Best Place for Home-style American Sweets Red Dessert Dive Red Dessert Dive is a welcome addition to the Heights neighborhood. The desserts are down-home classic treats everyone grew up eating, like Italian cream cake and cupcakes, strawberry cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies. But, the best part is that you can sit down with a berry cobbler, scoop of banana pudding, or warm bread pudding paired with a glass of wine or local craft beer. How many places in Houston offer that sensational combo? During happy hour, guests receive $3 off wines and a dollar off all beers. We have to think a salted caramel brownie goes great with a Karbach Rodeo Clown.

Best Place for When You Don't Want to Eat at the Cheesecake Factory Happy Fatz Seriously, the cheesecakes at Happy Fatz are the shiz. Each is dense and creamy, just as a cheesecake should be. When you'd rather go somewhere local for a beautiful slice of Turtle Cheesecake swirled with toasted pecans and caramel sauce, or a sensational slice of White Chocolate Raspberry, Happy Fatz has got the hook up for you. The cheesecake options change daily, so call ahead and see what the Heights cafe and bakery has available. If a slice is too much for you, you can choose a miniature version that will certainly hit the spot. A classic New York Cheesecake topped with seasonal berries, or a light and fresh Strawberry Cheesecake finished off with a dollop of fresh whipped cream is the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Best Place for Desserts Just Like Mom Used to Make Three Brothers Bakery Three Brothers Bakery has made a name for itself by sticking to its classic family recipes. Craving a slice of cake? Choose from honey pound cake, carrot cake, checkerboard rum cake, coconut crème, Italian crème, cookies and crème, seven layer mocha and so much more. The bakery also has cheesecakes, cupcakes, petit fours and a seemingly endless selection of cookies. You can't go wrong with a large gingerbread man or one of the beautiful dipped and decorated cookies, but a classic Jewish hamantaschen in any flavor will make your taste buds sing. Visit the location on Washington to create a cake parfait featuring layers of cake with various fillings, icings, cookie crumbs and extra toppings like fudge or sprinkles in a parfait glass.

Best Place to Stare at the Dessert Case Ruggles Cafe Bakery When you walk inside Ruggles Cafe Bakery, intending on having a sit-down meal, you will probably find yourself staring at the dessert case and your cravings will shift from savory to sweet. The Rice Village bakery serves everything from chocolate crème brulee and brownie a la mode to white chocolate bread pudding and hummingbird cake. The giant cakes and cheesecakes will make your mouth water. We can't get enough of the Red Velvet Cake featuring thick layers of vibrant red cake and cream cheese frosting; the thick, tall slice of cake also has cake crumbs on the outer frosting layer, adding a little touch of color to the off-white cream cheese frosting. Of course, the strawberry bomb which includes angel food cake, cold mascarpone and strawberries, is a refreshing and sugary treat on any hot day in Houston (which is just about every day). If you can't finish your dessert in one sitting, then we suggest taking it home for leftovers, and maybe throw in some more sweets while you're at it. You'll be glad you did when that midnight snack craving attacks.