Modavie
Wine BarTop Pick
Modavie
Wine bar with live music & an old-timey jazz vibe, plus an eclectic menu with lamb specialties.
Opens Today at 10 am
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Brunch:
Saturday and Sunday
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About us
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.
Amenities, services & more
Capacity: 160 We accept: Master Card, Visa, AMEX, InteracMore details
Saturday and Sunday
Affiliated Restaurants (7)
Photos (23) More
Press
At the RestoMontreal Team Table: Our October 2025 Media Invitations and Favourites
Best Venues for a Christmas Party in Montreal 2025
Best Terraces in Montréal, Laval, the South Shore and the West Island
Solo Dining in Montreal: Must-Try Spots
The Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in Montreal: Where to Eat with Kids Year-Round
Events Nearby
Montreal Têt Festival 2026
Feb 8, 2026
The Montreal National Women's Show 2026
Mar 27, 2026 to Mar 29, 2026
Related Links
Reviews for Modavie
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on Google (7500+)
Reviews often mention
Display Allmusic(224) lamb(187) live music(132) jazz(118) recommend(115) lamb chops(92) french(77) soup(69) wine(62) duck(57) attentive(56) drink(55)Page 1 of 3 - 44 Reviews
Vincent
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.
Shane
Modavie is a must when visiting Montreal. As soon as we got sat the atmosphere was there & it was high, our server Iman specifically made sure that our experience there is the best. She recommended the lamb chops which was amazing. We also had the filet mignon. Overall, everything was so good, even better than a Michelin Star Restaurant, trust us we ate at one just a couple days before!
Warren
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.
Reinee23
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!
Prithi
We had a wonderful lunch at Modavie, even during a busy service. The food was outstanding - the bone marrow & scallops made for the perfect start, & the lamb chops were absolutely spectacular. What truly elevated the experience was the service. William, our server, was attentive & friendly, while manager Lorenzo checked in personally to ensure everything was perfect. Their genuine care & hospitality made the visit unforgettable. Incredible food paired with incredible service - highly recommend!
David
Incredible restaurant that we went to twice on our 5 day trip. Food is delicious - rack of lamb, lamb chops & lamb cavetelli all excellent. I'd recommend the cavetelli - lamb,pasta & sauce were excellent but everything was delicious. Live music was great. Family friendly restaurant & the hospitality & generosity of the waiters made it feel like home. They washed my 2 year old daughter's plate we brought at the end. Very kind gesture that we've never experienced anywhere else. Thank you hope to come again soon.
May
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
Jea
Solid wine bar with live jazz.
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.
Paul
Loud even before the music started. Good location & quite nice inside (quite modern) but lacking je ne sais quoi for Old Montreal. But it was the food that let it down. My onion soup was wierd, it looked like French onion soup, it had the layers of French onion soup, but it had some other stuff in it that made it just wrong. My lamb chops were just OK, nothing out the ordinary. Prices were on the steep side. I wouldn't go back.
Tiffany
Awesome first meal visiting Montreal. We got the foie gras, fried calamari, garlic snails, & French onion soup for appetizer; lamb chops, lamb rack, & mushroom risotto for entrees. Everything was flavorful & we got a seat quickly with a walk in reservation. Lovely atmosphere - take it easy & enjoy the live bands (bring cash tip)!
Jamie
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!
Aysan
Everything is perfect in here. We tried duck & lamb chops. The duct is a must to try. 😋 The atmosphere is perfect & the staff are so nice.
Heidi
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.
Taylor
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!
Robyn
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!
Eric
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.
Jasmin
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.
Malak
Everything was great except it was so loud. I'm a 26 year old woman & my ears were ringing. The jazz band compounded with the table behind us. My ears were in pain. We were downstairs too, further from the band. I had the lamb chop & profiterole with a latte. Absolutely wonderful. You'll get a great dinner but not a quiet one !
Laura
Amazing lamb dinner in inviting decor. Best lamb chops I've had in a long time, marinade was delicious with rosemary, olive oil & slight tang of lemon. Vegetable accompaniment was perfect. Just the right portion size to have dessert & not feel too full. We went early with our toddler & they had a high chair available.
Jonathan
French restaurant. Server claims lamb is their specialty so I ordered the lamb chops & told the server I would have them however the chef recommends. I was with a big group & the lamb, while cooked medium, was room temperature. Tender, well seasoned. Service was good. Live jazz music was great. Would go back.