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Prelude, San Francisco, CA
animated flamesBooked 15 times today

Prelude

4.7 (105)
$50 and over
Californian
333 Battery St, San Francisco, CA 94111-3234

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Innovative
  • Romantic
Prelude, a part of Omakase Restaurant Group, offers a modern take on Southern cooking, blending cherished family recipes with Bay Area ingredients and contemporary techniques.

Executive Chef Celtin Hendrickson-Jones—inspired by his Alabama roots and shaped by time at Niku Steakhouse and Commis—reinterprets the nostalgic flavors of his childhood with an elegant touch.

The cocktail program balances modern mixology with playful, Southern-inspired twists, while the wine list highlights both emerging and established producers, highlighting the best-of-class in each category.

With warm, engaging service that keeps things fun and approachable, and a dining room appointed with plush velvet, Prelude invites guests to enjoy high-end dining without the pretense.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Southern
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu 5:30 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:30 pm–9:30 pm Bar Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Celtin Hendrickson-Jones
  • Neighborhood
    Financial District / Embarcadero
  • Cross street
    The conner of Clay and Battery on the ground floor of The Jay Hotel
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Private Room, Wine

Experiences

  • Happy Hour

    Multiple dates available
    Celebrate the end of the workday with a refreshing cocktail's and light bite's.
  • Tasting Menu

    $165.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Join Chef Celtin for an unforgettable experience that evokes the warmth of Sunday suppers through an ever-evolving menu, celebrating seasonal produce and nostalgic dishes. Please note that due to our culinary process, we are unable to accommodate vegan options.
  • Tasting Menu + Wine Pairing

    $283.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    "Join Chef Celtin for an unforgettable experience that evokes the warmth of Sunday suppers through an ever-evolving menu, celebrating seasonal produce and nostalgic dishes. Each course is thoughtfully paired with exquisite wines, enhancing the flavors and creating the perfect balance between food and drink Please note that due to our culinary process, we are unable to accommodate vegan options.

What 105 people are saying

Prelude reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    Best Ambiance

  • San Francisco

    Innovative

  • San Francisco

    Great for fine wines

  • San Francisco

    Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Prelude offers a delightful dining experience with "top notch service" and a "beautifully presented" menu that showcases Southern charm with a California twist. Executive Chef Celtin Hendrickson-Jones impresses with a creative, innovative menu. Guests rave about the "exceptional experience," "amazing" food, and "outstanding" ambiance, making it a standout in SF. Highlights include the pork chop, tasting menu, and inventive cocktails.

105 Reviews
  1. Delwyn

    Perth1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    If you want to try something different with southern influences you cannot go past Prelude. There were a few quirky unusual dishes, and on the whole the food was well executed and brilliantly presented. Brilliantly cooked pork.

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  2. Richard VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely phenomenal dining experience at Prelude SF! From start to finish, everything about this place is exceptional. Executive Chef Celtin Hendrickson-Jones is not only incredibly talented but also genuinely welcoming. You can feel the care and thought he puts into every dish — the menu is beautifully crafted, full of flavor, creativity, and soul. Master Sommelier Morgan brings an outstanding wine selection to the table. His knowledge and passion for wine are unmatched, and his pairings elevate the entire dining experience. Whether you're a wine expert or just curious, Morgan makes it both educational and fun. And the service? Impeccable. General Manager Michaela goes above and beyond to make sure every guest feels cared for. Her attention to detail and warmth make you feel like a regular, even on your first visit. Prelude SF is the total package — amazing food, world-class wine, and a team that truly loves what they do. Highly recommend!

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  3. Julian

    Puerto Vallarta1 review

    1.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was underwhelming. Special recognition for the fried chicken wing which was the best part of the night. The dessert courses should also receive an honorable mention. Everything else was subpar. The ambiance in itself was nice. The plates and cutlery were carefully thought out as well as the interior design. I do feel as though the table itself was underwhelming with no center piece. We also were seated extremely close to the two tables next to us. You would think for the price point we would've received a bit more privacy. On that note, I could also notice an extreme lack of care from the wait staff. It did feel they were attentive to the tables around us more. I'm not sure if this was discrimination due to age or appearance but it was noticed. I would like to add that the restaurant was given advance notice of the celebration of my wife's birthday and there was no additional recognition for this which was a shame. For an establishment that takes pride in attention to detail, I feel this topped off the lack of care. I don't understand the hype and will not be returning.

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  4. Elizabeth

    West Palm Beach1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What an epic meal! Josue was fantastic and the rest of the staff were amazing!!

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  5. OpenTable Diner VIP

    Sacramento7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an amazing dining experience at Prelude! Me and my Mom enjoyed the pre-fixed dinner prepared by lovely Executive Chef Celtin Hendrickson-Jones. Very calm ambiance and top notch service thoughout!

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  6. Jonathan

    Greater Boston1 review

    4.0

    Dined on May 21, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Chicken appetizer very greasy. Mussels heavy in butter without much flavor. Pork entree very good but not exceptional. Service exceptional and great ambiance (quiet and romantic lighting).

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  7. Russell

    San Francisco Bay Area4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A truly delightful evening. Staff was friendly, knowledgable and very accommodating. The tasting menu was a satisfying adventure and we never felt rushed. The pacing was a perfect for celebrating a birthday. They even nailed my champagne mojito! Hats off!

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  8. Paul VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area47 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    A very nice evening. Everyone was pleasant and helpful. Excellent creative menu with great wine pairings. Will probably go back for a special occasion. The music was a bit loud and perhaps a little too rock and roll for dinner. And if you refuse to place our bottle of Pellegrino on our table then please do a better job of keeping our glasses full

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  9. Sonia

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food presentation was beautiful. Also, excellent customer service. Very high end European in feeling.

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  10. Ajay VIP

    Seattle34 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 10, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    All I will say is this. For a restaurant that is to showcase a southern bend, it failed. Food delicately and well prepared but no life as it pertains to the southern flare. The dumplings are a joke, I am sorry. The pork chop amazing, the deviled eggs fantastic, the service is out of the world. Another visit, no!

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FAQs

Prelude is rated 4.7 stars by 105 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. San Francisco
  5. Financial District / Embarcadero

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Prelude

333 Battery St, San Francisco, CA 94111-3234

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    The conner of Clay and Battery on the ground floor of The Jay Hotel
  • Neighborhood
    Financial District / Embarcadero
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu 5:30 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:30 pm–9:30 pm Bar Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Southern
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Celtin Hendrickson-Jones
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Private Room, Wine
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