by Andrew Hirst
As a regular theatre goer I clearly enjoy the magic of a live performance. If I was asked how this can be enhanced, my initial thoughts would normally turn to the basics of the evening. How good are the seats? What production am I watching? Now there is a new dynamic to consider; pre-theatre dining.
At one time this may have been a dash through a Wagamamas or a pensive wait for the slow waiter at an overly busy gastro-pub. Will we make it to the theatre in time? I had long awaited the critically acclaimed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to pay a visit to Norwich Theatre Royal and decided this was the perfect opportunity to combine the evening with a visit to the theatre’s restaurant, Prelude.
I arrived staggeringly early, whilst my wife arrived attractively late. The restaurant opens two hours and thirty minutes prior to each show giving me a welcome respite from a hectic day whilst I waited. The interior is fresh and modern, with a nod to a more art-deco age. You can sense the quality on offer, even before you have tasted a crumb, yet with an accessible and relaxed atmosphere; fine dining without the pomp.
We were informed that the table was ours for the evening, which was a refreshing change, and that we could enjoy our starter and main pre-show, take our dessert and drinks during the interval and enjoy a cheese board post-show.
The seasonal menu had plenty to offer and head chef Jesús Torcat sources the ingredients locally, where possible, showcasing some vibrant dishes. I opted for the ham hock and leek terrine with apricot chutney; succulent ham with a sweet and tangy accompaniment, whilst Lorraine went for the smoked mackerel pâté with pickled cucumber, radishes and watercress salad. Both were a fabulous start to the evening.
For mains I headed straight to the roasted lamb loin with crispy crushed potatoes, sautéed lemon green beans and mint salsa verde. The lamb was cooked to perfection; just the right amount of pink in the middle with a succulent fat which was caramelised on the outer edge adding a little crunch. Crushed potatoes and beans worked well and the whole plate was tied together with the salsa verde. This is a beautifully balanced spring dish you will never tire of eating.
Lorraine’s pan-fried fillet of seabass with a pea and asparagus risotto and lemon butter sauce, looked fabulous and was one of the other dishes on the menu which definitely caught my eye. The fish was cooked really well with a crispy skin, and the risotto was rich and creamy, as it should be.
Before long, we headed for our theatre seats and enjoyed the first act, returning to our table during the interval to find our desserts and coffees waiting for us. To avoid any arguments we had both opted for the chocolate hot cross bun brownies with clotted cream ice cream. Each mouthful was filled with a dense, chocolatey, gooey goodness with a hint of cinnamon, and the clotted cream ice cream cut through the richness; pure heaven.
The staff were well rehearsed, friendly and attentive; our server Tom was nothing short of excellent. In short it would be difficult to make an award-winning production better, however combining the show with the dining experience of Prelude made what would have been a memorable evening, unforgettable.
Review by Places and Faces
Book a table!
You can book via the website here or email prelude@norwichtheatre.org. Alternatively you can leave a message on our restaurant booking line by calling 01603 598577. We would ask for you to provide details of your name, date of booking, number of guests and preferred time and a member of our team will come back to you regarding your reservation.’ The restaurant booking line is not monitored. We endeavour to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours.