Modavie
Modavie 1 Rue St-Paul Ouest, Montréal
4.7
283 evaluations
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Review summary

What guests say about Modavie

Modavie is often appreciated for its warm atmosphere, live jazz, and elegant decor, especially for a romantic dinner or an evening with friends. Many customers praise the quality of the French cuisine and dishes like duck, seafood, tartares, and desserts, as well as the attentive and welcoming service. That said, some reviews mention high prices, inconsistent service, and noise when the dining room is full or the music is loud. If you're looking for a lively experience with good food and music, it's worth a visit, but it's best to make a reservation and expect an energetic atmosphere.

Summary based on 283 reviews.

Reviews / Ratings for Modavie

Photo of Wendy
8 Feb 2026
Source: Google
4.7

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 and nice music.

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Restaurant response
Response added on 13 Feb 2026
We’re so happy to hear this Wendy! It’s wonderful to know that Modavie is one of your favorite spots to enjoy dinner with friends, complete with great food and live music. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, Garry Sabbathe, General Manager
Photo of Elias Brache
8 Feb 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Beautiful and perfectly located in Old Montreal. We had an exceptional dinner with delicious food, the attentions of Alexandra and Lorenzo were A1! We will be back for sure!

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Restaurant response
Response added on 13 Feb 2026
We’re so glad you took the time to share your experience Elias! It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your dinner and that Alexandra and Lorenzo made it extra special. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, Garry Sabbathe, General Manager
Photo of Héloïse Plante
7 Feb 2026
Source: Google
5.0

My husband and I ate here for my birthday and we had a wonderful experience. When we booked our reservation, they asked us if there was a special occasion, and we selected birthday. While we were in the restaurant, we never mentioned it to our waiter. After we received our desserts, they let us know mine would be free for my birthday. I thought it was really nice that they laid attention to all the details and cared about making this a nice experience for us. I also really appreciated that they asked us about food allergies after we ordered. The food, the music they played and the service were all very good. It’s a great spot for a date night, with a romantic atmosphere. This was our second time here, and it’s becoming one of our favourite restaurants in town. We will be back soon enough!

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Photo of Colby Weigel
5 Feb 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Full blown obsessed with the Modavie Poutine, and getting it with the braised lab is a must. My husband and I loved it so much that we decided the next time we come we’re each getting our own because neither of us want to share. The host Lorenzo was charming, funny and kind, and our waitress was super nice as well. When we come back to Montreal this will always be a must stop place for us.

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Restaurant response
Response added on 11 Feb 2026
Thank you so much, Colby! We’re thrilled to hear how much you and your husband loved the Modavie Poutine—braised lamb is definitely a favorite! Lorenzo and our team will be delighted to hear your kind words. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Bistro Modavie on your next visit to Montreal—it will be our pleasure to make it another memorable experience! Garry Sabbathe, General Manager
Photo of Mo
4 Feb 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Beautiful spot if you are in Old Montreal. Food was amazing and the atmosphere was fab. Lorenzo took great care of us

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Restaurant response
Response added on 11 Feb 2026
Thank you so much, Mo! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed the food, the atmosphere, and Lorenzo’s attentive service. We look forward to welcoming you back to Bistro Modavie on your next visit to Old Montreal! Garry Sabbathe, General Manager
Photo of Momochang M
3 Feb 2026
Source: Google
5.0

The middle-aged bald guy with a beard was such a professional server!! He is very witty and friendly When we ordered glasses of wine, he pretended to accidentally pour too much wine into our glasses😂 I knew he did it on purpose, the way he acted made it so funny😂 Also, the couple at the table next to us asked him if they could move to a larger table It’s understandable because their space between our table and the window looked quite small Then, he said “We do have a larger table, but it’s expensive😉 Are you okay with that?” We realized he was lying in a good way because if he had simply said “Sure!”, we would have felt it was unfair and probably would have wanted to change tables too He is professional who knows how to make customers feel comfortable and enjoy He really made our night

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Restaurant response
Response added on 11 Feb 2026
Thank you very much, Momochang, for your wonderful review. We are delighted that you enjoyed your evening and that our server helped make your night so memorable. We truly appreciate your kind words and will gladly share them with our team. We look forward to welcoming you back to Bistro Modavie soon! Garry Sabbathe, General Manager
Photo of Jason Prevost
1 Feb 2026
Source: Google
3.7

Pictures vs reality lol. 25$ for that. No no…, each dish

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Photo of David Janack
31 Jan 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Fantastic food and atmosphere. We sat at the bar as there were no open tables and were greeted and attended by a wonderful bartender. The wait staff and servers were very nice and attentive. We ordered calamari for our starter and it was the best I've ever had, perfectly cooked and lightly breaded. We also ordered the gnocchis which my wife really enjoyed. I ordered the lamb chops with vegetables and they were prepared to a perfect medium. Although there was only one reisling available, it was very good. Dry and crisp. I would definitely recommend and would certainly visit again if I am in Old Montréal.

