Russell’s Cafe and Bakery

LOVE RUSSELS CAFE’! We go every week, and adore the café, and the staff is great, and so friendly! Food is great! Salad variety is super. And oh so FRESH! No skimping on those greens here! Everything is so good! Mac n cheese is fantastic! Cookies to die for. Sandwiches are so very yummy. We will go every week as we do now. Thank you!

I recently met a good friend for dinner at Russell’s. Here’s a little fun fact: my friend and I both used to babysit little Russell, so we believe it’s probably all the spectacular peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and hotdogs we used to make him that inspired him to open his two great cafes in the area. :) This particular location is cozy and warm… the perfect spot to catch up with my friend over a nice, light meal and a glass of wine. Oh, and dessert.
The menu is pretty simple… breakfast, light lunch/​dinner items, and lots of sweets. It reminds me of a Bread Co. with out all the «corporateness.» We both ordered a ½ & ½ combo at the counter, took our number to a table, and waited for the food to come out. I had the daily soup special of tomato bisque and paired it with the grilled chicken and smoked gouda sandwich. My friend ordered a salad and sandwich combo, though I don’t recall exactly which ones. I only remember that we were satisfied with all of our selections. I like that you can enjoy a beer or glass of wine with your meal here too. That’s certainly something Bread Co. doesn’t have!
We couldn’t leave without trying one of the wonderful looking desserts that had been staring at us from behind the counter during our entire meal. We chose to spilt a brownie and sat next to the fireplace to enjoy that along with another glass of wine.
This is a great midway meeting point for my friend and I, so I can see us enjoying more girl’s nights here in the future. Until then…

This place is awesome, the food, the people and atmosphere is just wonderful!

As you see the outside of his little café, your first impression might be that it is just another bakery café. Not so with Russell’s!
When I walked in on this visit (my 2^nd), I was immediately greeted and order taken. I ordered the chicken pot pie soup with hot tea (it was a bit chilly for Missouri that day– 15 degrees).
My order came right out and I mediately dipped into the soup, savoring each bite. The soup was laden with big chunks of chicken, multiple cubes of carrot, lusciously covered in a blanket of creaminess. It was spiced just right and warmed my insides perfectly. On the side were two biscuits, flaky, buttery and oh so pillowy! The flavor and texture of the biscuits complemented the smooth warm soup like that of a symphonic piece of music. I topped off my experience with a hot cup of Moroccon Mint tea.
This is a very special place. Try it for yourself.

Russell’s is a great place for sandwiches, desserts, and pastries. Everything I’ve had here has been pretty solid. Their ingredients are fresh and you can taste the quality.
I have had here:
Russell’s roast Beef-​Really good
Smelly, Sticky Pig-​Oh my goodness good.
Pork Tenderloin-​Oh my goodness good.
Gooey butter cake-​first time I had gooey butter cake was from here. I had pumpkin, regular, and chocolate chip and they were all great. Pumpkin was my favorite.
The sweet and salty combo that they use in the 2 ‘oh my goodness good’ pork sandwiches were spot on and delicious. Highly recommend. They serve their sandwiches with Billy Goat chips, which are another fave of mine.
Russell’s is a bit on the pricey side, but you’re paying for the quality.

Stopped here on the pursuit of finding cupcakes for a rehearsal dinner… Am I glad we did. Had lunch and treats. Lunch was pulled pork and pear salad. The pork was great and the salad was the perfect combination of sweet and savory. But, the gem of the meal was the gooey butter cake. The best I have ever had, hands down. You’d be crazy not to stop into this café. The assistant manager was very helpful in helping us decide what to order for the event as well.

What a hidden gem!!! So delicious. Whenever I am in the Fenton area, this will be my go to place for breakfast, lunch or dinner from now on. I went for dinner one night and I was amazed at how delicious and reasonably priced the food was. I found it hard to decide on what to order because everything looked amazing. I finally chose the Spinach and Strawberry Salad. So fresh and delicious. I also tried a bite of my friend’s chicken pot pie soup and that was also so good… tasted just like chicken pot pie. The grilled cheese looked very good as well. There was also an expansive selection of desserts that was very tempting… I can’t wait to go back!

Just happened to come across this delicious place running errands. Had a great looking sandwich selection on the menu. Had a tough time deciding because they all sounded so good. Got the grill harvest (which was amazing) and my wife got the summer grill cheese (also very good). We shared an ooey gooey butter cake and one of the best I’ve ever had!
They also have a breakfast menu and small beer and wine list. Definitely coming back to try again!

