Where to Eat Modern Australian Food in Sydney

Modern Australian food has never stayed neatly inside the lines, which is half the fun. Around Sydney I've found chefs making the most of local produce and native ingredients while bringing in delicious ideas from around the world, whether the mood calls for a sunny coastal lunch, a clever pub meal or a full theatrical degustation.

Nel Restaurant, Sydney
Featured Review Nel Restaurant, Sydney

A modern Australian restaurant housed in an underground type of setting, Nel restaurant is named after "chef to the stars" Nelly Robinson. Open for lunch on Thursday and Friday and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, it offers a tasting menu only with two matching wines per dish. Standout dishes includes kombu tempura quail eggs, "green peas and ham" and a luscious kangaroo fillet with charred cos lettuce and carrot puree.

Read the review

Modern Australian Restaurant Reviews

Every Dish At The NOMAD Truffle Brunch restaurant Every Dish At The NOMAD Truffle Brunch Just Opened - The Hideaway, Bondi restaurant Just Opened - The Hideaway, Bondi Hidden Gem: Social Dining, Sydney restaurant Hidden Gem: Social Dining, Sydney Just Revamped: The Flynn, Sydney CBD Pub Review Just Revamped: The Flynn, Sydney CBD Piqu, Newtown Thai Restaurant Piqu, Newtown Misc Parramatta: Is this Parramatta's Prettiest Restaurant? restaurant Misc Parramatta: Is this Parramatta's Prettiest Restaurant? Preview: Luke's Kitchen Christmas Lunch restaurant Preview: Luke's Kitchen Christmas Lunch Dining at Lana Restaurant, Hinchcliff House Chinese Restaurant Dining at Lana Restaurant, Hinchcliff House Fast Food, Fine Dining Style at Nel Restaurant restaurant Fast Food, Fine Dining Style at Nel Restaurant Sun-drenched Clareville beachside dining restaurant Sun-drenched Clareville beachside dining Arms Length, Potts Point Cafe Review Arms Length, Potts Point Catalina, Rose Bay Seafood Restaurant Catalina, Rose Bay Take a Step Back in Time at Le Foote, Sydney restaurant Take a Step Back in Time at Le Foote, Sydney Old World Charm: Inside Sydney's Newest Gem, Pont Dining Room restaurant Old World Charm: Inside Sydney's Newest Gem, Pont Dining Room Sydney Common at Sheraton Grand restaurant Sydney Common at Sheraton Grand Penelope's: A Modern Australian Haven in Circular Quay's Quay Quarter restaurant Penelope's: A Modern Australian Haven in Circular Quay's Quay Quarter Caviar Cones and Tableside Steak Slicing: Hatch In Hurstville restaurant Caviar Cones and Tableside Steak Slicing: Hatch In Hurstville Surry Hills Hidden Gem: Le Salle Dining by Bar Chaplin restaurant Surry Hills Hidden Gem: Le Salle Dining by Bar Chaplin Poetica, North Sydney's Newest Culinary Gem Steakhouse Poetica, North Sydney's Newest Culinary Gem Sea Breeze & Sydney Harbour: The Jackson Chandon Long Lunch restaurant Sea Breeze & Sydney Harbour: The Jackson Chandon Long Lunch Elevated Dining: Infinity at Sydney Tower restaurant Elevated Dining: Infinity at Sydney Tower Sip & Savour: Monopole Wine Bar in the City Bar Review Sip & Savour: Monopole Wine Bar in the City The Unpretentious Charm of Live Music Bar Man on Marrickville Bar Review The Unpretentious Charm of Live Music Bar Man on Marrickville From Day to Night: Beau, Surry Hills' Newest Restaurant, Cafe and Bar Middle