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.
Reviews describe Modavie as a warm, lively Old Montreal bistro with a welcoming vibe and memorable live jazz that enhances the evening. The menu is praised for classic French bistro dishes like mussels and fries, duck confit, lamb chops, steak frites, and seafood, with generous portions and fresh ingredients. Attentive, friendly service and a knowledgeable staff are repeatedly highlighted, helping guests feel cared for in a vibrant setting enhanced by a diverse wine list and craft cocktails. Overall, the atmosphere, food, and music combine to create enjoyable dinners for dates, friends, and celebrations, making Modavie a reliable choice in Montreal.
We're visiting from out of town, but as soon as we walked in Modavie felt like our local neighborhood hangout. Lorenzo was a fantastic host, treated us like family, & had us smiling ear-to-ear before we even got seated. Our server, Buddy, took over from there. He was attentive, informative, & the consummate professional. Everything that left the kitchen arrived at our table steaming hot, & the flavours were out of this world. Will absolutely return.
This place was recommended to me by a local, & I am from Calgary. Based on the recommendation I had very high expectations, & maybe that is on me for having such high expectations. The service was excellent, the appetizers very tasty, the main dish slightly above average when compared to other places I have tried in Montreal & Calgary. The atmosphere is fantastic, & the location unbeatable. I would like to come back & perhaps try a different main dish. I had my heart (& taste buds) set on the Duck Confite & ended up ordering the Lamp Chops, & even though I like Lamb, this dish was simply not special, as mentioned before about average or maybe slightly above average. I am giving it a 5 star review overall for the other reasons (Location, service, atmosphere, & the experience itself)
Apr 13, 2026
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Lorenzo was so nice to our whole family & took the time to make sure our 3 year old daughter was comfortable & happy. Food was amazing, our server was super nice. We finished all of our food including our daughter it was delicious & well presented. Great lunch spot!
Atmosphere & service here are great & worth coming for, live jazz was a treat & at a tasteful volume where you could still chat amongst your table. Our waiter was very attentive & friendly.
Food was underwhelming, but there's lots of budget-friendly items, & nothing we tried was bad. We had appies, mains, desserts, all of it was just ok, like something you might have at a friend's place who splurges on nice ingredients but has pretty basic home cooking skills. I recommend sticking with the cheaper menu items.
Being greeted by Lorenzo was a great start for a company lunch. Had a great time & amazing service & food. Would really recommend to stop & live the Modavie experience. Will definitively go back in the evening to see their LIVE music!
One of the best meals we have ever eaten!
The jazz band provides a relaxing setting. The food, starting from the truffle mashed potatoes, is delicious.
Service is impeccable.
Nice place to relax for a slow meal. Great chef. Good wine list. Good service. The host was always checking with us to make sure everything was okay. Nice ambiance because music & noise levels were low so you can have quiet conversation. Highly recommend.
This was my second visit to Modavie after several years, & I'm delighted to say it has maintained its charm & excellence. The ambiance, cuisine, & service were nothing short of remarkable.
A special thank you to Lorenzo & Keral (apologies if I misspelled your names) - your hospitality was exceptional & truly made the evening unforgettable. It's rare to find a team that elevates a dining experience the way you both did.
If you're looking for beautiful atmosphere, delicious food, & genuine service, Modavie remains a top recommendation. I'll certainly be back.
Had an amazing experience at Modavie! From the moment we walked in, the vibe was incredible-super welcoming & lively. The live jazz music really set the mood & made the whole night feel special.
Huge shoutout to Caroline, who took care of me & my friends. She was honestly the highlight of our experience-super friendly, chill, & gave us amazing recommendations that we all loved. You can tell she really knows the menu & wants you to have a great time.
The food, the energy, & the atmosphere were all on point. Between the live music & the great service, this is definitely a spot I'd come back to anytime I'm in Montreal. Highly recommend!
Apr 3, 2026
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We had a delicious & relaxing early dinner! Lorenzo greeted us with a smile & visited us at our table & shared a laugh. We loved our experience & our meal & hope to return soon.
We went here for a early dinner as we booked for AURA experience in Notre-Dame Basilica. It's quite pity we didn't get a chance to enjoy the jazz music.
We tried the Happening Gourmand Menu - 2-course menu featuring items for $49, like the snail, tuna tartare, steak & fries & cod risotto. Other than that, we also ordered onion soup & rack of lamp from the menu separately.
I would say the food is like average level, nothing impressed me. The food was served promptly, I kinda doubted if they were freshly cooked or not. I ordered medium for the steak & lamp. I think they were served as medium well.