I thought this little hidden gem was pretty darn perfect. Walked in for lunch and there was a bit of a line, but that’s okay because it took me forever to decide what to order. All of the sandwiches and salads are posted on the board up above with descriptions of its contents, however, prices are not listed and that’s the ONLY reason for one less star. Everything else was stellar. I went with a friend and we each got a grilled sandwich and a Greek salad to split. The salad was something out of a 5 star restaurant. Beautiful presentation and dressed perfectly. My sandwich was the tenderloin and I can’t stop dreaming about it — come on, apricot preserves and brie and then grilled! I don’t recall the other sandwich’s name but was smoked ham with apple butter and cheddar. So stinkin’ amazing, all of the concoctions’ ingredients complemented each other! The side was a homemade bow-​tie pasta salad with a mayo based dressing that was just light enough to not overwhelm, or chips. All employees were great as well. Courteous and eager to help, great teamwork!

There were some fabulous things about this place, and a couple other things that if changed, would lead me to a 5 star review.
The customer service was great! Friendly, fun, enjoyable, and fairly quick to fix any problems. The front desk person also recommended a half and half breakfast when I asked what he preferred between two options — love it!
Food was good, but not accurate. My Southwest breakfast wrap for brunch was great! They subbed bacon for ham with no problem, and it was cooked perfectly. 5 stars! My husband and I both ordered ½ the breakfast grilled cheese (cheese, tomato, basil and egg), and both came out missing the egg (Ya know, the breakfast part). I went up to the front to ask about it, and the manager said she’s have them make 1 more. Luckily, they made us both a new ½, which was good.
High chair — alright, I’ll admit eating with a baby is different. You have to ask for things from places, like high chairs. Most places have the traditional, stand-​alone, easy to clean wood high chair. Russell’s did not. I asked, a runner happily brought me over a plastic portable high chair, which we had to attach to a high top chair nearby (we were at a booth). The tray was dirty and sticky, so I got up again to ask for more napkins to clean it. After that, the high chair worked fine. However, because it’s an inexpensive plastic space saving high chair, it didn’t look like it belonged in a place where I pay $ 10 for breakfast.
Bathrooms — my husband went to change the baby because there was a sign for a changing table. However, there was no changing table in there. The men’s room had a whole lot of storage stuff in there, but the women’s room was clean, and had a totally usable changing table.
Overall, it’s yummy and I’ll go back. And hopefully things will be smoother :)

What a diamond in the rough! This quaint little café and bakery is tucked away in a very non-​glamorous strip mall, but inside it’s like a little oasis. We stopped in specifically for dessert and were not disappointed. Cupcakes, cookies (as big as your face!), mile-​high cakes, gooey butter cake, and giant cupcakes (I actually asked if they were muffins or cupcakes). Absolutely delicious. They had a full menu of items for lunch, dinner and even breakfast, and I WILL be checking them out for full meals in the future. Staff was sweet and helpful, and I was especially pleased to see a special needs person on staff.

I was looking for a new place to explore and discovered this place. The reviews that were already in leaned toward this being a good experience — and it was.
The place was clean, the folks were friendly, and the food was great.
I got there a few moments before opening and had to chill while waiting. Once inside I was promptly greeted. The young lady behind the counter let me get a cup of coffee then she indulged my curiosity about the menu. What was good, what was popular, and the what should I get to entice me to come back.
I feel that no matter what you get you can’t go wrong. I sat in the corner bu the fireplace and in a short amount of time my breakfast was brought out.
I’ll be back to try more… and just as early to avoid the crowds. It started picking up but the servers attitudes were always pleasant.

Great food, very easy to work with.
I had them cater a business lunch. After asking my customer where to go for a good local lunch they suggested Russell’s. I called Diane and had a nice conversation about what I wanted. Ordering from Minnesota sight unseen I was not sure what to expect.
They arrived on time with everything I asked for. Sandwich platter of mixed options, mixed green salad, pasta salad and fresh baked cookies. Everything was superb and fresher than fresh.
I will use them again when I visit my customers in St.Louis.
Great food!

I’ve been here a few times now and it is such a gem in an area otherwise filled with chain restaurants. I’ve had the BLAT, mac n’ cheese, pulled pork, and a few varieties of their gooey butter cakes (not all at once!). Everything I’ve had has been quite tasty and I’ve had my eye on a few other offerings for future visits.
The café itself isn’t very big so I’m not sure I’d make this my go-​to coffee/​work/​study spot as there are only a few booths. Service has always been prompt, warm, and welcoming — they really make you feel like part of the family!

I’ve been here several times over the years and have nothing but great things to say. Top notch foods, pastries and coffee drinks. Friendly service from the owners and staff. Highly recommend!