Eastern Restaurant From Day to Night: Beau, Surry Hills' Newest Restaurant, Cafe and Bar Lil Eets Private Chef Dinners Chinese Restaurant Lil Eets Private Chef Dinners Luke's Kitchen Bottomless Brunch, Kimpton Margot restaurant Luke's Kitchen Bottomless Brunch, Kimpton Margot Mimi's Coogee Review: Is This Sydney's Priciest Restaurant? restaurant Mimi's Coogee Review: Is This Sydney's Priciest Restaurant? Aria Restaurant, Sydney restaurant Aria Restaurant, Sydney No 92 GPR, Glebe restaurant No 92 GPR, Glebe The Pines, Cronulla restaurant The Pines, Cronulla Seafood Feast At The Cosmpolitan, Double Bay Seafood Restaurant Seafood Feast At The Cosmpolitan, Double Bay Cinema Paradiso - OpenAir Cinema's The Lounge Experience restaurant Cinema Paradiso - OpenAir Cinema's The Lounge Experience Feline Good At The Cat's Meow, Darlinghurst Bar Review Feline Good At The Cat's Meow, Darlinghurst The Return, Lotus 2.0, Potts Point restaurant The Return, Lotus 2.0, Potts Point Bondi Beauty - Ravesis, Bondi Beach restaurant Bondi Beauty - Ravesis, Bondi Beach Room With A View - O Bar & Dining, Sydney restaurant Room With A View - O Bar & Dining, Sydney Picking Up The Pace At Cafe Paci, Newtown Italian Restaurant Picking Up The Pace At Cafe Paci, Newtown Raise The Bar - LuMi Bar, Pyrmont Italian Restaurant Raise The Bar - LuMi Bar, Pyrmont Southside Charmers, Redfern Cafe Review Southside Charmers, Redfern Let It Reign At Prince Of York, Sydney CBD Italian Restaurant Let It Reign At Prince Of York, Sydney CBD Let It Snow! The Snow Globe Igloo At Pier One restaurant Let It Snow! The Snow Globe Igloo At Pier One Desire At Esquire Drink + Dine restaurant Desire At Esquire Drink + Dine World's Apart At Continental Deli, CBD restaurant World's Apart At Continental Deli, CBD Flying Fish 2.0 At The Star Seafood Restaurant Flying Fish 2.0 At The Star Subterranean Speakeasy: New York's Employees Only Lands In Sydney American Restaurant Subterranean Speakeasy: New York's Employees Only Lands In Sydney Hail Saint George, Chippendale restaurant Hail Saint George, Chippendale Nights Around The Table at Arthur Restaurant, Surry Hills restaurant Nights Around The Table at Arthur Restaurant, Surry Hills Peanut Butter Jelly, Manly restaurant Peanut Butter Jelly, Manly Getting All the Dirt On Manly Greenhouse restaurant Getting All the Dirt On Manly Greenhouse A Seat At Sidecar, Marrickville restaurant A Seat At Sidecar, Marrickville A Revisit To Bather's Pavilion, Balmoral restaurant A Revisit To Bather's Pavilion, Balmoral Going North: Annata, Crows Nest restaurant Going North: Annata, Crows Nest Retro Revival At Ron's Upstairs, Redfern restaurant Retro Revival At Ron's Upstairs, Redfern Awake For The Drake, Bondi restaurant Awake For The Drake, Bondi Long Sunday Lunch At The Collaroy restaurant Long Sunday Lunch At The Collaroy All Day Eating At A1 Canteen, Chippendale restaurant All Day Eating At A1 Canteen, Chippendale Saddling Up At The Stables, Paddington restaurant Saddling Up At The Stables, Paddington A Long Lunch At Hotel Centennial, Woollahra restaurant A Long Lunch At Hotel Centennial, Woollahra Newport Gets a European Brasserie with Bert's restaurant Newport Gets a European Brasserie with Bert's Dinner at Luke's Kitchen, Waterloo restaurant Dinner at Luke's Kitchen, Waterloo Mr