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Prelude

4.6
4.6
558 Reviews
$31 to $50
American
Welcome to a celebration of farm-to-fork dining where seasonal and local California bounty meets modern American cuisine from Executive Chef Tom Patterson. Savor the vibrant flavors of the season's freshest offerings where each plate is a tribute to our land's harvest while sipping on our handcrafted cocktails or enjoying a glass of fine wine. We invite you to step into our modern, elegant dining room or to experience unparalleled views of the California State Capitol from our beautiful patio, creating an ambiance that blends the best of urban landscapes and alfresco relaxation.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 18 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood

    Sacramento

  • Cross street

    11th and L Street. Street parking, public garage, and valet some nights.

  • Parking details

    Public Lot

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 558 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Sacramento / Sacramento Valley

    Good for business meals

  • Sacramento

    Good for business meals

  • Sacramento

    American

Sort by

  1. DavidP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    To start, Jay was an amazing bar tender. We started at the bar prior to the dinner and thoroughly enjoyed Jay's recommendation, not only for drinks but for our main dishes. We had our anniversary dinner here last night and feel this establishment DEFINETELY deserve 5 stars! Great location and close to lots of other restaurants and bars. The outside patio has a great view of the capital building. We will for sure be going back!

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  2. Panos

    San Francisco

    10 reviews

    3.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall3food2service4ambience4
    I ordered the chicken and it was over cooked. My friends ordered the $58 steak. The value was not there. The best plate was the pork. Over priced meal.

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  3. Bree

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Hands down the most amazing pork chop and polenta I have ever had! I live in WA state and travel down here once a year....I will now be craving this until this time 2024!! Drinks imo are over priced but other than that the food was amazing and the service was awesome! Ps I'm not a big bread eater but the bread with their special butter was worth EVERY calorie!

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  4. KnightLite

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 28, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience4
    Waiter did not mention or suggest any specials/ soup of the day.

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  5. Nikkinikki

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on May 23, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Beautiful atmosphere very clean and updated. Food was delicious. Staff was friendly and paced the dinner well.

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  6. PhilipS

    Milwaukee

    8 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on May 21, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience4
    The service was outstanding. The drinks and appetizers were excellent. My wife had the Wagyu filet, and I had the pork chop. Both were over seasoned with salt. If there was less seasoning, the entire meal would have been outstanding.

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  7. roberts

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 21, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience4
    Had a wonderfull meal. There was a lot going on, flavor wise, in all the dishes. The staff was great met all expectations. See you next time.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The service was outstanding and the food was excellent. Best food I’ve had in Sacramento! The pork, scallops, ahi tuna, risotto, and tiramisu were all amazing. Highly highly recommend Prelude!

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  9. MariL

    Las Vegas

    4 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 20, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    I ordered the Scallops and was disappointed on how my food came out. The portion was small that it should be an appetizer and not an entree. It came with 3 small scallops that are salty. It’s disappointing!

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  10. Blanchard

    Tahoe

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was excellent, both in preparation and presentation. The price was on the higher side, though the portions on most cases were good sized. I was disappointed with the size of the scallops serving. Four scallops with a bit of sauce and peas. Tasted great, just small in portion.

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  11. BonnieK

    Sacramento

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was delicious and the service impeccable!

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  12. Ahanson

    Tahoe

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on May 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great location, friendly staff. The menu was awesome and the food terrific.

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  13. LoloR

    Sacramento

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 11, 2023

    overall2food5service1ambience4
    Our server was extremely rude. In the beginning of the evening we asked him to split checks (on the website it says that is completely fine if there is less than 8 guests which we had). When we asked he said this was no problem at all and we made sure to do all the ordering as easy as possible and tell him what appetizer went with what seat. (3 different people at the table are servers so we understand how it can be confusing and we made sure to make it as simple as possible). At the end he completely ignored us, told us he had to help his other tables instead of us, and made us wait roughly 45 minutes to get the check completed. He was very rude and not helpful and kept telling us it is our fault when he had said in the beginning he would split them. The food and drinks were amazing we were just highly disappointed in the service. After spending over $1000 for all of our meals/drinks combined we were just expecting him to be a little more kind and friendly. We would love to come back but it was one of the worst server experiences we have ever encountered, which is a bummer for a birthday celebration.

    PreludeResponded on May 12, 2023We have a high standard of service and hospitality and are disappointed that we fell short of that on your visit. I apologize we weren't able to offer you the 5 star experience that we aim for. We are constantly striving towards learning, improving, and holding our team accountable to our service standards and will work with your server to make sure a similar situation doesn't happen again moving forward.

