BY TRICIA SEYMOUR
When thinking about cheesecake, visions of the famous New
York style of the dessert dance into my head. Thick, luxurious slices with some type of fruit topping — ruby red
cherries, or perhaps flavorful blueberries. While I wanted to sample
some classically styled cheesecakes, I also wanted to explore more adventurous
takes on the decadent dessert. Rochester
did itself proud with the variations available, and while I went with a few
well known dessert havens, I also found a few stops that might surprise. Note
that this is in no way a comprehensive list of notable local cheesecake
purveyors. If you’d like to share your favorite spot for a slice, comment on
this article at rochestercitynewspaper.com.
Good Luck
Good Luck (50 Anderson Ave,
340-6161, restaurantgoodluck.com) is what you want to
see in a restaurant that has taken over a former factory space: the owners obviously
appreciate the room and its history, and have enhanced it with a fun restaurant
concept. If you haven’t been to Good Luck, I would recommend a visit just for
the atmosphere (although it can get loud from time to
time) and the unique throwback drink menu (with perfectly square ice cubes).
This time, in addition to our Gilded Ricky cocktail, we added the goat cheese
cheesecake to our order. The presentation was simple — an overturned round cake
placed on top of raspberry sauce, with delicate fresh raspberries placed on
top. The texture was firm yet silky, and the slight saltiness of the goat cheese
was an enjoyable deviation from the traditionally sweet cheesecake. I do wish
there was a bit more raspberry sauce, as it was an excellent contrast to the
goat cheese.
Cheesy Eddie’s
After having such an enjoyable experience with the carrot
cake cupcakes at Cheesy Eddie’s (602 South Ave, 473-1300, cheesyeddies.com), the
South Wedge business was an obvious choice for my cheesecake round-up. After
all, Cheesy Eddie’s is all about cheesecake. It’s even in the name! The
charming shop offers a rotating selection of flavored cheesecake slices,
although you can always order a full cake from the menu. On the day of my
visit, the pumpkin cheesecake was available, and since fall is here, it was a
timely find. And a delicious one: the texture was beautifully smooth, and the
ribbon of pumpkin flavor subtly complemented the cheesecake base, rather than
overpowering it. Little bite-sized cheesecakes are available if you’re trying
to behave, and the key lime option was a burst of flavor in a cute (and
affordable) compact package.
Tastings
Having enjoyed dining at Tastings (3195
Monroe Ave, 381-1881, tastings.wegmans.com) several
times, I was happy to see cheesecake on the dessert list, providing an excuse
to revisit the restaurant. I was happier still that the cheesecake offering
here is somewhat different. Cheesecake Three Ways
provides the creaminess you would expect of the dessert in three distinct
forms. The cherry cheesecake ice cream was a favorite; smooth with the right
tartness to keep you coming back for more. The panna
cotta had a vibrant peach note to complement the silkiness of the cooked cream.
The marble cheesecake had a strong chocolate flavor, but I found the coarse
texture to be a bit rougher than I would have liked. Nevertheless, this is a
fun option if you’re looking for outside-the-box cheesecake presentation.
Cheesecake Factory
In interest of full disclosure, working at a Cheesecake
Factory in Maryland helped me pay
my way through college, so I have had ample opportunity to try its plethora of
flavors. While Cheesecake Factory (3349 Monroe Ave,
381-8681, thecheesecakefactory.com) is a national chain, it’s impossible to
write a cheesecake round-up without at least mentioning its more than 30
varieties of the creamy treat. Dessert was always an easy sell at this
restaurant, and people would ask what my top three were. My spiel went
something like this: “The Banana Cream Cheesecake is a light, airy cheesecake topped
high with fresh whipped cream and fresh sliced banana. We also have Adam’s
Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake, which is as delicious and decadent
as it sounds; with Reese’s, Butterfingers, caramel, and peanut butter swirls, this will surely hit the spot. My ultimate favorite
has always been the Dulce De Leche,
a beautiful honey-colored cake with caramel ribbons. The fresh and creamy
texture will melt in your mouth and the vanilla crust complements it perfectly.”
With the check I always brought to-go boxes — the slices are plentiful and the
leftovers taste good for breakfast.
Phillips European
While the strip-mall location and decor may not tempt you,
the large case of desserts as soon as you walk in the door at Phillips (26
Corporate Woods, 272-9910, phillipseuropean.com) probably
will. When I asked friends and colleagues where I should go for dessert,
Phillips was the resounding first choice. I chose the less adventurous cherry-berry
slice loaded with berries, and enjoyed every bite. The tang of the sour cream,
the flavorful crust, and the array of berries made this an easy slice to eat.
Several other cheesecakes tempted me, such as the raspberry and the caramel pecan
varieties. It’s easy to see why everyone chimed in with a vote for Phillips.
Tournedos
Located in the historic Inn on
Broadway, Tournedos (26 Broadway St,
269-3888, innonbroadway.com) has a comfortable yet elegant interior with
gleaming wood floors and clean, classic lines. While perhaps better known for
its steak offerings, Tournedos treated us to a pretty solid cheesecake. The vanilla
bean cheesecake was served with the slightest hint of vanilla, and was buried
in berries, providing a burst of flavor to brighten up the soft vanilla
texture. A perfect companion with wine, or an ideal
end to a savory meal, the chocolate cheesecake here is reportedly like no
other. No matter what you choose, your sweet tooth should be satisfied.
This article appears in May 13-19, 2009.
