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.

there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.