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.
My partner & I made reservations for my birthday, & unfortunately had a really underwhelming time. We asked to sit with the live music, but were put literally right in front of the band where it was impossible to hear each other or our server. We asked to move, & had to wait a bit, which was completely understandable because it was packed. We got to move to the other room, & it was much better. We were really excited, but our excitement was quickly quelled. We were basically forgotten about the whole time. We ordered soup to start & asked for a bit more time with the menus to decide on our main courses. The soup was delivered by a food runner, & our waitress never checked in on us, except to walk by quickly & snatch the menus that we had yet to order main courses from as she walked by. She clearly forgot about us, & when we asked to order main courses, she said she'd be back. She had stuff in her hands, & it was totally understandable, but she quickly forgot about us again. We had to flag her down again after about 10 minutes. It wasn't just about the time we waited - she was just also unpleasant. When she finally did take our order, she did so by asking, "Okay, tell me." She spoke perfect English & I speak French, so it wasn't a language issue. I was looking at my phone while waiting to pay, looking for a bar to go to nearby, & she said, "You should switch your phone out with a dessert menu." It was said in a judgy tone, as if being on my phone was ME behaving poorly. In all fairness, the food was very good. The onion soup was exactly what it's supposed to be, & my steak frites was great. Well seasoned, the bordelaise sauce was rich & delicious (albeit a bit cold by the time it arrived at the table but it didn't affect the flavor), & my partner's pasta was good. Not amazing, but good. We had to wait forever to even ask for the bill, & then waited another 15 minutes with our card in the check book, waiting to pay. It was just not a pleasant way to spend my birthday & we couldn't wait to leave.
Service was phenomenal. We made a reservation & had good seats as requested. Appetizers were good, steak could be better, & dessert was phenomenal. I don't know if it is a usual theme or because restaurant was under renovation at the time, but I found it a bit too congested & noisy. When just moving your chair a little bit or just move/stretch a little bit, you would accidentally hit someone. & the 2nd floor band stopped at 10 whereas the restaurant was open till later. Despite the shortcomings, people were very friendly & the service was great!
I had the pleasure of dining at this delightful establishment this summer. I commenced my meal with a delectable beef tartare appetizer, followed by a succulent lamb main course. The ambiance was further enhanced by the presence of a live jazz band. I highly recommend this establishment to anyone seeking an exceptional dining experience.
We came here recently & had a great time overall. It's a nice place down in Old Montreal to grab a bite or have some drinks. The restaurant has a nice vibe & they had a live band playing that night which was pretty cool. The service was very good considering it does get quite busy here at times so I'd highly recommend getting a reservation. The Food was above average as well. Some items on the appetizers could've been a bit better but the main courses were top notch. The Lamb was probably one of the best I've ever tried & the Filet Minion was exceptional as well. The Cocktails were all really good & the dessert was enjoyable too. I'd definitely recommend to give this place a try as I'm sure I will return again myself whenever I visit again.
We visited here on Memorial Day weekend from the U.S. This place was hard to find due to the construction, but it was crowded on Sunday. We ordered the brunch tower, small foie gras, & mimosas. The tower was impressive & caught the attention of other customers. I liked the salmon dish the most. The jazz band was also great. I definitely recommend this restaurant in Montreal.
Jun 19, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Had supper & drinks with friends on Saturday night during the F1 events. We sat at the bar & were very pleased with the attention & service we received. The bartender, Sal, did a fantastic job. He made excellent recommendations regarding food & his cocktails were amazing. The life band was playing at the same time, so we had an added benefit of life music during our visit. We will definitely come back there again.
We were called to this place by the foie gras. We had a late lunch so we only ordered appetizers, 4 of them. They were all good but the ones that shined most was the foie gras & the sweet bread. My wife was in heaven from the first bite to the last, euphoric they were. There was a smooth live jazz band playing that set a nice stage for the whole experience. The staff was spectacular as was the room. A definite must repeat.
