LAURA SERRA
From Saturday's Globe and Mail Last updated on Friday, Mar. 13, 2009 10:28AM EDT
The Cock and Tail
1168 Queen St. W.
647-349-8245
"We wanted a sexy pub name," owner Helen Tweddle says. "So it's called cock and tail, although we don't serve cocktails."
Hailing from England, Tweddle opened the new beer bar with Australian girlfriend Trish Mutch in May.
The ladies serve up mostly imported European ales, from stout to pilsner, with local microbrews on tap. The decor is a cross between a bordello and a pub with faux red-leather walls and handmade wood accents throughout . The flicker of tea lights makes it sexy, while the mini-bags of potato chips for sale behind the bar keep it casual.
The vibe is musician-meets-artist with various local performers gracing the small front stage during the week.
But don't fret if you're not into the boom of a live band. Tweddle promises that their state-of-the-art sound system allows for conversation.
Rather than competing with their neighbouring eateries, they use the menu from Midpoint, a new bistro a few doors down, and enlist the Cinnamon Girls next door for catering and platters.
Located right between the popular Drake and Gladstone Hotels, which tend to attract a hipster crowd, the Cock and Tail is proudly drawing "people that are a little older" who enjoy quality beer.
"I'm super happy with the kinds of people that are coming in. It's people I can spend eight hours with," Tweddle says.
There's also a small back bar for private parties and they hope to start a tequila bar when the Cock and Tail opens its back patio next summer.
Don't forget to take a peek at the restrooms. With women at the helm, it's only natural that they are refreshingly clean and sweet-smelling and lit with tiny chandeliers.
The Framford
½ Stratford Pilsner
½ Amsterdam Framboise
Serve in a standard beer glass.
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