Came here for a birthday celebration. We had a party of seven. Upscale restaurant feel with excellent service. The price was on par with the quality, nothing outrageous. The food was very good. The Beef Tartare was well seasoned/balanced and tasted fresh. The Cheese/Tomato (I forgot what it was called) appetizer was a also a hit. Fresh tomatoes with cheese can never go wrong. I had the Scallops with Squid Ink Pasta. LOVED the dish. The scallops were perfectly seared and the sauce/pasta was a great complement to the dish. I tried some of my friend's pork chop and lamp shank and both of those dishes were juicy and perfectly cooked as well. Staff was very efficient and friendly. We were given some chocolate truffles at the end of our meal since it was a birthday celebration. Nice touch. You can bring your own cake and the "cake fee" is for storing the cake and slicing it and serving it. All expertly done. 5 stars for making it a memorable Birthday get together. read more

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OK, the first thing I'm going to say about this place is that you can get two hours validation at the garage across the street. I wish I had known this before I plunked down eight bucks to come here. Pro tip! I always like to try out a restaurant with their happy hour first just to check out the ambiance, the service, the menu offerings and see what the crowd is like. Prelude did not disappoint. Love the white, calming interior. Their happy hour is from 3 PM to 6 PM. I was pleasantly surprised with their happy hour red wine, and only $7. It isn't bad. Not the best, of course as they have quite a few other options to choose from on their wine list, but it was just the right amount and I always appreciate a decent Cabernet. My friend had the steak tartare ($12) and she enjoyed it so much that she ordered a second one. It comes with a very fresh green goddess sauce, and crispy capers on top. Something I've never had before. The happy hour item I chose was the flatbread! The crust was OK, I would've preferred something a little bit crispier, but I did enjoy the fresh tomatoes on top and pesto sauce. It was also $12 and was very filling. Service was very cheerful and professional. Now that I know that I don't have to waste money on street parking. I am definitely coming back here. It's the principle. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Flatbread - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I went to Prelude Kitchen and Bar for a solo date and it was amazing. I wish I remembered my servers name because he did an amazing job. I got the almost aperol spritz and the salmon dish. Prelude has the most impressive mocktail menu I've seen thus far in Sacramento and I am a mocktail connoisseur. They have nonalcoholic gin and nonalcoholic tequila that actually tastes pretty similar to the real thing with less of the nasty bite to it. The almost aperol was so refreshing. The salmon dish was very tasty and cooked to perfection. The service that came along with it was amazing. My server Devon was awesome and so quick. He really knew everything about the menu. 10/10 deserves a raise! The ambiance is beautiful. The restaurant was clean to perfection. Looks like nobody had ever been in there before. I would recommend this place for a date night or even a solo date. I didn't need a reservation which surprised me. They deserve the hype. Keep up the great work!! read more

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Visited near the end of the day Friday night. Picked up a 8:30 for an anniversary dinner. It wasn't busy at all and really enjoyed the quiet environment. They have indoor and outdoor seating and it seems like most people decided to sit outside. This left the bar seating with just us and it made it quite an awesome experience. The staff was super attentive and kept our drinks and water topped off. For our anniversary they did have some special little cookies and a flower vase with Happy anniversary on it. The seating was very open and place had a nice clean interior. Also did I say again it was quiet Staff was super knowledgeable and helped us pick out some appetizers. We ordered the Brentwood corn fritters and an off menu charcuterie plate. Really enjoyed both and both worth ordering. The entrees were probably my only real disappointment with this place. Ratatouille was really boring and with the added chicken it seems like they made the plate smaller. I really love squash and there was barely any on the plate. The New York strip was decent but not a fan of the fingerling potatoes. Onto the dessert and drinks. Old fashioned and lemon drop drinks were great. The extra dessert was nice. Also cheers to the Affogato with Anchor Tree coffee This place is a 4.5 for me but despite the ok entrees everything else was great! read more

