Prelude at McCaw HallThe ever changing menuWe go to Prelude because it's very convenient to the Opera. They also have a good food and wine policy; small plates and half bottles of wine. Order as much or as little as you want. The menu is forever changing; it has new items on it every time we go.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMShort of Time, No WorriesDining at Prelude prior to a Seattle Opera performance always adds to the evening, as the service is tip-top, and the staff are 100% aware that we need to have completed our meal and check settlement before that 7:30 bell rings, so we can dine in seeming leisure, not worrying about the clock. To top that stress-reliever, there are dishes on the Prelude menu that are totally delicious, like the curried carrot soup!
What a great addition to McCaw Hall.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a pleasant dining experienceWe had a pleasant dining experience from great food and good service. The opera was fantastic, also.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe perfect place for a snackThe perfect place for a snack or full meal prior to the opera. Excellent service and really delicious food.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWe both thought our dinnerWe both thought our dinner was very good. The waitress was great too. The best place to have dinner before the opera or ballet.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place to eat beforeGreat place to eat before oOera or Ballet. Quick, pleasant service. Varied menu.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a great place to haveThis is a great place to have dinner before events at McCaw Hall. The menu is always very good and the service is excellant. We are season ticket holders at Seattle Opera, actually founding subscribers, and the current incarnation of eating at the opera house is the best of them all; the facility, the ambiance, the menu and the service.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMJamone Benedict done to perfection!We were running late for our reservation, and they still seated us quickly and courteously. We had about an hour before the ballet, and this is the perfect spot to catch brunch before a PNB performance at the opera house. The eggs benedict (Jamone Benedict) with asparagus was quick, yummy, and perfectly done. We were out of the restaurant with time to get seated for the performance. The waiter said they would soon be remodeling, and I hope they add some sound reduction to the ceiling -- my biggest complaint with the venue.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWe eat at Prelude before everyWe eat at Prelude before every performance as we have season tickets and Prelude is very convenient. This is the first time we had a real complaint about the food. Two in our party ordered mac and cheese. It was not hot, just lukewarm and not very cheesy. I ordered a salad and it was just fine. The two mac and cheese people ordered dessert and it was excellent. It was just the mac and cheese that was very bad.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMalthough the restaurant becamealthough the restaurant became quickly crowded the service did not falter. the food was delicious but i was not a fan of the sprouts on the chicken dinner.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMPrelude: Much More than ConvenientWe loved having brunch at Prelude. Having come from a distance and arriving early (no traffic jams for once) we were delighted to be seated half an hour before our reservation. The menu covered an amazing range of offerings, which suited our appetites and preferences. The duck confit was beautifully seasoned and delicious, the berries on the granola were nice and fresh. The salad of spring greens and beets disappointed; radishes were substituted for the choggia beets. The cheese plate offered a pleasant variety of ripe, flavorful cheeses. Our server was inobtrusive, capable and prompt. Watching the youngsters dressed up for a treat delighted us; the full house felt anticipatory, not crammed.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMPrelude does such a greatPrelude does such a great job catering to the audience at McCaw Hall. One member of our group was significantly delayed by traffic, and they took it all in stride. Food came out at just the right time, and we loved the way we could order dessert and have it waiting at our same table during the first intermission. It's so easy, when you're going to the ballet or opera to park once and BE THERE, not having to rush off from another restaurant. The downside is that it's pricey, and expect small servings - like my salad, which had about 7 pieces of baby lettuce and as many paper-thin slices of beet...I had to wonder why those items were even mentioned on the menu!
But it's a lovely spot and the service is excellent!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe weve given a complimentaryWe weve given a complimentary bottle of wine to mark the occasion of our 15th meal at the restaurant which was much appreciated.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAgain - disappointed thatAgain - disappointed that there was no sandwich on the menu. Not everyone wants to pay an exorbitant amount of money to dine there. The food was good (much better than the ravioli and oyster mushroom entree I had last time) but very costly for what you get, and the meat was a lot rarer than I prefer. Apparently I'm the only one who objects to the prices though, since the place was pretty full Friday night.
