A Taste of History: Discovering Russ & Daughters Cafe on Orchard Street

Russ & Daughters Cafe Introduce

For New Yorkers, some establishments are more than just places to eat; they are institutions woven into the fabric of the city's history and culture. Russ & Daughters Cafe is one such place. While the original appetizing shop on East Houston Street has been a Lower East Side landmark since 1914, the cafe, which opened in 2014, offers a sit-down dining experience that pays homage to this rich legacy. It's a place where you can enjoy the iconic flavors that have delighted generations of New Yorkers, served in a setting that is both historic and trendy. This women-owned business, run by the fourth generation of the Russ family, is a testament to tradition, quality, and a deep love for Jewish American cuisine.

The cafe provides a unique and memorable experience. The atmosphere is a perfect blend of casual and cozy, with a historic feel that transports you back in time while still being a modern, comfortable space. It’s a popular spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, and is especially great for solo dining, a relaxed meal with the family, or for a welcoming experience for tourists. While there's usually a wait, especially on weekends, the chance to enjoy their renowned offerings with table service makes it more than worth it. The cafe is a transgender safespace and LGBTQ+ friendly, emphasizing its commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive place for all.

Location and Accessibility

Russ & Daughters Cafe is located at

127 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002, USA.

Situated in the heart of the Lower East Side, it's on the very same street where Joel Russ, the founder, first started his business from a pushcart over a century ago. The location is easily accessible by various subway lines and is a short walk from some of the city's most vibrant attractions. For those driving, paid street parking is available in the surrounding area. The cafe is also fully committed to accessibility, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance, restroom, and seating, ensuring that every customer can enjoy their time there with ease and comfort. This attention to detail makes it a welcoming spot for a diverse range of patrons.

Services Offered

Russ & Daughters Cafe provides a full-service dining experience that combines the best of a traditional sit-down restaurant with the historic charm of the original appetizing shop.

Dine-in and Table Service: Unlike the original shop, the cafe offers a full dine-in experience with table service. You can sit in a comfortable booth or at the bar and have a full meal.
Onsite Services: The cafe has an onsite bar, which is a key feature for those looking to enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine with their meal. The bar adds to the cozy, historic atmosphere.
Full Menu for All Meals: The cafe serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, offering an extensive menu that covers everything from classic smoked fish platters to comforting egg dishes and delicious desserts.
Payments: For customer convenience, the cafe accepts a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
Reservations and Waitlist: While the cafe usually has a wait, they make the process as easy as possible. They do not take reservations but are known for their efficient waitlist system, which allows you to explore the neighborhood while you wait for a table to open up.

Features and Highlights

What makes Russ & Daughters Cafe a beloved New York institution? It’s a combination of its rich history, its commitment to quality, and its unique offerings.

Historic and Cozy Atmosphere: The cafe has a distinctly historic vibe, with classic decor and a comfortable, casual feel. It's a place that feels both new and old at the same time, a perfect reflection of its Lower East Side location.
Great Coffee and Tea Selection: The cafe prides itself on serving high-quality coffee and a great selection of teas, which are perfect complements to its menu.
Serves Local Specialty: Russ & Daughters is a torchbearer for "appetizing," a specific type of Jewish food tradition that focuses on smoked and cured fish, salads, and spreads to be eaten with bagels and other breads. The cafe celebrates this local specialty with a full menu of expertly prepared dishes.
Women-Owned Business: The cafe is an extension of a business that, since its founding in 1914, has become famous for its founder's bold decision to name it after his three daughters, Hattie, Ida, and Anne. Today, it is a fourth-generation women-owned business, a source of pride and a powerful part of its identity.
Wide Range of Offerings: From healthy options and vegetarian dishes to comfort food and small plates, the menu is incredibly diverse. It also offers a great selection of alcohol, including wine, beer, and fantastic cocktails.

Contact Information

For more information or to inquire about the menu and services, you can contact Russ & Daughters Cafe directly.

Address: 127 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002, USA

Phone: (212) 475-4881

What is worth choosing?

