Prelude is an occasional treat for us before the opera. It is always very crowded in the hour before the show, so come early for a more leisurely dinner with fewer people. The tables are very close to each other and the aisles are narrow. The room is at the front of McCaw Hall with triple height ceilings and large windows overlooking the courtyard. This is a white tablecloth ex...

Prelude is like airport dining. You should only do it if you haven't eaten beforehand, given the high price and small portions. The dining room is minimally decorated, save for a few Christmas trees during the Nutcracker season. We were seated in a dreary corner near the window. Our server was young. Perfunctory but not warm. This is the first place that I've been to in a long ...

I have visited Prelude once a year for the last five years as part of our family's annual holiday pilgrimage to the Nutcracker at McCaw Hall, and I regret to say this will be the last year for the dinner if not the dance. I enjoy the experience, the people, and the somewhat frenetic atmosphere of the place, but after a steady decline the food now ranges from miserable to inedib...

We love going to dinner at Prelude before the opera. We go early, eat leisurely, and enjoy immensely. Then we are ready for the opera experience. The food at Prelude changes with the opera and the season, and there is always something to please.