MOD. Dining

MOD Dining at the Art Gallery of New South Wales is an absolute gem! The Asian-inspired menu is a delight, with every dish bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. The twice-cooked duck was perfectly cooked and simply divine, while the satay chicken was packed with amazing flavor that left us wanting more. Even the kids’ sandwich was a hit—simple yet satisfying, making it a great choice for families. The staff were incredibly friendly and always quick to answer any questions or provide recommendations, adding to the overall experience. Their attentiveness and warm service truly stood out. The ambiance of dining within the gallery adds a unique and sophisticated touch to the experience. I highly recommend MOD Dining for anyone visiting the gallery or looking for an exceptional meal in Sydney. A true five-star experience!

Really enjoyed the food here, especially the crispy fried eggplant and the pork dish, to be honest every dish was delicious (we went with the banquet). The cocktails are next level and so unusual, tasty and look so beautiful! The watermelon granita for dessert was so refreshing! Service was also good, staff very friendly and attentive.

It has been a while since my last visit but hearing Mod now has an Asian inspired menu it was a no brainer. And what a delight. First of all the staff are delightful, as well as properly trained and looking great. The interior has undergone a significant change, and now portraits that of a perfect place to spend the afternoon to relax and enjoy a delicious meal. And the food..wow. The Asian inspired menu selection is really well thought out, with something for everyone - and the presentation is magnificent. I’ll definitely be back to try the rest of the menu. Well done

MOD Dining at the Art Gallery of NSW offers a truly enjoyable dining experience. My recent meal was excellent, with several standout dishes. The king salmon on nori sheets was a delicious and refreshing starter. For mains, both the steamed barramundi and mussels, and the char siu pork collar with burnt pineapple were exceptional. The pork, in particular, was a highlight – tender and flavourful, with the burnt pineapple adding a wonderful smoky sweetness. The service was also very good; prompt, attentive, and knowledgeable. Overall, MOD Dining is a great choice for a meal, especially when visiting the Art Gallery.

This is an Asian fusion restaurant, so one does need to come prepared for the fact that although the dishes are inspired by Asia, the flavours are not classically Asian. The bao, for instance, is very thick and mutes all of the flavours. The pork in the fried noodles dish is much too fatty. The dumplings have the consistency of toothpaste. On the other hand, the twice roasted duck on its own is inspired, as is the plum sauce that comes with it. I could’ve consumed a jar of that stuff. The people and the ambience are all very nice. Considering this is all inside an art gallery (which usually means overpriced kiosk food), I am very pleasantly surprised.

(3.5 stars) With grey days regularly punctuating this summer it pays to have some wet weather plans. The Art Gallery of NSW has your back with the Cao Fei dining package ($99), which combines an exhibition pass (normally $35) with a banquet lunch at MOD. Dining. It’s up to you whether you view art then eat, or eat then view art. Either way you pick up your exhibition tickets at the airy restaurant, with the colourful Chinese artist’s film-focused immersive exhibition located right underneath it. We chose to see art first, so entered the minimalist restaurant space dominated by glass windows letting in the epic view, with images a retro movie cinema in full saturated colour dancing in our heads. The 80-seater is now mod. Asian with its menu created by Nepalese chef, Sushil Aryal (ex-Miss Pearl Bar + Dining in Melbourne). The banquet one menu (normally $69) begins quickly, with dishes landing two at a time. Crisp candied eggplant batons seasoned with lao gan chili, white pepper, and flash-fried Thai basil are fun but too sweet; the accompanying raw tuna a little flavourless despite a lift from yuzu kosho, spring onion oil, pickled chilli and seaweed crisps. The short list of Aussie wines is available in 150 or 250ml pours, so tell the bevy of staff how full you like your tumbler. Satay chicken thigh skewers on a bed of crisp naturally sweet cabbage and a middling satay sauce went okay with the 2023 Pawn Wine Co. Grüner Veltliner ($17/150ml). The acidity of the 2023 Yangarra Rosé ($29/250ml) needs more to work against, coming into its own with the closing course of char siu pork. It’s a generous portion of sliced pork collar paired with burnt pineapple nuoc mam sauce and a splash of chargrilled lemon eaten over rice with an accompanying salad of cucumber and pickled morning glory. Along with a pair of (very loosely) Thai fish cakes served for two people with three cos lettuce wraps (seriously: why not four?) it’s a substantial if not awe-inspiring lunch. But hey, awe is where the art comes in.

Situated within the beautiful Sydney Modern (Gallery of NSW), this Asian-inspired restaurant provides a dining experience that is as artful and delicious as the exhibits surrounding it. With beautifully crafted dishes that celebrate both flavour and presentation, it’s a must-visit for food enthusiasts.

For our entree and main dishes tonight - delished! I love the crispy eggplant and its sauce, so yummy! For the dessert, I would probably change the sponge based into tart of the japanese cheesecake for texture. Then, add more sesame sauce. Overall, great service and nice atmosphere. Highly recommended and we will definitely coming back!