There was The Ship, now torn down, which looked like, well, a ship. I never ate there, but having eaten in plenty of mediocre New England seafood restaurants, I am guessing that this one served soggy schrod, over-fried fisherman's platters, and chowder that bordered on sour. Water was likely served in amber-colored glass tumblers. You sat in a beaten up captain's chair. The paper placemats had ads for local businesses. The carpet gave off a faint whiff of mildew.I may be wildly judgmental and completely unfair here, but that's what I thought everytime I sailed by The Ship. I never wanted to go in there. But I did get a kick out of looking at.
It was a bit up the road from Frank Giufridda's Hilltop Steakhouse. I ate there a few times, and it was a complete and utter experience. The food was okay - a decent salad and a big hunk o' beef. But it was the experience. Waiting in a long line, standing outside amidst plaster cows; an even longer wait in a cocktail lounge, longing to hear your number called over the loudspeaker: Party 342, go to Dodge City. Party 547, go to Sioux City. The place was huge, and I believe I read somewhere that they served 3 million meals a year. Alas, it's long gone. There's an apartment/shopping complex on the site, and I believe they kept the giant cactus sign. Because nothing says New England like a giant cactus. (At least The Ship had the seafaring thang going for it.)
Prince Pizzeria - originally founded by the Prince Macaroni folks - features a Leaning Tower of Pizza/Pisa. This picture doesn't do the lean justice. Trust me: it leans in real life. This is, of course, another place I have yet to patronize. My guess is it would be the Italian version of The Ship.
Perhaps the best example of Route 1 madness - or depending the way you look at it, aesthetic - was Weylu's. In the 1980's, Weylu's erected a mega pagoda - with indoor waterfall and other goodies - on a hill across Route 1 from The Hilltop. There was a Weylu's on the Boston waterfront that was quite good, but then they went a bit expansion-nutso. And the result was this monument to madness. Alas, it didn't make it, and it was eventually hit by the wrecking ball. Weylu's in Boston is long gone, too, as far as I know. 
Other than the Prince Pizzeria, the only one of the goofball restaurants of Route 1 that's still in operation is the Kowloon. By Weylu standards, it's tiki-lounge vibe is rather modest. I've eaten there, and it was fun and the food was good.But where's that going to get you in these days of take-out only?
So Kowloon, which is celebrating its 70th birthday this year, is planning on doing a bit of experimenting this summer:
...owner Bob Wong tells the Globe that he hopes to add a drive-in movie theater and carhop service this summer.
He envisions servers on bicycles toting cocktails and food, plus classic flicks such as “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off" and “Grease" on a projector. He’ll also play a doo-wop soundtrack to nail the throwback atmosphere. (Source: Boston Globe)Good idea. Drive-in theaters are going to be in great demand this summer. As long as you go with a designated driver, how much fun to have a Fog Cutter and/or a Scorpion Bowl, Peking Ravioli, Kung Pao Chicken, Moo-shi Pork. Watch a movie - even if it is "Grease". (Come on, Kowloon: you need "American Graffiti" on the big screen.) Put the kids in their PJs and give them all the chicken fingers and Shirley Temple's they want.
People - especially those with little people - will be desperate for entertainment, to get out of the house, to do something fun!
You know what they say about avoiding restaurants that rotate? Well, that goes double for restaurants with something so gimmicky going for it. But in this case, I'm all in favor. This year, for the Kowloon, I say gimmick away!
Hope that Kowloon gets permish to do this.
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