Eileen's Special Cheesecake

"There’s often a line inside Eileen’s Special Cheesecake, but you shouldn’t let that deter you. It moves quickly, and there’s ample standing room to eat along the counter inside this narrow Nolita storefront with cheerful royal blue accents. The pastry case has more than a dozen cheesecake flavors, like red velvet, cookies and cream, and mango (and more by special order). All are airy and adorably decorated, but the salted caramel cheesecake is the bakery’s bestseller, for good reason. The caramel flavor is deep and complex, and best of all, the cake is topped with crunchy sugar and then lightly torched, for a surprising, and welcome, hint of bitterness. You can buy standard-sized cheesecakes at Eileen’s, which was established in 1974, but the real stars are the cheesecake tarts, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. They’re the perfect portion to avoid feeling uncomfortably full, or better yet, to make sure you have room for seconds. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick" - Molly Fitzpatrick

"They say it's the best cheesecake in NYC (sorry, Juniors). Their mini cheesecakes are awesome for trying out all the new flavors or sharing with your mostly lovely co-workers. Eileen's mini cheesecakes, made daily, are made from the freshest products and are perfect for sampling a few different choices instead of getting a whole pie (for those who can't make up their minds). Our favorites: strawberry, salted caramel, and original flavors." - Barrel

"One of the primary exponents of the Jewish style of New York cheesecakes, Eileen Avezzanno opened this tiny bakery overlooking Cleveland Place on the western edge of NoLita in 1975. Now tourists and locals alike line up for her cream-cheese-heavy and graham-cracker-crusted cheesecakes, which are available in a $6 individual size and can be topped with blueberry, cherry, or pineapple compote." - Eater Staff

"Eileen's Special Cheesecake, Little Italy Nolita by Barrel. They say it's the best cheesecake in NYC (sorry, Juniors). Their mini cheesecakes are awesome for trying out all the new flavors or sharing with your mostly lovely co-workers. Eileen's mini cheesecakes, made daily, are made from the freshest products and are perfect for sampling a few different choices instead of getting a whole pie (for those who can't make up their minds). Our favorites: strawberry, salted caramel, and original flavors."

"Eileen Avezzano began making classic cheesecakes from her Soho bakery in 1975. Five decades later, Eileen’s cakes have been called “The Best Cheesecakes in America” by Food & Wine, featured on The Food Network, and garnered many a sweet-toothed believer. Two years after Eileen’s death, her daughters now run the 17 Cleveland Place shop, which has come to feel like a citywide institution despite it still very much being family-owned and operated. The light and creamy cakes at Eileen’s usually come in 40 flavors, 12 of which are available for local delivery, including plain, raspberry, rocky road, and more. A more limited selection is also available for nationwide delivery." - Leah Rosenzweig, Eater Staff