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.
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!
Jul 18, 2025
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Visited from Puerto Rico. This spot was one of my favorite places in Montreal because the amazing customer service. Patricio (waiter) is one of a kind. The food & atmosphere is great as well. Coldest beer ever!
Came in at 8:30 with reservation & were promptly seated by 8:35. However, only received bread at 9:30 along with our drinks. 2 main course & starter took another 40 minutes.
Dinner for 2 took 2 whole hours…food was average at best. Honestly I think we would have given food more credit if not for the long wait time after being seated. It really killed our appetite.
Came in to celebrate my 30th birthday..joke's on me! Would not recommend.
This was definitely one of THE BEST soupe a l'oignon I have had in the world (including Paris, France!)!!! Quaint decor & friendly staff. Highly recommend it! (& have the soup!)
Awesome first meal visiting Montreal. We got the foie gras, fried calamari, garlic snails, & French onion soup for appetizer; lamb chops, lamb rack, & mushroom risotto for entrees. Everything was flavorful & we got a seat quickly with a walk in reservation. Lovely atmosphere - take it easy & enjoy the live bands (bring cash tip)!
Nous étions en visite à Montréal en famille & nous avons choisi Modavie pour notre repas du soir. Premièrement, l'endroit était superbe. Ensuite, que dire du repas! Tout était délicieux! Je tiens à remercier Tyler (notre serveur) pour son attention aux détails & pour sa gentillesse. Merci d'avoir fait de notre repas une expérience inoubliable !
Jul 5, 2025
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We're had just arrived in Montreal & dropped our bags at The William Gray. Hungry & tired we needed sustenance yet we're in no mood to compromise. I found Modavie here & the reviews seemed unbelievable. But, I thought, hey it's worth a try. & indeed it was. The atmosphere was electric in the bar & dining room withfrie dky & welcoming staff. Rad, our waitor, was reading our minds guiding us through the evening of three delicious courses: calamari, salad nicoise, & seafood linguini & a bottle of white burgundy. He mades us feel pampered & encouraged us to make an evening of it. It was the quitessential Montreal experience.
Modavie is a French Bistro that has excellent menu choices. We found the food to be very delicious & priced comparable to others in the old city, which is on the pricey side. The place jas a certain ambiance, which we found very pleasant. Caution: Make reservations in advance. We didn't have reservations, but we were fortunate to be seated regardless, but we had a two hour time limit to complete our meal.
We came here to celebrate my friend's birthday & had the best time! The food was delicious, but what really stood out was the service. Georges was amazing - so friendly & made us feel super special the whole night. He really helped make the birthday celebration one to remember. Thank you, Georges! We'll definitely be back.
Cons: the resturant is a little dirty. I received a dirty wine glass, dirty napkin, & there were used utensils & spills on the floor. Also, there were a lot of noisy kids. The menu didn't make me think this would be a family resturant.
Pros: the staff was incredibly nice & the food was excellent
