CHEESECAKE REVIEW: Lady M Cake Boutique

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

The cakes at Lady M are impeccable. They’re beautifully designed and have an irresistible light, heavenly quality. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of their Mille Crêpes and would rate it as one of the best desserts in the city.

I had heard some buzz about their cheesecake which isn’t as visible as their other options. In fact, it’s rarely out on display and you have to ask if it’s available that day. As I asked for it, it felt like it would be one of those secret, off-menu specials that outshone all the other cakes. Sort of like knowing at Magnolia Bakery you should skip the cupcakes and order the banana pudding.

But unfortunately, this cheesecake was not my cup of tea (or slice of cake, if you will). The stark whiteness of it is very modern and absolutely stunning. But I found it way too tart and slightly dry.

The creamy cake was a bit inconsistent. Parts of the body were light, while most of it was traditionally dense with no airy relief. The flavor was also much more sour than sweet with a hint of lemon. I’m guessing it’s both ricotta and cream cheese based. Perhaps that’s too much of a good thing.

It’s been a while since I’ve had a slice with a graham cracker crust and this one also looked beautiful. But the crust was quite dry and took all the moisture from my mouth (and from the cake). It also had a distinct cream cheese frosting on top, which I thought was very creative in theory, but it didn’t work for me. It was more tartness and just added to the puckering of my mouth.

I was sorely disappointed in this potentially game-changing cheesecake. I never expected it to be traditional, but its dry crust and overly tart flavor just didn’t work as well as their amazing layered cakes. I’d be happy to look at its beauty at a food museum, but I will stick to looking and save the calories.

Does Lady M Cake Boutique have the best cheesecake in NY? They’re other offerings are phenomenal, but I feel there a few missteps with the cheesy one. They only get a 6 out of 10 because it’s unbearably tart and the graham cracker crust is too dry.