Following from the success of the first The Dining & Co in North Ryde — which opened its doors about 18 months ago — the team has opened its second cafe, on Level 2 near David Jones.

The simplified menu includes the most popular dishes from the North Ryde cafe as well as a few new additions.

The most beloved dishes include the picturesque sweet brioche French toast with its very own maple syrup syringe and the delicious spanner crab pasta — a flavourful combination of chilli, garlic, preserved lemon, cherry tomatoes, rocket, parmesan and finger lime atop squid ink spaghetti.

Owner and head chef Justin Park, formerly of Doyle’s at Circular Quay and the Big Tree House Cafe at Rydalmere, has created a menu of classic dishes with modern tweaks — each one carefully considered and beautifully presented.

Campos Coffee is the blend of choice at The Dining & Co, while the sleek decor of wooden tables, black chairs, gold light fittings and pops of greenery provide an oasis among the hustle and bustle of the busy shopping centre.

Starting this week, the cafe will open for dinner on Thursday nights, so there are plenty of opportunities to pop by but if time is limited, everything on the menu is available to take away.