Union Square Cafe's General Manager Christopher Russell has had a passion for food and hospitality since childhood. His sense of hospitality was instilled in him by his grandfather who orchestrated numerous fêtes in the Roosevelt and Truman White Houses as a protocol chief and by his parents, loving and generous hosts during dinner parties in their own home.

Growing up, Christopher served in nearly every level of restaurant. During high school, in addition to working at fast food joints, he ran a hot dog stand at Fletcher's Boat House, as well as a pizza and sub shop. Christopher attended Virginia Commonwealth University and graduated with a Fine Arts degree in 1987. He then worked in various eateries in Virginia including Devon's seafood restaurant and the Old Ebbit Grill. He even held the position of Captain at the Embassy of Malaysia.

In 1991, Christopher moved to NYC, where his first gig was as a captain at Tavern on the Green, followed by positions at Contrapunto Pasta and Arizona 206. In 1994, he was hired as an opening server at Gramercy Tavern and was ultimately promoted to captain before moving into management at Union Square Cafe in the summer of 2002. Christopher was promoted to Service Director later that year, Wine Director in 2003, and ultimately General Manager in July 2005.
In his spare time, Christopher is in practice as a Freudian psychotherapist - obviously operating on the pleasure principle, hence the love of food & wine. While working for Gramercy Tavern and Union Square Cafe, Christopher commuted to the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, earning his Masters Degree in 2003. He is also an avid cyclist, having ridden a number of the Alpine passes at the Tour de France.