La Rôtisserie la Lune, the long-awaited new project from the owners of Mon Lapin, finally opens its doors this week! Located in the same neighborhood, this new address offers a tribute to the traditional Quebec rotisserie with the unique and creative signature of the team.
At the head of Rôtisserie La Lune, we find the Mon Lapin team: Vanya Filipovic, Marc-Olivier Frappier, Jessica Noël, Marc-Antoine Gélinas and Alex Landry. The name “La Lune” was born from a meal shared with the famous French winemaker and author Jean-Pierre Robinot. Speaking of rotisserie, he said: “We’re going to eat chicken and fly into the cosmos!” » A phrase that marked the team and inspired the choice of the name.
For Marc-Olivier, opening a rotisserie has always been a dream: “I always wanted a rotisserie. My Rabbit was too small for that. And then, I love eating roast chicken. This project is a way of bringing the Quebec rotisserie, typical of our region, to the dining room. »
A place designed for conviviality
The Rôtisserie La Lune space was designed by Zebulon Perron and strongly influenced by cabinetmaker Antoine Chouinard and the vision of the owners. “When you do personal projects like this, it’s very collaborative! Marco and Vanya are friends and I really had the ambition to create a restaurant that resembles them, with a strong identity and an accessible proposition, centered on an affordable menu highlighting poultry,” says the designer.
Inspired by the idea of a democratic rotisserie open to all, the concept is based on an atmosphere capable of becoming a classic, evoking places like the Laurier BBQ that Zebulon loved so much, the Rôtisserie Ti-Père and the Rôtisserie Excellence .
At the entrance, you are greeted by a majestic owl, the emblem of the place engraved by Antoine himself on the imposing wooden door. When you enter the vast 70-seat dining room, you are quickly captivated by the warm tones of the decor and the skillful play of lights and textures created by Zébulon. If the large bar immediately catches the eye, we also notice a small porthole pierced in the kitchen wall, judiciously positioned to offer a look at the rotisserie in which the poultry rotates. Here and there we find subtle references to the lunar cycle, such as the half-moon wall lights and the transition from the staircase to the lower floor (where there are two private rooms with 10 and 20 seats), which evokes a moonset. The whole is both contemporary and timeless, with a touch of poetry and mystery.
Despite the lively conversations in the dining room, the decibel level remains surprisingly pleasant. Note also that the dining room and the toilet on the ground floor are accessible to people with reduced mobility and strollers.
Between tradition and creativity
In the kitchen, executive chefs Jessica Noël and Marc-Olivier Frappier are in charge, supported by Charles-Eric Boutet, chef de cuisine at Mon Lapin for four years. The menu at La Lune celebrates poultry in all its forms: chicken, duck, guinea fowl, chicken liver and even a sublime chicken fat butter – all accompanied by a choice of vegetables, salads and small, very tasty starters. appetizing, in the spirit of My Rabbit. The poultry and vegetables come from farms with which Mon Lapin has worked since the beginning, ensuring continuity in the quality of the ingredients. “We do it our way, not in nostalgia, but in accordance with who we are today. We celebrate the rotisserie with quality products. », explains Marc-Olivier. For a first visit, we suggest the half-chicken from Antoine à la broche farm (the same one we observed through the porthole), served with a generous portion of fries and a sublime homemade gravy, but the other choices are just as good.
The wine list, designed by Vanya Filipovic and Alex Landry, highlights Quebec and French favorites, at very affordable prices. The entire team is led by wine enthusiasts. In the room we find Morgane Muszynski (ex-Denise and Joe Beef) and Rosalie Forcherio (Paloma, Montréal Plaza). These two exceptional women provide the ballet of hospitality; we entrusted them with part of the wine, the room, the atmosphere, the service. “When I made the list of dream people for me in the room, there were Rosa and Morgane. It’s a dream to work with them,” says Vanya.
A unique atmosphere and vision
With Rôtisserie La Lune, the Mon Lapin team offers a place that is both family-friendly and accessible, where hospitality and conviviality are at the heart of the experience. As Marc-Olivier sums it up: “We want a restaurant where we want to eat, a place where rotisserie meets hospitality, with a welcoming room and an incredible wine list. »
Next summer, a terrace will complete La Lune’s offering, offering a corner of paradise to enjoy the sunny days on rue Saint-Denis.
A new star is born in Little Italy. The prices are more affordable, the room larger than at Mon Lapin, but the quality of the products and the unrivaled hospitality are always there!
Note that the restaurant is open in the evening only for the moment, without reservation, in a “soft opening” formula, and that the schedule has not yet been announced. The team will take a short break from December 22 to January 8 to come back strong next year.
Written by Élise Tastet
Photographed by Mikael Lebleu
Last updated: December 13, 2024
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