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Prelude at McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
Prelude at McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
Prelude at McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
Prelude at McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
Prelude at McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA

Prelude at McCaw Hall

4.4 (2775)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
321 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA 98109

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 4 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Gluten-free-friendly
  • Vegetarian-friendly
Welcome to Prelude - on the Promenade Level of McCaw Hall at Seattle Center. Sophistication, artistry and signature dishes designed by our Executive Chef await your visit. Prelude features the freshest local produce, artisanal products, a nice selection of wines by the glass and bottle, as well as liquor/cocktails and our sublime take on cuisine executed by the OVG culinary team. Our seasonal menus provide the perfect prelude to a Pacific Northwest Ballet or Seattle Opera performance. Reservations are strongly encouraged in advance.
~We DO NOT accept CASH
~We are open 2 hours prior to most opera & ballet (1.5 hours prior to kids shows, concerts & comedy)

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American
  • Hours of operation
    Open 2 hours prior to performances Daily 9:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Scott Mclean (FOH MGR Tony Bock)
  • Catering
    We apply our extensive experience in both large and small-scale events at most any location in the Seattle Area. Our culinary team and experienced sales staff have created custom menus and unique special events to successfully support world-class events for small groups or thousands of people. You can be sure we have the expertise to handle every detail of your event, from site coordination, to rentals, to securing a pleasant service staff. Contact us to learn more.
  • Private party facilities
    Opportunities for private events abound at McCaw hall. Whether planning a large party in the dining room or looking for a private space, or larger events our team is experienced and ready to handle the details for you. For larger parties please ask for our Catering Director and we will be happy to put you in contact with her.
  • Neighborhood
    Seattle Center / Lower Queen Anne
  • Cross street
    4th & Mercer
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,775 people are saying

Prelude at McCaw Hall 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

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.1Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Prelude at McCaw Hall offers an ideal dining experience before performances with a "convenient location," "friendly and efficient service," and "delicious food." Guests enjoy a diverse menu and lovely atmosphere. Although some have noted occasional service hiccups and priciness, the overall experience is praised for its promptness and quality.
2,775 Reviews
  1. Robert VIP

    Las Vegas67 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Overall a nice place to dine prior to any event at McCaw Hall. I found the food to be excellent in both taste and visual appeal. This is a high volume restaurant with a very compressed serving time. However even in a full restaurant like it was on Saturday evening their limited menu allows them to accomplish this feat. I enjoyed my dinner. I would say the only drawback is that the restaurant lacks ambience which is a feature being located inside the hall. Would definitely return again!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Marla

    Seattle1 review

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great place to eat before the opera! Service and food is excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Robert

    Seattle5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Brunch before a matinee. Quickly served very tasty. A bit expensive but worth it.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Barry and Jill VIP

    Seattle17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food! Great waiter Kevin. Beautiful venue.

    Is this helpful?

  5. John

    Washington DC1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was my first opera and we dined at Prelude for brunch. It exceeded all expectations. Food was divine, service was great, and we loved the atmosphere. This is extremely convenient before a show. Looking forward to the next time we get to dine here.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Debbie

    Seattle1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Convenient location for dining before or after a performance at McCaw Hall. Delicious menu, extensive drink options and friendly efficient service. A wonderful experience.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Daniel VIP

    Seattle23 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We always look forward to dining at Prelude. We were sad to hear that Charles was out on sick leave. We wish him a speedy recovery. We were a little perplexed with the menu item selection. We tried three items. Our hands down favorite was the marinated grilled chicken salad. My wife has a bad reaction to vinegar. Caroline asked the chef if the dressing had vinegar. He offered us a side of olive oil that worked well with the greens. The Open face sammy was a bit difficult to cut into bite sized pieces. The flavor was O.K. My wife found the mushroom asparagus quiche to be tasty. We are hoping for a change of menu when we return in August. Thank you!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Judith VIP

    Seattle32 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    My husband and I had dinner at Prelude before the opera. We have dined here before, and it was great. Last night was not. Service was slow. My husband’s order was wrong, our dinners were not hot, suggesting they had been sitting t the pick-up station too long. And our fish dinner was tough and not good. My husband noticed that the couple who came in after us were served way before us. Prelude is a good choice to have dinner before the opera, because it’s convenient. If the food is good, we don’t mind paying extra for the convenience. But after last night’s dinner, we re rethinking that.
    Prelude at McCaw HallResponded on May 7, 2025
    Please let a manager know about your issues while dining, chances are we can make things better for your experience!

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  9. Elizabeth

    Seattle4 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    When I presented for my reservation, the folks at the front desk claimed that I did not have one. They were kind enough to “squeeze me in,“ but it was embarrassing. I can tell from the confirmation that you gave me that I did in fact, have a reservation for this day and this time. Something to follow .

    Is this helpful?

  10. Gary S

    Seattle1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The service staff was exceptional but a bit stretched to cover and "refills" of beverages slow. Generally a pleasant experience but the chairs were uncomfortable.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Prelude at McCaw Hall is rated 4.4 stars by 2775 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. Seattle / Eastern Washington
  4. Seattle
  5. Seattle Center / Lower Queen Anne

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 4 times today
Google Map for Prelude at McCaw Hall

321 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA 98109

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    4th & Mercer
  • Neighborhood
    Seattle Center / Lower Queen Anne
  • Hours of operation
    Open 2 hours prior to performances Daily 9:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Scott Mclean (FOH MGR Tony Bock)
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    We apply our extensive experience in both large and small-scale events at most any location in the Seattle Area. Our culinary team and experienced sales staff have created custom menus and unique special events to successfully support world-class events for small groups or thousands of people. You can be sure we have the expertise to handle every detail of your event, from site coordination, to rentals, to securing a pleasant service staff. Contact us to learn more.
  • Private party facilities
    Opportunities for private events abound at McCaw hall. Whether planning a large party in the dining room or looking for a private space, or larger events our team is experienced and ready to handle the details for you. For larger parties please ask for our Catering Director and we will be happy to put you in contact with her.
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