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.
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!
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.
This was our second time dining here mainly due to the beautiful ambiance & service at this restaurant. The food is fine quality & the staff is exceptional. Our waiter Renault was very engaged & attentive to us the entire time. If you are looking for quality food & great service then you must come here!
We visited this spot on a food tour guide's recommendation & are so glad we did-it's a hidden gem we might've missed otherwise. The vibe is lively & loud (especially near the music), which we loved, but it might not suit those looking for a quiet meal. The lamb & pesto gnocchi were both incredible. My only disappointment was that our anniversary wasn't acknowledged, even though we noted it on our reservation-other nearby tables received desserts for their celebrations. Still, the food & energy made it a memorable meal!
Un peu de France à Montréal. Ambiance très conviviale avec un service & une cuisine de qualité. Ils y jouent de la musique en live tous les soirs (blues, jazz..) , le restaurant à deux étages mais l'ambiance reste intime. Je recommande vivement en date ou même entres amis!!J'ai gouté le steak frites & les pâtes à l'agneau, les deux étaient délicieux !
The table is reserved for 2 hours from your reservation time. Only complaint is that the place is small & you may have people bumping into you. We had the Cupid's arrow to start off which was a refreshing cocktail. For appetizers I ordered the garlic snails which are delicious. My partner ordered the Modavie poutin which comes with braised lamb. For entrees we both had the lamb burger which comes with a mint mayonnaise that was exquisite. Overall this establishment exceeded our expectations
Apr 28, 2025
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Amazing experience. Tyler was our fantastic waiter. Dinner & a show, the live music on Saturday night was top notch. The food was also some the of the best. I had the lamb cavatelli, it was so tender & flavorful. Definitely recommend giving this place a try, especially if you like music.
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.
The Onion Soup & Creme Brulee were the best things. Overall great food, lovely ambiance & nice staff. It is a bit pricy but well put for the quality of food. Our Steak & Fries was a little hard to chew but overall it was great.
Apr 19, 2025
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Gluten-free Poutine!!! The food here was so good & so many items gluten free. Except dessert! Please work on that.
We started with the poutine with lamb. Delicious salty gravy & the tender lamb. Wow! We then had lamb chops & the mushroom risotto. Both were very good. The mushrooms were crispy on the truffled rice. So good. I loved the lamb chops & thought a large portion. The crème brûlée was good but nothing exciting. They were out of a few things such as the chicken. The wine choices were good only if you bought a bottle.
The restaurant is set up as restaurant on one side & bar on the other with jazz. I enjoyed the jazz from the restaurant side but would not have wanted to eat in the bar.
There is construction on the streets around the restaurant if you are driving be aware.
Exactly what I was looking for in Old Montreal where it seems many restaurants have closed. The atmosphere here is perfect. Beautiful, dimly lit & easy to have a conversation while listening to live music & enjoying a perfectly prepared meal. I recommend the scallops appetizer with capers though we also enjoyed the seafood linguine with scallops-they were perfectly prepared in both dishes & while the tomato sauce was great, the appetizer's sauce will not be forgotten. The poutine (without lamb) with shoestring fries was also perfectly salty & tangy with more than enough small pieces of cheese curd. (This is a respectable poutine but one that isn't drowning in gravy like you might enjoy in many other restaurants-it has less guilt too!) I also enjoyed the salmon tartare but it had a much more subtle flavour than the other dishes. The service & atmosphere were wonderful. I would love to return.
Best restaurant on our trip & the lamb chops was the best meal I've ever had. Staff was extremely friendly, welcoming & attentive, especially our server Rad. Will be telling friends & family about Modavie!
Loved the atmosphere! It was buzzing & full, even on a Monday evening. Reservation definitely recommended. Prior to arriving, we were informed that mains were not shareable (each guest needs to order their own main). I thought that was fair. I did not fancy sharing my delicious mushroom risotto anyway :)
My partner had lamb cavatelli which was delicious as well.
For dessert we had opera cake & profiterole. Our wines were enjoyable too. The server was great.
All I can say is bring your appetite (& wallet)!
This restaurant is everything you'd hope for in a French dining experience-elegant yet completely welcoming. We stopped in for lunch & enjoyed a selection of appetizers, each one beautifully prepared & bursting with flavor. The ambiance has all the charm & sophistication of a classic French restaurant, but without even a hint of pretension.
What truly sets this place apart, though, is the staff. Everyone was warm & inviting, making us feel like old friends rather than just another table. Lorenzo, in particular, made our experience unforgettable-his humor, attention to detail, & genuine care for every guest turned a great meal into something special.
I can't wait to return for dinner with live music & finally try the lamb chops. If lunch was this good, I can only imagine what an evening here will be like!
