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Question: Is it permissible to eat before going to shul on Shabbat morning?

Answer: In general, one is not permitted to eat before praying in the morning. The Torah teaches, "You shall not eat it [meat] with the blood," and one of the interpretations that the Sages offer is that it is forbidden to eat before praying for the living, for life, which is the blood, as it is written, "The blood is the soul." Drinking 
water is not included in this prohibition and since, in most cases, one prays early in the morning, there is no need to eat first. 

On Shabbat, this presents a certain difficulty, since the prayer service goes on much longer than on weekdays and there are many people who are unable to concentrate properly on their prayers if they do not eat something before they go to the synagogue. In such instances one may be lenient and drink as well as eat food whose blessing is "she-ha-kol," "borei peri ha-adama" or "borei peri ha-etz". If a person feels that he needs to eat something more substantial ("mezonot") in order to be able to concentrate on his prayers, he is permitted to eat a cracker, a piece of cake, or the like.

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