diner cake heads north

Beloved Houston bakery and cafe rises with new Woodlands location

One of Houston’s favorite sweet shops is coming to The Woodlands. Dessert Gallery has claimed a prime spot in The Woodlands Waterway for its second location.

Located in a former Nestle Toll House Cafe at 25 Waterway Ave., the new Dessert Gallery is expected to open in late summer or early fall. Owner Sara Brook tells CultureMap that she’s had her eye on The Woodlands for a couple years and is pleased to have found a location that’s close to the Marriott hotel, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, and Cinemark movie theater.

“I’d love to say it was something very scientific. Really, it just feels like the right place at the right time,” she says.

“A lot of our corporate customers are popping up out there. I had occasion to visit and do some work at the Exxon campus. I was blown away by everything that’s happening. I wanted to be part of it.”

For almost 30 years, Dessert Gallery has been serving nostalgia-inspired cookies, cakes, and other sweets to Houstonians from its location on Kirby Drive. While previous satellite locations in Sugar Land and the Galleria area have closed, Brook says the time is right to grow. Dessert Gallery’s business increased in the last couple of years, fueled by people turning to sweets for comfort and the convenience of third-party delivery apps.

“We were one of the lucky ones. For once, we were in the right place at the right time with the right software,” Brook says. “Everybody was hungry and drowning their sorrows in chocolate. The delivery companies came on big. We were ready for all of it.”

At only 1,100 square feet, the new Woodlands location won’t have quite the same inventory as the larger Kirby store, but it will be stocked with fan favorites like the Chocolate Chunk cookies, Apple Brown Betty, and the Old-Fashioned Diner Cake. It will also offer a limited amount of both indoor and outdoor seating.

“For almost 30 years, people have been driving in from all over to come to Dessert Gallery. I think our Woodlands and Spring clientele are going to be super excited to find us in their backyard,” Brook says.

Dessert Gallery joins a growing movement of Houston-based restaurants and bars that have opened or are coming to the northern suburb, including Bosscat Kitchen, Kirby Ice House, and Niko Niko’s.

Courtesy of Dessert Gallery

Sara Brook is the founder of Dessert Gallery.

Bowling over Houston

Gluten-free Austin restaurant picks River Oaks for first Houston store

Rendering of Honest Mary's in River Oaks

Rendering by Mark Odom Studio

Honest Mary's, an Austin-based eatery, is expanding with a new location in Houston's River Oaks in fall 2025.

It will be a Houston homecoming for restauranteur Nelson Monteith with the fall 2025 debut of Honest Mary’s in River Oaks.

“It’s a joy and honor to bring a brand we’ve worked hard to create in Austin and finally be able to share that concept with friends and family in Houston,” Monteith said in a statement. “There’s a bit of built-in comfort in knowing there are folks here who are already fans of Honest Mary’s. They’ve been asking us for years to open a location in Houston, and now it’s happening.”

Located at 2047-A West Gray St., Honest Mary's will occupy the current La Madeleine space. It is not known at this time when La Madeleine will close, but construction on Honest Mary's is expected to begin in May 2025.

Monteith and his wife, Mary, launched Honest Mary’s in 2017 after embracing mindful eating to improve their health. Since then, the Austin-based eatery that describes itself as serving "life-giving fast food" has expanded to four locations, with the upcoming River Oaks spot marking its arrival in Houston.

“There’s healthy food, fresh food, and fast food,” he said. “We wanted to create something that fits into that sweet spot without sacrificing quality or convenience. The trend towards healthy eating and the reality of busy lifestyles aren’t slowing down. We offer a place that caters to both.”

At the center of Honest Mary’s menu are five signature bowls ranging from poke to vegetarian, including the smoky poblano ($10.25) that features a basmati rice base with fresh vegetables of wild arugula, sweet corn, and pickled onions in a creamy poblano sauce. Co-partner and chef Andrew Wiseheart, known for Austin’s Contigo and Ladybird Taco, leads the kitchen.

Honest Mary's menu features healthy, gluten-free bowls. Guests can choose from five signature bowls at Honest Mary's, or create their own.Courtesy of Honest Mary's

Diners can build their own bowls by selecting a base like quinoa, proteins including grilled chicken and tuna, and vegetables such as sweet potatoes. Pickled onions, cucumber salad, and avocado are among the topping selections, with sauces like lemon garlic and cashew-lime crema.

Scratch-made sipping broths round out the menu, with the chicken bone broth packed with celery, carrots, onions and parsley, or an umami-rich seaweed and mushroom broth.

A selection of house-made aguas frescas and teas, local craft beer, wine, kombucha, and organic cold-pressed juices will be available, as will Honest Mary’s popular almond butter cookies sweetened with maple syrup and topped with a sprinkle of Maldon salt.

Rendering by Mark Odom Studio

Honest Mary's, an Austin-based eatery, is expanding with a new location in Houston's River Oaks in fall 2025.

With its fully gluten-free menu, Honest Mary’s caters to a range of dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free. To align with Monteith’s dedication to nutrition, Honest Mary’s uses seed oils sparingly and prioritizes local and organic ingredients when possible.

“River Oaks Shopping Center has a unique blend of history and vibrant new concepts, making it the ideal home for us,” Monteith said. “We aim to be a neighborhood spot where people can enjoy delicious, healthy food.”

Lunden McGill and John Frazier of Baker Katz brokered the deal for the 2,200-square-foot space and additional patio with seating for 38 inside and 44 outside. Mark Odom Studio is responsible for architecture and design.

Honest Mary’s signature elements of terra cotta and blue tilework will be incorporated to provide consistency between all five locations, while Art Deco-inspired decor of lush greenery, warm wood tones and natural light will align the space with the River Oaks Shopping Center’s structure.

Takeaway, delivery, and dine-in will be provided daily from 11 am to 9 pm.