Restaurant Reco: Flying Saucer Restaurant in Niagara Falls hits the half-century mark

On June 9, 1972, more than half the present population of Niagara Falls hadn’t been born yet.

So they missed the extraterrestrial birth that happened at 6768 Lundy’s Lane. The Flying Saucer Restaurant opened its space-age doors for the first time 50 years ago today.

Their big birthday bash came today with staff throwing a party for the public starting at 1 pm, continuing with live entertainment and throwback pricing that they promised will be “out of this world.”

When the restaurant first opened, the cartoon, The Jetsons, was still in Saturday morning TV rotation and it’s hard not to look at this place – both inside and outside – without reminiscing about the “Golden Age” cartoon.

However, for both locals and tourists alike, the restaurant is famous for a number of things besides its unique design. Number one among them – a lot of food at a low price. Number two would have to be their all-day breakfasts.

A throwback to the funky, retro countryside diners of the 1950s and 60s, the dining room, filled with old-style circular family-sized tables, is littered with intergalactic imagery while the ceiling is covered with screens showing a deep blue starry sky and random UFOs flying around.

Parents will smile at the hokey kitschiness of it all; kids will love it because of the space-age theme.

Created in 1972 by Henry Di Cienzo, the owner’s love of sci-fi was the vision behind the now 50-year-old landmark. For the longest time, Di Cienzo offered up a $1 million reward to anyone who could bring him an actual UFO or pieces of a flying saucier.

Turns out no one ever did. But maybe that search can continue for another 50 years.