Junior's Restaurant & Bakery
Midtown-Times Square, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Junior's Restaurant & Bakery is a practical Times Square pick when the goal is an easy, casual meal near Broadway rather than a destination dining or cocktail experience. Choose it for mixed groups, dessert-leaning plans, and late-day flexibility; cross-shop Sardi's or The View Restaurant & Lounge if the occasion needs more atmosphere.
About Junior's Restaurant & Bakery
Junior's Restaurant & Bakery is a New York City option to consider when convenience, casual dress, and long operating hours matter. Hours run from 7 AM to 12 AM Sunday through Thursday, and from 7 AM to 1 AM on Friday and Saturday.
Plan around the core details: the venue is in New York City, the dress code is casual, and the schedule is broad enough for early-day, evening, and late-night planning. Specific menu details, drinks details, seating formats, pricing, and dietary accommodations should be confirmed directly with the venue before you rely on them.
Choose it for flexible timing
The strongest case for Junior's Restaurant & Bakery is practical: it keeps long daily hours and has a casual dress code. If your plans depend on a specific dish, a bar seat, a beverage program, or a special dining format, check the venue's current official information before going.
For comparison planning in New York City, you might also look at Sardi's, The View Restaurant & Lounge, Virgil's Real BBQ, LOS TACOS No.1, or John's Pizzeria, depending on what kind of outing your group wants. The useful question is whether Junior's Restaurant & Bakery fits your timing and casual-dress needs better than another New York City option.
The reader fit is casual, flexible, and time-sensitive
Plan around Junior's Restaurant & Bakery when the group wants a direct New York City stop with casual dress and long hours. Skip it if your decision depends on specifics such as a precise menu format, price point, bar setup, allergy accommodations, or delivery and take-out availability. For a broader scan of New York City options, use Our full New York City restaurants guide, then narrow by timing, dress code, and the kind of room you want.
Planning details
- Location
- 1515 Broadway, W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
- Website
- juniorscheesecake.com/blog/restaurants/times-square
- Phone
- +1 212 302 2000
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Junior's feels like a durable piece of the city that resists fashion. The dining room fills midweek with a mix of theater workers, out-of-towners and longtime regulars, creating a democratic energy that never tries too hard to impress. The restaurant's reassuring sameness — little renovation, few menu upheavals — reads as stability rather than stagnation: comfort, routine and an expectation of good, familiar food. It is a working New York room where the past and present coexist, and where the steady crowd is the clearest argument for the restaurant's place in the city's cultural fabric.
Best For
Junior's is best for people looking for an unfussy, reliable meal in the heart of Midtown — families, theatergoers and visitors who want a classic New York experience. The spot is a natural stop before or after a show, and it suits groups who appreciate a menu that rewards repetition: regulars return for the same dishes rather than trends. Tourists who want an emblematic slice of the city's culinary history also find it useful as a baseline reference point, especially if they want a quintessential New York cheesecake after their meal.
Ordering Tips
Start or end your meal with the World's Most Fabulous Cheesecake — the description in the room and the write-up both treat it as the reference point for New York cheesecake, cream-cheese forward and set on a thin sponge base. For savory options, the pastrami sandwich and the steakburger are signature items that regulars know and order without hesitation. Arrive with a plan: many patrons come knowing what they'll get, and the kitchen delivers the familiar preparations that make Junior's a go-to for repeat visits.
Venue details
Ambiance
Classic diner atmosphere with bustling energy, bright lighting, and nostalgic New York charm filled with tourists and theater-goers.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Large
Signature Dishes
- World's Most Fabulous Cheesecake
- Pastrami Sandwich
- Steakburger
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 1515 Broadway, W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
Planning details
Location
1515 Broadway, W 45th St, New York, NY 10036 · Directions
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
For a more occasion-driven Broadway meal, choose Sardi's. For a faster, more value-focused bite nearby, choose LOS TACOS No.1.
Restaurant context
How it compares in Times Square
The View Restaurant & Lounge is the better fit when the night is about views and a more occasion-led room; Junior's Restaurant & Bakery is the easier, lower-commitment choice when the group needs a casual table near Broadway. For value-minded diners, the decision is simple: choose the bakery-diner format for flexibility, not for a polished drinks experience.
Sardi's carries more theater-district atmosphere and makes more sense for a pre- or post-show meal that should feel tied to Broadway tradition. Virgil's Real BBQ is stronger for larger casual groups who want a louder, more filling meal. Junior's sits between them as the safer mixed-group option when dessert, breakfast-style flexibility, and location matter.
If speed and price discipline are the priority, LOS TACOS No.1 is the sharper alternative, though it is less of a sit-down plan. John's Pizzeria is the better peer for groups who want a classic shared-table pizza meal. Choose Junior's when the group wants table service and bakery comfort over a more defined food lane.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Junior's Restaurant & Bakery guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Junior's Restaurant & Bakery
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior's Restaurant & Bakery | New York City | , | No published awards |
| The View Restaurant & Lounge | New York City | , | 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence2025 The New Yorker The Best Things I Ate |
| Sardi's | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Virgil's Real BBQ | New York City | , | No published awards |
| LOS TACOS No.1 | New York City | , | No published awards |
| John’s Pizzeria | New York City | Pizzeria | 2026 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #1112024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #2572023 OAD Cheap Eats in North America in Recommended |
How Junior's Restaurant & Bakery compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I eat at the bar at Junior's Restaurant & Bakery?
If bar seating matters to your plans, check directly with the venue. Junior's Restaurant & Bakery is open from 7 AM to 12 AM Sunday through Thursday, and from 7 AM to 1 AM on Friday and Saturday.
What are alternatives to Junior's Restaurant & Bakery in New York City?
Other New York City options to compare include Sardi's, The View Restaurant & Lounge, LOS TACOS No.1, John's Pizzeria, and Virgil's Real BBQ. Choose based on your group's timing, preferred atmosphere, and current availability.
Is lunch or dinner better at Junior's Restaurant & Bakery?
Hours begin at 7 AM daily and run until 12 AM Sunday through Thursday, with 1 AM closing on Friday and Saturday. Choose your timing based on the current hours and confirm menu details directly with the venue.
Is Junior's Restaurant & Bakery good for a special occasion?
It may fit a casual occasion, since the dress code is casual and the hours are long. If your celebration depends on a particular menu, service style, room setup, or price point, confirm those details directly before planning around it.
