where do i find NYC cheesecake that IS NOT lemon-flavored?

i'm from los angeles and back home, "new york cheesecake" meant creamy, delicious, perhaps a bit tart, and above all, full of vanilla. it was what i imagined cream cheese-flavored ice cream to be if such a thing existed, except shaped like a cake finished with a crust.

now, every time i get the real thing in nyc, it seems to be lemon-flavored - yes, even when i ask for "plain." sometimes it even comes with a yellow, gelatinous layer on the top similar to key lime pie. what the hell!

could someone explain what the deal with this is, and moreover, direct me to places whose cheesecake lacks that nasty citrus? i'm partial to manhattan, but if you know of places in the other boroughs, i'd appreciate those as well. thanks!