Russ & Daughters Cafe

We visited Russ & Daughters Cafe for lunch while exploring the area around Orchard Street, having heard a lot about the brand and its reputation across New York. Thankfully there was no queue when we arrived, so we were seated quite quickly. The atmosphere was one of the standout parts of the experience — relaxed yet refined, with a soft Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic. The cream and light blue tones gave the space a calm, slightly luxurious feel without being overly formal. Service throughout was friendly and efficient. We started with the potato latkes with cream cheese and salmon roe, which were excellent. The texture reminded me somewhat of a very elevated hash brown — crisp on the outside, soft inside, with a rich potato and onion flavour. The cream cheese added richness, while the salmon roe brought bursts of saltiness that balanced the dish really well. I also ordered the spinach eggs Benedict, which unfortunately was more average. The hollandaise sauce was light, but the overall dish lacked the richness and boldness you’d expect from a great eggs Benedict. The eggs themselves also felt fairly standard in quality, especially compared to versions I’ve had in London and Australia. The drinks, however, were genuinely memorable. The pickled carrot juice was fantastic — sharp, slightly vinegary, refreshing, and surprisingly addictive. The classic egg cream was also very enjoyable, almost like a light chocolate milkshake with a soda-like texture. Overall, it was a very enjoyable lunch with some unique dishes and drinks that lived up to the hype, even if not every element was exceptional.

Absolutely very delicious. The cafe is small not like other big brunch or breakfast restaurants but it is cozy. The service was fast. We were there around like 9 ish so we had a table avaible right away but when we were leaving they were people waiting for table. So better to get there early. We got the eggs florentine type dish with salmon added on top. It was really tasty and salmon tasted so good. Also we got fresh orange juice. Definitely will be back to try other items on the menu. The prices are a bit high but due to using good ingredients. So that should be ok :)

Save your time and money and don’t eat here. The wait wasn’t bad on New Year’s Day, they said a half hour and it was about 20 minutes total. We were excited for the food given the Anthony Bourdain endorsement, but it was incredibly disappointing. The kreplach was the only saving factor, it was delicious but the bagels and the Pastrami Russ were under mediocre. The gluten free bagel should not be called a bagel. I’m an advocate for if you can’t do it well, don’t do it at all. The gluten free bagel was crumbly, dense, dry, and flavorless. From the first bite I was disappointed. (On the left in the overhead photo, in the front in the other photo) The pastrami salmon was not particularly interesting in flavor and there was hardly any of it. The bites largely tasted of sauerkraut. The pickle was actually bad, I couldn’t eat it. My partner said the pretzel bagel was just fine, absolutely nothing special. Neither of us finished our food. For $25 a bagel, it was incredibly disappointing. Overpriced and overhyped, I wouldn’t send anyone here.

Bright, friendly, and with an excellent menu. The prices are a little on the high side but the menu is extensive and you get beautiful atmosphere and excellent service. We ordered latkes and a bagel with lox, and both were excellent. And you can’t beat house sparkling water that’s free of charge. I could live in this place.