Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake at Hello Betty

A creative concept with plenty of personality, but not quite enough cheesecake

National Cheesecake Day calls for cheesecake. That part is non-negotiable.

The original plan was to grab a slice at iPic after seeing Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but with their cheesecake sold out, the search continued across the street to Hello Betty. There, I found something I hadn’t encountered in my cheesecake travels before: Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake.

And if there’s one thing this dessert deserves credit for, it’s originality.

First Impressions

Visually, Hello Betty certainly put effort into the presentation. The cheesecake arrived surrounded by strawberry and rhubarb elements, a generous crumble topping, and a small garnish that gave the plate a much more deliberate, restaurant-style appearance.

It looked interesting. It looked different. And at $15, it needed to.

That’s an important number because this sits firmly at the highest end of what I’ve paid for an individual cheesecake dessert. I’ve had plenty of slices that approach restaurant-entree pricing, but once a cheesecake reaches $15, expectations understandably rise with it.

Unfortunately, the portion didn’t.

Where’s the Cheesecake?

The biggest problem became obvious almost immediately: there simply wasn’t much cheesecake filling.

Rather than the traditional slice with a crust supporting a substantial layer of filling, this was constructed almost like a small tart or pie. A thick crust formed both the bottom and the sides of the dessert, surrounding a relatively thin layer of cheesecake.

If I had to put a number on it, this felt like 75% crust and 25% cheesecake.

That’s difficult to overlook when cheesecake is supposed to be the centerpiece.

The crust itself wasn’t bad. In fact, it was arguably the strongest part of the dessert. It provided a pleasant texture and enough flavor to carry several of the bites. The crumble on top reinforced that texture and worked nicely with the fruit.

But there’s also a point where a cheesecake’s supporting elements begin overpowering the thing they’re supposed to support.

This crossed that line.

Strawberry Rhubarb: Something Different

I do want to give Hello Betty credit for the flavor choice.

Rhubarb is not something you see on cheesecake every day, and this was my first time encountering it in one of my reviews. Its distinctive tartness alongside strawberry made for a more interesting flavor profile than another predictable fruit-topped cheesecake.

The problem wasn’t necessarily the idea. The problem was the balance.

Between the thick crust, crumble, fruit components, and relatively small amount of actual filling, the cheesecake became almost secondary to everything surrounding it.

I wanted more of that rich, creamy element to contrast with the tart fruit and substantial crust. Had the cheesecake-to-crust ratio been reversed, this could have been a much more compelling dessert.

Then There’s the Price…

At $15, it’s impossible to separate the price from the final verdict.

Premium pricing can absolutely be justified by exceptional ingredients, a generous portion, impressive technique, or an unforgettable flavor combination. Here, the presentation was attractive and the strawberry-rhubarb concept was creative, but neither was enough to overcome the small portion and lack of cheesecake filling.

For $15, I expected considerably more.

The Verdict

Hello Betty’s Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake isn’t a bad dessert. The crust is enjoyable, the strawberry-rhubarb combination brings something different to the table, and the presentation makes a strong first impression.

But I’m reviewing cheesecake, and ultimately, there just wasn’t enough cheesecake here.

This felt more like a strawberry-rhubarb tart featuring cheesecake than a cheesecake featuring strawberry and rhubarb. Add in one of the highest prices I’ve encountered for a single serving, and it’s difficult for this one to climb much higher.

It’ll satisfy the craving for something sweet after dinner, and adventurous dessert fans may appreciate the unusual rhubarb component. But if you’re specifically hunting for a great cheesecake, there are better values and more satisfying slices to be found.

Final Rating: 6/10

A creative idea and a solid crust save this one, but at $15, I needed the cheesecake itself to play a much bigger role.

And despite the unexpected change of plans, at least one thing was accomplished: National Cheesecake Day did, in fact, end with cheesecake. 🍰

Flavor – Strawberry Rhubarb
Price – $15.00
Rating – 6/10

If you would like to try it for yourself, the location is below: