The Verdict
Russ & Daughters Cafe opened at 127 Orchard Street in 2014, on the hundredth anniversary of the appetizing shop Joel Russ founded around the corner in 1914. It is run by fourth-generation cousins Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper, who turned the counter trade into a sit-down room. It has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand for roughly a decade.
This is appetizing, the Jewish smoked-fish-and-dairy tradition, not chef cuisine: hand-sliced cured salmon, caviar and bagels rather than coursed plates. The Classic board of Gaspé Nova, cream cheese, tomato, onion and capers is $16; the chocolate-babka French toast is $10; potato latkes are $9; and caviar runs from a $34 nosh up to $650. There is no executive chef, only a family carrying the trade forward.
The Appetizing Counter
Russ & Daughters is an appetizing house, the dairy-and-smoked-fish counterpart to a deli, run since 1914 by the Russ family and now by Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper. The Classic board is $16, the babka French toast $10 and the latkes $9, while caviar flights climb from $34 to $650. There is no executive chef; the owners describe themselves as torchbearers of the appetizing tradition.
The Room
The cafe is a compact, bright Lower East Side room with a marble counter, soda-fountain stools and booths, a few doors from the original shop at 179 East Houston Street. It is busy and informal, built around hand-sliced fish and strong coffee rather than a tasting-menu hush.
Best for a Solo Brunch or First Date
A solo seat at the counter with a salmon board and an egg cream is one of New York’s great low-key pleasures, and a shared platter makes an easy, characterful first date. The Ida, Hattie and Anne platters, named for Joel Russ’s three daughters, serve three to four at $70, $80 and $90.
Not For
Not for anyone who wants a reservation-only dinner or a quiet, formal room. The cafe takes no bookings, so there is often a wait, and the menu is appetizing and brunch fare rather than a hot, multi-course dinner. Large groups and time-pressed diners may find the queue frustrating.
Reservations
Russ & Daughters Cafe is walk-in only and does not take reservations, so expect a wait at peak brunch hours. A typical meal without caviar runs about $30 a head. It has been a Michelin Bib Gourmand for roughly a decade and sits at 127 Orchard Street, near the original 1914 shop on East Houston Street.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Russ & Daughters Cafe worth it?
Russ & Daughters Cafe is worth it for a sit-down taste of New York's appetizing tradition: hand-sliced smoked fish, caviar and babka French toast from a business founded in 1914. It is a Michelin Bib Gourmand, the Classic salmon board is $16, and a typical meal runs about $30. It is walk-in only, so come for quality and history rather than a quiet, bookable dinner.
How much does Russ & Daughters Cafe cost?
Russ & Daughters Cafe is mid-priced for the quality. The Classic smoked-salmon board is $16, the babka French toast $10, latkes $9 and smoked-salmon eggs benedict $18, with sharing platters from $70 to $90. A typical meal without caviar is about $30 a head; caviar service ranges from a $34 nosh up to $650, so the bill depends entirely on what you order.
Does Russ & Daughters Cafe have a Michelin star?
Russ & Daughters Cafe does not have a Michelin star; it holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, the guide's award for excellent value, and has done so for roughly ten years running. It is run by fourth-generation owners Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper as an appetizing cafe at 127 Orchard Street, not a chef-driven fine-dining kitchen.
Do you need a reservation at Russ & Daughters Cafe?
No. Russ & Daughters Cafe is walk-in only and does not take reservations, so there is often a wait at busy brunch times. The cafe is at 127 Orchard Street on the Lower East Side, a short walk from the original 1914 appetizing shop at 179 East Houston Street, where you can also buy fish to take away.
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