27.02.2007

DALLAS — what is hot, cold, steamy, exotic, delicious, exhilarating and relaxing? The answer is simple. It’s Tony G’s Russian Banya, Family Spa and Café at 2515 East Rosemeade at Marsh Lane in Carrollton.

The grand opening celebration for the Russian Banya will last from Feb. 28-March 4. Five days for a grand opening may seem like a big party but Tony Goldshmid, or Tony G as friends know him, is anticipating dozens of dignitaries and visitors from Saratov, Russia, Dallas’s Sister City on the Volga, along with representatives from the Dallas and Carrollton Chambers of Commerce, State Senator Chris Harris (R-Dist. 9) and local banya aficionados.

And what’s a banya, you ask? It’s a traditional, healthy Russian pastime for the entire family. The Russian Banya, Spa and Café features private lockers and showers, an adjoining full-service café and recreation area and three types of saunas—Russian, Finnish and Turkish. The Russian banya (steam room) features a wood-burning masonry stove and is kept at temperature of above 200 degrees with 40-65 percent humidity. The wood-lined Finnish sauna is kept between 180-210 degrees with 5-10 percent humidity. The Turkish sauna is a wet steam room kept between 90-110 degrees with 100 percent humidity. Aromatic Eucalyptus, peppermint and cedar wood oils flavor the air in the banyas.

Think of it as your own private club where you can relax for a few hours or an entire day in a sauna or steam room—or both—take a cold plunge in the indoor pool or a quick shower, enjoy a optional private massage, savor exotic Russian dishes, and then perhaps repeat the procedure. The daily fee is $25 per person. Group rates and multiple visit passes can bring the cost down to $20 per visit.

The café menu includes authentic dishes from Georgia (that’s near Russia, not Alabama), Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Russia. Tony G not only has a traditional Russian banya for guests to enjoy—he’s opened a café at the same location featuring international cuisine. Prices are modest with salads running $8-$13 and entrees from $8-$17. Save room for desert.