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We wanted to try this restaurant for a while and finally got a chance to dine here. Reservations through Open Table were seamless and we were able to get a table inside the dining room. There's plenty of seating on the patio as well as inside the restaurant with good amount of seating around the bar. The restaurant is located next to the state capitol so depending on the time and date, the location can be quite busy. There's a parking garage right across making it really convenient to park and dine. For the starters we got a beef tartare, wedge salad and Caesar salad. It was really good. Portions were really good and presentation was on point. For main entrees we had the pan seared Ora king salmon. It was the highlight of the evening. The skin on the salmon was perfectly crispy and the fish was tender and cooked really well. The roasted corn puree and pepperonata complimented the dish really well. We are looking forward to coming back in the future. If you're in the area, this is a must try! read more

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Went here with my husband for date night decided to go to prelude. The restaurant is elegant and very clean. We had a reservation but there was no wait time. Service was great and our waiter was attentive to our needs. They have a nice menu with a variety of items. We ordered the tomahawk dinner (we shared - it's huge). It was delicious, although the roasted potatoes were over burned. The salad was amazing too. read more

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Vibey and beautiful place. Service is above and beyond. Looking forward to coming back. I came in during happy hour for a sip and read my book. I got the sail away off of happy hour menu. It's a tropical drink and I loved it. It was not bus during the time of my visit to I was able to read for a little without holding up a table. The ambiance was very nice here. Service is truly amazing. My server is wonderful and also checked on me to make sure my order tasted good. Great place. read more

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Damn. Another 5 experience. I walk in here looking unemployed ( I dress Down) The greet at the front door is all smiles and welcomes. I had two glasses of different reds with my dinner. Excellent. I had the smoked salmon canapés Great sauce and light starter. The long cod: I was afraid to order seafood with chorizo in the ingredient list. Seemed risky. Bartendress convinced me otherwise. The chorizo risotto is the bed the king cod sits on. Slightly spicy yes. It's like having two complimentary separate meals. The chorizo risotto is very flavorful in its own way. The leeks /sausage slices ( not described in the menu) were a great explosion of flavor. I separated the lingcod and risotto bites with a small mix of wine which cleaned me palate between bites perfectly. Capers. Like chocolate on ice cream. Always a great touch The long cod read more

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I have been here for a handful of Happy Hours- never for a full on meal. But their HH menu is pretty excellent! Happy Hour is Mon-Fri 4-6pm (only as walk in and at the bar). I usually get 3-4 food options and split with a friend. They do offer mocktails as well! The greeter is always very welcoming - the ambiance always very nice- but service can be a bit hit or miss. If you aren't in a rush- it's nice. Everything I have had here was delicious! read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Mocktail with NA Tequila - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

We waited quite a while to be approached by waitstaff and then waited quite a bit for our cocktails as well, despite it being a slow night at the restaurant. Once ordered, the food came in a timely manner. The peach burrata was made with a nectarine, if I'm not mistaken. My husband said the best thing about his steak was the potatoes. My lemon risotto was very lemony...it was the dominant flavor of the dish. I wouldn't order it again. Given the prices of the food, I am overall underwhelmed with the flavors. The restaurant itself is bright and has a nice patio. read more

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From the entrance to being seated, we were greeted respectfully by the host. The waiter came to explain the menu with great service. Once we received our starter, salad, to entree...we were very pleased and satisfied with how everything tasted. Overall dining experience here was 100! read more

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First time at Prelude Kitchen and Bar. Booked a table for 10 to celebrate my sister's birthday. Not busy, the staff were friendly and we were greeted upon entry and seated immediately. The added a happy birthday into the flowers, nice touch. Greeted my sister upon her arrival by name and a happy birthday. Sweet. The food, this is what Farm to Fork is all about. We skipped appetizers but did order the bread with cranberries, deliciously soft with the fresh butter. Mary's Half Chicken served with Brussel sprouts Beef Everything was good, cooked to perfection. Menu does change seasonally, so do check before you go. Lovely meal and ambiance if you want low key, luxe feel. Xoxo read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Birthday Dinner - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

