the Corporation, nor the obligation of the
Corporation to indemnify any such person, under and in accordance with the
provisions of this Article Nine as in effect immediately prior to such
amendment, modification, or repeal with respect to claims arising from or
relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment,
modification, or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be
asserted.

         The foregoing discussion of the Company's Articles and of the Texas
Business Corporation Act is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in
its entirety by such Articles and statutes, respectively.


ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of the Registration
Statement:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Exhibit Number            Description of Exhibit
         --------------            ----------------------
              <S>                  <C> 
              5                    Opinion of Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum

              23(i)                Consent of Jackson & Rhodes, P.C.

              23(ii)               Consent of Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum.  See Exhibit 5.
</TABLE>

                 ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         A.      (1)      To file during any period in which offers or sales
are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                 (i)      to include any prospectus required by Section
         10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (ii)     to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
         arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or
         the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
         or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information
         set forth in this registration statement;

                 (iii)    to include any material information with respect to
         the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration
         statement or any material change to such information in this
         registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a) (i) and
         (a) (ii) above do not apply





                                       5
<PAGE>   6
         if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8 and the
         information required to be included in a post- effective amendment by
         those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
         Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act
         that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

                 (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                 (3)      To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
unsold at the termination of the offering.

         B.      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each
filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         C.      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
that the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of
whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.





                                       6
<PAGE>   7
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on August 15, 1997.

                                       RICK'S CABARET INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                       
                                       
                                       By:   /s/ Robert L. Watters             
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Robert L. Watters, Chairman of the
                                          Board and Chief Executive Officer


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the dates indicated:



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                           Title                          Date
---------                                           -----                          ----
 <S>                                        <C>                             <C>
   /s/ Robert L. Watters                   Chairman of the Board,           August 15, 1997
-------------------------------                                                              
      Robert L. Watters                    Chief Executive Officer,
                                           Principal Accounting Officer
                                           and Director

 /s/ Erich Norton White                    Director and Executive           August 11, 1997
-------------------------------            Vice President                                                
      Erich Norton White                   

   /s/ Scott C. Mitchell                   Director                         August 11, 1997
-------------------------------                                                                    
      Scott C. Mitchell

  /s/  Martin Sage                         Director                         August 12, 1997
------------------------------- 
      Martin Sage
</TABLE>





                                       7
<PAGE>   8
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                    DESCRIPTION
------                    -----------
<S>               <C> 
  5               Opinion of Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum

23(i)             Consent of Jackson & Rhodes, P.C.

23(ii)            Consent of Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum.  See Exhibit 5.

</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "RICK'S CABARET INTERNATIONAL, INC.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 24972}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "RICKS CABARET INTERNATIONAL INC", "cik": "0000935419", "assigned-sic": "5810", "irs-number": "760037324", "state-of-incorporation": "TX", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-33973", "film-number": "97666727"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3113 BERING DR", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77057", "phone": "7137850444"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3113 BERING DR", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77057"}}
1
   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 20, 1997.
                                                    Registration No. 33-________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                         --------------------------
                                  FORM S-8
                           REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    Under
                         THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         --------------------------

                     RICK'S CABARET INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

         Texas                                                76-0458229
(State of incorporation                                    (I.R.S. Employer
    or organization)                                      Identification No.)

                   3113 Bering Drive, Houston, Texas 77057
                  (Address of principal executive offices)

                               CONSULTING PLAN
                          (Full title of the plan)

                         --------------------------
                              Robert L. Watters
                                  President
                      RICK'S CABARET INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                              3113 Bering Drive
                            Houston, Texas 77057
                               (713) 785-0444
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                         --------------------------
                                  Copy to:
                              Robert D. Axelrod
                         Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum
                       5300 Memorial Drive, Suite 700
                            Houston, Texas 77007

                         --------------------------
IF ANY OF THE SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED ON THIS FORM ARE TO BE OFFERED ON A
DELAYED OR CONTINUOUS BASIS PURSUANT TO RULE 415 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, OTHER THAN SECURITIES OFFERED ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH DIVIDEND OR
INTEREST REINVESTMENT PLANS, CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX:   [x]

                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Proposed                  Proposed
           Title of                                          maximum                    maximum
         securities                Amount                    offering                  aggregate           Amount of
            to be                  to be                      price                     offering          registration
         registered               registered                per share(*)                price(*)             fee        
         ----------               ----------                ------------                --------          ------------
Common stock,            125,000 shares              $2.00                  $250,000.00            $75.76
            par value $.01
            underlying options
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Estimated pursuant to Rule 457 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 
  solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.
2
                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents, which have been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by Rick's Cabaret International, Inc.
(the "Company"), are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof:
(a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1996; and (b) all other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since September 30, 1996; and (c) the Company's
registration on Form S-3 effective with the Commission on July 24, 1997.

         All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subsequent to
the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein and to be part hereof from the date of the filing of such
documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be modified or superseded for purposes
of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any other subsequently filed document which also is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum, who has prepared this Registration
Statement and Opinion regarding the authorization, issuance and fully-paid and
non-assessable status of the securities covered by this Registration Statement,
has represented the Registrant in the past on certain legal matters.  Excluding
any shares of common stock that may be issued to Robert D. Axelrod pursuant to
this Registration Statement, Mr. Axelrod owns 2,000 shares of common stock of
the Registrant and 20,000 Warrants to purchase shares of common stock.  In
addition, Mr. Axelrod's children own 3,000 shares of Common stock of the
Registrant.  Otherwise, his entire relationship with the Registrant has been as
legal counsel, and there are no arrangements or understandings which would in
any way cause him to be deemed an affiliate of the Registrant or a person
associated with an affiliate of the Registrant.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.

