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Fredericton has its fair share of pubs. But the Lunar Rogue stands apart. Blending great food, service and an excellent selection of drinks, the Lunar Rogue was definitely on the Starving Students' radar. They decided to test its roguish food once and for all. The Lunar Rogue is situated at 625 King Street in Fredericton.

Jackie's verdict:

If you look at his photo long enough, you'll swear you saw him wink at you. That's because he's a charmer through and through.

Henry More Smith, aka the Lunar Rogue, was a thief, a con-man, a peddler, a liar and an escape artist. But most of all, he was charming, as rogues normally are.

The Lunar Rogue is an important part of 19th century New Brunswick. And, the pub that carries his name is a pivotal part of modern day Fredericton.

For nearly 20 years, The Lunar Rogue Pub has been serving hungry Frederictonians with some delicious and traditional pub foods, and offering them one of the largest selections of beer in the city.

Its dark décor makes you feel like you're in Henry More Smith's Fredericton "" a Fredericton without wireless Internet, cars or blackberries.

But then you see its menu and you're brought back to reality. You're in a pub with a great menu, awesome service, and an even better atmosphere.

The first time I went to the Lunar Rogue, I couldn't stop myself from reading the historical tidbits plastered all over the walls and studying the old black and white photographs of the city. I was fascinated by the nostalgia in this place. It was like visiting a museum, a cold Picaroons in hand, of course.

The restaurant, just like its namesake, has a lot of charm.

But when Matt and I decided to go to the Lunar Rogue, instead of opting for a seat in the pub, we sat on its massive outdoor patio. (I would say the Lunar Rogue has one of the best patios in the city-- a great place for after work drinks with friends!)

After perusing the menu for a good 10 minutes, I decided to order the chicken and broccoli fettucini ($11.99). It came with garlic bread and a small caesar salad. For some reason, on this particular day, I wasn't in the mood for actual pub food. So, the fact I was able to order pasta made me love the Lunar Rogue all the more.

The meal was really good. The chicken and broccoli was tossed among the noodles in a creamy mushroom sauce. The portion was immense, so I wasn't able to come close to finishing my plate.

All in all, the Lunar Rogue lived up to its reputation.

I give the Lunar Rogue a roguish 9/10.

Matt's verdict:

The triumph of a brand name lies in the force of its mythology. While some brands seem to arrive to this conclusion almost as an afterthought (Bata?), others build upon the power of modern myths with astonishing ability. Whether it's the face-mashing prowess of Metallica, the streamlined technical cool of the iPod, or the deific empowerment of Nike, the idea that mythology has somehow dissipated with the fall of ancient empires is more than a wee bit premature.

I assure you, my seemingly useless train of thought has a point. It also does relate, albeit perhaps indirectly, to food.

Emerging from the shadowy recesses of Fredericton's not-so-distant past stalks the Lunar Rogue. Within the walls of this particular watering hole, one may find denizens that boast equal parts charm and guile. There's also the added question of waking up the next morning with a substantially lighter purse and the feeling you've been hustled, or worse.

Story-weaving aside, the Rogue sports a menu packed with pub favourites. If you're looking for something exotic or new, look elsewhere. If what you're looking for is a fine selection of drinks and meals that will leave you glutted, why not sneak over to the Lunar Rogue?

Seeing as their rendezvous coincided with a warm spring afternoon, your friendly neighbourhood Starving Students opted for a spot on the Rogue's substantial outdoor patio. In short order, a waiter came over to give us menus, offer us glasses of water, and deftly pilfer our wallets.

OK, minus that last part.

After some deliberation, I settled on the Rogue variation of the surf and turf ($17.99). Despite being initially disappointed I wasn't given a dagger to cut my steak, the meal turned out to be quite good. The steak was cooked to medium-rare perfection, which is strangely atypical for most restaurants, and the shrimps and scallops added just the right amount of punch. As always, I could have used a bit more seafood on my plate, but the steak rounded off the meal nicely.

As was alluded to above, there's one more equally important thing to consider when looking at a pub: booze selection.

For many, choosing to go to a pub has little to do with romantic ambiance and everything to do with drinks. In this avenue, the Lunar Rogue doesn't disappoint. Not only can one find a remarkable selection of beers, but also several forms of scotch and whisky "" a little something for the Bogarts and Brandos in all of us.

Of course, there are many pubs in the city, and selecting one over the other is usually instinctive. With similar food choices, subtle mythology occupies a place of heightened importance. What we have here is a dive that strays from stereotypes. This isn't Britain, or Ireland, or that other place where everybody freakishly knows your name, but something far more local. This is Fredericton circa 1815, and everyone is advised to "Beware of a rogue".

As darkness falls, I bestow upon the Lunar Rogue a healthy 8/10.

Cheers.