    1 person found this helpful

  14. HB08

    Sacramento

    52 reviews

    4.0

    52 reviews

    Dined on May 7, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    First time visiting Prelude. Small seasonal menu with varied options. I had the scallops which were tasty. Side vegetables were fresh and delicious. Portion size was good. Cocktails and entrees are pricey but I guess this is the time we’re living in. This is a special occasion place.

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  15. Rickers

    Sacramento

    104 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    104 reviews

    Dined on May 5, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    Slow day, but very good service and the food was delicious. Thank asparagus appetizer was excellent. They turned a pastrami sandwich into a no carb deconstructed sandwich with lettuce. Very good

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  16. GwenT

    San Francisco

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on May 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had lunch at Prelude before attending a Broadway musical matinee. Service was very attentive. Have an extensive cocktail menu and my cocktail was delicious. For lunch we had the waygu pastrami and prime rib dip. Both were excellent and tasty, especially the waygu pastrami. Decor of restaurant was very appealing and the ambience felt romantic. A very classy restaurant!

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  17. RobertD

    Las Vegas

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food, great service....location is great, but parking not so much

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  18. RolundiaM

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    The staff were awesome, the food was excellent… Will definitely go again.

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  19. Z3toofun

    Sacramento

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on April 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious food. Excellent everything!! One of the best restaurants in Sacramento!

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  20. JonathanS

    Sacramento

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on April 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always great food, great drinks and great service. A very nice evening sitting outside!

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  21. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    8 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on April 9, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Food was good, service was great, but very loud inside.

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  22. OpenTable Diner

    Tahoe

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I took my mom there for an early Mother’s Day gift (I was also surprising her with a concert at Golden 1). On telling our waitress this, she provided treatment above and beyond our expectations! Savannah was amazing and the food was delicious—light, fresh, perfect portions, and packed with flavor!

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  23. OpenTable Diner

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 9, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    Prelude was OK. Beef carpaccio has a mustard on it that is overpowering. Mixed green salad was decent. Filet wasn’t seasoned and over cooked. Risotto was the best to big we had. Strawberry dessert was also not good. Our server was far and few on the visits until it was time for the check.. We are not likely to return.

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  24. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 4, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    The service was good, Devin was attentive, he checked in and made sure we were ok and happy with our food. The water guy came by in a timely manner too, thumbs up we never had to wave and ask for more water. The atmosphere was chic, romantic, warm, and quiet. The food was good we all enjoyed it . I ordered the beet salad and Salmon. They were both delicious. The beet salad was refreshing and I could've had more. We also ordered the Brussel sprouts with pork belly to share, we all agreed it was pretty good. A little heavy but it wasn't a problem. The noodle dish we ordered was a little salty for my sister in law, the short ribs my brother had was super tender and very savory with good favors. My sister had the gnocchi, it was my first time trying this and I would love to go back to order this dish myself. Favors were delightful. Our drinks were on the strong side (maybe we just don't drink enough to appreciate the liquor ‍) but that makes it worth the price. Drinks were pricy. I didn't take pictures of the drinks. But overall we'll go again. Give it a try. The outside view would be amazing, you can see the Capital building .

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  25. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful beautiful place! Yummy food and outstanding cocktails!

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  26. sactoj

    Sacramento

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on April 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The pork chop is to die for. Great cocktails and a wonderful ambience.

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  27. JordanP

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great food. Will definitely return to try more tasty things on the menu!

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  28. JillB

    Sacramento

    11 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on March 29, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    Really enjoyed the food and thought the look of the restaurant was very appealing. The dining area in the back was pretty loud and a bit dark for my preference at lunchtime. I'd opt for a hightop table in the front next time. Had some issues with our order (food came out in the wrong order, one wrong item came out and the soup was lukewarm) but our server corrected everything and overall we were both pleased with our meals.

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  29. CindyR

    Sacramento

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Pleasantly surprised by this new restaurant find! Excellent food, cocktails and service. Good vibe!

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  30. ClaudiaZ

    Sacramento

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on March 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    This our 2nd visit to your restaurant. Food is seasoned to perfection! Ambiance is elevated comfort. Our server Savannah was attentive & friendly. We will be back again!

    PreludeResponded on March 24, 2023Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your second visit to our restaurant, and that you enjoyed the food, service and ambiance. We can't wait to welcome you back for another memorable dining experience!

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  31. JackM

    Sacramento

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 24, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience4
    Trouble parking. I was told they would validate but it was an event night so had to pay $15 to park. They should know this when making a reservation.

    PreludeResponded on March 24, 2023Jack, we apologize for the inconvenience you experienced with parking during your visit. We understand how frustrating parking can be, especially on event nights. We will work with our hosting staff to better communicate parking details during the reservation process in the future. Thank you for your feedback, and we hope to serve you again soon.