The menu at Russ & Daughters Cafe is a feast for the eyes and the stomach, filled with both classic and innovative dishes that are all worth trying. Of course, you can't visit without trying the bagels. As one customer noted, "Awesome bagels. We had multiple bagels in many different ways. All very good." The star of the show is the smoked fish. The

Classic Bagel & Lox

with Gaspe Nova smoked salmon and cream cheese is a quintessential New York experience. For a more adventurous choice, the

Super Heebster

is a popular option, featuring a delicious mix of whitefish and baked salmon salad with horseradish dill cream cheese and wasabi flying fish roe on a bagel.

Beyond the bagels, the platters are a great way to try a variety of their renowned smoked fish. The

Hattie Platter

, named after one of the founder's daughters, is a beautiful board featuring an assortment of smoked fish, including whitefish, baked salmon, and sable, served with a bread basket, cream cheeses, and all the classic accoutrements. Another customer review raved about the

bagel with white fish

, calling it the "Best bagel with and bagel with white fish I ever had." The house-made

cream soda, Concord grape and blueberry soda

are also a must-try, with a customer calling them "a must try." For something different, the

Potato Latkes

served with sour cream and salmon roe are a crispy and delicious side, and the

Matzo Ball Soup

is a comforting classic. For dessert, the

Babka French Toast

is a beloved and decadent choice that takes the traditional chocolate babka and griddles it to perfection, serving it with berries and maple syrup.

Russ & Daughters Cafe Details

From the business
Identifies as women-owned

Service options
Onsite services
Dine-in
Delivery
Takeout

Highlights
Great cocktails
Great coffee
Great tea selection
Serves local specialty

Popular for
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Assistive hearing loop
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Comfort food
Hard liquor
Healthy options
Small plates
Vegan options
Vegetarian options
Wine

Dining options
Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities
Bar onsite
Gender-neutral restroom
Restroom

Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy
Historic
Trendy

Crowd
Family-friendly
LGBTQ+ friendly
Tourists
Transgender safespace

Planning
Usually a wait
Accepts reservations

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids
High chairs

Parking
Paid street parking
Parking

Russ & Daughters Cafe Photos

Russ & Daughters Cafe Location

Russ & Daughters Cafe

New York New York County New York Orchard Street

127 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002, USA

Russ & Daughters Cafe Reviews

An average rating of ★4.6 from 3435 user reviews.

bagelloxjewishsmoked fishlatkesherringmatzo ball soupegg creamchopped liverbabka

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Awesome bagels. We had multiple bagels in many different ways. All very good. Salmon roe was fresh and not fishy. Run by pleasant employees who patiently explained their menu to another group. So good.
June 12 · Aaron Lee
Best bagel with and bagel with white fish I ever had. Definitely go back again. We also got a cream soda, Concord grape and blueberry soda, a must try. Every staff is very friendly with great smiles.
August 04 · KAI YAN Lo
Loved breakfast here, so many good choices. I had to try the bread pudding, and very thankful I did. One if the few places where I would order drip coffee again, excellent. Pre ordered the cookbook!
August 26 · Sonja Baron
A pleasant upscale Jewish eatery that is clean and vibrant. Walking in you are greeted immediately. Service was great with knowledgeable staff able to explain the menu. Fish forward menu with tons of options for bagels and eggs too. Food was excellent and freshly prepared. Prices were on par for quality. Parking was available. Overall a nice place.
April 10 · Matthew Krunglevich
TLDR: Stopped by for a quick bite on my last day in NYC before leaving. What I ordered was just okay but service was really good. Curious to try their other things in the deli versions of their store.-[WHITEFISH POTATO CROQUETTES] $15🥔 The filling itself was interesting as it was a mixture of whitefish and potato all served on a bed of tartar sauce🧂 I will say it was decently filling but definitely too salty for me :(📝 Our server was the man tending bar and he was super kind and made recommendations as well as happily answered all of our questions about the menu/serving size etc.
April 13 · Claudia K