Don’t be too surprised if big, burly men greet you at the front door. Russians can sometimes be intimidating. At least the food (such as the tender beef kebabs and cold borscht with soft dill and cabbage bits) is nothing to be afraid of. The cheese blintzes (crepes) and pelmini (Russian dumplings) at this hidden-away restaurant beat some of the best meals we’ve had in St. Petersburg. If you don’t mind sitting in lawn chairs, slow service, and a menu printed on paper, then we definitely recommend the Russian Banya for die-hard Eastern European foodies.