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  32. NancyB

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on March 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Alexis was a wonderful server from her pleasant attitude to her entree recommendations! The beet salad, pork chop and ribeye were amazing! Their wine corkage fee was $20 which was very reasonable. A great dinner location before a performance at the SAFE Credit Union Center.

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  33. Foodies

    Sacramento

    49 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    49 reviews

    Dined on March 22, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Great ambience with great service. Good selection of food.

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  34. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 21, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    Being working in the industry for over 14 years as an executive Chef and floor manager, this is my personal opinion. Service was outstanding, cocktails were on point and food was delicious. We were enjoying our appetizers and decided to order a bottle of wine to enjoy with our dinner but their “policy “ of one drink at a time kinda ruined our dinner since the main course arrived and we didn’t have the wine at the table since the manager in charge decided not to bring the bottle over my table until we were almost done with our pasta, even though we rushed to finish the drink we had at the time to enjoy wine. I wanted to get the wine at the table so the wine could’ve start breathe and be ready to enjoy it with pasta but Instead food was getting cold so decide to change the plan and get a different drink. Our server was on point and apologized for the inconvenience and he tried to make sure that the rest of our dinner was enjoyable. The manager in charge never came to the table.

    PreludeResponded on March 22, 2023Thank you for taking the time to write this review and for your valuable insights as an executive chef and floor manager. We're thrilled that you appreciated our service, cocktails, and food. We apologize for the inconvenience caused by our drink policy and the impact it had on your dining experience. Your feedback is important to us, and we'll reassess our policies to better serve our guests. We look forward to welcoming you back and making your next visit exceptional.

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  35. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was amazing, location is prime, and our waitress Trinity was great!

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  36. TBWTB

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Randomly made a reservation for girls night because of its proximity and it was a 10/10! The food was incredible, the cocktails / mocktails were great and our server (I think Devin..?) had the best suggestions! Will definitely come back

    PreludeResponded on March 21, 2023Thank you for choosing our restaurant for your girls' night and we appreciate your glowing review! We're thrilled you enjoyed the food, drinks, and Devin's recommendations. We can't wait to welcome you back for another 10/10 experience!

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  37. OpenTable Diner

    Central Coast

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The salmon was delicious and the cocktails were also amazing. Great ambiance!

    PreludeResponded on March 21, 2023Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience at our restaurant! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our delicious salmon and craft cocktails. Our team works hard to create a welcoming ambiance, and we're glad it contributed to a memorable dining experience for you. We sincerely appreciate your kind words and look forward to serving you again soon.

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  38. KeralynV

    Sacramento

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were greeted immediately by friendly staff who also took the time to notify the wait staff that we were in town to see a show which we would need to be on time for. Our server, Trinity, made us feel welcomed from the moment we sat down and she was thorough and professional the entire time. She even took the time to acknowledge our daughter's birthday. The food was all excellent and the bartender made wonderful drinks, alcoholic and non. It is very refreshing to dine at a restaurant that truly cares about customer service and experience. We would love to dine at Prelude again!

    PreludeResponded on March 21, 2023Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled that our attentive team, Trinity's superb service, and our delicious food and drinks made your dining experience exceptional. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we can't wait to serve you again at Prelude!

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  39. JenniB

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great atmosphere and food, and exceptional service by everyone, especially Ryan. We called to let them know we would be about 15 minutes late due to traffic and Ariana was very assuring in letting us know we'd have a table ready no matter the time we arrived. Cocktails from the bar were also spot-on so kudos to the bartender (didn't catch her name). It felt like a well coordinated team working on behalf of the customer experience. We'll definitely be back again.

    PreludeResponded on March 19, 2023Jenni, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the atmosphere, food, and exceptional service from our team, especially Ryan and Ariana. Our staff is dedicated to providing a seamless dining experience and it's great to know we met your expectations. We're also glad you appreciated our cocktail offerings. Your kind words encourage us to keep delivering a top-notch customer experience. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon! Allen

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  40. JonC

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 14, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience3
    The service was very slow. They seemed under staffed. It was also extremely loud in the restaurant and difficult to hold a conversation. However the food was excellent!

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available
  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables
  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff temperature check required

FAQs

Prelude is rated 4.6 stars by 558 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 18 times today
Google Map for Prelude

1117 11th St., Sacramento, CA 95814

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street

    11th and L Street. Street parking, public garage, and valet some nights.

  • Neighborhood

    Sacramento

  • Hours of operation

    Mon–Fri 11:30 am–9:00 pm Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    American, Unspecified, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking details

    Public Lot

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Owned/operated by

    Asian and Pacific Islander

  • Executive chef

    Tom Patterson

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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