Nopa

in

Olive oil poached albacore at Nopa. (Wait a second—Is the olive oil poached? Or is it the albacore? And isn't poaching illegal?) Ok, back to the meal..this colorful dish is listed on the appetizer section of the menu, but it sure seemed like a full meal to me, as I was sufficiently satisfied after finishing it. The egg was a nice compliment, too. I highly recommended it, but from what I understand, the albacore is a fleeting seasonal fish, and only makes an appearance on the menu when available. In this case, it made an appearance on the wine menu—or at least the back of it. Kind of wish I kept this one, looking back on it. But I'm sure the poachers took good care of it. (smiley emoticon here)

Leopold's

in

It's hard to believe that you're still in Russian Hill when you walk into Leopold's, an Austrian restaurant on Polk Street. The decor, staff, and ambient music would have you believe you're closer to the Viennese Alps than the Sierras. Get here early as it fills up fast. (Like no later than 6:30 on a weekday.) If not, you'll have to summon a good deal of Teutonic perseverance.

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Great selection of beers. Featured above is the Stiegl.

The schnitzel was super delicious and the jam was a nice touch.