Modavie is a timeless place that brings us back to our roots, where ladies & gents gather and eat in a lively atmosphere caused by great conversation, live music and the wooden scents of a vintage room. Born in 1997, it quickly became popular among locals & visitors, and is now considered a Montreal institution.
Treat yourself to refined French fare in an antique & dimmed corner locale spawning two floors. From the classic beef tartare, to tasty sweetbread, to the famous ratatouille, your cravings will be easily satiated.
Modavie in Old Montreal delivers a lively French bistro vibe with nightly live jazz, welcoming attentive service, and a menu of classic French fare such as onion soup, escargots, duck confit, rack of lamb, and poutine. Guests frequently note delicious food, generous portions, a strong wine and cocktail program, and a warm, social atmosphere that works well for celebrations or casual dinners. The live music provides a vibrant backdrop that enhances the experience without overpowering conversation, though a few reviews mention busier rooms and occasional noise. Overall Modavie comes across as a reliable spot for quality food, great ambiance, and friendly service, and reservations are recommended due to its popularity. Standout dishes include duck confit, lamb dishes, and crème brûlée.
We needed to experience local cuisine at least once on our trip to Montreal, & Modavie was absolutely perfect for that. order the poutine, obviously. Even without the lamb, it is so wonderfully seasoned, which a luxurious, not overly-salted gravy, & soft cheese curds & delicious french fries. lamb cavatelli was also a highlight. all in all - amazing, delicious food & superb service, beautiful space inside. highly, highly recommend~!
Jun 8, 2026
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What a special dinner to celebrate our anniversary! Really enjoyed the jazz tonight; my salmon dinner & husband's rack of lamb were delicious. The escargot were also delicious!! thanks to Tyler our wonderful warm, attentive server, who really made this dinner even more special! Very genuine & obviously loves what he does!!! Merci Beaucoup !!!
We had a nice experience at Modavie. The service was very good & the food was so delicious. The only bad quality of the night was for the French fries which tasted like frozen & low quality. So this is something that can improve to match with their fresh tasty food.
I don't usually write lengthy reviews, but unfortunately this experience warrants one.
We made a reservation several weeks in advance for a birthday dinner, specifically requesting a table near the live music section. On the day of our reservation, we knew we would be running late, so we called ahead to let the restaurant know. We were explicitly told that it was'no problem.'
We arrived at 7:20 PM for our 6:45 PM reservation & were immediately informed that our table had been given away.
The explanation?'We only hold reservations for 15 minutes.'
At no point during our phone call were we informed of this policy. More importantly, nobody called us to let us know they were about to release our table. Had they done so, we would have simply made alternate plans elsewhere instead of showing up expecting the experience we had booked weeks in advance.
The alternatives offered were disappointing: either sit at the bar or on the terrace directly facing the street. The terrace was far from ideal for a birthday dinner-constant traffic noise, car engines, music blasting from passing vehicles, & even the smell of exhaust & garbage. Not exactly the atmosphere we had reserved for.
As for the food, the disappointment continued.
The individual cheese board was around $25, & the charcuterie plate around $28. Seeing that the combined board was approximately $40, we assumed it would be a generous sharing platter & ordered that instead.
It was shockingly underwhelming.
The presentation looked rushed & sparse, with only a few pieces of cheese, a handful of cold cuts, canned pineapple, & what appeared to be processed ham. For a board at that price point, I expected something abundant, thoughtfully curated, & worthy of sharing. Instead, it felt more like a small appetizer plate with noticeable empty space than a proper charcuterie board.
The calamari was also disappointing-slightly rubbery & served with very little sauce.
The only standout dish of the evening was the French onion soup, which was genuinely excellent.
Originally, we had planned on staying for a full dinner, but after the reservation issue & underwhelming appetizers, we decided to continue the evening elsewhere.
Overall, this was a surprisingly mediocre experience. Between the poor handling of reservations, the lack of communication, & the underwhelming food, it simply did not live up to expectations.
As someone with French-Lebanese roots who is very familiar with French cuisine & dining culture, I did not find the experience particularly authentic.
There are far better options in Old Montreal for the same budget & a much better experience. I'd recommend places like Maggie Oakes, Monarque, Jacopo, Buvette Nicole (authentically french), or even The Keg Steakhouse + Bar if you're looking for a more reliable night out.
A birthday dinner should feel special. Unfortunately, this one did not.
Had an absolutely lovely evening at Modavie! My boyfriend & I came here for our 10 year anniversary dinner on Sunday night after having this place recommended a bunch. Safe to say, it exceeded my expectations!
We had a reservation for the upper floor to listen to the live music (which was fantastic) & our server was extremely welcoming, knowledgeable, & kind. The cocktails were amazing, our starter & mains were delicious (if you're getting pasta, add the braised lamb trust me!) & they even brought us out a complimentary dessert to congratulate us on our anniversary.
Would definetly recommend Modavie to anyone looking for fantastic service & food, & a warm, romantic atmosphere! Had an absolutely lovely time (:
Serveur qui comprend mal la commande. Service lent malgré la faible présence de client. Facture gonflée avec vin non consommé. Nourriture correct sans plus qui ne correspond pas à la réputation du restaurant.
Jun 1, 2026
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Locale molto bello con musica dal vivo . Ottimo servizio, il cameriere e stato molto disponibile e ci ha consigliato molto bene il cibo. Buon rapporto qualità prezzo.
Delicious food, great jazz. My only complaint was the scallop grenobloise included only 3 very small scallops & did not come with accompanying bread for the sauce. I would have expected larger scallops at least for a $25 appy.
Came here to celebrate a birthday & the server brought out a complimentary dessert. We ordered escargot, the prawn linguine, the rack of lamb & the crème brûlée. Would highly recommend eating here. Live jazz was playing as well. Always a great time at Modavie, this is our 4th time dining here
My husband & I were in Montréal celebrating my 50th & we were blessed to meet Lorenzo who took phenomenal care of us. He was such a kindred soul who added to our overall experience. The food & the drinks were amazing. Thank you for the special treatment!
Excellent menu au coeur du Vieux-Montréal avec un Jazz band tous les soirs. C'est un restaurant merveilleux autant pour les touristes que les Montréalais!
