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 consistently offers a memorable dining experience in Old Montreal, characterized by its classic French bistro cuisine, inviting atmosphere, and high-quality live jazz music. Many guests praise the delicious lamb dishes, duck confit, and flavorful appetizers like the French onion soup and escargots. The service is frequently described as professional, welcoming, and attentive, with numerous staff members noted for their ability to make special occasions feel truly personalized and celebratory. While the environment can become lively and occasionally loud due to its popularity and musical performances, it remains a favorite destination for both locals and travelers seeking an authentic and elegant atmosphere. Although some diners have noted variations in seasoning or occasional wait times during peak hours, the majority of visitors appreciate the well-crafted cocktails, extensive wine list, and the genuine hospitality that keeps them returning.
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)
Atmosphere & service here are great & worth coming for, live jazz was a treat & at a tasteful volume where you could still chat amongst your table. Our waiter was very attentive & friendly.
Food was underwhelming, but there's lots of budget-friendly items, & nothing we tried was bad. We had appies, mains, desserts, all of it was just ok, like something you might have at a friend's place who splurges on nice ingredients but has pretty basic home cooking skills. I recommend sticking with the cheaper menu items.
Apr 13, 2026
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Being greeted by Lorenzo was a great start for a company lunch. Had a great time & amazing service & food. Would really recommend to stop & live the Modavie experience. Will definitively go back in the evening to see their LIVE music!
Nice place to relax for a slow meal. Great chef. Good wine list. Good service. The host was always checking with us to make sure everything was okay. Nice ambiance because music & noise levels were low so you can have quiet conversation. Highly recommend.
Had an amazing experience at Modavie! From the moment we walked in, the vibe was incredible-super welcoming & lively. The live jazz music really set the mood & made the whole night feel special.
Huge shoutout to Caroline, who took care of me & my friends. She was honestly the highlight of our experience-super friendly, chill, & gave us amazing recommendations that we all loved. You can tell she really knows the menu & wants you to have a great time.
The food, the energy, & the atmosphere were all on point. Between the live music & the great service, this is definitely a spot I'd come back to anytime I'm in Montreal. Highly recommend!
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.
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!
