The Flying Saucer Restaurant Sign - a photo on Flickriver

            The iconic Flying Saucer restaurant in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been serving “out-of-this-world food at down-to-earth prices” for more than 50 years. Originally opened as a carhop-style drive-in, waitresses would roll your order right out to your car on skates. The first structure was a single saucer, with the twin added later during expansion. Today, the restaurant and its updated yet retro-style sign stand as a playful example of Googie architecture.

I came of age in Niagara Falls, and back in the ’90s the Flying Saucer was the late-night spot. After the bars closed, everyone ended up there because it was the only place still serving food. The giant circular booths made it easy to cram in an entire crew, and when the dining saucer filled up by 3 a.m., the atmosphere was raucous. The food quality? Questionable at best. But the vibe? Unbeatable.

Places like this carry a kind of kitschy magic that’s hard to explain but I absolutely love.   If you’ve ever been to the Peppermill in Las Vegas, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.

Have you ever visited the Flying Saucer?  What do you remember?

Taken on: September 19, 2025

Tags:

Kitsch

niagara falls

googie architecture

tourist trap

restaurant

dining « less

Sets appears in: • Niagara Falls, Ontario (City)

Groups appears in: • Kitsch Itch • Niagara more » • Ontario: Yours to Discover • Mid-Century Modern Art & Design « less

Camera: Nikon Z6_3, f/5.6, 0.001 sec (1/1000) sec (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon Z6_3
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/1000)
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Stats: 144 views / 1 comment

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