I guess it's paying for the convenience, since I have difficulty walking very far, and I park in the garage. You always used to have a sandwich or panini, though, and I would certainly prefer that!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were running late due toWe were running late due to traffic, but we were greeted graciously and had a lovely dinner.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMCombined with the ballet,Combined with the ballet, it couldn't have been better. PNB and Prelude are a splendid combo. One thing, though, we prefer to eat after a performance, not before. We did kill an hour and a half happily but it would be nice if there was a lounge for coffee or a glass of wine while waiting for the dining service to begin. Thanks for a lovely day. Swan Lake was great, the dining area exceptionally lovely and delicious food, and good service.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfectionI've eaten at many 'in-house' dining facilities at specific ballet/symphony/opera venues and have never had a 'fine-dining' experience until my brunch at Prelude. The food was prepared with the ingenuity and care of an intimate boutique restaurant. The atmosphere is clean, modern, with an artistic flare - and the staff were exceptionally charming and attentive. The Baby Romaine Salad for a starter, was delicate and complex, and the Benedict and Brioche French Toast were delicious and remarkably light. Our meal at Prelude added another layer of 'memorable' to our day at the ballet. As a 'stand alone' restaurant, the only downside is a somewhat limited menu . . . otherwise: perfection.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food before theExcellent food before the ballet. So easy to go here before the performance, and actually get great food. I was still thinking about the desert (earl gray tea cake with kumquat compote!!) a week later. It is one of the places that you can hear the conversations next to you, i.e. not intimate. The service was excellent, so that you are not anxious that you will not make the show (as I am when I dine locally before shows).4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat for brunch pre-balletVery enjoyable spot for pre-ballet matinee brunch on Sunday. Our seat by the tall windows was perfect for watching dogs, kids, and couples stroll in early spring weather, accompanied by a nice mimosa. Come a little early for very prompt service and a quieter room; it does get busy close to curtain time. Not a breakfast-oriented brunch menu -- only one egg dish, one french toast -- but lots of small plates of cheeses and salads. The buttery shrimp with cornbread and collards was delicious.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMA very pleasant location forA very pleasant location for lunch or brunch before a Seattle Ballet performance.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had another fabulous dinnerWe had another fabulous dinner at Prelude. Hand crafted pasta stuffed with goat cheese, oyster mushrooms and ??? I can't recall the sauce. Oh my goodness, so delish, as was the dinner salad with blood oranges. Because of a built in clientele who attend events at McCaw, this restaurant would not have to be so good, but it is!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMAt first, I wasn't a fan ofAt first, I wasn't a fan of this restaurant. I felt it was overpriced for failed attempts at gourmet food. It was just convenient for the ballet. But the last two visits have changed my mind. The beet salad I had last Saturday was a marvelous mix of flavors and beautifully presented. The stuffed chicken breast the time before was also wonderful.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent, simply excellent,Excellent, simply excellent, every bite was a short journey. One that I wanted to live time and time again.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMI like Prelude restaraunt.I like Prelude restaraunt.
Food and service were lovely..
I will be back!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMA Fine Dinner Before The BalletPrelude's current menu offers a great balance of breadth and innovation. Service is attentive to individual needs and offered with a smile. The restaurant went out of its way for us on a busy night and we were most appreciative.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good fast service forVery good fast service for before showtime. Good food.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful spot before theWonderful spot before the opera. We had dinner before the performance and our server suggested that we come back during intermission for dessert. It was waiting for us at our same table -- very sweet!3/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWe dined here before the opera.We dined here before the opera. The food was excellent and appropriate for dinner before the show, not too heavy. The wine was very good and the dessert and coffee were excellent. We enjoyed it very much.3/2/2013 12:00:00 AM