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.
A great restaurant in the heart of Old Montreal. We enjoyed the lamb chops & charcuterie & cheese board. Prompt service, excellent food & the jazz music was.an added bonus.
Nov 28, 2025
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We had a beautiful, warm experience at Modavie. The waiter was exceptional; the food was very good, & the atmosphere was warm & cozy. Live jazz was the cherry on top. It's in a beautiful part of Montreal. I was seated by the fireplace, & it was so wonderfully cozy & a chilly evening. Soupe a l'ongion was the perfect start to our meal
Très bon restaurant au coeur du vieux Montreal.j'ai bien apprécié la cuisine réconfortante & le service très attentionné.Le restaurant est un peu bruyant,la musique est trop forte à mon goût.Ensuite nous avons eu le plaisir de voir un groupe de jazz.tres chouette mais pas suffisamment mis en valeu
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!
Oct 4, 2025
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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.
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 !
Je recommande à 100 % !✨? encore merci
Sep 3, 2025
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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
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.
