CHEESECAKE REVIEW: La Cheesecake Bake Shop

My search for the best cheesecake in New York continues….

Many of the classic cheesecake bakeries are way out in the boroughs. I mean way out. Like you have to take a subway to the end of the line and then take a bus another 30-40 minutes. These are areas of the city where even the residents forget that they technically live in New York City.

La Cheesecake is not somewhere most New Yorkers just stumble upon. Lots of research and travelling is the only way to find this amazing little neighborhood bakeshop. And that’s what I do best.

Once I got off the bus and got my bearings, I discovered the storefront hidden between two streets. Inside is just a take-out counter in front of a large commercial bakery. This place is more about production and wholesale than it is about retail. About four or five people came in to pick up an order while I was there. But there was no place to sit and eat.

They do offer mini-cheesecakes (in a few different varieties) and it was the perfect size – smaller than a slice, but enough to get a full taste. In order to stay alive during this search, I usually don’t finish the slices of cheesecake. Here, I licked the wax paper clean.

I was a bit concerned when I saw how yellow my little mini was compared to the well-browned full cakes they had resting on a rack. But the cashier assured me that the recipe and cooking method are exactly the same – it’s just the size. I put my worries aside and took some luscious first bites that quickly turned into a devouring.

This sample showed me that a sponge cake bottom works just as well as a graham cracker crust. The crust was firm and fresh and held up to the density of the creamy cheese body. It was creamy and smooth without being too light or too dense. It truly was the perfect balance. Same goes for the gentle sweetness mixed with that unmistakable cream cheese tang.

It was the perfect New York cheesecake. It’s probably for the best that this place isn’t too accessible for me. I do need to maintain my girlish figured. But that hasn’t stopped me from planning my next cheesecake excursion to some far away, unexplored neighborhood. If only there was such a thing as frequent subway miles!!!

Does La Cheesecake Bake Shop have the best cheesecake in NY? It’s worth the trek to get a good sense of how perfect and smooth cheesecake can be. Just don’t expect to linger too long. 9 out of 10.