What are the elements of a great cheesecake? Rich, creamy filling, with the perfect balance between the savory cheese and sweet sugar. You can order a cheesecake that meets these criteria at Junior’s Bakery, a chain store that dishes up deliciously sweet treats in several locations in New York. My parents and I went to the original establishment at Brooklyn to see if these cheesecakes really were the world’s most fabulous, as claimed by the chain.
Junior’s gave off a retro-style vibe, with its name displayed in the front of the store in orange, neon-lit, capitals. The entrance opened immediately into the bakery section of Junior’s, which featured brightly lit, colorful displays of sweet desserts sitting behind glass on refrigerated shelves, including a variety of puddings, cookies, and cakes.
Judging by the newspaper clippings that characterize good restaurants in New York, we had come to the right place for a delicious slice of cheesecake. Junior’s has a reputation for being a pretty high-end chain, so, unsurprisingly, the cheesecakes we got were pretty pricey- a slice of Original New York-style cheesecake was $6.75, and the slice of Brownie Explosion cheesecake was $8.25.
And now the part you’re all waiting for- how did they taste? Well, the original cheesecake was so rich and luscious that slicing into it felt like slicing into a sponge. It was super dense and deliciously rich and creamy, and the savory and sour notes of the cheese was paired in a perfect ratio with the sugar. Every bite melted slowly in my mouth, and the richness was at a level that I had never tasted in a cheesecake before. The Brownie Explosion was just as delicious; the main component of the cheesecake had been made with the same dexterity as the original, and the hefty sheet of soft brownie and chocolate drizzle that sat on top of the cake added another layer of flavor. Both slices were equally delicious- the textures and flavors had been expertly incorporated in each cake.
I could tell that the cakes had been made with high-quality ingredients, and that the recipes had probably been tested hundreds of times. However, although I have a massive sweet tooth, I can’t say that I’d be willing to pay for another slice if I had to choose between Junior’s and, say, The Cheesecake Factory, not because it’s not good, but because it’s not one of my favorite foods. If you’re a cheesecake connoisseur, I’d definitely recommend trying one of Junior’s cheesecakes at least once. But if cheesecake isn’t on your A-list, I just don’t think it’s worth the hefty price. You could still order cheesecakes at other stores for cheaper, and you’d still be getting pretty delicious cakes. Again, I’m not going to deny that Junior’s makes cheesecakes on a level that I’d never tried before. Overall, Junior’s is a good choice if you’re willing to pay some more, but if you’re just looking for a quick something to satisfy that craving for cheesecake, I’d recommend heading to a tried-and-true place that won’t break the bank.
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