Sydney CBD mainstay Mordeo has reopened in a larger new space after a $2.5 million renovation, bringing its previously separate Bistro & Bar and Pasta & Panini Bar together under one roof. The Martin Place venue has launched with a new menu led by former Restaurant Hubert chef Jean-Baptiste Legrand. The eats are inspired by dishes of Southern Europe, spanning hand-stretched pizzas, fresh pasta, larger share plates and a faster lunch menu aimed at hungry (or procrastinating) CBD workers. Among the signature dishes are Goolwa pippies cooked with garlic, white wine and parsley and served over chips, plus an impossibly tender barbeque chicken dish that's brined for 24 hours, sous vide for four hours and finished on the chargrill and served with tzatziki and caramelised grapes. For weekday lunches, there's also a shorter express menu focused on quicker versions of Mordeo's pizzas and pastas. One of the new additions is the piegata, a folded Italian pizza made using the same slow-fermented dough as the regular pizzas. Fillings include jamón with provolone and confit tomato, and pork and fennel sausage with crème fraîche and rocket. The venue shifts throughout the day, serving coffee and breakfast in the morning before moving into lunch, dinner and after-work drinks service later on. The redesign took six months and expanded the restaurant to 150 seats. Interiors feature terracotta tones, bentwood Thonet chairs, timber tables and a five-metre marble communal table positioned at the centre of the space. There's also a private dining room available for group bookings. Owner Nick Aspros says combining the two neighbouring venues into a single operation was intended to create a more flexible all-day dining setup, with options for both quick meals and longer sit-down dining "For years, we've had two venues operating side by side, so bringing them together under one roof felt like a step in the right direction for our next chapter. We wanted to provide the flexibility of a full dining experience or something quick for those short on time, while ensuring the offering remains consistent from day to night." Images: Leigh Griffiths Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
