Amanda Olynik

Junior’s in NYC

The Solo Scale:

Junior’s has a long and expansive bar, not to mention multiple locations in NYC. In fact, going solo means that you don’t have to wait for a table or for service, as there’s typically always spots — even during the busiest times of year (like Thanksgiving week, when I recently went!)

In a city like New York, you could try a new restaurant every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and still find new places to dine for the rest of your life. However, there’s also a thriving franchise system in NYC. While some options are national, there are others that are harder to find, but come with a strong reputation.

One of those options that carries a familiarity, notoriety, and good reputation is Junior’s. In NYC, there’s three options to dine, two in Times Square and one in Brooklyn. It’s not a national franchise, but not a unique hidden gem as it’s quite popular.

However, as far as diners go, it’s a fantastic option.

Given that two of its locations are in Times Square, it’s normal to see heavy crowds with the pre-theatre timeslot. You can opt to dine at the bar for quicker service, though. If you’re not rushing to a show, you can even people-watch and marvel at how quickly it empties out as soon as people start rushing for the shows they’ve bought tickets for.

The loaded potato pancakes and the French Onion soup. I wasn’t expecting the pancakes to deep fried and this loaded. As a result, the meal was heavier than anticipated given that I ordered off the appetizer menu.

The food options are great, no matter what you pick. It’s an extremely robust menu with a lot of options, ranging from appetizers like soups to steaks to burgers and plenty in between. The portions are larger, as you might expect with American meals.

The true highlight of a Junior’s visit, though, is dessert. They’ve even got quick-service counters set up where you can pop in after a theatre show. This is where you can pick up slices of cheesecake, cupcakes, and more. Similar to the Cheesecake Factory, you’ll find multitudes of flavours to pick from. The slices can be huge, but there are to-go boxes available. Plus, if you go to the quick service counter after the show, it’s a great sugar rush to get you through the last little hike back to your hotel.

With reasonable prices, delicious food, and NYC recognition, a trip to Juniors feels like a must-do at least once in your life. It’s now a must-visit dinner for me because it’s a guaranteed great experience.

Check out the menu (and the wild number of cheesecake flavours!) for yourself to see whether you’re due for a trip to Junior’s the next time you’re in New York City.

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