Liquor's Dirty Italian Disco, Mascot Italian Restaurant Mr Liquor's Dirty Italian Disco, Mascot The New Hartsyard 2.0 Is Here & It's Nothing Like It Used To Be! restaurant The New Hartsyard 2.0 Is Here & It's Nothing Like It Used To Be! Just Open: Smoke and Bea at Barangaroo House restaurant Just Open: Smoke and Bea at Barangaroo House Hijinks at Stanton & Co., Rosebery restaurant Hijinks at Stanton & Co., Rosebery The Others at Et Al., Potts Point restaurant The Others at Et Al., Potts Point Winding Up At Wyno Bar, Surry Hills Bar Review Winding Up At Wyno Bar, Surry Hills Fitting In With The Misfits, Redfern Bar Review Fitting In With The Misfits, Redfern Multicultural Flavours at Husk & Vine, Parramatta restaurant Multicultural Flavours at Husk & Vine, Parramatta Table For Ten at David Jones' New Food Hall & The Science of Store Design restaurant Table For Ten at David Jones' New Food Hall & The Science of Store Design Who is Bart Jr, Redfern? Bar Review Who is Bart Jr, Redfern? Local Lovelies: Meet My Neighbourhood, Avalon & The Northern Beaches! Cafe Review Local Lovelies: Meet My Neighbourhood, Avalon & The Northern Beaches! Rocker Bondi - pared-back modern dining restaurant Rocker Bondi - pared-back modern dining Sunday's Best at Bar No. 5, Alexandria Bar Review Sunday's Best at Bar No. 5, Alexandria Making A Difference at Song Kitchen French Restaurant Making A Difference at Song Kitchen On The Waterfront: Cirrus Dining, Barangaroo Seafood Restaurant On The Waterfront: Cirrus Dining, Barangaroo The Paddington: The Pub That Doesn't Feel Like One restaurant The Paddington: The Pub That Doesn't Feel Like One Farm To Fork Dining At The Garden, Ashfield Cafe Review Farm To Fork Dining At The Garden, Ashfield Vegans Vegetarians & Omnivores at 169 Darlinghurst Bar Review Vegans Vegetarians & Omnivores at 169 Darlinghurst The Life Bucolic at Acre Eatery, Camperdown Cafe Review The Life Bucolic at Acre Eatery, Camperdown Right Said Fred's, Paddington American Restaurant Right Said Fred's, Paddington Botanicals & Vermouth at Banksii, Barangaroo restaurant Botanicals & Vermouth at Banksii, Barangaroo When Harry Met Emma: Bouche on Bridge restaurant When Harry Met Emma: Bouche on Bridge Following The Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery Cafe Review Following The Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery Dropping In To Visit The Resident, Hyde Park restaurant Dropping In To Visit The Resident, Hyde Park A 360° Look At Noma Sydney restaurant A 360° Look At Noma Sydney A Long Sunday Lunch With Friends at Kensington Street Social, Chippendale restaurant A Long Sunday Lunch With Friends at Kensington Street Social, Chippendale Lights On At Brigade Dining, Woollahra restaurant Lights On At Brigade Dining, Woollahra To Ramen and Back: Salaryman, Surry Hills Japanese Restaurant To Ramen and Back: Salaryman, Surry Hills Upstairs At The Continental Deli & Bar, Newtown restaurant Upstairs At The Continental Deli & Bar, Newtown Getting To The Gantry, The Rocks restaurant Getting To The Gantry, The Rocks Dining at 40 Metres Above The Ground on The Ferris Wheel at Luna Park! restaurant Dining at 40 Metres Above The Ground on The Ferris Wheel at Luna Park! A Staycation at the InterContinental Double Bay! restaurant A Staycation at the InterContinental