Russ & Daughters
The century-old appetizing shop on Houston Street, the definitive source for lox, smoked fish and bagel boxes.
Example
The order that works for a first visit is a bagel with Gaspe Nova and plain cream cheese, taken out of the narrow shop and eaten in a nearby park.
Related terms
Bagels and delis
Katz's Delicatessen
The 1888 Lower East Side deli famous for hand-carved pastrami on rye and the ticket system every visitor fumbles.
NYC slang
Schmear
The Yiddish-derived word for the generous layer of cream cheese spread on a bagel at New York bagel shops.
Bagels and delis
Barney Greengrass
The Upper West Side sturgeon king since 1908, an unchanged Jewish appetizing restaurant with weekend lines to match.
Bagels and delis
2nd Ave Deli
A kosher deli institution serving pastrami, matzo ball soup and free health warnings, now located on 33rd Street.
Frequently asked questions
Shop on Houston or the cafe on Orchard?
The shop for speed and the original atmosphere, the cafe when you want to sit and add eggs, boards and cocktails to the fish.
Which smoked fish should a first-timer order?
Gaspe Nova on an everything bagel with plain cream cheese. It is the balanced entry point before exploring sable and belly lox.
Where do I eat if the shop is takeout only?
Take the bagel to Sara D. Roosevelt Park or a Lower East Side stoop free bench a few minutes away, or book the Orchard Street cafe for table service.
