Namesake Cheesecake

the best damn cheesecake i’ve ever had, and i’ve never found myself craving cheesecake or liking it before this. i got a small slice to-go and i’m definitely coming back! also cherith who owns the store is such an incredibly kind and fun person, she’s truly so wonderful and can always put you in a good mood. she really makes the experience special from all the little knickknacks, to the family recipe, and her as a person. if you’re in the menlo park/palo alto area and craving cake this is the place to go!

I had a slice of the cheesecake here last week, and this week, drove all the way to get an entire cheesecake all for myself! It is creamy, slightly tangy, not too sweet and just a joy overall! It is eggless even :) And such a cute store, and really sweet lady behind the counter. Highly, highly recommend!

As a cheesecake fanatic I have yet to try a cheesecake remotely near as good as this cheesecake. I am so glad Mrs. Ricky shared her recipe with you. Thank you, Cherith for the delicious cheesecake. I look forward to trying the Oreo one next. To all my fellow cheesecake lovers you haven’t had cheese cake until you’ve had cheriths

I tried their plain cheesecake and it was tasty and on point! I threw some strawberry & guava jam on it when I got home and BOOM mouth watering flavors! Go and try them out, you won't regret it.

The best cheesecake I've ever had (coming from someone who doesn't like cheesecake) I believe it is a great price for the amount you receive. The atmosphere of the shop is cute and the customer service is amazing. Cherith is in a great mood whenever I visit. 10/10 recommend!

Best cheesecake! Why?? Smooth, creamy delicious cheesecake and amazing top layer. Cherith the owner is wonderful and helpful. We have enjoyed the cheesecake slices, so we ordered the gluten-free bites for a party. They were gobbled up fast. I’ve also purchased a very cute oven mitt and orange-infused olive oil in the store.

By far the best cheesecake ever eaten. The perfect combination of smoothness and taste. Order for holidays, family gathering. It will be the best gift you could bring. I need a couple just for us at home. Cherith has done an amazing job with her creations. Yes, highly recommend.

Excellent customer service, delicious cheesecake & honestly, I just really liked the owner. She went above and beyond for me when I was running behind schedule to pick up for a big event the following day. She stayed late and was so bubbly and fun and all around nice. I just really liked her. The cheesecake is delicious and it’s a cute and convenient location. I highly recommend Namesake Cheesecake.

If you're looking for the best cheesecake, stop right now and head to Namesake in Menlo Park! This is hands down the best cheesecake I've ever had. Every time I share a slice or bring one to a party, people go absolutely crazy for it. The owner, Cherith, is not only incredibly talented, but also the sweetest, funniest, and most genuine person you'll ever meet. They even offer a gluten-free cheesecake option (just be sure to order ahead), which is a big plus! But Namesake is so much more than just amazing cake -- the shop is filled with fun and unique items, from cooking gadgets to cookbooks, slippers, and greeting cards. It's truly a one-stop shop for both cake and gifts. And trust me, if you have the chance to chat with Cherith, you'll probably never want to leave! She even wrapped my mom's cake box in her favorite color ribbon today without me even asking!

Incredibly rich and creamy. Has a nice tang to it. Incredible service. Thank you!

So glad we found Cherith and Namesake Cheesecake. Her cheesecake is the best I've ever had, so smooth, creamy, incredibly delicious! We ordered gluten free bites for a party, and they were inhaled. We've also had the pleasure of eating the regular slices of cheesecake. OMG so good! Also got other items in the store like orange-infused olive oil and an adorable kitchen mitt.

The best cheesecake ever! I almost never eat cheesecake, and I had a bite of the one from Namesake... sooo good. I don't know how she does it, it's not only the best cheesecake, it is one of the best cakes I've ever had. Cherith herself is also a very sweet person. Highly recommend this place, it's a must!

Delicious cheesecake and lovely store! Unique sour cream layer which balances out the cheesecake layer perfectly. So so good. Don't just take it from me, multiple local high-end restaurants serve Namesake Cheesecake, so obviously this is the real deal! The store is a great place to buy gifts for others (and to treat yourself!) - beautiful alpaca shawls and blankets, olive oil, jewelry from local artisans. Cherith the owner is the sweetest most welcoming and friendly person. Support local business! This one is a total gem. Check the hours before you stop in. Easy street parking around the corner on the south side of College Ave.

My mom wanted a cheesecake for her birthday so we decided to checkout Namesake Cheesecake. The owner was super helpful since my husband wasn't sure what size to choose etc. Everyone at the birthday dinner loved the cheesecake. It was perfectly tart and light but rich with flavor. We opted to get the raspberry sauce to pour on top which was delicious. We were very content with our cheesecake! Thanks Namesake Cheesecake!

