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.
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.
Un peu de France à Montréal. Ambiance très conviviale avec un service & une cuisine de qualité. Ils y jouent de la musique en live tous les soirs (blues, jazz..) , le restaurant à deux étages mais l'ambiance reste intime. Je recommande vivement en date ou même entres amis!!J'ai gouté le steak frites & les pâtes à l'agneau, les deux étaient délicieux !
May 3, 2025
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Patrice , is the best I had dinner there yesterday, the 27th , it's been a long time since I've had such an amazing experience, he knows service!!! I work in the hospitality industry, he gives an amazing service!! Well done!! Will go & make sure he in my server !!!
The table is reserved for 2 hours from your reservation time. Only complaint is that the place is small & you may have people bumping into you. We had the Cupid's arrow to start off which was a refreshing cocktail. For appetizers I ordered the garlic snails which are delicious. My partner ordered the Modavie poutin which comes with braised lamb. For entrees we both had the lamb burger which comes with a mint mayonnaise that was exquisite. Overall this establishment exceeded our expectations
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.
Apr 27, 2025
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Food & service were awesome. Best meal we had on our trip to Montreal. Our server Buddy was fantastic, very knowledgeable, & they accommodated with gluten free options.
Don't bother putting your name on the waitlist. They pad the first seating on the waitlist so no one ever gets off it. We watched it go from 2 to 5 to 11 to 15 to 17 to 19 people. Sucks that they wouldn't just honor the waitlist & let people know.
Visiting this awesome place everytime I travel to Montreal.
Great service & food ! Many rooms with different atmospheres.
I'm a pescarian & find their fish very tasty & fresh.
I love this place.
It's fine. Definitely rests on its laurels & location. Food is solid but nothing all that special. Priced for location not innovation. Service was attentive. Host was walking around with iPad assessing table progress for his seating plan which was off putting. Needs to be trained how to do it more discreetly.
Apr 26, 2025
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Absolutely loved this restaurant. Food was very delicious, & everyone was very happy with the food & service.
They had accidentally given me potatoes instead of mashed potatoes, & when I asked to verify just so I won't be charged extra (it wasn't a big deal, honestly), they came back with a massive bowl of mashed potatoes & told me it was on the house. Seriously, could've have asked for better service.
The lamb I thought was a little too subtle on the flavours, but that's my personal taste, & I believe pretty much everyone else would've thought this was well seasoned (my friends tried it & thought it was really really good). Mashed potatoes, vegetables, & the potatoes were all very delicious.
The waiter also suggested me a red wine to go with the lamb that I've been trying to find, & have been failing to - I only remember hearing'Chateau', which didn't help me narrow it down when I got home. If you see this, Modavie, & any of your waiters somehow remember my wine from 22 Nov 2024, I would be forever in your debt (I probably should've asked earlier). We were also the group that sat in front of the band & ended up moving to a quieter part of the restaurant (which they did so happily - thank you so much).
Anyways, 10/10 would recommend, everyone should give this place a try. My friend's duck & steak were all incredibly delicious as well. Can't wait to come back when I visit Montreal again.
