Brotherhood of Thieves

Tucked away in the basement of an old wooden house nestled in between shops is Brotherhood of Thieves, a historic pirate's pub on Nantucket island. With a dingy dungeon-like bar, "pub grub," and local brews on tap, Brotherhood lives up to its reputation as the go-to spot for locals and visitors alike.

Seated around wooden tables by exposed brick walls with flickering lanterns, diners feel relaxed in the inviting atmosphere. The friendly staff were happy to give tasting samples of local brews when we inquired about their selection, so we tried a few from Nantucket's Cisco Brewers: Bailey's Blonde Ale - crisp and grassy, Whale's Tale Pale Ale - rich honey with fruity hop aroma, and Grey Lady Wheat Beer - with a dry, spicy finish.

To pair with the beer we got fried calamari with a spicy chili sauce, fresh (but a little too saucy - I would have served the sauces as dippers on the side, so they didn't drown the calamari.)

One of the soups of the day was a Maryland crab soup, which had a tomato-based broth that we didn't really expect; the other soup of the day was a Wisconsin beer-cheddar soup.

The lobster bisque was divine, with a light puffed pastry on top, golden brown and studded with dill (but not an overpowering dill flavor, which I appreciated.)

The best part is breaking through the flaky crust with your spoon to discover the creamy soup beneath, filled with chunks of succulent lobster meat. This was the quintessential rich, guilty-pleasure dish.

Though overall the food at Brotherhood of Thieves is rather mediocre, the casual atmosphere, friendly staff, and classic New England pub experience made for a great lunch.