Openings

Russ & Daughters at the Jewish Museum Serves Kugel, Shakshouka, and Pretzel Bagels

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The Anne: wild Western nova smoked salmon, smoked yellowfin tuna, sable, smoked brook trout, and wild Alaskan salmon roe.
The Anne: wild Western nova smoked salmon, smoked yellowfin tuna, sable, smoked brook trout, and wild Alaskan salmon roe. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz

It’s an exciting time for 102-year-old Russ & Daughters: Owners Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper have opened a location on the Upper East Side, and they also have plans to expand to Brooklyn for the first time ever. At the former, inside the Jewish Museum, there’s both a 60-seat, sit-down restaurant and a take-out appetizing counter.

As with Russ & Daughters Cafe, both the design and the menu draw heavily from the original location on Houston Street, but there are a few modern twists. Federman and Tupper are now producing their own bagels, bialys, babka, and other pastries, and there are a few new composed menu items, too. Plus, Russ & Daughters at the Jewish Museum is entirely kosher — another first.

“Every time we open a new place, people are like, ‘What are you doing? Why not just keep the store?’” Tupper says. “But there are so many customers that come down to the Lower East Side café. To walk around and speak to these people, who are just so glad we’re up there … there’s been an outpouring of emotion. It feels really good to give that to people.”

The vegetarian chopped liver, served with toasted matzo and pickled onion, is new to the uptown location. "We used to sell it at the store," Tupper says. "One of my great aunts, Ida, made it, and I think we sold it even before we sold real chopped liver." This version is made with toasted walnuts, mushrooms, string beans, chickpeas, caramelized onions, and chopped eggs.
The vegetarian chopped liver, served with toasted matzo and pickled onion, is new to the uptown location. “We used to sell it at the store,” Tupper says. “One of my great aunts, Ida, made it, and I think we sold it even before we sold real chopped liver.” This version is made with toasted walnuts, mushrooms, string beans, chickpeas, caramelized onions, and chopped eggs. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Shakshouka, with challah bread, is also new. "This is a bit of a stretch for us, but we sampled it and tasted it, and decided it'd be a nice addition as something different."
Shakshouka, with challah bread, is also new. “This is a bit of a stretch for us, but we sampled it and tasted it, and decided it’d be a nice addition as something different.” Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Deviled eggs with wild Alaskan salmon roe — served with everything matzo.
Deviled eggs with wild Alaskan salmon roe — served with everything matzo. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Canapés of pickled herring on pumpernickel bread: mustard and dill herring; curry herring with green apple; and pickled herring with cream sauce and pickled onions.
Canapés of pickled herring on pumpernickel bread: mustard and dill herring; curry herring with green apple; and pickled herring with cream sauce and pickled onions. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Noodle Kugel, with farmer's cheese, raisins, cinnamon, and egg noodles. "It really wasn't a challenge to make everything kosher," Tupper explains. "A lot of what we purchase is kosher when it comes to us, but we're not overseen by a rabbi at those other locations. For that reason, we have a lot of the same suppliers."
Noodle Kugel, with farmer’s cheese, raisins, cinnamon, and egg noodles. “It really wasn’t a challenge to make everything kosher,” Tupper explains. “A lot of what we purchase is kosher when it comes to us, but we’re not overseen by a rabbi at those other locations. For that reason, we have a lot of the same suppliers.” Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Galia Solomonoff, of Solomonoff Architecture Studio, designed the space.
Galia Solomonoff, of Solomonoff Architecture Studio, designed the space. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
The smoked fish you know and love.
The smoked fish you know and love. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Now house-made.
Now house-made. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Classy.
Classy. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz

Menu [PDF]

Russ & Daughters at the Jewish Museum, 1109 5th Ave.

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Russ & Daughters Opens at the Jewish Museum