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Restaurant response
Response added on 4 Feb 2026
We’re thrilled to hear about your experience at Modavie David! It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed everything from the calamari to the lamb chops, and that our team made you feel welcome at the bar. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back whenever you’re in Old Montréal. Warm regards, Garry Sabbathe, General Manager
Photo of M B
25 Jan 2026
Source: Google
4.7

Amazing service and food! Everything was extremely delicious and fresh. The atmosphere was great, and | loved the fresh buns served before the meal. I honestly didn't find anything negative and loved every bite. The only thing to note is that the menu isn't very kid-friendly, with limited options for children.

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Restaurant response
Response added on 29 Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the service, food, and atmosphere, and that you loved our fresh buns. We appreciate your note about the menu for children and will keep it in mind. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, Garry Sabbathe Directeur Général
Photo of Iris Wong
24 Jan 2026
Source: Google
4.3

Live music

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Restaurant response
Response added on 29 Jan 2026
Thank you very much for your 5-stars review Iris :)
Photo of Tricia Jenkins
23 Jan 2026
Source: Google
5.0

My husband and I don’t always get the chance to have a date night, once or twice a year I would say. We almost aways go to Modavie as the atmosphere, food, drink and service always proves to be amazing. On January 17th, our expectations were surpassed and our evening was absolutely perfect. We were seated in Isma’s (apologies for mis spelling of her name). Right from the start she was attentive. I was unsure of which wine to choose, and she brought me 2 samples. The food was beyond good, we had the risotto and the steak frites. To end our night, we were even presented a glass of dessert wine on the house. Our night was absolutely special and our next date night will definitely be back at Modavie in Isma’s section! Thank you so much!

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Photo of Winston Leslie
21 Jan 2026
Source: Google
5.0

There are very few places where you walk in and immediately feel welcome. Lorenzo, the host, the bartenders, and all the staff made you feel that and more. This was one of the most enjoyable restaurant experiences in my life; all the staff were happy and cordial, the food was amazing, and the drinks were superb. I highly recommend this place to anyone -- ask for Lorenzo!

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Photo of Robin Meiners
20 Jan 2026
Source: Google
5.0

We ate here on our first night in Montreal and the bar was set very high! The food was excellent and our server George very attentive and made great recommendations, he flawlessly spoke English, and made us feel welcome. Our table enjoyed the charcuterie plate, lamb chop dinner and lamb cavatini. There also was live jazz upstairs that was very enjoyable and downstairs was a blues band, also very good.

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Photo of Shorna Islam Abdul Aziz
17 Jan 2026
Source: Google
5.0

An amazing brunch place! The vibe, the restaurant, and the food—everything was just top-notch. I tried the lamb chops and the salmon tartare, and they were both excellent. A must-try.

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Restaurant response
Response added on 30 Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review Shorna! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed the brunch, the vibe, and the food. It’s great to hear that the lamb chops and salmon tartare were such a hit. We look forward to welcoming you back to Modavie soon! Warm regards, Garry Sabbathe General Manager
Photo of Tina Billstrom
17 Jan 2026
Source: Google
4.0

Service was great! Food portions were french size but plenty! Place was loud and I was close to entry door so it was cold the entire time!

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Restaurant response
Response added on 30 Jan 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback Tina. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the service and the food portions! We do apologize for the noise and the draft near the entrance — we appreciate your comments and will take them into consideration. We hope to welcome you back soon for an even more comfortable experience at Modavie. Warm regards, Garry Sabbathe General Manager
Photo of Artur Nowak
16 Jan 2026
Source: Google
1.7

Never order beef tartare, was horrible , never more

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Restaurant response
Response added on 4 Feb 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback Arthur. We’re very sorry to hear that the beef tartare did not meet your expectations. If you would be willing to share more details about what you did not enjoy, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] Your comments will also be shared with our kitchen team to help us improve. We hope you might give us another opportunity in the future to provide a more enjoyable experience. Warm regards, Garry Sabbathe, General Manager
Photo of Nicole Matthews
16 Jan 2026
Source: Google
1.3

Extremely disappointed by the experience. The front door team was cold and failed to be welcoming or even smile at us upon entrance. Our server was ok. We were herded into a small packed room full of other Americans while most of the restaurant sat empty. We had to scream over one another the entire meal. The filet mignon was a crime against humanity. It was a tad bit higher in grade than a McDonald’s hamburger for $55 the team should be embarrassed to serve this item to anyone. As we exited no one thanked us for joining and could of cared less if we enjoyed ourselves. Really bad all around.

