Restaurant
Katz’s Delicatessen
A Lower East Side institution since 1888, famous for hand-carved pastrami on rye, corned beef and its role in When Harry Met Sally.
Russ & Daughters Cafe
The sit-down cafe of the century-old Lower East Side appetizing shop, serving smoked fish platters, bagels, latkes and egg creams.
At a glance
- Type
- Jewish appetizing and brunch
- Area
- Lower East Side, New York, United States
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- russanddaughterscafe.com
- Last checked
- October 23, 2026
Good to know
- Walk-in only
- Sit-down service
- Bar
Why we recommend it
Russ & Daughters began with Joel Russ selling herring from a pushcart in the early twentieth century, and its Houston Street shop is still a fixture. The cafe on Orchard Street opened in 2014, the business's centenary, giving people a place to sit down to the same smoked salmon, sturgeon, herring and caviar served on bagels and boards.
Share a smoked fish platter, add latkes, and finish with a chocolate egg cream. The cafe takes no reservations and does not do takeaway, so expect to wait for a table at weekends. It opens at 8:30am daily; last seating is 2:30pm Monday to Thursday and 3:30pm Friday to Sunday.
Reviewed by Lifestylemetro · Details checked October 23, 2026
Russ & Daughters Cafe FAQs
Can you book a table?
No — the cafe is walk-in only.
Can you order to take away?
Not at the cafe, which is sit-down only; the original shop on Houston Street sells to take away.