Had a reservation and were promptly seated. Excellent service. They don't have a formal kids' menu but brought them an activity sheet and told us what the kitchen could do. One of my kids ended up ordering off the regular menu, and I asked if they could do anything to make his sides more kid-friendly, which they accommodated beautifully. Every single thing we ordered was delicious.

I first tasted Prelude's food at the California Restaurant Association Sacramento Chapter/California Craft Brewers Association's inaugural Paws, Pubs, and Grubs event in November--their Scallop Ceviche. I didn't know that it was the sister restaurant to Zinfandel Grille! The food is described as modern farm-to-table. It's located next to the robot coffee bar and super convenient to the Capitol [Parking] Garage on 10th and L. They do validate unless event parking is prepaid. They're not a participating partner restaurant for dining discounts with Broadway Sacramento. However, I decided to stop in and try their happy hour bites (Monday to Friday, 4:00-6:00 PM) before a 7:30 PM Friday evening show. Making reservations was easy, but happy hour pricing is only valid at bar seating. There is a 15-minute grace period for arrival time to be seated. Interior is very posh. The bartender was mindful of the time constraint and engaging whatever we needed. We shared one order each of the fried ravioli, garlic parmesan truffle fries, and fried Brussels sprouts. The fried ravioli came with confit garlic potato puree, mustard cream sauce, artichokes, fennel, capers, and arugula. This was our favorite item of the night. The Brussels sprouts had crispy pancetta on the side, shaved red onion, apple vinaigrette, and toasted pistachios. These were very good, and my second favorite. The parmesan truffle fries came with sriracha aioli; these were good but we could not finish the portion in one sitting between us. Looking back, it seems like the pricing for the Fried Ravioli is $16 regardless of the Happy Hour or Dinner menu timing, but for the Brussels Sprouts, you save $3 during Happy Hour.

This location has been a revolving door for years but we might have a longer-term candidate now! I can only describe this place as swanky. Very attentive staff and clean and crisp, down to the minute decor and details. It seems to fill up on "show nights", being in close proximity to the Broadway Sacramento venue and the staff are very respectful of showtimes. As for the food, I would say it was a little pricey for my own taste. I'm happy to report there is a happy hour menu that ends at 6 pm. The fried ravioli were especially delicious and came highly recommended by the bartender. The accompanying salad had capers and other mandolined veggies and a great sauce. I would definitely recommend this as a standout. The garlic parm truffle fries and fried Brussels sprouts are all that you could ask for, not particularly special or unusual, but very good, nonetheless. I found the bacon on the side of the Brussels very crispy.

Nestled right across from the capitol building, Prelude Kitchen & Bar offers a beautiful atmosphere that sets the stage for a delightful dining experience. The Order: -Fried ravioli appetizer -Duck fat seared scallops with a side of fingerling potatoes -Dungeness crab arrabbiata -Pumpkin cheesecake for dessert The Experience: Starting with the fried ravioli appetizer, we were off to a fantastic start. These little pockets of joy were better than expected, crispy on the outside and bursting with flavor on the inside. For the entrees, we had the duck fat seared scallops and the Dungeness crab arrabbiata. The scallops, though a small portion, were amazingly delicious. The butternut squash puree that accompanied them was a perfect match--so good! However, the fingerling potatoes with aioli dip, suggested by our waiter, were a bit of a letdown. They were just okay, nothing to write home about. The Dungeness crab arrabbiata, on the other hand, was a hit. A generous portion with a delicious sauce that had a slight spice kick, it was full of seafood goodness. The focaccia breadcrumbs added a nice texture touch, making it a solid dish overall. To finish off the meal, we indulged in the pumpkin cheesecake. Let me tell you, it was delicious! Creamy, flavorful, and the perfect end to our meal. The Service: Service was great--no complaints here. The staff was attentive and friendly, enhancing our dining experience. The Verdict: Would we return? Absolutely! Prelude Kitchen & Bar has a lot to offer, and we're eager to try more from their menu. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth a visit. So, if you're looking for a spot with a great atmosphere and some standout dishes, give Prelude Kitchen & Bar a try. You won't be disappointed!

I planned my company holiday party at Prelude Kitchen & Bar and it was amazing! Anna helped coordinate from start to finish. She was patient, her communication was great, and so friendly. The staff were also amazing and always came by to check to make sure everything was running smoothly. The food was delicious, the drinks were great, overall a FANTASTIC event. Thank you!

The perfect dining experience. Not just the food. The classy greet at the entrance: warm , friendly , genuine. The ambiance: a little din... chatter of other patrons, minimal echo, kitchen clatter... The bartender: Kim, the icing on the cake.. all smiles , friendly , engaging A little chit chat but left me alone to savor the gourmet American short rib Wine by the glass, great, Beet salad minimally complicated complimented by a good mild cab Home made fresh whipped cream on a desert. Why can't all dining experiences be like this. I will most definitely come back and order everything on the menu. Thank you owner and staff. First class , blue jeans friendly fine dining.

Prelude offers an upscale feel and in a well designed restaurant. Servers were very friendly and accommodating. This place is known for its brined pork chop which I enjoyed. It did come out lukewarm which may mean it had been pre cooked earlier but the flavor was there. The restaurant was busy and the wait time for food was longer than you would expect. Overall, it was a great experience and I appreciated that it was not a chain restaurant.

My first experience at Prelude came November 5th. It was a brisk fall evening on an otherwise inconsequential Tuesday night. Short version: food was very good but not too exciting (except the blueberry lemon tiramisu which absolutely slapped), staff very friendly, and very nice inside. Patio offers unobstructed views of the years-long ongoing capital construction project. As an added bonus, I got to watch someone try to steal an olive out of their dates drink and then accidentally shoot it out of their mouth across the room. Long version: pls reach out to me directly