         It is the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") that indemnification against liabilities for violations under the
federal securities laws, rules and regulations is against public policy.  See
subparagraph (c) of Item 9 below.

         The Articles of Incorporation of the Company ("Articles") provide for
indemnification of Directors and Officers in accordance with the Texas Business
Corporation Act.  Article Eight of the Articles provides as follows:

         A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or
omissions not in good

                                       2
3
faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the
law, or for which the person is found liable to the Corporation, (iii) under
Article 2.41 of the Texas Business Corporation Act, or (iv) for any transaction
from which the director derived an improper personal benefit, whether or not
the benefit resulted from an action taken in the person's official capacity.

         Article Nine of the Articles provides as follows:

         Section 9.1  The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is
a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation)
by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer employee or agent
of the corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The termination of any
action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon
a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the
Corporation and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

         Section 9.2  The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is
a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall
be made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the
extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine
upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all
the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.

         Section 9.3  To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent
of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of
any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 9.1 and 9.2., or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection therewith.

         Section 9.4  Any indemnification under Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this
Article Nine (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only
as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of
the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because
he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 9.1 and 9.2.
Such determination shall be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority
vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action,
suit or proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if
obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal
counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the shareholders in a vote that
excludes the shares held by directors who are parties to such action, suit or
proceeding.

                                       3
4
         Section 9.5  Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal
action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the
final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board
of Directors upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director,
officer, employee or agent of his good faith belief that he has met the
standard of conduct necessary for indemnification under Sections 9.1 and 9.2
and a written undertaking to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be
determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as
authorized in this Article Nine.

         Section 9.6  The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by, or granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Article Nine shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification
or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his
official capacity and as to acting in another capacity while holding such
office.

         Section 9.7  The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of
the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any
liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or
arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have
the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this
Article Nine.

         Section 9.8  For the purpose of this Article Nine, references to "the
Corporation" shall include, in addition to the resulting Corporation, any
constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed
in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued,
would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and
employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this
Article Nine with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he would
have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had
continued.

         Section 9.9  For purposes of this Article Nine, referenced to "other
enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall
include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee
benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the Corporation"
shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director,
officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its
participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and
beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a
manner "not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation" as referred to in
this Article Nine.

         Section 9.10 The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by, or granted pursuant to, this Article Nine shall, unless otherwise provided
when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

         Section 9.11 The provisions of this Article Nine:  (i) are for the
benefit of, and may be enforced by, each person entitled to indemnification
hereunder, the same as if set forth in their entirety in a written instrument
duly executed and delivered by the Corporation and such person; and (ii)
constitute a continuing offer to all present and future persons entitled to
indemnification hereunder.  The Corporation,

                                       4
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by its filing of these Articles of Incorporation:  (a) acknowledges and agrees
that each person entitled to indemnification hereunder has relied upon and will
continue to rely upon the provisions of this Article Nine in accepting and
serving in any of the capacities entitling such person to indemnification
hereunder; (b) waives reliance upon, and all notices of acceptance of, such
provisions by such persons; and (c) acknowledges and agrees that no present or
future person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall be prejudiced in such
person's right to enforce the provisions of this Article Nine in accordance
with their terms by any act or failure to act on the part of the Corporation.

         Section 9.12 No amendment, modification, or repeal of this Article
Nine or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce, or impair
the right of any past, present or future person entitled to indemnification
hereunder to be indemnified by the Corporation, nor the obligation of the
Corporation to indemnify any such person, under and in accordance with the
provisions of this Article Nine as in effect immediately prior to such
amendment, modification, or repeal with respect to claims arising from or
relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment,
modification, or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be
asserted.

         The foregoing discussion of the Company's Articles and of the Texas
Business Corporation Act is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in
its entirety by such Articles and statutes, respectively.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of the Registration
Statement:
Exhibit Number            Description of Exhibit
         --------------            ----------------------
5                    Opinion of Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum

              23(i)                Consent of Jackson & Rhodes, P.C.

              23(ii)               Consent of Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum.  See Exhibit 5.
ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         A.      (1)      To file during any period in which offers or sales
are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                 (i)      to include any prospectus required by Section
         10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (ii)     to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
         arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or
         the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
         or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information
         set forth in this registration statement;

                 (iii)    to include any material information with respect to
         the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration
         statement or any material change to such information in this
         registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a) (i) and
         (a) (ii) above do not apply

                                       5
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         if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8 and the
         information required to be included in a post- effective amendment by
         those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
         Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act
         that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

                 (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                 (3)      To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
unsold at the termination of the offering.

         B.      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each
filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         C.      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
that the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of
whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       6
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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on August 15, 1997.

                                       RICK'S CABARET INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                       
                                       
                                       By:   /s/ Robert L. Watters             
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Robert L. Watters, Chairman of the
                                          Board and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the dates indicated:
Signature                                           Title                          Date
---------                                           -----                          ----
/s/ Robert L. Watters                   Chairman of the Board,           August 15, 1997
-------------------------------                                                              
      Robert L. Watters                    Chief Executive Officer,
                                           Principal Accounting Officer
                                           and Director

 /s/ Erich Norton White                    Director and Executive           August 11, 1997
-------------------------------            Vice President                                                
      Erich Norton White                   

   /s/ Scott C. Mitchell                   Director                         August 11, 1997
-------------------------------                                                                    
      Scott C. Mitchell

  /s/  Martin Sage                         Director                         August 12, 1997
------------------------------- 
      Martin Sage
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                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                    DESCRIPTION
------                    -----------
5               Opinion of Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum

23(i)             Consent of Jackson & Rhodes, P.C.

23(ii)            Consent of Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum.  See Exhibit 5.