I’ve been here once when Russell’s was a couple doors down. At the time it was lunch hour and I just didn’t the best experience. Fast forward to now with their new location and I LOVE this place. Love. It.
What a gem in Fenton when all there is to eat for lunch is a chain restaurant or bar food. You cannot go wrong with any of their cold or grilled sandwiches. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Oh! And dessert! Check out their baked goods, you’d get fat just looking at them… yum!
There’s so many options, my goal is to try everything. Also get their Mac n Cheese, it’s gooey good — heart attack deliciousness! Russell’s also has a light house vinaigrette dressing that you need to try on their salads. This place has definitely earned their ratings and reputation and an alternative to Bread Co. Trust me on that one!

Reading the sandwich menu here is an overwhelming experience. Because every single sandwich looks so. darn. good (and probably is). I ordered catering for my group of 17 for a few days in a row. Everyone was beyond pleased with their lunches, and on the first day the owner threw in a gooey butter cake (which disappeared fast). I was actually little sad to leave Fenton, MO when our tour moved on, for the sole fact that I would not be able to eat here for lunch the next week.
These guys care a lot about their service, food, and presentation and it shows. Plus, at about $ 10 per bagged lunch it’s a steal! I highly recommend them for catering your next event!

Really liked this place, which isn’t surprising since I am clearly the kind of person they attract. Seriously, they must spray some kind of estrogen attracting pheromones in here or something because the place was full of chicks! Men, if you like women who like baked goods, run don’t walk to Russell’s and take your pick.
Matchmaking advice aside, this place was the best thing that happened to me that day. They had this giant homemade marshmallow that was dipped in chocolate and coated in jimmies… I bought one for «dessert» but actually ate it before my food arrived. Husband and a few ladies at the next table were amused by this. I could have lived without the jimmies, but I would shell out 4 bucks for another one of these just about any day of the week.
For lunch I had a BLT with avocado and the pasta salad. They were delicious — lots of bacon and avocado on my sandwich and the pasta salad was creamy and fresh.
They were a little pricey; I try to spend less than $ 10 for a casual lunch. But then again, its not every day that I have a giant marshmallow appetizer either. I’d go back!

Random observation… not counting the hipster employee there were only two men in this place, myself included. That’s not a judgement — merely an observation that this place is really popular with the ladies. Old ladies, young ladies, pregnant ladies, loud ladies.
I had preselected my meal before arrival and found the wife waiting at the register when I walked in. The girl taking orders was moving very slowly and a line had built by the time we paid for our order and went to find a table. I decided to try their apricot & bourbon BBQ pulled pork, served on a challah bun with a side of chips and a chocolate chip & walnut cookie. They piled on the bbq very generously and lightly toasted the bun. The meat was really well prepared — tender and juicy with the apricot adding a nice amount of sweetness and the bourbon bringing in some smokiness. It would have been a huge mess had I tried to pick it up so I forked it instead. Really yummy!
The chips were from Billy Goat. I ate a couple but didn’t have much need for them. In retrospect, I wish I had asked for fresh fruit or a side salad. The cookie was good but didn’t measure up to what is available about 5 minutes away (and on the route back to the office) at Maggie’s.
It may take me a while to get back there but I am thinking that a bowl of soup and a piece of cake might be my next move. Sometime this fall should work very well…

I really like this spot. Russell’s offers a trendy, delicious eatery option in Fenton, which is needed. They have fantastic sandwiches and drool worthy desserts. Personally I’m a big, big fan of the chicken chipotle sandwich and strawberry cake. I’ve also had their roast beef sandwich and gooey butter cake — both tasty too.
Both sandwiches were on a sweet bread, like a hawaiian hoagie roll (but not the kind you can buy in the plastic bag at your local mart — much, much better!). They don’t skimp on sandwich fillings either — I loved that the chicken sandwich was a big slice of chicken breast. The spiciness of the chipotle was balanced by the sweetness of the bread and was dressed with fresh green leaf lettuce, tomato, and hickory bacon. The roast beef was similarly made with an amazing horseradish sauce.
While the gooey butter cake was good, the strawberry cake was amazing! The slice was big enough for two people with multiple layers of whipped buttercream and real strawberries. It was so moist and had a cream flavor — not sure if real whipped cream was also mixed in between the layers or if it was something else. However it’s made, it’s perfect and will have me coming back for more!
They do have 8×8 pans of gooey butter cake for sale (I think about $ 12), along with other baked goods like cupcakes, cookies, etc.
The service by staff was attentive and friendly. The young man behind the counter gave me a cheery hello as I walked in which is always nice.
The interior is nicely decorated and there is plenty of seating. It was a bit muggy on one of the days I visited — probably because the somewhat open kitchen is right there. On hot STL days with humidity, it might be warm in the dining area (?).
I was looking for a great little go to spot in Fenton. Russell’s Café and Bakery for the win!