Rather than a warning of imminent death, the skull-and-crossbones associated with pirate flags represented how skinny buccaneers became on their simple diets of seagull wing, salt water, and melted-down doubloon chips. Raise the Jolly Roger on tasty eats with today’s Groupon: for $12, you get $25 worth of mussels, beer, and more at Burrard Bridge Marine Bar & Grill. Head to the maritime eatery for merry times before this Groupon expires in three months.

Known to locals and regulars as the “Pirate Pub,” Burrard Bridge embraces the days when pillaging and looting were innocent hobbies. Burrard Bridge’s menu serves up an array of grill and seafood favourites, with its oceanic offerings certified by the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise “sustainable seafood” program. Split the french fries ($5.99), seasoned and served with house mayo, as a starter before tattooing your tongue with Burrard Bridge’s mussels, available with chorizo sausage and tomato broth ($15.99) or bacon, garlic, and spinach cream ($14.99), among other choices. Burrard Bridge’s beer-battered fish ‘n’ chips, made with cod ($14.99) or halibut ($17.99), have won the praises of the province’s palates, and the AAA Angus burger ($13.99), topped with bacon and cheddar, has elicited cannibalistic urges from local cows. Toast to bootlegged movies and illegally downloaded music with a pint ($5.49) of beer from British Columbia breweries Whistler or Granville Island, or opt for any of the bar’s cocktails, wines, or, of course, rum drinks.

In addition to its patio overseeing Granville Island and False Creek, Burrard Bridge Marine Bar & Grill plays up its nautical notions of nourishment with its interiors, which are decorated with portholes, fishing nets, signal lights, and a Captain Nemo’s beard’s worth of other maritime mementoes. Catch the big soap-opera season finale on one of the bar’s flat-screen TVs, or just unwind with a beer as your peg-legged friend does the “bubble-gum trick” to the amusement of no one.

This Groupon is not valid with Burrard Bridge Marine Bar & Grill’s daily specials or game discounts.

Reviews

The Georgia Straight, the Vancouver Courier, and Martini Boys all praise the "Pirate Pub" for its pub fare and relaxed, waterfront atmosphere:

• There's certainly no skimping on the deluxe AAA Angus burger ($12.99), which arrives with lashings of cheddar and bacon, and a house salad or Caesar as an option to fries. Cocktails, especially rum-based, abound, with a score of rums that invite serious research. – Tim Pawsey, Vancouver Courier
• Chef Robert Holland (most recently of Cactus Club) shows a similar inspiration on his menu, mostly a comfort food affair, but with a strong predilection for fresh seafood. Along with Fish and Chips, you can expect dishes like Serious Seafood Chowder, Spicy Shrimp and Pesto Pizza, Wild BC Salmon, Moules Frites, and a catch of the day served blackened, maple glazed, or just plain grilled. But if you're a bit freaked out by anything that didn't die on land, there's a Burger Bar, a whole brunch selection, and a Cowboy Striploin ("because guys want their meat" – owner Daniel Frankel). – Richard Trapunski, Martini Boys
• Great fries, cold beer, and plenty of atmosphere—sometimes that says it all. – Carolyn Ali, Georgia Straight