Rose DeliuLocal guide
★★★★★2 months ago
Our visit to Junior's Restaurant & Bakery was a bit of a mixed experience, but one that ultimately ended on a high note.<br><br>When coming to New York, just about every local we spoke to insisted that this was the place to go for authentic New York cheesecake—and highly recommended the chicken parmigiana as well saying it’s portion was massive. After a long day of walking around the city, we were more than ready to sit down, relax, and finally try it for ourselves.<br><br>Right away, the atmosphere delivered exactly what we were hoping for. It had that lively, classic Times Square energy, yet still felt comfortable enough to unwind. We were promptly seated by an upbeat and friendly hostess who truly set the tone—her service alone deserves five stars.<br><br>Once seated, we ordered two waters and asked our waiter about the portion size of the chicken parmigiana. Unfortunately, this is where the experience started to decline. The waiter seemed noticeably annoyed and responded rather abruptly, saying it was “big enough to share.” That’s exactly what we chose to do—but from that point on, the service took a turn.<br><br>After taking our order, the waiter didn’t return to check on us at all. When the food arrived, it was simply dropped off without any follow-up—no check-in on how the meal tasted, no refills on water, nothing. After we finished eating, we waited about 35 minutes before he finally came back to the table.<br><br>When he did return, I asked for the bill. Instead of a typical interaction, he handed over a handheld payment kiosk and told me to add a tip on the next screen. I asked if I could pay in cash, as by this point I was already quite disappointed with the service—particularly the feeling that we were being judged for sharing a meal. What the waiter didn’t know was that we had fully intended to order three slices of cheesecake to try a variety of flavors.<br><br>Due to his lack of attentiveness and attitude, we decided it would be best to skip dessert at the table and instead order from the takeout counter. While I always believe in tipping, the service we received unfortunately did not warrant much so the waiter got the change left over.<br><br>On our way out, I made sure to thank the hostess again for her kindness and mentioned that it might be worth reminding staff not to prejudge guests based on what they order—there can be many reasons, including personal or medical, why people choose to share a meal.<br><br>At the takeout counter, while we were waiting in line to order three slices of cheesecake, the experience took a positive turn. A manager approached us, sincerely apologized for our experience, and generously offered to cover our desserts. We ended up receiving all three slices on the house, which was a very thoughtful gesture, and we still willingly would have bought.<br><br>And I have to say—the cheesecake absolutely lived up to the hype. Rich, creamy, and easily some of the best we’ve ever had. New York is known for its cheesecake for a reason, and Junior’s definitely proves why. My recommendation would definitely be trying the brownie explosion, Red velvet cheese, cheesecake, And absolutely to die for the Oreo cheesecake.<br><br>Overall, while the table service left a lot to be desired, the atmosphere, hostess, and especially the manager’s effort to make things right helped turn the experience around. And of course, the cheesecake alone makes it worth a visit.
