Black Rose   

Like many of the Irish-themed bars in and around Faneuil Hall, the Black Rose goes out of its way to make you feel like you're stepping out of modern-day Boston and into a warm, rural Irish pub. Named after a line in a 17th century poem ('Rosin Dubh,' or "small black rose"), this dark-wooded, split-level bar hosts live traditional music every night of the week under a fleet of flags representing counties from the homeland. Because of its location, out-of-towners flow into the Black Rose almost as easily as the Guinness flows from its taps. Lunch and dinner are served, the menu offering a mix of Irish traditional fare and American favorites. The Black Rose special is a corned beef sandwich, but hearty entrees include ''bangers and mash,'' steak, salmon, shrimp, fish 'n' chips, pork chops and shepherd's pie. Weekend nights can be a mob scene, especially if the upstairs is reserved for private functions. But on certain nights when the band gets fired up, you may find yourself singing along and toasting your new best friend who happens to the person standing next to you. That's when you realize that you're having one of the best nights out in months and it's happening in a tourist trap smack in the middle of Faneuil Hall.