Prelude Kitchen & Bar

CLAUDIA QUIROZ a month ago

I visited once while in town and I absolutely loved the food, particularly the pork chop and the halibut. I wish I lived nearby just to visit this place often. The espresso martini was smooth and well-balanced. Our server took the time to explain the menu and provided details about the dishes we were considering. Once he mentioned the pork chops are marinated for 17 hours, I knew I had to try it and it has been the best pork chop I have ever tried. The ambiance is elegant, quiet and staff were attentive.

avenir marchenko 2 months ago

Great atmosphere and helpful staff. The food had its ups and downs. While all the pasta options were great, the chicken was dry and lacked flavor. Portion sizes were much smaller than you’d expect considering the tag for each entree. The staff was quick to make sure all needs were met and were helpful with all our questions and concerns. The view was spectacular however prepare in advance for parking. Prelude will validate parking if you park in the parking garage next door, but not on weekends. The lack of this specification led to some confusion and should be formally stated somewhere as a heads up.

C H 6 months ago

We dined at Prelude tonight before heading to the ballet and let our server know immediately that we were on a firm timeline. Our reservation was at 5:00pm, with plans to be finished and walking to the theater by 6:30pm. That context matters here. We were seated by the patio door on a 45-degree evening, and every time the door opened, a blast of cold air came through. Not exactly a great start, and confusing given the weather. Our server was very nice, and we communicated our time constraints clearly up front. Drinks were ordered and delivered, but then service became disjointed. At one point, another server walked by and literally took my menu mid-conversation and handed it to another table. A few minutes later, after clearly noticing my confusion, he returned with a replacement and asked if we had ordered yet. We had not. When our server finally returned, we ordered the bone marrow to share for the table of four. When it arrived, it was half a bone with no marrow whatsoever, topped with greens that appeared to be covering that fact. The manager did check in, acknowledged the issue, and offered to replace it. We declined due to time and appreciated that it was removed from the bill. My wife and I ordered a steak and asked the kitchen to split the entrée, which they did beautifully. When the food finally arrived, it was cooked perfectly. Credit where it’s due. Unfortunately, it arrived far too late. Entrees didn’t start coming out until around 6:25pm, and some orders were forgotten, causing further delays while the rest of the table waited. At that point, we were forced to rush through our meal just to make the ballet on time. What was supposed to be a relaxed pre-show dinner turned into a stressful sprint. There were a few saving graces: polite service, a responsive manager, and well-cooked food. But the overall experience, especially given the clearly communicated time constraints, fell short. For a restaurant positioned like Prelude, timing and execution matter. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend it based on this visit.

Paul Osuna 5 months ago

Prelude provided a lovely dinner experience, especially facilitated by our wonderful waiter Devin. The braised beef cheek was to die for, and the pork chop and gnudi were phenomenal. The place has a really nice atmosphere and I look forward to going back soon. A must try restaurant in sacramento !!

Cloyce Dickerson 10 months ago

I'm a hopeless romantic and love when a new place carries the nostalgia of something old. Prelude Kitchen & Bar is tucked at the end of a side street in downtown Sacramento, and stepping onto their patio instantly reminded me of dining in Saint-Tropez, Cannes, or Rome. The only difference? None of those gorgeous places had a picture-perfect view of the California State Capitol right across the street. For the past 10-12 years, my wife and I have faithfully had a date night every Tuesday evening. (Men, be warned: this tradition started because Tuesdays used to mean cheap movies--and look what it's turned into. ) Every now and then, we stumble across a gem, and Prelude is absolutely one of them that will stay in our rotation from this day forward. The food? Every bit as good as the view. The pork chop alone deserves its own love story--it will make you want to leave your wife... but only to go to the restroom, and then come right back to share it with her. From start to finish, everything was excellent, including the attentive service. If you're looking for a restaurant that delivers romance, charm, and unforgettable flavors, Prelude Kitchen & Bar is the place to be.