Double Bay! Automata, Chippendale restaurant Automata, Chippendale Hard Things To Talk About Dinner restaurant Hard Things To Talk About Dinner Clubhouse, Rosebery & The Gaytime! restaurant Clubhouse, Rosebery & The Gaytime! Bennelong, Sydney Opera House restaurant Bennelong, Sydney Opera House Ester, Chippendale restaurant Ester, Chippendale Harvested, Pyrmont {A Cafe Using Rescued Food} Cafe Review Harvested, Pyrmont {A Cafe Using Rescued Food} Farmhouse, Kings Cross restaurant Farmhouse, Kings Cross Meet My Suburb: Parramatta Cafe Review Meet My Suburb: Parramatta Bach Eatery, Newtown for a Birthday Dinner to Remember! restaurant Bach Eatery, Newtown for a Birthday Dinner to Remember! The Gretz, Enmore Bar Review The Gretz, Enmore Out-Bone at Pinbone, a Noma Chef Pops up in Sydney restaurant Out-Bone at Pinbone, a Noma Chef Pops up in Sydney Foveaux Street Dining, Surry Hills restaurant Foveaux Street Dining, Surry Hills Dragoncello, Surry Hills restaurant Dragoncello, Surry Hills The Governor's Table, Sydney restaurant The Governor's Table, Sydney Hotel Centennial, Woollahra Pub Review Hotel Centennial, Woollahra One Penny Red, Summer Hill restaurant One Penny Red, Summer Hill Swine & Co, Sydney CBD restaurant Swine & Co, Sydney CBD Food Freestyle at Flying Fish, Pyrmont Seafood Restaurant Food Freestyle at Flying Fish, Pyrmont Rupert & Ruby, Icon Park, Darlinghurst Cafe Review Rupert & Ruby, Icon Park, Darlinghurst Coogee Pavilion, Coogee Seafood Restaurant Coogee Pavilion, Coogee Devon By Night, Surry Hills restaurant Devon By Night, Surry Hills Rockpool, Bridge Street, Sydney restaurant Rockpool, Bridge Street, Sydney Forage, Marrickville restaurant Forage, Marrickville Croydon Lane, Cronulla Bar Review Croydon Lane, Cronulla Woodland Kitchen & Bar, Neutral Bay restaurant Woodland Kitchen & Bar, Neutral Bay Nomad, Surry Hills Pub Review Nomad, Surry Hills Pinbone, Woollahra restaurant Pinbone, Woollahra Rushcutters, Rushcutters Bay restaurant Rushcutters, Rushcutters Bay Riley Street Garage, Woolloomooloo restaurant Riley Street Garage, Woolloomooloo Yellow, Potts Point restaurant Yellow, Potts Point Wilbur's Place, Potts Point Cafe Review Wilbur's Place, Potts Point Alfie & Hetty, Glebe restaurant Alfie & Hetty, Glebe Bishop Sessa, Surry Hills restaurant Bishop Sessa, Surry Hills The Botanist, Kirribilli restaurant The Botanist, Kirribilli Rockpool Winter Truffle Dinner restaurant Rockpool Winter Truffle Dinner Rainford Street Social, Surry Hills restaurant Rainford Street Social, Surry Hills Prato Cafe Diner, Abbotsford Cafe Review Prato Cafe Diner, Abbotsford Mojo Waterloo review: Luke Mangan's tapas Bar Review Mojo Waterloo review: Luke Mangan's tapas A Night At The Sebel Pier One, Sydney restaurant A Night At The Sebel Pier One, Sydney The Bourbon, Kings Cross American Restaurant The Bourbon, Kings Cross Bondi Hardware, Bondi Beach Cafe Review Bondi Hardware, Bondi Beach Hartsyard, Newtown American Restaurant Hartsyard, Newtown The Rabbit Hole, Sydney restaurant The Rabbit Hole, Sydney The Woods, The Rocks restaurant The Woods, The Rocks Peruvian Salute at Glass, Sydney restaurant Peruvian Salute at Glass, Sydney Rubyos, Newtown restaurant Rubyos, Newtown The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room, Circular Quay Seafood