Where to buy the best NY-style cheesecake?

[anyhow]

Looking to buy whole cheesecake to serve at party. No toppings, just rich dense cheesecake.

All suggestions welcome -- Burlingame to San Jose most useful for last-minute pick-ups. Thanks.

[Thomas Nash]

http://www.carnegiedeli.com/cheesecak...

[letsindulge]

California Pizza Kitchen has a variety, and sells them by the whole, or slices.

[Sayurijg]

Now don't shoot me, but have you tried the one CostCo make? I know it would make a died hard cheesecake fan cry, but it's dense, it's big, it tastes good and it's inexpensive!

[Robert Lauriston]

Do they make it in house or is it house-labeled?

[Sayurijg]

I think they make it in-house. Great for a party because they are inexpensive and huge!

[jillyju]

Yesterday I had slice of NY style cheesecake from Max's at Opera Plaza in SF. I do not think much of most of their food, but this cheesecake was really everything I like in that style. Very dense, not overly sweet, graham cracker crust. The only thing missing for me was that I like a thin layer of sour cream baked on the top. There are Max's restaurants in the Peninsula.

[ceekskat]

I guess we are partial to the lighter cheesecakes in that we love Draeger's berry version. Other places that *may* make good cheesecake are Woodside Bakery & Prolific Oven. Perhaps other hounds are familiar with these.

[buoncibo]

Draegers is good, although not so much as a true NY cheesecake. They also sell it in a mini version. Especially appreciate that theirs has no graham cracker crust or sour cream. Lindy's restaurant in NY made the most famous cheesecake, and it did not include graham crackers or sour cream topping. Don't know if this matters to OP or whether it's just the NY density they're looking for.

[pilinut]

I like Draeger's cheesecake, too. Haven't had it side by side with Rosen's, but along with the brown butter pear tart, it's one of the best things they make.

[Malcolm Ruthven]

>no graham cracker crust or sour cream<

Back in another lifetime I spent a month near Times Square in New York City. There was a bar and grill near my hotel and I had many a corned beef sandwich and slice of cheesecake there. The cheesecake had no graham cracker crust or sour cream, and a flavor so intense that I only took small bites (very unusual for me). I'm still looking for one like that. Until then, Rosen's or John and Jill's is going to have to do.

[buoncibo]

Very likely it was Lindy's cheesecake. If you're still dreamin' about it and willing to give it a try in the kitchen, google for the recipe. The one on the Saveur website is the authentic version - 2.5 lbs cream cheese.

Happy eating!

[anyhow]

Wow! Thank you for reminding me I could find that "Ideal" cheesecake recipe and bake one to compare with the other suggested versions. It's on for baking tonight and tasting tomorrow.

And, thank you to everyone for the suggestions. All are greatly appreciated.

[buoncibo]

If you give it a try, like the results and decide to make it for your party, a bonus is that it will keep well for a few days in the fridge. On the day of, top w/whole strawberries pointed side up, and finish with a glaze. Good luck.

[Robert Lauriston]

I guess Just Desserts stopped making cheesecake.

[Melanie Wong]

Have you tried J M Rosen's NY cheesecake? It's made in Petaluma. Amici's sells it by the slice. You could try it and then negotiate to buy a whole one (or have one shipped to you from the bakery). I've not tried it since the founder passed away, but was my favorite before. And Frank Sinatra's favorite too.

[anyhow]

Thanks, I will get a slice to check it out. This is one of those hankering-things and maybe this thread will bring up many choices for many locales and tastes.

[Melanie Wong]

Here's a taste-off with John & Jill's.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/40181

[pilinut]

I was at Whole Foods off Hillsdale and 101 in San Mateo a month or so ago, and the bakery there sells the plain JM Rosen cheesecake. I bought a slice, and it was very good. I think the girl in the bakery told me that they get all their cheesecakes from Rosen, merely topping the fruit ones themselves.

[foodeye]

Just a little further north, there is Zanze's.
I have not tried it, but it looks like it might be just the ticket:
http://www.sfgate.com/food/article/49...

[DavidT]

Zanze's is certainly worth trying. I am not sure if it will be "New York" enough for you, but it will be very good!

[Melanie Wong]

Zanze's is very good, but it's lighter than NY style cheesecake.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/355496

[anyhow]

Thanks. We enjoyed a Zanze's cheesecake last weekend -- folks were swooning over the lightness. And, then, we began to wonder if we could find a wonderful cheesecake in the New York style.