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For devotees of dessert, some restaurants disappoint with lackluster offerings. If the sweet treat feels like something easily prepared at home, like a simple olive oil cake, the experience can be underwhelming. However, there’s a notable exception that always satisfies: the magnificent big slice of cake. No dessert is quite as impressive as a substantial piece of layer cake. Perhaps because layer cakes are often associated with celebratory occasions – birthdays, weddings, and special events – they possess a unique grandeur often sought after by cake lovers in search of the perfect sweet treat at restaurants.
NYC’s Best Big Cake Slices
Why wait for a special event? Several New York City restaurants are serving up exceptionally generous portions of cake. Here are a few prime locations to fully indulge in a truly satisfying cake experience.
Guinness Cake at Vinegar Hill House
Certain cake slices are so memorable, they become mental bookmarks, constantly revisited in thought. Among these cherished images are the colossal chocolate cake intended for two at Claud, and the enduringly popular Guinness cake ($14) found at Vinegar Hill House, nestled near Dumbo. This dessert has graced their menu for an extended period, maintaining its appeal through the years.
Reaching this establishment requires a trip to what was once described as a secluded eatery in a discreet neighborhood. However, the journey proves worthwhile, particularly after enjoying their renowned $47 red wattle pork chop with Cheddar jalapeño grits, a dish featured since the restaurant’s inception in 2008. The Guinness cake itself boasts a delicate yet rich and chocolaty crumb, crowned with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting, almost an inch in height. The option to share this magnificent piece of cake enhances the overall dining pleasure.
72 Hudson Avenue (Water Street)
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Thai Tea Cake at Little Grenjai
Little Grenjai in Bed-Stuy holds a special significance for several reasons. In a Brooklyn landscape sometimes lacking in relaxed weekday lunch spots, this restaurant boldly offers lunchtime service. Adding to its appeal, their Thai tea cake ($10) is available throughout the day. For those unfamiliar, Thai tea is a milky, subtly sweet beverage, commonly made with black Ceylon tea and characterized by its distinctive bright orange hue – impossible to overlook.
This signature cake, a creation of a restaurant partner’s spouse, has been a staple since Little Grenjai’s beginnings as a pop-up. It’s a light spongecake, layered with a custard buttercream that captures the distinct essence of Thai tea. For those seeking a whole cake, advance orders are welcomed. This dessert provides a subtly sweet conclusion to dishes like crab fried rice with yuzu miso butter, or the restaurant’s notably delicious drunken noodles, making it a perfect ending to a fulfilling culinary experience.
477 Gates Avenue (Marcy Avenue)
Birthday Cake at Cafe Commerce
Residents of the Upper East Side now have their cake wishes granted with a substantial offering in their vicinity, conveniently located just below 72nd Street on Lexington Avenue. This accessibility is ideal for those near the park or in Yorkville.
A visit to Cafe Commerce, Chef Harold Moore’s revival of his West Village restaurant from 2008-2015, is a delightful experience. Moore effectively recreates the West Village charm – intimate setting, attentive service, muted lighting, and a bar featuring a striking hand-painted mural – while remaining approachable even without reservations. A recommended menu sequence includes the impressive herb salad, followed by the expertly prepared rigatoni carbonara, and culminating in a slice of birthday cake or coconut cake, each priced at $26. Requesting a slight thaw of the refrigerated cake can enhance its texture. A charming detail: each slice is served with a lit candle, adding a festive touch regardless of the actual occasion.
964 Lexington Avenue (East 70th Street)
Discover More Cake
The New York Times Food section recently premiered a new episode of “Secret’s Out” from their documentary video team. This installment profiles Fernando Ponce Sosa, a baker originally from Mexico who mastered the art of creating airy spongecakes at Kam Hing Bakery in Chinatown. During his time there, he became fluent in Cantonese, eventually venturing out to establish his own venture, Spongies Cake. This video offers a heartwarming glimpse into a classic New York success story in the realm of baking and desserts.