The New Russ & Daughters Cafe

No lines at the new café, I wonder how long that will last?

For the longest time customers who bought a bagel from Russ & Daughters had to sit on a tiny bench outside the shop to eat their bagel out of a wax paper bag perched on their knees. Well bench it no more people. Now there's a cafe to dine at, and it's gorgeous.

Located at 127 Orchard Street, between Delancey and Rivington, the shop is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with rumors that it will move to an 8 a.m. daily opening.

The new cafe matches the look of the original Russ & Daughters on Houston Street, from the shiny chrome to the polished tiles. In the front half is a casual counter that feels all quaint and old timey, except every surface is hospital clean. There's a giant booth in the front, for when your family comes to town, plus a few intimate high tables and in back, a bit more evening ambiance. Spanning the distance from Orchard Street all the way east to Allen Street, the cafe feels roomy, but when I was there it was maybe one third full, so let's just wait and see how that turns out.

What I haven't mentioned is the fish bar, smack dab in the center. It evoked a sushi bar and I wanted to sidle up to it and order a salmon omakase. Oh, just think about that for a moment.

My neighborhood just keeps getting better and better. Want to know more? Read the Lo-Down's write up here.