Junior’s Times Square Review: Iconic Desserts, but Disappointing Food
Junior’s Times Square
1515 Broadway @ 45th Street, New York, NY 10036
Diner, American, Deli
★★☆☆☆ (Fair – For Food but Higher for Desserts)
We returned to Junior’s in Times Square expected a repeat of our favorable experience last year. It was not meant to be. The vibe for Juniors remains a positive experience with the class diner ambiance and adding to this is the energy of Broadway that you can feel from the outside patio.
Our meal began with the much-anticipated Matzo Ball Soup. Junior’s proudly advertises its 70-year history with this signature menu item, promising a rich chicken stock and fluffy matzo balls. However, the reality was a bowl of soup that was overwhelmingly salty. The broth, while seemingly flavorful beneath the sodium, was difficult to enjoy, and the matzo ball, though indeed fluffy, couldn’t overcome the excessive saltiness of the soup. It was a disappointing start, far from the comforting classic one expects.
We then had the Chicken Salad Sandwich on rye bread which should be a safe choice. Unfortunately, this dish suffered from a common deli misstep: too much mayonnaise. The generous portion of chicken salad was drowned in the mayo resulting in it overpowering the flavor of the chicken itself. The rye bread did taste fresh. I am sure that Queen of Chicken Salad, Bethenny Frankel would not approve of this chicken salad.
As usual, I absolutely love the Chocolate Fudge Cake and Junior’s excels in its claim to fame, desserts (cheesecake). If you’re visiting Junior’s, dessert is the star and worth the trip. Very hard to choose between the cheesecake and the chocolate fudge cake.
However, for those seeking a full meal beyond dessert, the experience can be hit or miss. While the service is typically efficient and the atmosphere vibrant, standard dishes like the matzo ball soup and chicken salad suggests an inconsistency in the kitchen that could ruin your dining experience.
Overall: Junior’s Times Square offers an iconic New York atmosphere and truly fantastic set of desserts. If your primary goal is to enjoy a slice of their famous dessert, you’ll likely leave satisfied. However, based on our recent experience, the savory food, particularly the matzo ball soup and chicken salad, can be a letdown due to issues like excessive saltiness and an imbalance of ingredients. It’s a place to visit for the experience and the sweets, but perhaps temper your expectations for the rest of the menu.