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 comes across as a warm, lively French bistro in Old Montreal with inviting lighting, timeless charm and nightly live jazz. Reviewers consistently highlight friendly, attentive service and a welcoming staff that makes celebrations feel special. The menu features crowd pleasers like duck confit, rack of lamb and lamb chops, escargots, onion soup and mussels with fries, with many dishes praised for bold flavors and generous portions. The atmosphere blends old world charm with modern warmth, and the two level space with live music creates a vibrant yet conversation friendly setting. While busy nights can bring a bit of hustle and occasional slower pacing, the overall experience is described as memorable and well worth returning for.
Le service? INCROYABLE!!!!!! J'ai vraiment adoré waouh la nourriture est bonne, l'atmosphère incroyable, les serveurs (euses) sont vraiment incroyables & courtois je comptes y revenir & je recommande vivement
We had dinner on a Friday with reservations which we would recommend. Our meal started with snails which were excellent. Our mains were steak fries & duck both of which were cooked exactly as we had asked. They have live music & while we had wanted to sit in the entertainment area we were seated in an adjacent room. This was a more private area & we could hear the music just fine. William was our waiter & he helped make our evening a hit. All the staff were very attentive. We will return.
Mar 19, 2026
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We had a great day at Modavie. We had reservations at night but we were in the area in the afternoon so we stopped in. We had never been here before. We had a fabulous time listening to the live jazz music in the other room, enjoying some specialty drinks, & light food sitting at the bar. The manager (possibly the owner) who greeted us was ao nice!! He chatted with us in both languages & he was so charming & paid lots of attention to my Mom. We came back at night to a lovely table on the 2nd floor where we thoroughly enjoyed more live jazz music from a different trio. The manager/owner & the serving staff were once again amazing & the food was delicious. We are from Ottawa & my 80 year old mother hadn't been to Old Montreal in over 20 years & wanted to visit. Thanks to the manager, a very nice gentleman, its a great experience she will never forget. On the way out, the manager went out of his way during a busy time for him, to catch up to my Mom as she was about to step into the street, to say thank you. Its the little things that matter the most & we will never forget this restaurant & we highly recommend it after two visits in the same day. Thank you for the memorable day!!
Had an absolutely wonderful dining experience here! The atmosphere was warm & welcoming from the moment we walked in. Our server was attentive & knowledgeable about the menu, offering great recommendations. The food was exceptional - fresh ingredients, perfectly seasoned, & beautifully presented. Every dish we tried was bursting with flavor. The portions were generous & well worth the price. The restaurant was clean & well-maintained, & despite being busy, we didn't feel rushed. The dessert was the perfect ending to our meal. We'll definitely be returning soon & would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great meal & excellent service. Five stars!
Beautiful restaurant! It has a rly nice aesthetic. Service was great & so was the jazz. The food was pretty good, but could have used more seasoning. The portions were on the small side. For the price I think the food should've been 20% better. Overall I recommend:)
I've had my birthday dinner at Modavie & the whole dining experience was beyond exceptional! Food was amazing, we particularly enjoyed the foie gras toast & duck confit (even better than the ones we had in Paris!). Our server Mathias is super friendly & attentive, checking in from time to time if we enjoyed the meal, & even gave me a surprise with a dessert to celebrate my birthday. Absolutely will revisit again when travelling to Montreal - highly highly recommend!
One of the greatest restaurants I have been to. My wife invited me there on my birthday & I loved it! There was even a live band playing Jazz that day 🤩
The food was great especially the appetizers & the desserts.
The waiter George was really friendly. We even became friends with him & he offered us a dessert on the house!
Would definitely go back there this summer. I recommend it to anyone visiting Montreal or spending an evening around the Old Port
Feb 28, 2026
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We had the best time at Modavie. We were in Montreal celebrating our anniversary & happened upon this restaurant. While our meals were amazing (the mushroom risotto & the duck confit), it was the service that made our experience. Lorenzo & William were so welcoming & had the best energy. The atmosphere felt elevated but not like we were out of place (as a young couple). Would absolutely recommend checking this place out!!
Great place for a fun evening with friends! All food options were delicious! Duck pasta & mushroom risotto were big winners! Staff was fun, friendly, & did a great job with our specifics on food & drink orders. The music was certainly & added bonus enjoyed by all. I highly recommend this restaurant!
Lors de mon récent passage à Montréal, j'ai eu le plaisir de découvrir ce restaurant français. Quelle claque culinaire ! Si vous cherchez une expérience authentique, c'est ici qu'il faut aller. L'ambiance est chaleureuse, bien que les tables soient un peu instables & l'espace un peu serré entre les convives.
Cependant, l'assiette fait vite oublier ces détails. Le confit de canard est tout simplement exceptionnel : la peau est croustillante & la chair fondante. Quant au carré d'agneau, il était cuit à la perfection, d'une tendreté rare. Chaque bouchée témoigne du savoir-faire du chef.
C'est sans aucun doute l'une des meilleures adresses de la ville pour les gourmets. Malgré le manque de confort par moments, la qualité des plats est telle que je recommande cet établissement sans hésitation. C'est vraiment trop bon !
Went here for our honeymoon dinner, & the place is absolutely amazing! The food was delicious, the atmosphere was very relaxing, there was live music, & our server, Patrice, was wonderful! 11/10, would definitely recommend!
Feb 8, 2026
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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.
Très belle expérience. L'ambiance est chaleureuse & vivante, parfaite pour une soirée à Montréal. Le service était attentionné & professionnel, sans être envahissant. Les plats étaient savoureux, bien présentés & préparés avec soin ,on sent la constance & la maîtrise en cuisine. Une adresse fiable que je recommande autant pour un souper entre amis que pour une occasion spéciale. J'y retournerai sans hésiter.
Always our favourite restaurant in Montreal.
They have terrific live band. About their food which was the most delicious one. Recommend for friends gatherineg👍🏼
We had an absolutely wonderful dining experience here. The bouillabaisse was perfect - rich, aromatic, & full of fresh seafood, with a beautifully balanced broth that was both comforting & refined. Every bite was packed with flavour & clearly made with care.
The presentation was elegant, the portion was generous, & the overall quality far exceeded the price - truly great value for money.
Service was pleasant & attentive, making the entire experience even more enjoyable.
Highly recommended. We'll definitely be back!
Jan 1, 2026
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Nous sommes allés bruncher à Modavie suite aux recommandations sur internet. Un peu déçus par les plats … plutôt bons mais en quantité limitée… cuisse de canard « miniature « , 2 petites gaufres… … rien à voir avec les photos placardées à l'entrée du restaurant ou diffusées sur le site, crème brûlée tout petit ramequin … service décevant … serveurs peu avenants … surprise par l'état des toilettes s'agissant d'un restaurant reputé … vétustes, sales, pas de papier WC … c'est dommage !
During our trip to Montreal, we had the chance to enjoy lunch at Modavie, & it was a wonderful experience. The food was excellent, & the atmosphere was warm & inviting. Lorenzo & all the staff were amazing in both their service & welcoming attitude. We truly felt well taken care of & would happily recommend this place.
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!
Excellent service par notre serveur Patrice & à l'accueil. Très bonne recommandation de vin & les plats étaient succulents. Service très rapide puisque nous leur avions mentionné notre contrainte de temps. Je recommande à 100!
Probablement une de mes découvertes préférées cet année a montreal. Ambiance super, service etait clairement au dessus de mes attentes & la cuisine etait plus qu'excellente. Je recommande a 1000%
