Verdict
Destinations
Restaurant · New York

Russ & Daughters

The century-old Lower East Side 'appetizing' shop famous for smoked fish, bagels, and lox — with a sit-down café nearby.

Independent — no pay-to-rank Graded for who you are Verified 2026-06-17How we grade →
The verdict

Worth the table for…

Great for
  • Travellers on a budget
  • If you've only got a day
  • Families with kids
  • Couples
  • Solo travellers
  • Local-life seekers
  • Foodies
Depends
  • History & culture buffs
Not for

—

Worth it for travellers on a budget, if you've only got a day and families with kids.

What to order

The plates that decide it

  • Bagel with hand-sliced Gaspé Nova and cream cheese — the classic, and the thing to get on a first visit
  • A board of mixed smoked fish, whitefish salad, an egg cream — reliably excellent for sharing
  • Expecting a hot, dinner-style meal — this is appetizing and brunch territory — order accordingly
Why we say this

Insider secrets & local vibes

A fourth-generation family business since 1914, it's the definitive New York 'appetizing' shop and a piece of immigrant food history.
Not independently verified — estimated
The hand-sliced smoked salmon and the bagel-and-lox spreads are about as good as cured fish gets in the city.
Not independently verified — estimated
Both the shop and the café draw long weekend lines — go early or on a weekday to actually enjoy it.
Not independently verified — estimated
What it feels like

Reading the room, traveller by traveller

  • Couples

    A leisurely brunch at the café, splitting boards of fish, is one of the most charming low-key dates downtown.

  • Multigenerational

    The history and the build-your-own-bagel format make it an easy crowd-pleaser across generations.

Good to know

Before you go

Cost
$20–40 a head at the café; counter varies by order
Time
45 min–1.5 hours
Last verified
2026-06-17
Best time
Weekday mornings; the café fills up at weekend brunch
Booking
Shop is counter-service; the café takes some reservations
Accessibility
Original shop is standing-counter; café has seating
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Independent — no pay-to-rank Graded for who you are Verified 2026-06-17How we grade →