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 comes across as a warm, lively French bistro in Old Montreal with inviting lighting, timeless charm and nightly live jazz. Reviewers consistently highlight friendly, attentive service and a welcoming staff that makes celebrations feel special. The menu features crowd pleasers like duck confit, rack of lamb and lamb chops, escargots, onion soup and mussels with fries, with many dishes praised for bold flavors and generous portions. The atmosphere blends old world charm with modern warmth, and the two level space with live music creates a vibrant yet conversation friendly setting. While busy nights can bring a bit of hustle and occasional slower pacing, the overall experience is described as memorable and well worth returning for.
Went on Sunday for the jazz brunch. I had the salade Nicoise & my wife the eggs Benedict with lamb. Great atmosphere, food & music by a cool 3 piece combo.
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!!!
Went to Modavie on a Wednesday night & it was packed. I loved the whole experience. From the food, to entertainment, to the service, it was amazing. I ordered lamb chops & they were delicious.
I also had cold crème brûlée for dessert & wanted to order more. Finally I had tea to digest.
Our server's name was William & was remarkable, quick, efficient, polite.
There was also a jazz band that made the whole experience much more enjoyable. I will definitely come back!
Had a very good meal. The jazz music have a very relaxing atmosphere. The food was very well prepared & tasted very good. I had a steak, next time I think I would try something different. Desserts were good.
Sep 18, 2025
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My favourite place to eat in our 2 week trip across east Canada. Beautiful restaurant that oozes charm & character. The food was delicious & the atmosphere was perfectly complemented with a superb live jazz band.
This restaurant creates memories you'll never forget 😊👌
Quel service exceptionnel, tout en sourires, offert par Buddy ! C'est sincèrement l'un des meilleurs repas que j'ai eu l'occasion de déguster à Montréal. La viande était parfaitement cuite, accompagnée d'une mayonnaise truffée pour les frites & d'un foie gras Rossini cuit à la perfection, que dire de plus ? Cette soirée a été sublimée par de la musique jazz live. Ma famille & moi avons été incroyablement surpris & heureux de célébrer mon anniversaire dans ce restaurant chaleureux & élégant !
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.
Delicious food & good vibe. We booked early for dinner at 5pm, 2 hour sitting time, recommended reservations, especially if you want to come around 7pm to experience Jazz live music. Their onions soup is a must try, they are also popular for lamb chops, my partner said it's is really good. Will definitely come back
Aug 27, 2025
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We arrived in Montreal late & were looking for a late dinner without a reservation. Even on a weekday, most of the well-reviewed spots near Rue St.Paul were full, so we ended up here. About a 15-minute wait, & we were seated.
They were playing live jazz in the back dining area, but without a reservation we were placed in a quieter, more secluded space. Service was friendly & efficient, & we decided to skip a full meal for some hot appetizers & entrées.
The onion soup was a good start even during the summer months. Not quite the same satisfaction as in the dead of winter, but flavor-wise, it sat in the same tier as most great French onion soups I've had. If there was a difference, it was in the cheese (richer, not too rubbery, & nice aroma).
Calamari was calamari. Good as expected, but nothing to write home about. I had high hopes for the Normandy sweetbread, but it wasn't the kind I was looking for. The Calvados-&-apple combination doubled on sweetness, which unfortunately overshadowed the natural flavors of the sweetbread. The sauce itself was pleasant at first, but it was so dominant that it was hard to tell if I was picking up a piece of morel mushrooms or a sweetbread.
Thankfully, the two entrées we ordered were amazing. We got the mushroom risotto as a filler, but it turned out to be our second favorite dish. The truffle aroma & pine nuts worked together really well. The Lamb chop was highly recommended from our server, & since all the lamb I had in Montreal/Quebec were phenomenal, I decided to trust her. This was no exception. Sides were fairly basic, but even without a sauce, the meat was just so tender & flavorful.
Delicious food - steak frites & moules frites- generous portions & tasty. Professional & friendly service & a fantastic jazz guitarist. A perfect evening.
We had a wonderful dinner tonight at Mondavie. The restaurant atmosphere was warm & lively. The jazz band was very entertaining. Server Rad was the best. He was fun, attentive & engaging. He made our dinner extra special. The lamb was delicious & the bread was the bomb. We would highly recommend this restaurant in the heart of old town Montreal.
Jun 3, 2025
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Overall wonderful experience! The service was lovely & attentive. The food was really good too. The stand out for me was the lamb pasta dish. The live jazz music was a nice touch too.
The French cuisine here is delicious, & the service is excellent. Our table's waiter looks like Jake Gyllenhaal-very cool. The live music by the trio is also delightful, with a mix of jazz & chanson vibes.
Visited Old Montreal & had dinner at Modavie, for its French cuisine & live music. The atmosphere is lively & service decent. The place was crowded despite it being mi-week. The live jazz band
