Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Photos: Anatomy Of The Kellogg's Diner Dessert Case
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 8, 2013
Modified Aug 8, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 8, 2013
Modified Aug 8, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Chocolate meringue, red velvet, cheesecake, banana and Boston cream, seven-layer cake, oh my! (Katie Sokoler/Gothamist)
We may live in The Age of the Cronut now, but you know what? There are certain places that will still serve you a sweet treat even if you don't wait 5 hours on line. Like the good ol' reliable diner... because the diner dessert case is a pretty great thing.
Also: tradition.
Cookies and pound cake (Katie Sokoler/Gothamist)
We dropped by Kellogg's Diner in Williamsburg to check theirs out, and while they don't have one of those tall, spinning display cases that hypnotizes you into purchasing a thick slice of strawberry shortcake, theirs is a pretty classic one.
We called to ask some questions, and it turns out the diner dessert case is a pretty sacred thing. Theodora at the diner told us the supplier is a baker, "a friend of the family," but the name is kept guarded.
Fruit cups, rice pudding, cheesecake and apple pie slices(Katie Sokoler/Gothamist)
And while all diner dessert cases may seem like they stand still in time, the turnover on the types of treats they serve out of there is pretty frequent, and at the very minimum seasonal—"We sell pumpkin cheesecake in the Autumn, but wouldn't sell that in the summer." Though some things stay in constant rotation, like the customer favorite: "definitely the cheesecakes," and in particular the Oreo cheesecake, Theodora tells us. And no matter how many Cronuts you've consumed, you are never too good for a massive M&M cookie.
Muffins are $1.75, danishes are $1.95, cookies and pound cake are $2.50, pudding is $3.50, a slice of banana cream pie is $4.25, and a slice of cheesecake starts at $4.95 (add .55 cents for a flavored slice). And if you want to add ice cream to anything one scoop is an additional $2.25.
Go ahead, tell us who has The Best Diner Dessert Case...
Tagged
dessert case
diner
kellogg's diner
pastry case
original
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
It's cold in New York. Soup season in the city has begun.
10 diverse bowls across NYC restaurants.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Nov 10, 2026
Can opening a restaurant in a New York museum turn the food into a work of art?
These city institutions — including museums, galleries, and auction houses — are hoping customers will find a luxurious meal to be as appealing as the priceless works on the walls.
By
Joshua David Stein
Food
Can opening a restaurant in a New York museum turn the food into a work of art?
These city institutions — including museums, galleries, and auction houses — are hoping customers will find a luxurious meal to be as appealing as the priceless works on the walls.
By
Joshua David Stein
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
By
Samantha Dady
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
By
Hannah Frishberg
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .