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.
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)
We had dinner on a Friday with reservations which we would recommend. Our meal started with snails which were excellent. Our mains were steak fries & duck both of which were cooked exactly as we had asked. They have live music & while we had wanted to sit in the entertainment area we were seated in an adjacent room. This was a more private area & we could hear the music just fine. William was our waiter & he helped make our evening a hit. All the staff were very attentive. We will return.
Mar 19, 2026
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I've had my birthday dinner at Modavie & the whole dining experience was beyond exceptional! Food was amazing, we particularly enjoyed the foie gras toast & duck confit (even better than the ones we had in Paris!). Our server Mathias is super friendly & attentive, checking in from time to time if we enjoyed the meal, & even gave me a surprise with a dessert to celebrate my birthday. Absolutely will revisit again when travelling to Montreal - highly highly recommend!
We had the best time at Modavie. We were in Montreal celebrating our anniversary & happened upon this restaurant. While our meals were amazing (the mushroom risotto & the duck confit), it was the service that made our experience. Lorenzo & William were so welcoming & had the best energy. The atmosphere felt elevated but not like we were out of place (as a young couple). Would absolutely recommend checking this place out!!
Great place for a fun evening with friends! All food options were delicious! Duck pasta & mushroom risotto were big winners! Staff was fun, friendly, & did a great job with our specifics on food & drink orders. The music was certainly & added bonus enjoyed by all. I highly recommend this restaurant!
Modavie in Old Montréal is a quintessential French bistro experience that delivers across cuisine, atmosphere, & character. The space itself feels timeless & inviting, with warm lighting, exposed brick, & nightly live music-typically jazz or blues-that enhances rather than overpowers conversation. ?
The menu showcases classic French-inspired bistro fare executed with care. Signature dishes like the lamb chops & duck confit consistently earn praise for rich, well-balanced flavors & satisfying portions, while French onion soup & escargots make excellent starters. The wine list is broad, spanning Old & New World selections, & cocktails are thoughtfully crafted. ?
Service strikes a great balance between attentive & unobtrusive, with knowledgeable staff ready to guide pairings & recommendations. Many guests highlight the personable hosts & excellent waitstaff as part of the overall experience. ?
Whether for a date night, celebration, or memorable dinner after exploring Old Montréal, Modavie's combination of refined bistro cuisine, lively live music, & classic charm firmly earns it a 5-star rating.
This is the 2nd time I come to this place & this time was with the boys. This place is a vibe, at the heart of old Montreal. It's quite spacious, & seats a lot of people. The live band is appreciated. The first time we came, the food was below our expectations for the price. Few years later, I would say it's the same. The food was still mediocre, & could honestly be more. There's no wow factor, the food does not stand out sadly. We had quite a few appetizers & I had the lamb. The first time we had the duck confit, it was just ok as well. However, the atmosphere & service were on point.
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Modavie in Old Montreal, & it was truly an experience to remember. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm, attentive service & the smooth sounds of live jazz filling the space, we ordered the Salmon Tatar, Caesar salad, the duck confit & rack of lamb, & every dishes were absolutely exceptional. The duck was rich & tender, with perfectly crispy skin , crunchy almonds & a beautifully balanced sauce that brought everything together. The rack of lamb was equally impressive - cooked to a perfect medium rare, juicy & full of flavor, with a herb crust that added just the right touch. We had the crème brûlée & tasted really nice! Modavie is a fantastic spot for a special night out - whether you're a local or just visiting Montreal like us, I'd highly recommend it. Great food, great service, & a unique atmosphere that brings everything together. We accidentally forgot & left our credit card on the table as we left Canada to New York. The staff called us & let us know about it. We really appreciated your honesty. That means a lot thank you so much!!!
Excellent experience. Can I give everything, including our server Buddy, 10 stars? Buddy was very helpful explaining the menu. He was fun. We ordered a cocktail (so many to choose from) & a local beer. Then we ordered a cheese platter to start. Buddy suggested he hold off on putting in the appetizer order 5+ minutes until we finished our cocktails so we could fully enjoy the cheese with our wine. Great thinking Buddy! Cheese was very delicious. We ordered duck confit & rack of lamb. Both so delicious & juicy. Even though we were absolutely stuffed, I still had to order crème brûlée. Perfect. I was honored to have a sparkler in it to celebrate my birthday. Thank you. There was great Live music too. Well worth our 8 hour drive from Petrolia, Ontario for supper!
What a great place! We had the duck with pasta, escargot & lamb poutine. We listened to jazz & also had some nice cocktails. Really appreciated the great service from our waiter George. He was helpful & friendly.
Aug 27, 2025
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The flavor is very basic, without much complexity. Additionally, the dish uses too much butter, making it overly rich. The Foie Gras & Duck Confit are too sweet, the fries are not crispy & very soft. In summary, it did not meet expectations.
The best duck I've ever had! I strongly recommend it! Looking forward to coming back during my next Montreal visit.
Friend of mine & I came for dinner - it was our first time there. The food was delicious, service was excellent, wine selection was great, & the live music was very cool! We had a great time!
The only downside was the space was quite loud so is it was really hard to have a conversation & to hear each speaking.
This restaurant truly excels at setting the mood, complete with live music that enhances the atmosphere.
We started with the garlic snails gratin, served with a side of bread, & it was utterly delicious--the garlic flavor was bold & aromatic, which I loved. The duck confit was fantastic, though I felt it would have been even better without the almonds; they didn't quite add to the dish. The lamb chops were decent, but they had a slightly gamey flavor.
To cap off the evening, we indulged in dessert: the crème brûlée & chocolate lava cake. Both were the perfect sweet ending to a lovely night!
Absolutely loved this restaurant. Food was very delicious, & everyone was very happy with the food & service.
They had accidentally given me potatoes instead of mashed potatoes, & when I asked to verify just so I won't be charged extra (it wasn't a big deal, honestly), they came back with a massive bowl of mashed potatoes & told me it was on the house. Seriously, could've have asked for better service.
The lamb I thought was a little too subtle on the flavours, but that's my personal taste, & I believe pretty much everyone else would've thought this was well seasoned (my friends tried it & thought it was really really good). Mashed potatoes, vegetables, & the potatoes were all very delicious.
The waiter also suggested me a red wine to go with the lamb that I've been trying to find, & have been failing to - I only remember hearing'Chateau', which didn't help me narrow it down when I got home. If you see this, Modavie, & any of your waiters somehow remember my wine from 22 Nov 2024, I would be forever in your debt (I probably should've asked earlier). We were also the group that sat in front of the band & ended up moving to a quieter part of the restaurant (which they did so happily - thank you so much).
Anyways, 10/10 would recommend, everyone should give this place a try. My friend's duck & steak were all incredibly delicious as well. Can't wait to come back when I visit Montreal again.
Came for brunch & enjoyed the live music. Brunch menu has some interesting takes on classic dishes like a duck confit version of chicken & waffles. Worth stopping by.
In my last night in Montreal, Canada in November, 2024
I reserved a table at this lovely place in Old Montreal
A nice French restaurant that had one of the best food in all of Canada
I sit by the bar, while I was listening to live soul music
I ordered Escargots au gratin, duck confit, a cheesecake, beer & a cognac cocktail
It was so delicious
The service was good
& beside me there were a couple of friendly Canadians I befriended: Evan from Saskatchewan & Mike from Nova Scotia.
We talked about our countries, celebrities & trips & they made my last night in Canada better,
So better,
that, they advised me to continue to enjoy the unforgettable nightlife in town & I did so.
Definitely, a nice restaurant with the best atmosphere & food in the city.
Greetings from Mexico.