Birthday celebration was a success! Everyone was great the food, service and the ambiance. We will definitely come back again. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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We got the delicata squash as an appetizer and it was an amazing combo of flavors . I also liked that it was a unique dish. I got the pumpkin gnudi for my main dish. It was a good savory dish but I am not sure I would order it again. My friend got the pork chop and which I wouldn't normally order but it was cooked to perfection and I wouldn't probably get that if I visited again. The service was top notch. Our waiter was friendly and when he didn't know where to recommend for bars, he sent someone else over to let us know the different areas and a couple Of suggestions while we were in town read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Pumpkin Gnudi - solid choice - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Prelude is located directly across the street from the Capitol. It was our first time there and we were celebrating two birthdays (mine and my sister in law). We wanted to try somewhere we had both never been before, and we had heard good things! Prelude has a great menu and bar/cocktail list. Our server was usually one of the bartenders, and he recommended the pear side car which was delicious! It was not overly crowded on a Friday night and has a nice, quiet atmosphere. They also gave us birthday centerpieces with flowers and a happy birthday topper. All the food was delicious! The Brussels sprouts were great for sharing and super tasty. The bone marrow wasn't enough for five people to share, so I didn't try that one but everyone seemed to enjoy it. The mushroom mousse was unique but not a stand out for me. Our salads were good and my brother in law enjoyed the broccoli cheddar soup. There was a bit of a longer lull in between courses than we were expecting, and they did seem to be a bit understaffed. The entrees were all super flavorful and delicious. They have the flavors right although I wish my short rib had come out a bit hotter. We were celebrating, so we opted in for dessert even though we were full! The desserts were all great, and good for sharing. We enjoyed our meal and experience here. I think I can definitely see us coming back for a date night or other special occasion, as long as we're not in a hurry! read more

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We had a team dinner here last night and I have to say, it was a great experience. Our server Veronica (I hope Im right! She was awesome!) was amazing and has the best memory! She remembered all orders! Excellent service from everyone! We ordered 3 different appies, the pear was amazing!! 6 different entrees and drinks! I had affogato for dessert and it was phenomenal. Ambiance as always is beautiful. This is my 2nd time here- one was a date night and now with a group, both are amazing experience!! read more

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I attended a special event where our party had exclusive use of the downstairs area, which was conveniently located near the kitchen and featured a charming basement space. We selected a prix fixe menu in advance. Appetizers were served initially but ran out quickly; oddly, they weren't brought to the table, requiring us to retrieve them from a separate area. The distribution of food was unusual--there was no consistent pattern, and it seemed random who received their dishes first. Everyone ordered the same steak cooked to medium, but some dishes were served differently--some well done, others rare, and a few medium--despite the cooked preference. My steak was cooked perfectly. The dessert, a chef's choice, was expected to be special but turned out to be plain cheesecake--nothing fancy. Overall, Prelude's offering fell short of expectations. read more

Ambiance: Rich, inviting, and warm. This is a place where you really should dress to impress. Definitely a date night spot however there were a few larger parties enjoying their evening as well. Staff dress code fit the mood as well. Anna helped with our reservation. She was most enjoyable and friendly. Erica was our attendant. She was professional yet fun. Food presentation was on point. We ordered the steak and the pork chop. The portion sizes are generous so be prepared to get your money's worth. They offer a great wine selection. We ordered the focaccia appetizer- would highly recommend. Our only issue was not wanting the asparagus that came with the steak. My partner asked to switch out to seasonal vegetables. Our attendant said no issue at all however, what came in its place (after the steak was served) was a sad bowl of spinach and not sure what else). It just kind of felt like we ticked off the chef by having an allergy issue. Not a big deal just to note. All and all, would definitely visit again. It's pricey but worth it. They have a lovely outdoor patio and its steps away from a parking garage. read more

