he Black Bull Tavern has a lot in common with those biker bars you see in beer commercials, but without the sugarcoated top-40 soundtrack.

Bad day at the office? Been dressed down, looked over, or (gulp) laid off? Better to slink off someplace dark and quiet to lick your wounds. Someplace dreary like the Black Bull, where they’ll either understand you, ignore you, or both.

Sure, it's dark inside and a little rustic and intimidating, but soon enough you realize that no beer company is going to do business in a place where yuppies get scared.

Essentially, it blends small-town bar (wooden tables, booths, open grill) with biker bar -- think “Alice” meets “Easy Rider”. Weather permitting, take advantage of the ample outdoor seating. This back-hoe number offers the best patio in town. But this isn't the American Express Platinum Card Crowd. The patio seats 175 exhibitionists.

As for the guys, baseball caps on backward rate dangerously high here as a fashion item. Pool tables. Idle banter and Molson X flow freely through this kickback place. More Peel Region than Queen Street W., the bar ís a mix of Club kids, Queen Street artists, weekend urbanites and off-duty bikers. Friday and Saturday sees live entertainment. The menu consists of burgers, grilled chicken, salads, nachos and roast beef. – B.J.