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 is a standout destination in Old Montreal, celebrated for its warm, inviting atmosphere and the consistent quality of its French bistro fare. Guests frequently highlight the excellent lamb dishes, onion soup, and duck confit as menu favorites, often paired with an impressive wine selection and well-crafted cocktails. The live jazz and blues music adds a unique, sophisticated charm that diners find both lively and memorable. While service can occasionally be busy due to the restaurant's popularity, most patrons describe the staff as attentive, professional, and welcoming, with many praising the personalized care provided during special occasions. Making a reservation is highly recommended to fully enjoy the experience in this classic, bustling establishment.
I walked in solo without reservations at 4pm for Modavie's dinner service. They accommodated me easily with a cozy 2 top near a window, but let me know I'd have to be done within 2 hours.
The waiter was friendly, brought me table bread quickly & recommended a great glass of red wine that paired perfectly with my lamb chops.
The meal, the music & the service were all 10/10.
Fantastic service, very prompt & welcoming. The only reason Im giving a 4 for food, is because I asked my lamb chops medium rare...& as you can see, they were medium.
We came here 3 years ago as a local recommended Modavie for their french onion soup that I was so hungry for. It was a great exprience then. We found ourselves back in Montreal & there was no quesion where we wanted to go for our nice meal. Everything was superb! The lamb chops were exceptional!! Service was quick but not rushed. Our server, Patrice, was amazing as well & very well, but not overly attentive. Looking forward to coming back again!
This place was recommended to me by a local, & I am from Calgary. Based on the recommendation I had very high expectations, & maybe that is on me for having such high expectations. The service was excellent, the appetizers very tasty, the main dish slightly above average when compared to other places I have tried in Montreal & Calgary. The atmosphere is fantastic, & the location unbeatable. I would like to come back & perhaps try a different main dish. I had my heart (& taste buds) set on the Duck Confite & ended up ordering the Lamp Chops, & even though I like Lamb, this dish was simply not special, as mentioned before about average or maybe slightly above average. I am giving it a 5 star review overall for the other reasons (Location, service, atmosphere, & the experience itself)
We initially wanted to come for the table d'hôte but the dinner menu looked delicious so we just ordered from there.
We ordered 2 dishes from the Classics side of the menu & 1 dish from the house specials.
Classics included the Mushroom risotto, which was a cheesy goodness featuring plenty of mushrooms & the other was the mussels & fries, which it in itself is always a classic. The white wine sauce was so complimentary for dipping the fries in & the mussels were so fresh.
The house specials featured the lamb chops, which I'm not usually a fan of, as sometimes too gamey, but these chops were cooked so well. The veggies were roasted so nicely, & included carrots, parsnips, zucchini & potatoes.
We visited during lunch on a weekday, so it wasn't too busy. Perfect for a lunch date. The server & the manager were accommodating of our stroller & us baby wearing our baby while eating lunch. Such nice hospitality, will definitely visit again!
Had an amazing meal here to end our vacation in Montreal! The Mushroom Risotto looks small but is surprisingly filling, & the mushrooms are incredibly fragrant. The Poutine had a sauce that was flavorful but not too heavy, really impressed us. Lamb chop were very tender & fried calamari were also delicious, & the warm bread was a lovely touch. The dessert was very tasty, we had apple strudel & cream brûlée were both outstanding. They also have live band in dinner time , we enjoyed so much. Great customer & vibe , definitely return again.
Fantastic food & atmosphere. We sat at the bar as there were no open tables & were greeted & attended by a wonderful bartender. The wait staff & servers were very nice & attentive. We ordered calamari for our starter & it was the best I've ever had, perfectly cooked & lightly breaded. We also ordered the gnocchis which my wife really enjoyed. I ordered the lamb chops with vegetables & they were prepared to a perfect medium. Although there was only one reisling available, it was very good. Dry & crisp. I would definitely recommend & would certainly visit again if I am in Old Montréal.