Restaurant The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room, Circular Quay Madame Fling Flong, Newtown restaurant Madame Fling Flong, Newtown The Darling & A Progressive Dinner At The Star, Pyrmont Italian Restaurant The Darling & A Progressive Dinner At The Star, Pyrmont Flowerbombs, Flaming Cocktails & Secret Foodies! Cafe Review Flowerbombs, Flaming Cocktails & Secret Foodies! Cara & Co, Sydney restaurant Cara & Co, Sydney Watts on Crown, Surry Hills Cafe Review Watts on Crown, Surry Hills Chiswick, Woollahra restaurant Chiswick, Woollahra The Duck Inn, Chippendale Pub Review The Duck Inn, Chippendale The Bridge Room, Circular Quay restaurant The Bridge Room, Circular Quay Game of Thrones Dinner, Gastro Park, Potts Point restaurant Game of Thrones Dinner, Gastro Park, Potts Point Picasso Dinner At The Art Gallery Restaurant restaurant Picasso Dinner At The Art Gallery Restaurant The Rockpool Pop Up Lunch restaurant The Rockpool Pop Up Lunch John and Peter Canteen, Eveleigh Cafe Review John and Peter Canteen, Eveleigh Alice In Culinary Land Dinner restaurant Alice In Culinary Land Dinner 360 Bar and Dining, Sydney CBD restaurant 360 Bar and Dining, Sydney CBD Quarter 21, Sydney CBD restaurant Quarter 21, Sydney CBD From The Farm To A Dinner Plate At Concrete Blonde restaurant From The Farm To A Dinner Plate At Concrete Blonde Jonah's, Whale Beach restaurant Jonah's, Whale Beach A Night At Rockpool With Rene Redzepi Steakhouse A Night At Rockpool With Rene Redzepi Botanic Gardens Restaurant, Sydney restaurant Botanic Gardens Restaurant, Sydney Hawthorn, Mosman Cafe Review Hawthorn, Mosman The Wine Library, Woollahra Bar Review The Wine Library, Woollahra A Masterclass With Peter Gilmore & Dinner At Quay, Circular Quay Cooking Class A Masterclass With Peter Gilmore & Dinner At Quay, Circular Quay Burnt Orange, Mosman Cafe Review Burnt Orange, Mosman Sails On Lavender Bay, McMahons Point restaurant Sails On Lavender Bay, McMahons Point District Dining, Surry Hills restaurant District Dining, Surry Hills The Chatswood Eat Street Progressive Degustation: Bavarian Bier Cafe, Mamak, Arigato, Izakaya and Rocket Japanese Restaurant The Chatswood Eat Street Progressive Degustation: Bavarian Bier Cafe, Mamak, Arigato, Izakaya and Rocket Slow Food Hats Off Dinner, Altitude, Sydney restaurant Slow Food Hats Off Dinner, Altitude, Sydney Bistro Bruno, Balmain restaurant Bistro Bruno, Balmain Cotton Duck, Surry Hills restaurant Cotton Duck, Surry Hills Blanco, Potts Potts for a Jed Degustation Dinner restaurant Blanco, Potts Potts for a Jed Degustation Dinner Capital Grill, Circular Quay Steakhouse Capital Grill, Circular Quay Behind The Scenes of Cafe Sydney, Circular Quay Seafood Restaurant Behind The Scenes of Cafe Sydney, Circular Quay Bloodwood, Newtown restaurant Bloodwood, Newtown Flying Fish Lunch with Peter Kuruvita, Pyrmont Seafood Restaurant Flying Fish Lunch with Peter Kuruvita, Pyrmont Win Prawns and Bubbles for You & 5 Friends at Helm Bar & Bistro, Darling Harbour Seafood Restaurant Win Prawns and Bubbles for You & 5 Friends at Helm Bar & Bistro, Darling Harbour Garfish, Kirribilli Seafood Restaurant Garfish, Kirribilli Iron Chef Dinner 2010, Sydney Japanese Restaurant Iron Chef Dinner 2010, Sydney Gunners' Barracks, Mosman & Sandwich Stealing Kookaburras