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Restaurant la Serre - Lyon's Demesne Village

Beautifully situated alongside the Grand Canal, with the entrance - guarded by stone lions and a new lodge which sports the trademark soft Lyons green - just beside the 14th lock, the Lyons Demesne opened to some acclaim in 2007.

The two restaurants - the fine dining Mill Restaurant, and informal Café La Serre – were originally envisaged as the first stage of an unusual project, The Village at Lyons, to include some small specialist shops, a cookery school and accommodation, and the completed sections sit well in their imaginatively landscaped setting with delightful little gardens and ever-present water.

Following the untimely death of proprietor Dr Tony Ryan in 2008 and Richard Corrigan’s move to Dublin (see Bentley’s, Dublin, for details of his new venture), there was a noticeable slowdown and the stunning fine dining restaurant, The Mill, was closed.

However, at the time of going to press the return of the venue’s original chef, Paul Carroll is anticipated, following his recent work on the opening of Gordon Ramsay at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Wicklow.

Paul brings back his trademark style to the La Serre Restaurant (formerly Café La Serre) and sees the opening of The Mill as Ireland’s premier Wedding and Corporate Venue. The Mill, (and several other areas, including The Garden Room and The Shackleton Room) makes a delightful venue for private gatherings, including exclusive weddings - there is a tiny chapel (it has to be seen to be believed), and the accommodation, in luxurious 2-bedroom ‘cottages’ (complete with Aga in their bespoke kitchens, amongst many other unexpected features), will delight all who stay here.

Restaurant La Serre:

You approach the main entrance past stone statuary and a bed of box balls, over a little bridge (pausing to admire the mill race below) and in through a massive front door which leads straight into the bar; known as The Lyons Den, it’s a welcoming room with a huge fireplace, plenty of comfortable well-worn leather furniture and a full figure portrait of a lady to welcome arriving guests.

The former Café La Serre is along a corridor towards the back of the building, and it’s a very relaxed and informal space, with a covered courtyard area, an oyster bar and a high-windowed Turner-style conservatory that offers tables in a bright space alongside the maturing gardens.

At the time of going to press the previous casual style looks like changing, however, as Paul Carroll’s new menus are currently being introduced and offer starters in the €16-20 range, with main courses at €34-40 and desserts at €10.

Seats 80 (outdoors, 20); open Wed-Sun for L&D, L 11-3.30pm, D 6-9.30pm (to 8.30pm Sun); reservations are advisable; house wine €27. Closed Mon (except bank hols) & Tues, 25-26 Dec, Good Fri. Heli-pad. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

Left turn just before bridge in Celbridge village for Ardclough. Follow road for a couple of miles, you will come to a part in the road that has some really tight bends with warning signs. Shortly after that there is a left turn (as signed by a small pale green sign opposite turn). Drive over the hump back bridge and it is immediately on the right with 2 big lions on pillars flanking a gate.