The Best Cheesecake I've ever had! Namesake Cheesecake's "Classic NY Style" Cheesecake is hands down better than any NY Style Cheesecake I've had on the East coast. Fantastic consistency, creamy and sweet with a tangy finish. Soooo Yummy. I would recommend they call it "California Classic Style" Cheesecake. This shop is a Poweball winner in my book and gets a 6 star rating. Well done Namesake.. We'll Done!

DELICIOUS cheesecake!! I've been meaning to stop by Namesake's location in Menlo Park for such a long time, but they're only open Tuesday-Friday, 12-4pm. Luckily, they had slices of their cheesecake available at The Post in Los Altos. It was $10 a slice, but comes with berries and a strawberry sauce drizzle. I thought the sauce and berries overshadowed the cheesecake a bit, and actually enjoyed eating the cheesecake on its own. The cheesecake was thick and creamy, but still fluffy. I loved the buttery graham cracker crust, and that the cheesecake wasn't overly sweet. I definitely plan on checking out more cheesecakes from Namesake, and hope they start distributing to more restaurants/grocery stores in the Bay Area!

Very simple plain cheesecake but it will blow your mind when you try it. It is super creamy and dense. Highly highly recommend. The owner is super sweet and welcoming.

Really good cheesecake. The best around here. Really nice owner as well. Pop on for a slice and see for yourself. Also lots of fun gifts to buy in the shop!

Decadent yet simple! Very creamy. Not quite crumbly like ricotta cheesecake if you're looking for that. Great customer service

The BEST cheesecake I've ever had! So delicious and perfect texture. So so much better than any restaurant, grocery, homemade or Cheesecake Factory version. Must try!

I can't get a photo of this cheesecake as a whole, whenever we're treated to this amazing treat it's swarmed upon! So delicious and creamy not sweet just a perfect cheesecake Highly recommended

Amazing. So delicious! Received these from my mom (hi mom!) to pass along to my coworkers. So, nurses on the Night Shift generally are picky about our food. These bites are perfect sized. Everybody on shift tonight got a taste- and the feeling that a little more love was spread in the world. The cheesecake itself, what can I say? Rich, creamy, and a little hint of tart that just adds to the experience. The variety of toppings we got was great! So hard to pick a favorite- this time for me it might have to be the chocolate one. Next time- who knows?!?

This is hands down THE BEST cheesecake I've ever had. I don't know what magic Cherith works on these cheesecakes but they're just so incredibly good, it legit just melts in your mouth, isn't overly sweet, and is just perfect on all cheesecake levels. Pure cheesecake perfection. Seriously, check out @namesake_cheesecake for some mindblowing deliciousness. You can get oreo, raspberry, or nutella toppings! You can also order cheesecake by the slice at The Post (which also has amazing food and outdoor seating).

Dont look at the pin location when you try to find this place, the owner and I both tried to fix where the pin is. If you have gone to Middle Ave you have gone too far. Park on College Ave and walk to it. Even doing this I passed it right up because it doesnt have a bakery storefront. It looked like a little boutique and when you walk in you see a spinning case that has the baked goods. So it isnt a ton fo stuff. So I got a cheesecake slice $6, and a rice crispy treat $4. The owner was super sweet. The rice crispy treat wasnt all that great. But the cheescake was yummy! Had a graham cracker crust, then layer of cheesecake and sour cream topping layer. Fit perfectly; delicious!!

Cream light deliciousness!!! Went to get a couple slices of cheesecake and ended up getting a rice crispy treat, a ham/ spinach & 3 cheese quiche. ‍ Everything was delightfully delicious the cheese has a sour cream topping which I absolutely enjoyed. I like tart with sweetness, so if you do too you're in for a treat. Creamy but not to dense. There's a raspberry coulis that you can get to drizzle on top. Tart, sweet and a little tang to it. It's Devine, however the cheesecake is so good you dont t really need it. The rice crispy treats was so marshmallowy just the way I like and very nostalgic for me. Just enough chewiness but still has that snap crackle and pop crisp. Lastly the quiche. I had it a couple days later for a quick breakfast and it did not disappoint. Custardy, nice light crust and no skimping in the bacon or cheese!! The woman that checked me out was sweet as the desserts and so kind. Someone complained about the limited hours. To me it's a bad thing because you might be craving these goodies and have to wait, but on the other hand thank goodness the hours are limited or I'd be here to often

Amazing wonderful rich cheesecake. Perfect for my birthday slice of cake. A cute little location with friendly workers, too.

