At Al’s Club, it truly is a small world

Monday, Nov. 14, 2005 | 7:49 a.m.

Sandwiched between a tropical fish store and a tailor shop in a strip mall behind a liquor store at Rainbow and Oakey boulevards is Al's Club International restaurant.

It seats 55 or 60 guests comfortably.

There is a small bar that features international beers and fine wines.

Hookah pipes stand near a couple of armchairs at the entry.

The walls are adorned with works of art.

Monday through Saturday the doors open at 6 p.m. and remain open until all of the customers have gone.

The proprietor of the intimate establishment that boasts an international menu and nightly entertainment is Al Mughairy.

Mughairy, who grew up in England, is a scion of a prominent family in Oman, a sultanate on the Arabian Peninsula. His sister, Hunaina Bin Sultan Bin Ahmed Al-Mughairy, was recently appointed to an ambassador to the United States.

Mughairy says one brother-in-law is an ambassador to the United Nations and another is an assistant to the secretary general of the U.N.

"Because of my family connections I have been involved in international businesses all my life," says the 60-year-old consultant.

Before becoming a consultant, Mughairy began work with a corporation in London that owned and managed dozens of nightclubs and restaurants.

In the early '70s Mughairy began buying rental property in Los Angeles. He moved to Las Vegas in 1986. "I came here to get a divorce and bought a house," he said.

But Mughairy continued to manage his businesses in Southern California until recently going into semiretirement.

With time on his hands, in April he bought a former Honduran restaurant and turned it into a cozy place where customers can relax and dine while being entertained by a variety of performers.

"I live 600 yards from here," Mughairy said. "If I lived a mile away, I probably would not have bought it."

His goal is to introduce a bit of international culture to Las Vegas.

"I am an internationalist," he said.

The menu practically covers the globe Middle East, Spanish, French, Singapore, Greek, Cajun, East Indian, American.

Some meals are prepared table-side. And no one is rushed to finish their meals. In fact, customers are encouraged to stay as long as they want.

"It's a place where you can spend an evening; stretch out your meals, drink fine wines, listen to the entertainment," Mughairy said.

Entertainment may vary, but the recent lineup was keyboardist/vocalist Patricia Watson on Mondays and the duo Sheri and Johnny on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Austin Powers look-alike Peter Banks hosts an open mike night on Thursdays. Fridays, Frank Sinatra tribute artist Ryan Baker performs. Saturdays, it's Dean Martin tribute artist Randy Urgola.

Mughairy wants to provide an alternative to the fast pace that now seems to be driving Las Vegas.

"This is for those who miss the old-world atmosphere," he said. "Or, if you have never been exposed to it, this is your chance to experience it.

"I am, in a sense, educating the market. If you haven't been exposed to it, how are you going to enjoy it?"

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at jerry@lasvegassun.com.

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