Any smarmy landlubber would know to expect a different sort of dining experience at Pirate Island Pizza, but we didn't know just how different until we noticed the warning sign on the door: "Strobe lights are used in this environment."

The restaurant is built in what used to be a movie theater, which affords it something many restaurants lack: space. After washing ashore on the island, you make your way through a pirate's cave (the large waiting area) complete with a waterfall, booty and a couple of departed deckhands. Toss a quarter in the skeleton's cup and -- shiver our timbers -- he'll tell you a story.

The restaurant has three distinct dining areas -- a large one near a stage, another near an indoor playground and a third near an enormous television screen -- plus various booths and tables scattered throughout. The stage, we understand, is used Wednesdays during a pirate storytime for children. Next time, we'll ask to sit near the playground so the kids have something to do while waiting for the food. The expansive building also houses an arcade and a gift shop.

Our wait, both to be seated and for the food, was reasonably short, especially considering the volume of diners on our recent visit. In fact, we had two servers both attending to our small party. One demonstrated an enjoyable pirate accent. During our meal, cannons shot plumes of smoke overhead, a balloon twister made the rounds and the ever-present chirping of crickets completed the atmosphere.

The menu at Pirate Island is nearly as large as the building itself. Pizza is the main event, and there are several options and sizes, including a leviathan 24-inch pie (nicknamed the Kraken). The crust is just on the thin side, and there are plenty of toppings and cheese piled on top. It takes only two or three large slices to satisfy most appetites.

Many other menu items have a Caribbean touch, or at least they did in the descriptions. Our coconut shrimp came with fries instead of the Jamaican veggies listed on the menu, and our Caribbean Chicken Pasta came first with no chicken, then with plain grilled chicken. The menu also features a selection of appetizers (the sweet and spicy wing sauce was tasty) and a page full of sandwiches.

But yarr, a pirate's life was never about the grub anyway. Off to plunder the skee-ball machines, scurvy knaves!