Russ & Daughters
41 people recommend, 12 warn against itvia r/FoodNYC30 comments cited below
The comments cited below are a sample of the full tally across 22 threads.
What people say, in short
Many people who weigh in recommend it, and many single out the fish: diners praise the smoked salmon and lox, and a few also like the spreads, such as the horseradish cream cheese. The bagels are the main point of disagreement, as many people call them poor while many others find them decent, and one person says they have improved. Several people describe it as a salmon-focused appetizing shop rather than a bagel shop, so a visit just for bagels may not satisfy.
Address
Russ & Daughters, 179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
At a glance
- Signature dishes
- Gaspe Nova smoked salmon, Bialy sandwiches
- Best for
- Breakfast, Visitors
- Opinions divided
- Yes
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to Russ & Daughters, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/tequalspitimese in r/FoodNYC · Oct 2025taste
Loved the smoked salmon with scallion spread and tomato, calling it possibly the ideal New York bite.
- Recommendsu/Quantumercifier in r/FoodNYC · Jun 2026value
Argues Russ and Daughters is the better option for the money.
- Mixedu/VillageAdditional816 in r/FoodNYC · Feb 2026taste
Calls it a classic; loves the lox sandwich as comfort food but finds their bagels underwhelming.
- Recommendsu/romanarman in r/FoodNYC · Sep 2025taste
Says trying Russ & Daughters made the fish quality gap versus this bagel's lox stand out.
- Mixedu/Scarveytrampson in r/FoodNYC · Sep 2024taste
Commenter says bagels are terrible but the lox is excellent.
- Recommendsu/jaded_toast in r/FoodNYC · May 2026taste
Likes these bagels for being denser and chewier, but has only bought them at a single branch.
- Mixedu/GiggsCargoCult in r/FoodNYC · Jan 2026taste
Calls its bagels mid, but likes the fish and thinks listing it is a mistake.
- Recommendsu/xlaurenthead in r/FoodNYC · Oct 2024taste
Recommends Russ & Daughters for breakfast with their smoked salmon.
Show all 30 cited comments
- Mixedu/Drach88 in r/FoodNYC · Sep 2025taste
Thinks its bagels are weak while the fish stands out; sees it as an appetizing store.
- Mixedu/SomeDrillingImplied in r/FoodNYC · Dec 2023taste
Advises skipping it for bagels; the appetizing counter is good but the bagels are poor.
- Mixedu/bustertriscuit in r/FoodNYC · Feb 2026taste
Says they love the place but think its bagels are bad.
- Recommendsu/Darkside0127 in r/FoodNYC · Nov 2023
Includes Russ and Daughters in a list of breakfast suggestions.
- Recommendsu/HouseComplete5362 in r/FoodNYC · May 2026taste
Says the bagels have improved a lot in recent years and urges trying them.
- Recommendsu/before8thstreet in r/FoodNYC · Jan 2024taste
Praises this Lower East Side cafe as polished, retro-deli-style, with excellent food.
- Caveatu/Desperate_Wallaby966 in r/FoodNYC · Jun 2026taste
Says the bagels are so poor they insult bread in general.
- Recommendsu/spk3z in r/FoodNYC · Jun 2026value
Suggests buying smoked salmon by the pound there rather than as a bagel sandwich.
- Recommendsu/hardware_error in r/FoodNYC · May 2026taste
Calls Russ & Daughters bagels decent enough and suggests getting everything there.
- Caveatu/anthonystank in r/FoodNYC · Sep 2024taste
Commenter agrees the bagels are bad, having served them as supposed exemplars.
- Recommendsu/hockey343434 in r/FoodNYC · May 2026taste
Agrees with the parent that the bagels there are good.
- Caveatu/tychus-findlay in r/FoodNYC · Oct 2024taste
Says Russ & Daughters is mainly for salmon and that their bagels are bad.
- Recommendsu/rhinofuntime in r/FoodNYC · May 2026taste
Finds Russ & Daughters' own bialys acceptable too.
- Caveatu/JayMoots in r/FoodNYC · Oct 2024taste
Thinks the bagels there are poor and that few people realize it.
- Recommendsu/notafriendofours in r/FoodNYC · Feb 2026
Couple's tradition of breakfast there on every trip in, and it's their first stop on arrival.
- Caveatu/iggy555 in r/FoodNYC · Jan 2026taste
Endorses the parent's view that the bagels are lackluster, via an emoji.
- Recommendsu/bkhalfpint in r/FoodNYC · Mar 2025
Says their order here rotates between two bialy sandwiches, suggesting a regular habit.
- Recommendsu/Longjumping_Card350 in r/FoodNYC · Aug 2024taste
Recommends the Super Heebster sandwich from this shop.
- Recommendsu/InSearchOfGoodPun in r/FoodNYC · May 2026
Thinks getting lox at Russ & Daughters makes sense, while buying bagels elsewhere is pointless.
- Recommendsu/QUINNFLORE in r/FoodNYC · Jan 2026taste
Says it's not listed for its bagels but is still worth it for bagel sandwiches.
- Recommendsu/xxdismalfirexx in r/FoodNYC · Jan 2026taste
Disagrees with leaving it off the list, pointing to the pumpernickel bagels that are freshly made in the morning.
- Recommendsu/champy69 in r/FoodNYC · Nov 2023ambience
Calls the sit-down cafe charming, with tasty food.
More maps in New York, United States
- Places to visit in New York
- Best restaurants in New York
- Best burgers in New York
- Indian restaurants in New York
- Best steak in New York
- Museums in New York
- Best pizza in New York
- Best cafés in New York
- Best bars in New York
- Best sushi in New York
- Best ramen in New York
- Best seafood in New York
- Parks in New York
- Best ice cream in New York
Did this page answer your question?
Freshness
Details last checked 10 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.