The Mansion

Informations on the nightclub where Gerard had his birthday celebration last November:

Lyall has a down-home feel, new bistro to open soon



Day manager Elif Ozdemir at Maison Lyall's main floor bar. The club has three spaces with bars.
Photograph by : PIERRE OBENDRAUF, THE GAZETTE

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/archives/story.html?id=642574c3-85cc-4fc9-8ec1-5d8d93252742

BERNARD PERUSSE, The Gazette
Published: Saturday, March 04, 2006
Club: La Maison Lyall.

Address: 1445 Bishop St.

Phone: (514) 849-8585.

Website: www.maisonlyall.com though parts are still under construction.

Hours: 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., Thursday through Saturday. Things will change next month when a new bistro, with simple, but tasty food, is scheduled to open from 6 p.m. to midnight every night except Sunday. And for people whose cravings are truly late-night, a smaller after-midnight menu will be available until 3 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday.

Cover charge: none, unless a major international DJ is handling the turntables.

Around since: 2004.

Capacity: 400.

Ambience: "It's as if you're going to a private party in an old mansion," co-owner Georges Najjar said. Indeed, there are six rooms, which are sometimes reserved for private gatherings, and three open spaces with bars scattered among the club's three floors. Wandering around the premises or selecting one spot are equally encouraged. Najjar describes the mansion as "bohemian chic." The furniture is vintage, but high-end.

Demographic: 25 to 40 and up, evenly divided between men and women. Najjar said he likes to think of the club's clientele as "sophisticated and mature."

Why go?: "The way it's set up," day manager Elif Ozdemir said. "You really feel like you're going into someone's house. And the people you get to see - you never know who you're going to bump into or where the night's going to lead."

Music: If you're craving hip-hop or Top 40 sounds, you might not be in the right club: the musical menu is mostly classic rock and oldies through to the 1980s, with some electro thrown in. On a given night, you're likely to hear eclectic mixes that include the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley and bossa nova, Najjar said, describing the playlist as "something that any sophisticated person will enjoy."

Special nights: If a private group rents a room and holds an office party, for example, they are welcome to come up with a theme, but Najjar said the club is not big on them. So this is not the place if Halloween parties or Valentines Day bashes are your thing.

Drinks: Martinis are popular (natch!), as are vodka, scotch, cognac and high-quality beer like Guinness and Kilkenny. Ozdemir said her favourite drink on the menu is Dive in the Harbour (saki, melon and lychee liqueur and a splash of sour mix).

Food: The bistro's modest, but mouth-watering menu will be reasonably priced, Najjar said, with special burgers, filet mignon, interesting entrees and exotic salads. Each item will have a twist to it, he said.

What about the no-smoking law? Najjar said he's happy about it and plans to use it as an opportunity to quit. A two-level outdoor terrace, expected by the summer, should make the change easier for customers who can't kick the habit, he said.

Noteworthy: Actor Gerard Butler (Phantom of the Opera, Dear Frankie) is a regular, when he's in town, as are Zach Braff (Scrubs) and singer Lionel Richie. Josh Hartnett (Sin City, Wicker Park) has dropped by. There was even buzz about the Rolling Stones and U2 coming in when the groups were in town recently. Unfortunately, plans were changed at the last minute, Najjar said.

bperusse@thegazette.canwest.com

© The Gazette (Montreal) 2006

Cool, that's on my "where to go" list!