When it comes to a pastrami reuben, there is no doubt that Katz’s Delicatessen is better. But for cheesecake, especially plain, Junior’s is for me the best, better than the Cheesecake Factory. Founded in 1950 in Brooklyn by Harry Rosen, its two Times Square restaurants, one on 45th street and the other one on 49th street are always busy, for sure with tourists and theater goers, but not only. They do not take reservations, but their wait list system is quite efficient, so, even if you are with a large group, they should be able to accommodate.
Their menu is quite big, with classic delicatessen dishes like matzo ball soup (pretty good) or potato latkes (potato pancakes, served with apple sauce - a must have) that you can order by the unit, that replace buns in one of their “sensational sandwiches” called “something different”, where two potato pancakes squeeze delicious slices of brisket. Another sensational sandwich, if you are looking for something more Americana is their 1/2 lb jumbo hotdog that is served with sauerkraut and relish. I tried it and it is good, but I always prefer their reuben, the pastrami one being my favorite over the corned beef, because of the rich, and salty flavor, with hints of spices from the rub and the delicious fattiness of the meat. With your sandwich, you can get Cole slaw, fries or chopped liver for an additional $3.95. The fries are steak fries, so not my favorite as I like them skinny and crispy on the outside. So, I often go for their chopped liver where chunks of chicken liver are mixed with onions and hard boiled eggs. They also propose it with rye bread and red onion as an appetizer if you feel that you need more than one small portion.

If you are vegetarian, they propose few dishes besides the latkes I mentioned, like a Greek salad or their grilled cheese that is decent, but a bit disappointing as you would think that, considering the rest of their dishes, they would serve something decadent.

When it comes to drinks, they have cocktails, some seasonal like this bourbon apple cider they were proposing the last time I went, but my all time favorite is their chocolate egg cream (the vanilla one was just ok for me).

But now, let’s talk about cheesecake: their plain one is my all time favorite: rich, creamy, tangy and not too sweet. Their chocolate mousse cheesecake is also rich and creamy, but I find it too sweet. If I wanted something different, I would get their Oreo cheesecake that is really good and that I could not stop eating…I should mention that, if you want to take a slice home, they have containers specifically designed so transportation is not an issue.

Looking at this, I guess you have guessed that I am a big fan of Junior’s. I love that place and never get bored. If you decide to go, know that the portions are big, hence the prices for sandwiches that are around $20 to $23. Sharing is highly suggested!

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Junior’s - 1515 Broadway, W 45th St, New York, NY 10036

Junior's in Times Square

I Just Want To Eat!