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.
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)!
Mar 25, 2025
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.
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!
Lucky to be in Montreal for'Happening Gourmand' with their $59 menu so chose Modavie for the lamb, steak & jazz. Unfortunately we were very hungry & changed our reservation time so we were too early for the jazz. The service was exceptional & the food exceeded our expectations. Started with beet & chèvre salad & finished with Opera cake.
I really chose this place because they offered live music which didn't disappoint. You really enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant. The food was delicious. We had the escargot since we wanted to have a French Canadian food experience. The truffle fries were delicious. I also had the rack of lamb, which was good. The drinks were also really good, but we are too full to have dessert which I guess I'll have to come back for at some point when I'm in Montreal again. The staff were absolutely lovely & it was just an overall great evening.
Modavie is a true standout, even in the heart of Montreal's bustling tourist district! Despite its location, it feels like a hidden gem with exceptional food, warm service, & an unbeatable atmosphere. The food was absolutely amazing-every dish was perfectly prepared & bursting with flavor. Our server was incredibly friendly & attentive, making us feel right at home & enhancing our overall experience. The live jazz music was a highlight & added a touch of elegance to the evening. It's clear the musicians were incredibly talented, & we truly appreciated the ambiance they created. The only downside was the noise from some of the other clients. They were quite loud & didn't seem to appreciate the beautiful music as much as we did. However, that didn't stop us from enjoying the experience. If you're looking for great food, excellent service, & live jazz in Montreal, Modavie is absolutely worth a visit!
They have live Jazz for dinner & brunch & we went for dinner. It's upstairs & it's very nice ambiance overall. The food was good as well, the waitress gave us an excellent service. Will definitely be back.
This might be my favorite restaurant in the world. The food alone makes this five stars. I've had the mushroom risotto topped with braised lamb, linguini with duck confit, & the lamb chops. All were excellent. Great wine selection. Chocolate mousse pyramid for dessert was amazing. The live music is the best I've ever seen while dining. Each time we visited Modavie, we saw GL Chambers & Band who perform a soulful mix of rock & blues. They are so talented & play with such a warm spirit. The music brings Modavie from a five star restaurant to a special must-visit destination.
Went as a big group, fixed menu. I ordered the salmon tartare & a lamb cavatelli. The portions were bigger than I expected, & everything tasted good, despite being a little bit generic. The vibe is cozy
Dined at Mondavie, while visiting Montreal. It was easy to make reservations & conveniently located near my hotel. My server, Yann, was friendly & attentive, & made wonderful recommendations. I enjoyed Lamb Chops as the main course. The food, service & music were great, I will definitely return.
My boyfriend & I loved this restaurant. Their drinks were really creative & delicious. They were also reasonably priced. We had the French onion soup & snails as an appetizer, & then tried the duck & the lamb for our mains. Everything was delicious & fresh. I had the raspberry sorbet as a dessert & my boyfriend had a chocolate mousse cake. The service was good & our server even took the time to write a list of other restaurants he recommended in downtown & old Montreal for us to visit during our trip. The restaurant was very cosy & they even had live music playing. It wasn't too loud & we would highly recommend this place for your next date spot.