restaurant Gunners' Barracks, Mosman & Sandwich Stealing Kookaburras Agapé Organic Restaurant & Bar, Botany restaurant Agapé Organic Restaurant & Bar, Botany Art Gallery of NSW Restaurant, Sydney restaurant Art Gallery of NSW Restaurant, Sydney Pier Restaurant, Rose Bay restaurant Pier Restaurant, Rose Bay Tomislav, Darlinghurst restaurant Tomislav, Darlinghurst Etch Dining Champagne Bar, Sydney Bar Review Etch Dining Champagne Bar, Sydney Bel Mondo, The Rocks, Sydney restaurant Bel Mondo, The Rocks, Sydney Quay Restaurant, Overseas Passenger Terminal restaurant Quay Restaurant, Overseas Passenger Terminal Martin Place Bar Bistro, Sydney CBD restaurant Martin Place Bar Bistro, Sydney CBD Sepia Restaurant and Wine Bar, Sydney restaurant Sepia Restaurant and Wine Bar, Sydney Cottage Point Inn, Cottage Point restaurant Cottage Point Inn, Cottage Point Chef For A Day At Bathers Pavilion: Behind The Scenes Of 3 Restaurant Kitchens French Restaurant Chef For A Day At Bathers Pavilion: Behind The Scenes Of 3 Restaurant Kitchens Nielsen Park Beach House, Vaucluse restaurant Nielsen Park Beach House, Vaucluse Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney CBD Steakhouse Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney CBD Manta, Woolloomooloo Bay Wharf Steakhouse Manta, Woolloomooloo Bay Wharf Mad Greek, North Sydney Greek Restaurant Mad Greek, North Sydney Fort Denison Restaurant, Sydney Harbour restaurant Fort Denison Restaurant, Sydney Harbour Take It Slow Wine Dinner at Mumu Grill, Crows Nest Spanish Restaurant Take It Slow Wine Dinner at Mumu Grill, Crows Nest Etch Dining, Sydney CBD restaurant Etch Dining, Sydney CBD Mad Cow, Sydney CBD for a March Into Merivale Steakhouse Mad Cow, Sydney CBD for a March Into Merivale Assiette, Surry Hills for a recession busting lunch French Restaurant Assiette, Surry Hills for a recession busting lunch Red Oak Beer, Sydney CBD for Jack's Christening Party restaurant Red Oak Beer, Sydney CBD for Jack's Christening Party The Sardine Room, Potts Point restaurant The Sardine Room, Potts Point Dunes, Palm Beach restaurant Dunes, Palm Beach Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Surry Hills restaurant Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Surry Hills Tequila Herradura Degustation Dinner at the harbour Kitchen, Park Hyatt, Sydney restaurant Tequila Herradura Degustation Dinner at the harbour Kitchen, Park Hyatt, Sydney Glass Brasserie at the Hilton, Sydney restaurant Glass Brasserie at the Hilton, Sydney The Bather's Kiosk at Balmoral Beach restaurant The Bather's Kiosk at Balmoral Beach SeLah at Circular Quay and Hilton weekend for 2nd Wedding Anniversary restaurant SeLah at Circular Quay and Hilton weekend for 2nd Wedding Anniversary Altitude restaurant, Shangri-la Hotel, The Rocks restaurant Altitude restaurant, Shangri-la Hotel, The Rocks Bather's Pavilion at Balmoral Beach restaurant Bather's Pavilion at Balmoral Beach

Explore related categories

With a View 106 reviews Seafood Reviews 30 reviews Small Bars 46 reviews Steakhouses 22 reviews Wine Bars 29 reviews Gastropubs 6 reviews

Browse all Restaurants

Join the NQN newsletter

Enter your email to receive my free daily newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Your email is handled according to our Privacy Policy.