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As many times that I've visited the State Capital, I'm surprised that it's taken as long as it has to actually learn about and visit the Prelude Kitchen and Bar. On this particular occasion, I visited with a large group of folks and my experience, which was very positive, was expressed by the others in my group. On this occasion, we were greeted by a very friendly group of staff. They could not have been more accommodating both in adding patrons and tending to requests we had. I realize that large groups could get lost amidst a dinner rush, but such was absolutely not the case. The team was helpful and supportive throughout with wine and food suggestions that were spot on. My review today is going to be on my entrée. I chose the Buttermilk Brined Half Chicken (this is not a fried chicken) rather something along the pan seared side with a finish in a roasting oven. This chicken was juicy with a nice color and crisp and topped and accented with a unique and solid version of salsa verde served atop fingerling potatoes and very tasty and perfectly cooked pole beans. To enhance this even further is a perfectly balanced Jus with a great balance of sodium and fat. This dish was excellent and I give it 5 stars. Prelude Kitchen and Bar has found a new fan in me. From beginning to end, I was impressed by every aspect of what they do. A creative and very tasty set of options to accommodate just about every palette. This was not my last visit to the Prelude Kitchen, rather the first of many. Their beverages were abundant with solid wine options to fit most every preference both in taste and in price. Bravo to the team for providing such a wonderful and fun experience! read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Buttermilk Brined Half Chicken - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

We walked into a spacious restaurant with dainty wall decors and amazing light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. We were certain it's going to be an epic evening! True enough, our server was on the dot with our drinks, starters, and my Ling Cod for the main menu. The food and dessert was fabulous ! I would totally recommend this place when in Sacramento! Just a great place overall! The parking can be a challenge. We walked two blocks away and counted our steps in:) read more

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Very nice meal The room is large and airy. The cocktails are creative and tasty. The food presentation is attractive. The flavors of everything we had were very good. The Pork Belly Esquites was particularly good. The staff was helpful and attentive. read more

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A nicer dining option in downtown Sacramento with delicious drinks, good service and pretty good food (some dishes are hit-or-miss as I'll explain below) We opted for outdoor seating. I much prefer to sit outside, the inside vibes are a bit off to me (I can't put my finger on it...). The interior is quiet and the trimming, layout, and bright lighting makes it feel like the inside of a residential house. I think this resonates with other diners as well since I saw all the outside tables full, while the inside had a lot of empty tables. The service was great, really friendly. The cocktails were delicious as well. The food was overall good. The pork chop and the chicken dishes were great. The steak was cooked perfectly. There were a few dishes that were REALLY SALTY. Like almost hard to eat, because it was so salty. For instance, both of our pasta dishes our entire group of 9 thought were really salty. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

Came here for a work dinner and it had a great ambiance. It wasn't too loud but loud enough to let people enjoy themselves and speak openly without feeling self conscious. The appetizers were all delicious and great for sharing. I didn't get a photo of the caprese because it was devoured. The tomatoes were naturally sweet and they were the star of the dish. Ordered the Basil scallops and the flavors were perfectly balanced with the slight saltiness of the scallops. Would definitely come back. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Angus Ribeye - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Went here for a work dinner. The ambiance had it. The service was good, but most of us were just meh about the food. I had some of the pasta and it was just ok. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Crème brûlée was good! - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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We came after a movie to celebrate my husbands major investment into his company. Dressed casually but appropriately. The hostess pretended they were booked for the evening. Not sure if it was elitism or that we had rainbow shirts on. But definitely inappropriate to lie with an open iPad showing openings directly in view. read more

We tried the lasagna (special fhat day), roasted chicken and cod. The chicken and cod were amazing! So flavorful. The lasagna was just okay so I recommend trying the other dishes more. Ambience was great and services was also nice. read more

