Kowloon, Saugus, MA -- Cheesiest Restaurant in the Country?

We went to the Kowloon on the infamous Route 1 in Saugus, MA, the other night. For those who don't know about Route 1, it is a lot like the old Route 66 (although only for about 5 miles) with a huge dinosaur overlooking a mini golf course, a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (at a pizza place, of course), a number of motels with pleasant names (the Ferns, for instance) that even roaches wouldn't go to, and a restaurant with a huge triangular neon sign called the Kowloon.

The Kowloon has several different rooms, with most of them adorned in the tackiest Polynesian themes you can imagine. Inside the dining rooms you can see a boat hanging from the rafters, as well as a lagoon, and there is a luau room. The place must bring more than a thousand people per night, as it is always packed.

I had the flaming ambrosia there, which is created in the following manner:

Hollow out a pineapple.
Put about 20 chicken fingers in it.
Fill the pineapple to the top with duck sauce.
Add pineapple chunks and maraschino cherries.
Pour 151 proof alcohol over it.
Set the whole thing on fire.

That, in a nutshell, is the one dish that probably represents the Kowloon best. If you ever get to Boston, you have to check this place out.

What, no marshmallows?
Actually, I remember going to this place as a kid in the early 1960s.

I would kill to see a lagoon hanging from rafters.

The place is truly a nuthouse.

Check out the TV commercials:
http://www.kowloonrestaurant.com/scrpbook/vids/k3b.mpg

and don't forget this one (note mention of 'crab rangoon')

http://youtube.com/watch?v=p-JWoFR_Oso

I almost want to cry: The website indicates that tonight (November 15, 2006) is Kowloon's 56th anniversary. Musical entertainment for this once-in-a generation special event: The Village People. Drat! Guess we'll all just have to wait until next year.

Yes, when I was there over the weekend, there were signs and posters everywhere for the Village People. I was tempted to swipe one, but I don't think my S.O. would have been too happy (though she seemed to be eyeing one of the posters on the way out).