"I finally got a chance to stop by Russ & Daughters, and now I totally understand why it’s such an iconic New York institution. Stepping inside, the whole place has this classic, timeless, old-school deli vibe, like walking back into a genuine piece of history. All the beautiful fish and items displayed behind the counter are stunning. In true New York fashion, they move fast, so definitely come prepared to order! The food quality here is absolutely next level. Everything they serve is incredibly fresh and flavorful. I went with a classic, getting the salmon sandwich on an everything bagel, and the fish was just exceptional—so fresh, packed with flavor, and sliced generously. The classic bagels and spreads are a perfect complement, with the cream cheese being so good it honestly steals the show! You truly get a lot of food for what you order, making the whole experience feel completely worthwhile and a great value. I did notice that because they are so popular, the service can feel slightly slow when they are slammed, but honestly, the quality of the smoked fish and the authentic atmosphere more than make up for any wait time. Russ & Daughters is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates top-tier smoked fish and an authentic deli experience. It’s sought out by locals for a reason, and I can't wait to go back."

"The lox here was good, but the bagel was not When people bring up the best bagel & lox sandwich in NYC, this place comes up occasionally. However, having had it, when you only do half that equation well, I don't think you can be in consideration On the positive side, the smoked salmon was pretty appetizing. It tasted very fresh and had a great salt level. It did feel a bit thin in the context of the bagel, though, like there wasn't that much of it. The cream cheese was fine, but nothing out-of-this-world. The bagel was where I had a big problem. It was so chewy, so not-fresh, that it was not easy to eat. I could tell after my first bite that this was nothing like the other fresh bagels I've had in the city. It just tasted like it was baked a long time ago, and transported to the restaurant. I had to give up on eating this as a sandwich and eventually had to eat it like an open-faced bagel on each half, because of how I just couldn't deal with having that much bad bagel in a single bite. It was just not good. The other thing I've heard people say is the right thing is just to buy the smoked salmon from here, buy a bagel from somewhere else, and make your own DIY bagel & lox. After having this, I would recommend that as well. It cost $18 - which is not terrible, and the portion size is pretty good, but I wouldn't call this a value either Overall, it's some good lox mixed with a pretty bad bagel. 5/10"

"Take a number when you walk in the door. The bagels here are top notch and there are plenty of high end options for toppings, take home items and sides. The pickles are some of the best I've ever had and the lox cream cheese is unbelievable. We are our bagels across the street in the park, it's take out only."

"I researched where a NY visitor could find a classic Jewish deli and Russ & Daughters did not disappoint. This deli has been around since the 1920’s with fun memorabilia to show the history. On a Friday at 11am, we had no wait because we sat at the bar, but there was not much of a line for a seat. The menu had many yummy dishes almost all included salmon and other traditional cured fish. If you love fish in your food, you will love Russ & Daughters as they do not skimp on the portions. This was a great NYC breakfast icon that is worth the trip."

"There's a reason this place has been around for decades. The spot takes you back to an old pharmacy with counter ordering, all items beautifully on display, and no frills. Come prepared to order because in true NY fashion they move QUICK. The everything egg bagels are tasty but I felt the cream cheese stole the show. These are highly sought out by the locals and I can see why. They offer a variety of fish options but we didn't taste test these."