Food Shop: Russ and Daughters

*Russ and Daughters
179 E. Houston St.nr. Orchard St.
Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm; Sat, 9am-7pm; Sun, 8am-5:30pm
Subway: F, V at Lower East Side-Second Ave.; J, M, Z at Essex St.



Russ and Daughters is take-out, so if it's bad weather or you don't have a kitchen somewhere, I guess it'll just taunt you. However, it's such an institution, and so amazing, and so special, that you should poke your head in no matter what. A remnant of the LES's Jewish immigrant past, R&D has been serving the city's best "appetizing" (smoked fish and other Jewish dairy cold-cuts) for generations and the place is a time capsule, albeit a thriving and sophisticated one. While you can get a bagel to go, know-at-alls on Chowhound are very scornful of this because it's not traditional. (I do it all the time, though!) Plus, the weekend-morning takeout crowd is kind of a gas, and the Babka and coffee are excellent. (If you're a purist, buy your fixings here and, if it's not a Saturday, your bagels and bialys from nearby Kossar's.) Also, watch this.

NB: the youngest generation has an excellent blog, Lox Populi!

Restaurant: Barney Greengrass

*Barney Greengrass
UPPER WEST SIDE
541 Amsterdam Avenue between 86th and 87th Streets
Tue-Sun 8:30am-5pm
Subway: 1 to 86th Street

This is an essential NYC spot, an ancient Jewish deli known as "the Sturgeon King." It's one of the major institutions of the Upper West Side, and the people-watching is (almost) as good as the scrambled eggs with onion and lox; the fresh OJ; the babka and the chopped liver. Don't get fancy: stick to bagels, bialys and appetizing (Jewish cold-cuts.) In fact, get the eggs with onions and novie! And don't let the waiters push you around. During peak brunch hours, you'll wait, but there's a quick turnover and if you're there before 11 or on a weekday, you'll be in, no problem.