Seven years later and I could write the exact same review. Simply the best cheesecake I've ever had. Cherith, the owner, loves what she does and she's super friendly and focused on great customer service. If you're looking for something on the sweeter side, definitely get their coulis or plan for your own topper, because this is a balanced cheesecake, not an over-the-top sweet dessert.

Cherith is a gem! And Jim, who runs a catering business out of here makes delicious lunch items for grab and go! Okay, so this cheesecake is literally the best... EVER! Not only is it a treat but 80% of local restaurants order the cheesecakes on their menu from Cherith to serve at their spot. I know this, because I've discussed this with a number of owners. She makes special occasion cakes, different flavors and sizes. She does special orders for holidays and events! I mean, who doesn't love cheesecake?! You definitely won't regret purchasing a cake from here for your next event. Also Cherith travels the world and has an amazing selection of bags, totes, aprons, gifts and such for all your special occasions! Honestly, its a one stop shop! And then there is Jim, who does fried chicken Friday's- ummm hello! Mashed potatoes and gravy and corn flake fried chicken?! Yea please! Don't worry- he also makes vegetarian options, healthy options such as soups and salads, and has a huge assortment of sandwiches, made daily to grab from the cold case! A typical day, go in, grab lunch, grab a cheesecake to go, grab something to bring home for dinner, sit and enjoy cheesecake after said meals! You're welcome.

My family is picky about cheesecake. Vey picky. And they have good reason: they're totally spoiled by having Namesake nearby. I've also used them for a catered event and their cheesecake bites outshine the entire event. Very personal service. Call ahead, cause they're not open regularly and it's best to pre-order.

THE BEST CHEESECAKE IVE EVER HAD I usually hate cheesecake but purchased one for my brothers birthday from Namesake Cheesecake - I ended up trying a slice and oh my god it's so good and the owner was soooo nice to work with !!

Okay this has to be one of the best eggless cheesecakes I've had. I've tried their cakes a few times and this is my to go place to order cheesecakes in the bay. You do need to place an advance order but trust me you won't regret it. As far as flavors, we've always gone for the Oreo cheesecake but I hope to try something different next time.

I bought a whole cheesecake. I wonder how this place got good reviews. It tasted sour cream on top and cream cheese bottom part. Total waste of time and money. People like this place for high prices, rarity and short opening hours.

Charming. Everywhere you cast your gaze there is something to delight. Cherith has curated a lovely collection of treasures for her customers to peruse. This, however, is just the beginning... Cherith's cheesecake creations are truly exceptional. The love and passion she puts in to what she creates is undeniable. The story behind the impetus of this business is as wonderful as it's proprietor. Every special occasion deserves a Namesake Cheesecake!

Best cheesecake I've ever had. Tried it first at work when someone brought it in for a bday, and immediately knew that's what I was going to order for my next party. Everyone at the party LOVED it and the staff members were very nice. The raspberry sauce it came with was magical too

Ordered a cake on the recommendation of a coworker for a connoisseur of cheesecakes and was not let down at all. Ordering process was easy and pickup was painless and quick! We hadd the Oreo cheesecake and it was delicious. I'm personally not a huge cheesecake fan but I may have been converted. Great texture, flavor, tartness and crust.

I love a fluffy Japanese cheesecake and based solely on pictures on Yelp, I hoped this might be a great dupe for the Hokkaido cheesecake I love. Namesake specializes in a single type of cheesecake: New York style plain cheesecake. You can get Oreo, snickers or a raspberry coulis. It comes in three sizes: 6", 9", or individual squares. They also sell random trinkets and a few salads to go (odd). There is no seating, definitely a grab and go kind of place. Their primary business is catering for nearby businesses and weddings, you can order cheesecake bites and custom flavors too (order in advance only). --So how do they taste?--- The cheesecake is super fresh, uber creamy and a little bit tangy. For something similar (and better in my opinion), you can visit Zanze in SF, which I prefer because it is similarly creamy but cannot tangy. It also feels a little lighter than cheesecake factory especially because the crust is thinner. This cute little hole in the wall can be easily missed on El Camino and is unique, fresh and worth a try for the cheesecake lovers. ---How does it stack up against other cheesecakes?--- Personally, I am embarrassed to admit that I actually prefer the one that Cheesecake Factory because of the thicker heavier texture and crust. Zanze is still my absolute favorite in the bay area. A nicer but similarly light option is the German cheesecake homemade from Gourmet Haus, though don't expect it to have the same creamy smooth texture as a new York cheesecake. Note: they also sell namesake at Local Union on university.

