Flyout Menu
The Modern, located within the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, offers two dining experiences. The Bar Room, a lively space, serves an à la carte menu, while the adjacent dining room provides a more refined atmosphere and holds two Michelin stars.
Guests can choose between a three-course prix fixe or the signature tasting menu for lunch. The restaurant also has its own separate entrance, making it accessible without entering the museum. We chose the three-course option.
When we booked The Modern, we did not have particularly high expectations. We thought it would make for a nice lunch. That is often how it goes—low expectations often lead to pleasant surprises, while high expectations can result in disappointment. This time, it turned out to be the former.
Lobster Marinated in Black Truffle – Kiwi – Burrata
The dining room itself was not the most striking; it had a slightly impersonal feel to it. However, the noise level was wonderfully low, especially as the lunch rush in The Bar Room began to wind down. We were seated at a lovely table with a view of the courtyard and started our meal with an aperitif while browsing the extensive wine list—122 pages in total.
Fine dining restaurants in the NYC often seem to compete over who can list the most bottles, with some wine books running to over 200 pages. We eventually decided on a bottle of Pride Syrah from Sonoma County. After all, why drink French wine when in New York City?
The sommelier impressed us with his expertise, splash-decanting the wine to aerate it fully and swirling the carafe confidently. He clearly knew what he was doing, more than we could say for our sommelier at Eleven Madison Park.
The meal began with some delightful snacks, followed by our starters. I had the lobster marinated in black truffle, kiwi, and burrata—a dish that stood out as one of the highlights of the trip. The flavours were perfectly balanced, and the kiwi, while an unexpected choice, worked brilliantly.
My wife chose the pasta topped with white truffles and Castelrosso cheese. No surprises there—she is always drawn to truffle dishes. We finished the meal with the cheese service, which was an excellent way to end.
What impressed us most was the execution, the balance of flavours, and the friendly, attentive service. Everything was delivered with a smile, and the timing of each dish was just right—neither rushed nor too slow. By the end of the meal, we looked at each other, both in agreement: this was really, really good.
It is hard to find anything to criticise about our experience at The Modern. If there is one thing, it would be that the dining room felt a little impersonal, but even that did not detract from the overall experience. The food, the service, and the pacing of the meal were all exceptional.
When we return to New York City—and we will, as we are far from finished with the city—we plan to book dinner at the Chef’s Table and try the signature menu. No question about it.
First time
Two-star
Lunch
2 hours
Airy
4 points (out of 5)
Impressing with a good selection of wines from Usa.
Calm and pleasant
Yes
Yes
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