Junior's Cheesecake.

After living in New York City for over a decade, it seems like there are few places you can mention to out of town folks who instantly light up when hearing the name. Junior’s Cheesecake always tends to the trick, and for those who have been. can you blame them?

Easily one of the best kid-friendly restaurants in New York City goes to the flashy, delicious, over-the-top famed cheesecake shop, Junior’s. Located in the bustling heart of Time Square, if you’re brave enough to face the crowds the sticky grins of your kiddos will be rewarding enough (I hope).

Is Junior’s just a tourist trap serving forgettable meals? Sure, but for a kid who considers chicken nuggets a gourmet meal, this one of the best restaurants in NYC for families!

Junior’s sits right on Broadway at 45th, opens at 7 a.m., and never met a theatergoer it could not feed. This is my pick when you are running behind, you did not make a reservation, and you need a booth, a plate of something, and a slice of cheesecake in under an hour. The cheesecake is the reason to come. Order it first, honestly. Everything else on the menu is fine diner food, but that dense, tall, New York cheesecake is the actual event.

Three minutes to the Booth and the Music Box, five to the 44th Street houses. It is not romantic and it is not quiet, but it is reliable, it is fast, and on a rushed Saturday that is worth its weight in gold.

The same way you can’t go to Philly without trying a cheesesteak, they say you can’t come to Times and not try cheesecake. One in particular. Opening up shop in 1950, Junior’s Cheesecake is one of the most famous New York institutions. Their diner-style restaurants feels extra cozy and makes for one of the best things to do in Times Square for those with a sweet-tooth.

You can enjoy a single slice at a table or take a whole pie to go. While there are endless cheesecakes to choose from, I tend to gravitate towards anything with chocolate, while my husband sticks to the classics. All this to say, it’s hard to go wrong!

Junior’s has the name recognition, the neon signage, and the Times Square location, but when it comes to food? It’s kind of a letdown. Yes, it’s famous. Yes, you’ll see lines outside. But in a city full of incredible bakeries and dessert spots, Junior’s is one of the more overrated NYC attractions, especially for cheesecake.

I’ve tried it a few times, out of obligation, curiosity, and a little hope. And every time, I’ve walked away thinking, that was fine, but not worth the hype or the price. The cheesecake is heavy, overly sweet, and frankly, you can do better. Spots like Eileen’s Special Cheesecake or Veniero’s have more flavor, more variety, and less of a tourist markup.

If you’re in Times Square and want a quick dessert, fine. But don’t go out of your way thinking Junior’s is the ultimate New York cheesecake experience. It’s a tourist favorite, sure, but not necessarily a local one. This isn’t a scam, it’s just one of those NYC food spots that coasts on reputation more than flavor.

Junior’s Cheesecake has been a New York City institution since 1950, but I can’t recommend it in good faith. True, its iconic flashing lights and various locations draw in a lot of tourists, but the cheesecake falls short.

It’s inconsistent, and more times than not dry and crumbly. I feel the company is riding the coattails of its former glory, and at the time of writing is one of the biggest tourist traps in New York City.