Fantastic cheesecake! My office mates and I were dissecting to try and figure out what she's doing to make it so damn tasty. We'll just have to keep coming back to find out. Super great service. I called Wednesday evening and reserved for Friday. Owner was super nice, friendly, and helped me make a good decision on size of cake (just go for the 9"). Easy to pick up and street parking was easy around 10:30 in morning.

Long story short: Hard bottom, weird sour cream layer on top but cheesecake itself is good. The bottom was hard and solid like it came from one of those pie crust tins and it had a sour cream layer on top of the cheesecake which I had read on the website which made it sound like some type of cream cheese sour cream mixture but when I actually tasted it, it tasted like straight sour cream so I scraped that layer off the top and happily ate the rest of it.

I haven't actually had the cheesecake but wanted to leave a review for the excellent customer service I experienced. I e-mailed Cherith (the owner) to inquire about allergen information due to a soy allergy in my group. She took the time to research each of the ingredients in the cheesecake and responded very quickly to my inquiry. While the cake was not an option for us this time, I look forward to trying it in the future and supporting this lovely local business.

Easy to book via email. I really hate calling in because when you're dealing with tons of vendors, it's just easier to keep track via email. They were clear on how to order and made great suggestions. I easily paid over email as well. I had to go pick it up the day before the event because they are not open weekends. That's a downside but the cheesecake was still fresh and good. People loved it! I had one but it was too rich for my taste but a bite was good. My guests kept eating more and more though. It was the perfect amount and really great pricing too! I'd definitely return for future events!

I will keep this short and sweet :) The Cheesecake is absolutely delicious, soft, creamy and not to thick. I've had a lot of Cheesecake and this is by far the best I've ever had, which is saying a lot because I'm picky. The Caprese sandwich and tomato bisque are a must order as well.

Just got a piece of cheese cake, it was ok not much flavor other than cream cheese. The size was rather small (I didn't eat from the with side in the pic) especially for $5 a slice not to mention plain I mean I know is made out of cream cheese but it's not called cream cheese cake... any way do to the lack of flavor and size per price it get a low rating.

Holy amazing! My honey was craving cheesecake and he is picky as hell. So I did my research and came up with this tiny little place - and it did not disappoint! I haven't had cheesecake this good since I moved from NYC. Seriously. I'm kind of a cheesecake purist....I typically get it plain...which was great because that's all she had left by the time I got there! If you want lots of different flavors, I'm not sure if this is your place. But if you want the best cheesecake in the Bay Area, you have found it!

Milk has the crack pie, Chez Panisse has the lemon merengue pie, and Namesake has the cheesecake. The cheesecake is a unique, consistently perfect cheesecake that almost melts in your mouth almost like pannacotta. I think this cheesecake needs to be on Goldbelly because it's a phenomenal treat you can't get anywhere else. The shop also has a grab and go section for healthy, delicious to-go lunch options done by the caterer that shares the kitchen along with some well curated trinkets and gifts. The space also seems like it can be used for small events. Place your orders in early for holidays, like any high demand dish made to consistent perfection, they can often run out.

Amazing gluten free and regular cheesecake. We've done both and they are both fantastic. No one could tell it was a gluten free crust which is always great. And the raspberry preserves you can order to drizzle on top is heavenly! Highly recommend!!

the BEST cheesecake you will ever have. Its not too sweet with the right amount of tart. The owner is as darling as her shop! We ordered 60 cheesecake bites for our engagement party and they were a hit! Now I pop in to get a slice whenever I get my nails done down the street!

Best cheesecake I've ever had!!! The owner was so sweet to bring the nurses some to the hospital during this pandemic! Thank u!! They were delicious!!!

Cheese cake was really greasy, maybe if you order a whole cake with the flavor you want it might be good, but the little pre-made pieces of cake are definitely not great. No more cheese cake from here for me.

This place is terrible. The cheesecake taste really tart and doesn't have any flavor. Way to ruin my birthday! I want my money back! 0 stars! Don't recommend!

The best cheesecake in town!!! Their cheesecake has a distinctive taste. Different from all the others. When I'm craving cheesecake, this will be my go to place. The owner is also very friendly!

