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.
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 went to Modavie on the weekend & had a great experience start to finish. We had an early reservation for our wedding anniversary that we unfortunately had to cancel. However, the hostess on the phone let us know that a walk in might be available. We tried that around 7pm & the hostess was kind & accommodating. We sat on the patio where we could hear the live music but it was not too loud. Service was fantastic & so was our server, Tyler. He was warm, attentive, & friendly. He brought us out a dessert to celebrate our anniversary, even though I was only able to write that it was our anniversary on the first reservation I did- so they must have remembered from that. Also the lamb burger was amazing. Would recommend to anyone visiting the city.
Aug 26, 2025
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Food was spot on, especially the foie grass & scallop entrees. Service was good, ambience & live music was nice, though a little loud if you're next to the speakers. Good value too. Would def go again. Until next time.
The best duck I've ever had! I strongly recommend it! Looking forward to coming back during my next Montreal visit.
Friend of mine & I came for dinner - it was our first time there. The food was delicious, service was excellent, wine selection was great, & the live music was very cool! We had a great time!
The only downside was the space was quite loud so is it was really hard to have a conversation & to hear each speaking.
Got a recommendation from reddit. Tried this place. Getting there was long because it's right in the middle of the tourist area. Lots of stop signs & people crossing plus rush hours. So if you have a reservation, go there earlier.
The place itself it very nice, large seating area. Live music at night. We got there for early dinner. Food were mostly good (ordered onion soup, tuna tataki salad, & rack of lamb). Onion soup was different from the usual but in a good way. I had tuna tataki, but they have anchovy (too salty for me, & i didn't realize it comes with anchovies). Service was awesome. Very friendly. Kids friendly, too. Good place to try!
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!
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.
The French cuisine here is delicious, & the service is excellent. Our table's waiter looks like Jake Gyllenhaal-very cool. The live music by the trio is also delightful, with a mix of jazz & chanson vibes.
May 18, 2025
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Great food in old Montreal! Hard to get walk in especially on the weekend so be sure to book in advance. Atmosphere & food were top notch. There was live music while we were eating. Portions were not huge but still filling.
Visited Old Montreal & had dinner at Modavie, for its French cuisine & live music. The atmosphere is lively & service decent. The place was crowded despite it being mi-week. The live jazz band
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.
Came for brunch & enjoyed the live music. Brunch menu has some interesting takes on classic dishes like a duck confit version of chicken & waffles. Worth stopping by.
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.
