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Prelude Reviews List
Prelude
Enveloped in understated elegance and located within the Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, the restaurant is open on all concert evenings and available for hosting events. Exemplary culinary creations are focused on local products with exquisite attention to detail. Our bright and flavorful menu will pull from the bounty of locally grown foods from Sonoma County.
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28 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Rating Breakdown 28 reviews
5 stars
(3)
4 stars
(14)
3 stars
(6)
2 stars
(4)
1 star
(1)
Food
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.6
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- special occasion(13)
- fit for foodies(7)
- neighborhood gem(7)
- romantic(7)
- scenic view(7)
- great for brunch(5)
Prelude Reviews List
Review 1 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Took awhile but good restaurant before a performance."
Dined on 5/13/2013
Special Features: great for outdoor dining
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Review 2 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Prelude is a great gem in
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Prelude is a great gem in the making. I highly recommend. Only real elegant dining in Rohnert Park, Petaluma and south Santa Rosa."
Dined on 04/21/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot
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Review 3 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
The food was pretentious and
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The food was pretentious and proved to be mediocre and over priced. The menu was too limited. Through no fault of the server our dessert order was lost. The flow of customers and service was geared to the theater timing so the rush at the end of our meal was chaotic for us and the rest of the restaurant.
As an added note we had planned our reservation to allow ourselves plenty of time to dine without having to rush."
As an added note we had planned our reservation to allow ourselves plenty of time to dine without having to rush."
Dined on 04/18/2013
2012
Special Features: scenic view
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Review 4 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Prelude is only open before or after concerts at the Green Music Center. I found the food very tasty and appreciated the suggested pairing of wine with menu items. Wait staff was very attentive throughout the meal."
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, special occasion
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Review 5 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
OpenTable Diner
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
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Review 6 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Convenient, very attractive restaurant next to the Green Music Center, so it's a great place to eat before a concert. Food was a little disappointing, however. Variable. Tasty small "sorpris de chef," good salads, but my lamb chop dish was poor and expensive. Only one chop, too well done (I asked for rare), with an unpleasant tasting sauce. Came with beans and turnips without any flavor - tasted just boiled. My husband's gnocchi was very good. Desserts only okay. Lemon curd not sour enough. Bread pudding too bready, needed sauce or something. Student wait staff wonderful, obliging."
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Review 7 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
A very pleasant way to enjoy
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"A very pleasant way to enjoy a meal before a concert at the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University.The food was well prepared and served in a timely manner with careful consideration for the beginning of the concert. Outdoor dining opportunity adds a nice option during warm weather."
Dined on 03/17/2013
2012
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Review 8 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Prelude is a very attractive
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Prelude is a very attractive restaurant with with very good service.
The food is very good but the portions are quite limited.
It is very convenient to dine there before the music programs."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2008
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Review 9 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
An excellent restaurant for
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"An excellent restaurant for dinner before or after the Santa Rosa Symphony concerts. Service staff is conscious of timing of lecture and concert."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2005
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 10 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Menu is small, needs more
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Menu is small, needs more moderately priced dishes. I wish it was open on a more regular basis than on just concert nights."
Dined on 03/06/2013
2012
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic
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Review 11 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Nice quick service prior to
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Nice quick service prior to attending a concert. Would like to try outside next time"
Dined on 02/13/2013
2010
Special Features: special occasion
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Review 12 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
There was a remarkable improvement
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"There was a remarkable improvement from our last dinner at Prelude! The service was perfect, food delicious. We were very well cared for. The only comments I have are;
there is not a table for 6. We were put at a table for 8-10. That makes it difficult to
carry on a conversation. Also, for the prices $27-29, the servings were small. Several of our guests made that comment. Although everything was delicious."
there is not a table for 6. We were put at a table for 8-10. That makes it difficult to
carry on a conversation. Also, for the prices $27-29, the servings were small. Several of our guests made that comment. Although everything was delicious."
Dined on 02/11/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 13 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
The restaurant is just beautiful.
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The restaurant is just beautiful. Tables are set far enough apart to assure privacy.
Food was excellent. Pricing was below what one might expect to pay at other restaurants.
Service was friendly and not at all pushy. We were there for 2 1/2 hours. And the featured J. champagne is an excellent choice. I would definitely go back."
Food was excellent. Pricing was below what one might expect to pay at other restaurants.
Service was friendly and not at all pushy. We were there for 2 1/2 hours. And the featured J. champagne is an excellent choice. I would definitely go back."
Dined on 02/10/2013
2013
Special Features: romantic, special occasion, scenic view, great for lunch
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Review 14 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
Prelude is a prelude to disaster!
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"This was the worst dining experience I have ever had:
1- We arrived almost 2 hours before the SR Symphony performance and barely got out of the restaurant in time.
2- No one even acknowledged our presence (besides seating us) for over 30 minutes.
3- We were not informed about the specials and never asked if we wanted coffee or dessert (thank God!).
4- The worst was the fact that once I asked about the specials, I was told by the Manager that the special was "lobster ravioli", which I then ordered. When it came, there was no lobster at all, so I asked the chef, who was walking the dining room and he said there was no lobster ravioli on the menu and no lobster in the kitchen at all!!!
2- No one even acknowledged our presence (besides seating us) for over 30 minutes.
3- We were not informed about the specials and never asked if we wanted coffee or dessert (thank God!).
4- The worst was the fact that once I asked about the specials, I was told by the Manager that the special was "lobster ravioli", which I then ordered. When it came, there was no lobster at all, so I asked the chef, who was walking the dining room and he said there was no lobster ravioli on the menu and no lobster in the kitchen at all!!!
We will never go back to Prelude again!"
Dined on 02/09/2013
2005
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Review 15 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Overpriced for a pretty ordinary
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Overpriced for a pretty ordinary meal in an outstanding venue."
Dined on 01/31/2013
2011
Special Features: special occasion, scenic view
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Review 16 for Prelude
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Meh
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"It is a sweet idea to have student waiters, but if you want to charge these prices they need to be trained! Our waiter was clueless. I had to remind him to bring things (like our drinks), he had no sense of when to come to the table, made us wait to give our order while waiting on people next to us who were sat later, etc.
Food was good but not great given the prices. Clearly set up as an "airport type restaurant": captive audience for the green center so you can charge whatever you want."
Dined on 01/31/2013
2012
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Prelude
Based on the average of (12) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate