New York cheesecake is a dense, high-cream-cheese baked cake on a graham crust, served plain or with a fruit topping. A bakery-counter and steakhouse staple in New York City since the 1920s.
Arnold Reuben (yes, the same Reuben who put a sandwich on the menu) is generally credited with the New York version, served at his East Side restaurant from 1929: a Philadelphia cream cheese base instead of farmer's cheese, baked dense, served plain. Lindy's on Broadway adopted it as a house dessert in 1932 and made it a tourist destination through the 1950s. The Junior's recipe (Junior's of Flatbush, founded 1950) became the canonical version through Brooklyn and remains in production at three Junior's locations. Steakhouse menus citywide still close on a plain wedge with a strawberry sauce on the side.
4 editor picks for New York cheesecake in New York City, ranked by editorial score. All New York City signature dishes · New York cheesecake across every city.
S&S Cheesecake ★ 4.7
the-bronx · 222 W 238th St, Bronx, NY 10463
S&S Cheesecake in the Bronx has baked one cake only since 1959 in New York City. Plain, dense, the canonical New York cheesecake, supplied to delis citywide.
Veniero's ★ 4.4
east-village · 342 East 11th Street, New York, NY 10003
Veniero's has filled cannoli on East 11th Street in the East Village, New York City since 1894. Sfogliatelle, pignoli cookies, ricotta cheesecake, espresso behind the counter.
Eileen's Special Cheesecake ★ 4.3
nolita · 17 Cleveland Place, New York, NY 10012
Eileen Avezzano has baked mini cheesecakes on Cleveland Place in Nolita, New York City since 1975. Single-portion glass-display counter, 25 flavours rotating weekly.
Junior's Restaurant ★ 4.2
downtown-brooklyn · 386 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Junior's on Flatbush Avenue Extension has baked New York cheesecake in Brooklyn New York City since 1950. Cream-cheese-base, graham-crust, sour-cream top, plain or strawberry.