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Photo of Danielle Crawford
16 Jan 2026
Source: Google
4.7

I didn’t eat here. So when I’m saying That I’m reading this as a Four star. That’s based off of my experience and the cocktail menu. So I can’t speak to the food selection or anything like that. That being said we came here with the hopes of watching live jazz. Unfortunately, we didn’t realize that that ended at 10 PM. So we were a little bummed that we had just missed it. We decided to sit at the bar to have a cocktail anyhow. I forget the name of the one I ordered, but it was a tequila-based drink with coconut milk. It was really nice but a little bit on the sweet side for me. I didn’t end up finishing it. Which is a shame because these drinks are definitely very expensive. My coworkers each had an old-fashioned and they said that there’s were quite lovely. Also, expensive however. The bar area was nice good vibe in there. The bartender didn’t seem to want to converse with us so he was a little bit grumpy. It seemed when I go back? Yes as long as there was live jazz happening. No if there was no jazz.

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Photo of Leung Teresa
16 Jan 2026
Source: Google
4.7

Always our favourite restaurant in Montreal. They have terrific live band. About their food which was the most delicious one. Recommend for friends gatherineg👍🏼

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Photo of A Bond
13 Jan 2026
Source: Google
2.7

Was disappointed with the quality of flavour in the food. Chicken was bland and dry and the potatoes were so starchy that I didn't eat them. My dinner companion had the butcher's cut which was a striploin. He said it was OK. His mashed potatoes were tasty and they made a decent martini. Server was good even though it seemed he was new and not quite comfortable. Was disappointed with the music too sadly. Was expecting something more atmospheric but it was more like what you'd hear in an airport lounge. Pop songs remained to be more "jazz". They could just do so much better. Maybe being in old port has made them slack as they'll get the tourist trade regardless.

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Photo of Simin Forouhar
13 Jan 2026
Source: Google
2.7

Overpriced and underwhelming. We came from Toronto for the holidays and were disappointed to find that the food quality didn't match the expensive menu. The flavors were lacking, and it certainly didn't feel like a true high-end dining experience. Not recommended if you're looking for value for your money.

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Photo of Jack Meagher
11 Jan 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Fantastic service and food. All of the staff were professional, courteous, knowledgable, and kind. Our bartender, Sal, was hands down the best bartender we've ever had. He made the best lemon drop that I've ever tasted, and that's high praise coming from a lemon drop fanatic like myself. Sal also loaded us up with bartender wisdom, introduced us to a few new liquers, and gave us a masterclass on bartending. Beyond the bar, the food itself was fantastic. My walleye was good but nothing extravagant, but the potatoes were magical. I eat potatoes everyday, they're my favorite food, and Modavie managed to create this sweet, aromatic potato puree that tasted heavenly. 10/10 will be coming back.

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Restaurant response
Response added on 4 Feb 2026
We’re thrilled to hear about your experience at Modavie Jack! It’s wonderful to know that our team made you feel so well taken care of, and that Sal delivered such an outstanding experience behind the bar. We’ll be sure to share your fantastic feedback with him. We’re also happy to hear you enjoyed your meal—and your description of our potato purée truly made us smile! Thank you for your kind words and for your recommendation. We look forward to welcoming you back very soon. Warm regards, Garry Sabbathe, General Manager
Photo of Lauren Crawley
10 Jan 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Had a wonderful experience at Modavie - service, live band, food was all fabulous. Was there for my bachelorette and the band sang a song for us, and comped my meal as they were having billing issues and we had an extended wait for our bill (which they were trying to correct as quickly as possible). Will certainly be returning - what a great experience!

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Restaurant response
Response added on 4 Feb 2026
We’re so happy to hear about your bachelorette celebration at Modavie Lauren! It’s wonderful to know that the live band, service, and food all made your evening so special. We’re also glad our team could resolve the billing issue quickly and make your experience a memorable one. We look forward to welcoming you back for another great visit soon! Warm regards, Garry Sabbathe, General Manager
Photo of Sarah B
8 Jan 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Very fancy and delicious food.

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Logo of Modavie
Restaurant response
Response added on 4 Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words Sarah! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the food and your experience at Modavie. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Warm regards, Garry Sabbathe, General Manager
Photo of Amy and Andrew White
8 Jan 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Great food! Beautiful place with elegant deco. One can truly relax and enjoy oid European city charm. Lorenzo was charming host and made our very first visit personable.

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Logo of Modavie
Restaurant response
Response added on 4 Feb 2026
We’re so delighted to hear about your first visit to Modavie Amy and Andrew! It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the food, elegant décor, and the old European city charm. We’re especially glad that Lorenzo made your experience so personable. We look forward to welcoming you back very soon! Warm regards, Garry Sabbathe, General Manager

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Opening hours

Dining room
  • Sunday 10:00 - 23:00
  • Monday 11:30 - 23:00
  • Tuesday 11:30 - 23:00
  • Wednesday 11:30 - 23:00
  • Thursday 11:30 - 23:00
  • Friday 11:30 - 23:00
  • Saturday 10:00 - 23:00

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