Sara Brook, a fifth-generation Houstonian who walked away from a law track to bake, opened Dessert Gallery in 1995 behind the old Cafe Express on Kirby. In 2009 she moved it to the corner of Kirby and Richmond, into a colorful cafe with long cases of layer cakes and room to sit with two forks and one slice. It turned 30 in 2025, and the classics are why: a tall carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, a milky tres leches, chocolate chunk cookies hand-dipped in chocolate, and the Cosmic Birthday Cake of chocolate meringue, mousses and brownie, offered a couple of times a year. Cupcakes, truffles and brownie balls round out the case, and the whole thing now ships nationwide.
What to expect
- Every cake flavor is sold by the slice, even ones not offered as small 6-inch cakes.
- Vegan, flourless, egg-free and no-sugar-added desserts are part of the lineup.
- The kitchen is not nut-free or gluten-free, so severe allergies need care.
- Want writing on a cake? Order a chocolate plaque at least two days ahead.
What to order
- Carrot cake
- Tres leches
- Chocolate-dipped chocolate chunk cookie
- Cosmic Birthday Cake (when offered)
- 1995Since
- Sara BrookFounder
- 2009At Kirby and Richmond since