I made a reservation for Valentine's Day a month ahead, making sure there was nothing about a specific overpriced menu on the site or reservation. I spent hours researching where to go, and picked an early time so we could find parking and it wouldn't be overcrowded. We showed up and there was an overpriced fixed menu. Then, when I said we wouldn't be ordering drinks, they didn't take our food order (for the one option of main course). After 30 minutes of nothing but water, I stopped a random waiter to ask. We got the first food over 45 minutes after arriving as the second table of customers. Maybe they thought we'd leave and eat the cost of a cancelled reservation? Also, my food restriction of no tomatoes wasn't recorded, and multiple items were things I can't eat. Then they brought us the amuse bouche twice, and my wife said the ceviche lacked flavor. I don't eat ceviche, but it was a tiny tortilla over a dot of avocado. The salad was spinach with fruit snd tiny raw onions, no dressing. She said it was weird and I don't eat raw onion. The soup she describes as the same as cheap tomato soup, I couldn't eat it. While the manager was apologetic and asked, "is there anything I can do?" I'm not rude enough to ask for a comped drink, but they did comp 10% off the bill when it came ($25 off $270). I only ate two courses of five, and we didn't get drinks. The waiters were polite and attentive after we had our order in. Mitch was professional and made the experience a little better. The filet mignon was supposed to be medium for both, but mine was rare, and the potatoes were undercooked. The dessert was a matcha cheesecake and for some random reason the crust was thick Oreo cookies. I had to use two hands on the fork to get through it, and my wife's was burnt. The only good part was the strawberry gelato intermezzo, but we were left with bloated bellies from an odd assortment of food and were both still hungry. Ambiance was okay, but definitely not worth nearly $300. read more

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The interior of the restaurant is beautiful. I would add that sitting near the back of the restaurant was a tad warm. The absolute best part of our dinner was meeting Erica our server. So extremely attentive but not hovering. She was so delightful I wish she could have dined with us. Food was excellent and very timely. One very sad note is we are not accustomed to California's way of handling the homeless. It was so very sad. read more

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We had our first dinner here to celebrate our 42nd year anniversary. We were greeted by Carmela who could not have been sweeter!! She seated us at lovely booth with Devon as our server and what a treat that was! Devon was so thoughtful and also very knowledgeable. We had a fabulous dinner followed by a yummy dessert. We can't wait to enjoy another fabulous meal at Prude! read more

Amazing menu and food. We had bone marrow with toast, broccolini salad, steak, and seafood pasta. Everything was delicious. I cannot wait to come back and try more exquisite meals there. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Seafood with squid ink pasta - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

It was on a random whim I decided to venture over to Prelude. My wife and I dined here many years ago out on the patio when they first opened but I couldn't remember whether I liked it or not. I initially was going to stay in the hotel and eat at one of the restaurants but prelude was less than a 2 minute walk so as I walked toward the lobby I veered out the door and over the Prelude. Many of the lobbyists and capital workers were just getting finished with their work day and also started to trickle in, don't worry I stayed away from the crazy California politics. I sat at the bar ordered a Lost at Sea cocktail (yummy) and then the halibut with forbidden rice, crispy artichokes and rainbow chard. To top it off I added 4 prawns. The halibut was literally one of the best pieces of fish I have had in my life. While not better than my favorite restaurant in Maui the fish was moist, tender, crispy skin, perfect flavor! Ugh I could eat another one as I type this review! The menu might be small but it's mighty and in the halibuts case meaty! Check out Prelude you will not be disappointed, excellent bar ambiance, service and of course food! Cheers! read more

​Beautiful Ambiance and Great Drinks, but the Food and Service Fell Flat. ​We really wanted to love this place because the ambiance is absolutely beautiful and the drinks were delicious. Unfortunately, the rest of our experience fell short, to the point where we decided to leave after appetizers and find dinner elsewhere. To start, the restaurant seemed heavily understaffed for how many people were there, which made the service struggle. We were also seated in the back room, which felt very claustrophobic due to the complete lack of windows and having only one entrance. ​The food was a major letdown. We started with the mozzarella caprese salad, which didn't have enough sauce, and the ingredients felt like they were just dumped on a plate and not married together at all. We also ordered the flatbread pizza, but the dough didn't taste good and the tomato on top was completely raw. It tasted like it desperately needed something--some cooking, salt, pepper, or a drizzle of olive oil. Even the soup was just okay. Because the appetizers were so disappointing, we didn't want to risk ordering dinner and decided to leave. It's a lovely spot for a cocktail, but we won't be returning for the food. read more