We went to Modavie to celebrate a special occasion, calling early to make sure we were seated next to the live band. Upon arrival we were seated behind a post which blocked our view of the band. Further, we could barely make out the music over the loud chatter which seemed to echo throughout the restaurant making it difficult to hear the person right next to you. The salmon of the tartare was tasteless but the garlic snails were not bad. The duck confit was amazing but unfortunately it was the only dish that impressed us. The Niçoise salad came out more salty than the manager who arrived to rectify the intolerable dish.
Live band for brunch which is great. Service is great, & they accommodate group reservations. Only reason for 4 stars is the cost- don't know if the food justifies the cost. But overall great atmosphere & a nice place to take a break from roaming around the old port.
May 19, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Possibly the best restaurant experience we have had. We visited while on vacation in Old Montreal & we were lucky enough to be there for a live blues band. We had the garlic snails as an appetizer & freshly baked warm rolls were brought to the table as well. The Lamp Chops were out of this world as was my wifes Filet Mignon. That was followed by a crazy good creme brulee. The drinks were professionally made as well & were exceptional. On top of all this the server named Rad was no less than perfect. Friendly, knowledgeable & went out of his way to ensure we were enjoying ourselves throughout the night. He also allowed us all the time we wanted for a nice meal & music. Thank you for a memorable night.
Went to this restaurant several times for dinner or lunch & all was great! Caring staff, delicious meal, & live jazz band! Highly recommended! Just in case you look for a calmer spot & becasue band plays at first floor, better to book your table at second floor.
Mar 12, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
I came here with my wife & two daughters (7 & 9) for dinner on a cold February evening. Our hotel had recommended this place. Lorenzo completely hooked us up with one of the best tables in the house, right in front of the live jazz band, it was perfect. The waitstaff was attentive & the food excellent. We liked the steak dishes & lamb chops. Thank you to Lorenzo & the staff for a memorable evening on our family vacation to Montreal. We will be back.
We came to MODAVIE for brunch. We were a large group so, we reserved a table. From the moment we arrived, the staff were very friendly & professional. We ordered hot drinks, cocktails & a full course of dishes. The food was delicious & the cocktails were great! There was a live jazz band playing so, we couldn't really ask for more.
Came here for MTLATABLE, which is a prix fixe food event at select restaurants across the city. There was a decent selection of dishes made with Quebec produce across 3 courses. I picked the poutine, chicken & creme Brule. Honestly, I only enjoyed the poutine & it wasn't as heavy as regular poutine. The chicken was a disappointment due to the lack of flavours. It tasted like grocery store rotisserie. The creme Brule was nothing special. However the highlight of this restaurant is definitely the live music, which starts at 7pm every night. The jazz singer & the band that performed tonight were excellent. Without it, the experience would have been pretty underwhelming.
Situated in the Vieux Port area of Montreal, this restaurant is a "must visit".
The food, the service, the ambience, outstanding!
Modavie is known for its lamb chops.
The Atlantic salmon is excellent.
The place is very popular because it boasts live music, with a jazz band performing every Tuesday.
Do not attempt to visit without a reservation unless you are prepared to wait about 45 to 60 minutes.
this restaurant had amazing food, drinks, & live music. the band was extremely lively & people were dancing & event a customer sang a couple songs with the band! the food was great & the price made sense. I was there last night & our waiter was attentive & didn’t come to our table every few mins. he payed attention to us & came to ask us questions at perfect moments (great if you want to have a sort of intimate dinner experience). the only thing i really hated about the restaurant was the hostess. as a past hostess of many different restaurants, the hostess attitude was incredibly surprising. she sat us at a table that had this sort of beam that covered the view of the band in the MDR. i asked her if we can change tables & put us in the middle so we can have the full experience & she then put us at the end of the room in a corner. she just threw the menus & walked away. i was shocked that a hostess for a high end restaurant would even work there. not only that but i called a few hours before our reso to ask if they did anything for special occasions & after i told her what the dinner was for, she didn’t answer my question & just hung up. management needs to have a talk with their hosts.
