Photo: Courtesy of Downtown Magazine
When tourists think of New York food, pizza and cheesecake usually come to mind. Great pizza places can be found on almost every other street. However, finding the best New York cheesecake in the city might be difficult, but Downtown has done the research for you.
Eileen’s Special Cheesecake, located at 17 Cleveland Place, has been in the downtown area for almost 40 years. Over time, the business developed, eventually being able to ship their cheesecakes anywhere in the country overnight.
The shop survived over the years despite hardships such as 9/11, when their kiosk next to the World Trade Center towers was destroyed. However, Eileen’s Special Cheesecake also saw the downtown area flourish and become the popular place that it is today.
Eileen’s was featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and FoodCrafters. On her television segment, Eileen stated that she treats her employees like family, and that’s why they are so successful.
The bakery offers customers a variety of over 25 different flavors, and even takes custom orders. Their flavors differ from what you would think of as traditional for a cheesecake. They offer rocky road, amaretto, Bailey’s Irish Coffee, and much more, usually by special order.
Photo: Courtesy of Downtown Magazine
Eileen’s also sells smaller treats such as mousses, cheesecake tarts, cupcakes, cookies, and rugalach. They will supply your party with a cheesecake and tarts tray and will personalize it to fit the occasion. They even do wedding cakes!
Of course, the thing that sets the shop’s treats apart from all else is that Eileen says she bakes everything with love!
-by Laura Seaman