Came here for the first time for our anniversary and was extremely impressed with the food, the vibes, and the service!! When making a reservation they asked if we were celebrating a special occasion to which I told them it was for my anniversary. Upon arrival, we were greeted immediately and given a small mason jar of flowers with a "Happy Anniversary" stick attached! (Loved the attention to detail, and as an added bonus we got to keep the flowers!) I had the scallops and risotto, my husband got the steak, we had Manila clams for appetizer and finished the night with the carrot cake. EVERYTHING WAS COOKED TO PERFECTION! The steak was tender and perfectly cooked with these amazing potatoes that were extremely crisp on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside! My risotto was creamy and the scallops were perfectly cooked! I usually don't like carrot cake (but my husband is a fan) and oh my gosh, I was in heaven after the first bite! They gave us complimentary chocolate truffles to celebrate our anniversary, and our server Victoria was extremely attentive and sweet!! The vibe of the whole place was awesome, with modern decor, such a perfect place for a party! (They have private spaces for this too!) Definitely will not be my last time here! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Very weird vibes. I came alone on a Monday evening and sat at the bar. The woman bartender named Ray I think was new but she was nice and friendly. The man bartender named Jacob gave weird vibes and wasn't all that friendly to me because he was too busy with the regulars or people he knew. The wine I got was good. The capellini pasta with added shrimp was a joke because it was $40 for a few bites! read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - I asked for no mushroom in my capellini but yet they added it - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Returned for Happy Hour before another Friday evening Broadway Sacramento show, bar seating. 3 of us shared two orders of the fried ravioli, one brussels sprouts, one artisan bread, and one dark chocolate mole...pretty much everything from the Happy Hour menu except the parmesan truffle fries. The fried raviolis are great (hence the second order). The brussels this time came with big pieces of pork belly and cranberry compote compared to my previous visit where it was pancetta and pistachios instead. The artisan bread was two kinds of bread (foccacia and another maybe baguette?) and came with a sundried tomato-balsamic dip and a wowzer smoked bone marrow butter (pretty sure it wasn't honey garlic butter which was the other kind listed on the menu). Never seen that before. The dark chocolate mole had fresh tortilla chips, pickled red onion, and cotija cheese. This was also first for me, as I'm more familiar with mole being served with meat and rice. Their mole was a nice sweetness from the chocolate. From the bar, we had hot toddys, gummy bear martinis, and I had a blood orange paloma (zero proof CleanCo Tequila). They do validate parking unless you paid a flat event rate in advance. read more

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Food was great! Drinks were strong and we had a great time. I was here for a business meeting and the staff was so pleasantly nice I will definitely return the next time I'm in Sacramento read more

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Came here for dinner. It wasn't as packed for a Friday night, but overall great ambience. Our waiter was very attentive for our party of 8. Great service. I got the pork chops cooked medium. Came out perfect and definitely recommend. The spicy blackberry smash was delicious too. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Pork Chop - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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We started the night at a steakhouse in the hotel down the street and it was a disaster. I decided to cut my losses and find something else, and fortunately I found Prelude which was still open. I grabbed a seat at the bar and had great service, an excellent glass of wine and a delicious dungeness crab pasta! It literally saved the night! Great vibe, and nice decor. I'll be back next time we come to town! read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

made a reservation for 2 on saturday night and mentioned that it was a special occasion. they had a cute little vase of flowers for us to set the special celebratory mood. started with the Carpaccio, Esquites and shishito peppers. had the Basil Risotto with scallops and added chicken. the carpaccio had a Tomato Aioli sauce adding an extra richness that i was not expecting. the esquites were good, too, but the beef tallow added more fat and richness. my only complaint was the saltiness of the risotto. i wish i had asked for a side of lemon ricotta to balance out the dish. other than that, dinner was nice. overall, excellent service. good food and great drinks. very nice ambiance. read more

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Came to Prelude for happy hour before a holiday party and sat at the bar. We ordered a few bites and several drinks. There was another event happening at the same time, so the bartender was quite busy, but they did an excellent job staying on top of orders and keeping drinks flowing. Definitely check out their happy hour--great service and fantastic drinks. read more

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