I was searching for a pie shop for Thanksgiving and came across Namesake. Luckily it was close to my work so I stopped by on my lunch break. I wasn't sure what to expect since the shop looked quite small from El Camino. Apparently they have takeout food for lunch, including sandwiches and soup. I didn't have a chance to try them but will definitely come back another time. The story behind the cheesecake is that Cherith Lorraine, who owned several Bay Area restaurants, shared the secret recipe with only one person: Cherith Spicer, who started Namesake Cheescake. The cheesecakes are handcrafted and take 2 days to make. I tried a slice of the original cheesecake, and I have to agree with the other yelpers. It's the best cheesecake I've ever tasted! Even though it's "plain," the flavor and texture are amazing. The quality of the ingredients is excellent and you can taste the freshness of the cheesecake. It has a buttery graham cracker crust, a layer of cream cheese, and a layer of sour cream. There is also a hint of citrus in each bite. They have some toppings available, such as oreo, raspberry, seasonal fruit, and chocolate sauce. I recommend calling ahead to see what is available or to reserve a cheesecake before stopping by. The 6" plain is $20 and the 9" plain is $30. One slice was about $4 after tax.

Just had my first visit at Namesake Cheesecake! Cherith is one of the nice people on the planet and also makes the best cheesecake ever! If you are in the South Bay this is a no-brainer.

One of the best cheesecakes I've ever tasted! No joke. I can't wait to go back and try the Oreo and Nutella flavors.

I've crossed the country in search of the very best cheesecake and can say, with confidence, that it is not in New York. In fact, in downtown Menlo Park (CA, not NJ), not far from Stanford University, is a cozy little shop that serves up the tastiest invention in Silicon Valley. Namesake Cheesecake is conveniently located on El Camino South and easily accessible, yet, far from the hustle and bustle of the tech corridor. There is never a long line, the chairs and couches are comfortable, the music and environment are upbeat, yet soothing, making for a perfect little escape from the day job. And don't forget, they serve the best afternoon snack or dessert in the area.

It's not often that I hand out 5 stars so when I do you know the establishment earned them and I'm happy give my latest 5 star review to Cherith. Where the Cheesecake is in my books closer to a 4.5 (which I will get to in a minute) the service makes it up to well deserved 5. I purchased a Livingsocial deal last year and wanted to claim it this last weekend so I called Namesake last Tuesday or Wednesday leaving a message yet when by Thursday I hadn't got a call back I decided it was best to call again to which Cherith told me that she never got my message and was extremely apologetic which was completely fine, with technology these things happen. Nonetheless she was happy to provide me with my order to collect on Saturday as it being Mothers Day weekend she had made extra ''just in case''. As for the cake itself.. Delicious! I've never eaten at the Cheesecake Factory which I hear have the best Cheesecake but honestly I find it hard to believe they could be better than this. Buttery Graham crust, creamy cheesecake filling and topped with sweetened sour cream (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/namesake-cheesecake-menlo-park?select=ZAf8sedba1oqSEdmdJewJw#Qt7XocqgFlgiUfF3jzBYKg). I bake a lot myself at home, including Cheesecake so I know it takes great skill at getting the texture and timing perfect, Cherith seems to have nailed it. The one small slight dislike of mine was that the sour cream topping was a little too thick, not saying that it was the wrong way of doing it just that it was a little too much for my liking as I prefer a more ''cheesy'' flavor. Doesn't it look good? http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/namesake-cheesecake-menlo-park?select=ZAf8sedba1oqSEdmdJewJw#xkJHtEFuPGx8ucGmItChjQ My Husband and I enjoyed the Cheesecake so much that in 2 days we managed to eat almost two thirds of it between us! I have no shame in that though, It was a weekend treat and I workout like a crazy woman so it's ok. And by crazy I mean often burning 2000+ calories in one workout which brings me on to the person who rated 3 stars complaining that they gained weight... Honestly, you cannot eat a whole Cheesecake in one week by yourself and not expect any repercussions. It annoy's me to see people down rate places for silly reason's like this. It's hardly fair to the business. Every Cheesecake is created with the same recipe which is a classic Vanilla and then (if desired) flavored toppings can be added. Raspberry, Strawberry, Oreo are just a few to choose from. Although this process may disappoint some (wanting the flavor baked in) I think this is the best way of creating the perfect Cheesecake as combining the flavors deflects from the natural flavor. Each cake can also be made Gluten free. The address listed is for the location in which Cherith bakes at yet you cannot walk into the store and buy a cake to go without placing an order first. As each cake is made to order you must place it at least 2 days in advance. Perfection takes time after all. *TIP* Check in on the Yelp app for $5 off any Cheesecake.

Excellent cheesecake! The owner Cherith is super nice and takes the time to walk you through all of the options, toppings, etc. I bought a cheesecake to share with my wife, we both loved it.

Ordered the assorted cheesecake bites for my coworkers' birthday. Everyone loved them and every last piece was happily eaten. Delicious cheesecake, owner is super nice, and I will definitely be ordering from Namesake again.