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.
Tasty cocktails, great entertainment, great service from our primary server. Food server was challenged by our two person table size to position our dishes, my side sauce was overly seasoned (for my taste) - Caesar salad was tasty & well dessed, but romaine was in larger, awkward pieces that you had to cut with a knife, rolls were pleasantly warm & crusty. Although you are told up front when you reserve you have two hours at your table, this puzzled me, as our intent was to enjoy dinner & the entertainment to mark a special ocasion. You pay hundreds for dinner, then are told to wrap it up when the entertainment starts. Feels rather unsophisticated. Perhaps there is a more palatable solution, such as a mandatory drink order each hour per person once the entertainment begins (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), otherwise an entertainment cover charge added to your bill... That said, our hostess offered us an extra half hour beyond the two hour window, as we were celebrating a special occasion. Great location in the Old Port. Primary server kindly added some sparkle to our occasion, a nice touch. Overall, a fun evening, tasty food & drink, & an enjoyable musician.
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.
Aug 5, 2025
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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.
May 25, 2025
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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.
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
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!
This was my second time here. I really enjoy the atmosphere & music-more than the food, to be honest. Still, I'll definitely come back & recommend it to others. Their prices are reasonable compared to other French restaurants in Montreal.
