In a city where opinions on the best knish and smoked fish are plentiful, you can trust the legendary Russ & Daughters when it comes to all things Jewish, tasty and old school New York.

The landmark appetizing store has been owned and operated by various generations of the Russ family for over a century from its humble beginnings as a pushcart selling herring in 1907. It is considered a New York institution that has survived the ever-changing vibe of the Lower East Side with its traditional and timeless Jewish comfort food.

They opened their first sit-down café on the 100^th anniversary of the store in May 2014, serving the same products only in an appealing day-night space. There are touches of the old in the vinyl booths and soda fountain, with an upmarket edge in the Carrara-marble tabletops and the cavier prices. Head to the cafe for a chocolate egg cream and a ‘Hattie Platter’ with smoked whitefish, baked salmon, gaspe nova smoked salmon and sable served in the retro setting.

Or if you want to avoid the crowds, stroll a few blocks to their grocer and grab a platter of smoked fish, caviar crème cheese and everything bagels and have a picnic in the park up to par with the best brunch in the city. They will also be baking their own bagels come November from a Bushwick warehouse, having sourced know-how from a bevy of retired bagel bakers. 

Ideal For

Upmarket Jewish comfort food, ballers brunch, caviar blow out.

Signature Dishes

The Anne Platter with Western Nova smoked Salmon, private stock sturgeon, sable smoke brook trout, and wild salmon Alaskan row; baby knishes stuffed with potatoes and caramelized onions; and housemade halvah ice cream with sesame and salted caramel.

Signature Drinks

Excellent house-made sodas or cocktails such as the caraway-infused-vodka Bloody Mary with rye croutons.