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.
We went there with my wife for a very special occasion & it was a great experience! The food was delicious & Lorenzo made us feel very welcome & was incredibly funny in a friendly way.
We'll definitely come back next time we are in Montreal!
Mar 14, 2026
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Je souhaite partager mon expérience dans ce restaurant afin d'exprimer ma déception quant au service reçu.
Tout d'abord, la nourriture était correcte, mais rien de particulièrement remarquable. Par exemple, le steak que j'ai commandé manquait de sel, au point que j'ai dû en demander pour pouvoir l'assaisonner moi-même. Dans l'ensemble, le repas était simplement acceptable, sans plus.
Cependant, le problème principal concerne ce qui s'est passé après le repas. N'ayant pas très faim, je n'ai pas terminé mon plat & j'ai donc demandé à ce qu'on emballe le reste pour l'emporter. Le serveur a pris mon assiette afin de préparer l'emballage. Pendant ce temps, je me suis rendue aux toilettes.
À mon retour à la table, l'emballage contenant le reste de mon repas avait disparu. Lorsque j'ai demandée ce qu'il s'était passé, le serveur m'a répondu qu'il l'avait jeté à la poubelle & qu'il se trouvait dans les déchets. Autrement dit, la moitié de mon plat - que j'avais expressément demandé à emporter - a été jetée sans mon consentement.
Lorsque j'ai exprimée mon étonnement & mon mécontentement, on m'a même demandé si je souhaitais récupérer le paquet dans la poubelle, ce que j'ai trouvée extrêmement déplacé & irrespectueux.
Je considère que ce type de traitement envers un client est très grave & témoigne d'un manque de professionnalisme & de respect. Cette expérience a malheureusement laissé une impression très négative.
Une très belle découverte à Montréal. L'ambiance est parfaite, avec un band qui joue pendant le souper & qui crée une atmosphère vivante sans être envahissante. Le service était amical & attentionné. J'ai choisi les moules comme plat principal & elles étaient tout simplement exceptionnelles, parmi les meilleures que j'ai mangées dans ma vie. J'y retournerai sans hésiter!
Great location in Old Montreal, & 4 of us visited the week of Happening Gourmand March/26. Great ambiance with or without the jazz music that started around 7 PM Priced competitively with a solid menu selection but we opted for the fix prix 2 course special & were not disappointed, & of course added dessert. Excellent drink list. Service with Rad was superb & when a server has been with the restaurant 29 years, that tells you something too. Definitely would visit again!
Mar 12, 2026
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One of my favourite restaurants in Montreal to go to with friends when we're in a mood to eat dinner on a Friday night with live music. This resto always offers great food & nice music.
The location was in the Old Town of Montreal which was amazing. The service was great our server was really kind. The food was delicious & lastly enjoyed the live music & overall vibe
We had a nice dinner at Modavie restaurant. The place has a great atmosphere & feels lively, especially with the live music playing during the evening.
We ordered salmon fillet with barley & a glass of wine. The food tasted fresh & was very tasty. The salmon was well prepared & the dish was nicely balanced.
The restaurant was quite busy, which shows it's a popular place. Because of the live music & the number of guests, it can also get a bit loud, but it adds to the energetic atmosphere.
Overall, it's a nice place with good food, live music, & a vibrant setting. 🎶🍷🐟
Mar 8, 2026
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ambiance excellente lorsque le band live joue, par contre lorsque pas de musique live arrete l'ambiance est a mourir,
pour les repas malheureusement je n'ai pas aimé, tout était beaucoup teop salé
Service was friendly & ambiance was nice. Bread was fresh & butter was good. Jazz music was played live as we ate our tuna tartare, cod & rice with lobster bisque, steak & fries & crème brûlée 🍮 Street parking with meters.
Mar 8, 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!
Had a late lunch here last week. Food was excellent & the service impeccable.
Lorenzo the Maite d' is a real gentleman & made us feel very welcome
Will be back again (& again).
Thank you
