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Grilled Jumbo Prawns - Prelude at the Opera House - Lower Level, San Francisco, CA

Prelude at the Opera House - Lower Level

3.8
3.8
614 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 PM
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Healthy
A night at the opera or ballet is an elegant event, deserving of a remarkable culinary experience. Our gorgeous setting offers an ideal environment for pre-performance or intermission dining at the War Memorial & Performing Arts Center.
We are located on the lower level of the War Memorial Opera House. Our menu is offered in buffet and à la carte format, keeping performance start time at the forefront for all visitors.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Continental, Californian
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 5:30 pm–7:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 861-8150
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Alfonso Mis
  • Catering
    Host your next event at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, and Global Gourmet Catering will create an unforgettable experience for you and your guests. Perfect for weddings, galas, corporate parties and pre- and post-performance events, this is San Francisco's premier choice for events of all sizes.
  • Neighborhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Cross street
    Franklin St. & Grove Street.
  • Parking details
    Parking is available in several lots in the surrounding area. Please call lots for current hours and rates. Performing Arts Garage, *Patrons dining in the Opera House may enter through the North Carriage entrance of the Opera House (adjacent to the War Memorial courtyard) up to two hours prior to curtain.
  • Public transit
    For transit directions, visit 511.org or call 511.Entering the Opera with a restaurant reservation? Please enter at the north side of the building at the carriage entrance.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 614 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

3.8
3.8 based on recent ratings
  • 3.7Food
  • 4Service
  • 4Ambience
  • 3.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Prelude at the Opera House offers an ideal dining experience for opera-goers, with its "great service," "fresh and varied" buffet, and "tender and tasty" dishes. While some found the pricing high, the convenience and ambiance make it a "perfect place to dine before the opera." Guests appreciate the attentive staff and the opportunity to return to their table during intermissions for a seamless evening of culture and cuisine.

1,926 Reviews
  1. Rick

    San Francisco

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    The buffet cost of $65 was WAY TOO HIGH for the value. Don't waste your money.

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  2. Artin

    VIP

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Decided to order from the A La Carte menu: Prelude Seafood Salad: The salmon was not fresh, and the mayonnaise had been mixed with the vegetables long before serving, compromising the dish’s freshness. Tofu Tartare: The ingredients were unevenly cut, making it difficult to serve or eat as intended. As soon as the knife touched the food, it crumbled into a pile. Vanilla Tres Leches: The banana was supposed to be flambéed, but it wasn’t. It appeared as though the banana had never been in a pan, and caramel sauce was simply poured over the fruit. Service: The busboy spilled water all over the table while refilling glasses and neither noticed nor acknowledged it. When an elderly member of our party stood up to go to the bathroom, her napkin fell and tangled around her feet. The busboy, who was right there, didn’t offer to assist her. Our waitress approached us to take our order almost immediately after we sat down. I politely told him we needed a few minutes to settle and review the menu. He appeared annoyed and walked away. When he returned shortly after, we still needed more time, and his frustration was visible. For the rest of the evening, he checked on us only once with the standard, "How's everything?" Conclusion: For the premium prices the restaurant charges, the quality of the food and service needs significant improvement. Fresh ingredients, better preparation, and attentive service should be standard at this price point. Unfortunately, the experience fell short of expectations in multiple areas.

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  3. Anna

    VIP

    San Francisco

    58 reviews

    5.0

    58 reviews

    Dined on December 22, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was our first time dining here, considering the many options available in the city. However, the convenience of being in the same building as the performance made it a practical choice this time. The food was enjoyable, and we appreciated having coffee and dessert during intermission. While the meal was satisfactory, the location made it an ideal spot for a convenient and relaxed pre-show experience.

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  4. Isabell

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    1.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on December 21, 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Restaurant not open at the time of reservation. Luckily we were able to get a table at a nearby restaurant.

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  5. Deborah

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We all loved the buffet, the salads were fresh and healthy and tasty! All of the food was artfully presented, and delicious! We love the experience at Prelude at the Opera and always look forward to having lunch there. The wait staff is so friendly and kind, it's like meeting up with old friends. Thanks for the great time!

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  6. JAMES

    VIP

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    In this country even the humblest of dinner buffets includes a dessert course in the pricing. Chopped cheese does not suffice. Would expect better of this organization in this city.

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  7. Laura

    VIP

    San Francisco

    10 reviews

    1.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    The restaurant was not even open during the time of my reservation, but I had a reservation. I showed up and there was no food! No one called to say it was a mistake or let me know it was not open. It was part of a Christmas outing for my mom - ballet and a meal. It was very disappointing.

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  8. Meredith

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    4.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on December 11, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great place to go before any performance. Nice atmosphere. Food delivered with a mind to the performance timing.

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  9. kim

    VIP

    San Francisco

    51 reviews

    5.0

    51 reviews

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great spot to grab a bite before a performance. The kids loved the buffet option, and the desserts are always a winner. It’s particularly convenient to have the same table during intermission with all the food and beverages waiting.

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  10. Ada

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I will definitely go back the next time I am in the area.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Prelude at the Opera House - Lower Level is rated 3.8 stars by 614 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 PM
Google Map for Prelude at the Opera House - Lower Level

301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Franklin St. & Grove Street.
  • Neighborhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 5:30 pm–7:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Continental, Californian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Parking is available in several lots in the surrounding area. Please call lots for current hours and rates. Performing Arts Garage, *Patrons dining in the Opera House may enter through the North Carriage entrance of the Opera House (adjacent to the War Memorial courtyard) up to two hours prior to curtain.
  • Public transit
    For transit directions, visit 511.org or call 511.Entering the Opera with a restaurant reservation? Please enter at the north side of the building at the carriage entrance.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Alfonso Mis
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (415) 861-8150
  • Catering
    Host your next event at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, and Global Gourmet Catering will create an unforgettable experience for you and your guests. Perfect for weddings, galas, corporate parties and pre- and post-performance events, this is San Francisco's premier choice for events of all sizes.
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