Established restaurant critics (myself included) had better watch their backs: Mr. Pinner’s second grade class at Wicoff Elementary is hot on their heels with the publication of their Best Plainsboro Dining Guide, a 75-page compendium of where to dine in the area, complete with photos and star ratings. “I’ve been assigning this project, part of a unit on persuasive writing, for six years now, so this is the sixth incarnation,” says Gerald Pinner, who came to the school in 2009. “It was a sort of loose, disorganized option in the unit. I thought it was a great opportunity for the kids to take ownership of it. It’s kids influencing kids, sharing the experience with their parents, and getting out into the community.”
For each of the 21 entries, ranging from Aljon’s to TGI Friday’s, students not only provide the particulars on the name of the restaurant, when they visited, who they dined with, and what they had to eat, but also make sure to include notes about decor (“The seating was uncomfortable. The chair had no cushions”), ambiance (“It is a quiet place with good music”), service (“They said ‘welcome.’ They answered my dad’s question.”), housekeeping (“The restaurant is clean but the toilet is old and ugly”), location (“It was very near to my house”), and cost (“They give discounts on cash payments”).
Pinner says that the assignment is a favorite with parents as well as students. “Of course, we have to take into account individual parents’ desire to be part of this, and their economic situation,” he concedes. He ensures that everyone gets to participate by reminding students that the Wicoff school cafeteria is fair game for review, and even offers to buy them lunch. “The kids are into it!” he says. “Some go out there with notepads and even recording devices – and they take photos. Active engagement is key.”
To prepare for the fieldwork, Pinner and the class look at other reviewers’ work. Together they develop a Power Point presentation on the key elements that go into a good dining review. “It was problematic for me to hit the important components without having the reviews become formulaic,” he says. “Dining out is not a one-dimensional experience. It’s a sensory experience on many levels. We draw out what’s important and enjoyable. They note, for example, that ambiance is discussed.”
He starts by having them read the work of young reviewers like themselves. “I love to start with young writers – kids who have turned a hobby into something of a profession,” he says. Among these are a 14-year-old online restaurant critic, the Spaghetti Book Club (kids reviewing books), and Lights-Camera-Jackson.com, on which Jackson Murphy, a teen, reviews movies. “Then we shift to restaurants. I bring in my Zagat guide, and I also share with them the reviews I’ve written on sites like Yelp! and TripAdvisor.”
Another hurdle in putting together the dining guide is the variation among the second graders’ writing levels. “Some students may have been in my class for only 90 days, and not speak English,” he says. “So I stress that this is an independent research project and the aim is to be the best writer each one can be.”
Pinner, 37, started with the West Windsor-Plainsboro district as a full-year replacement for a seventh-grade social studies teacher, after which he was offered the permanent position at Wicoff. “Teaching is kind of my second career, or maybe my first career, interrupted,” he says. He was a reservist in the Coast Guard when 9/11 happened and he went on active duty. “Not only did 9/11 interrupt my schooling, but then I got married and other things. Eventually I decided to finish my degree. At 30 I became a teacher for the first time.” His degree is from Stockton College, in psychology and elementary education. Pinner lives in Hamilton with his wife, Andrea, and their sons Jake, three, and Andrew, who was born last December.
Future classes can expect to produce additional iterations of the Best Plainsboro Dining Guide, Pinner promises. “As long as there’s a persuasive writing unit and the kids are engaged and the parents enjoy it. It is one of my favorite assignments.”
Pat Tanner blogs at www.dinewithpat.com. She is a long-time food writer and restaurant critic based in central New Jersey. She currently reviews for New Jersey Monthly magazine and has served as the South Jersey editor of the Zagat New Jersey restaurant guide.
The Youthful Critics Voice Their Opinions
Aljon’s Pizzeria: “They don’t just serve pizza, but also chicken wings. I wanted two-mushroom pizza and one-vegetable pizza. When we sat down, I could barely wait. In a few minutes — to me it felt like a few hours — the pizza finally comes. I take a bite and it tastes so good.”
Bordoloi’s Indian Fusion: “It’s a quiet place with good music. The host took care of us very well. I ate a lot of papadams. The best part of my experience … I enjoyed [being] with my family and had fun with my little sister.”
Brother’s Pizza: “The nice wood chairs felt very comfortable. When Dad got pizza, I took one bite and felt the tastiness swish around in my mouth.”
Chipotle: “The queue was all the way to the back of the restaurant! One time when I was ordering our food we got to see the people and chef cooking food! I give this restaurant a five-star rating.”
“You can create your own wrap according to your taste. I had a vegetarian burrito wrap. It was delicious. I liked the cream and the tortilla the most. The restaurant was a bit loud and crowded, but the place was neat and clean.”
Cranbury Pizza: “On the pizza is homemade mozzarella that makes the pizza really great. They use fresh ingredients. The best thing is you can watch them make your pizza in their huge brick oven. If the weather is good enough you can even get to sit outside.”
Crown of India: “If you want to taste chicken biryani, then go to Crown of India, which is the best place for biryani. The seats were very fluffy. The waiters are respectful. They served everything on time.”
“Both North and South Indian food was on the buffet menu. The quality of food is very good and delicious. I enjoyed paneer with vegetables and Indian bread. I am happy to have a Crown of India in Plainsboro.”
Indian Hut: “Do you like Indian food? Well if you do, you should come to Indian Hut. It has hundreds of varieties of food. There is a big treasure chest full of gifts. You can only get a gift from the treasure chest when you celebrate a birthday. Have fun!”
McDonald’s: “It’s located in the center of Plainsboro. The food tastes good: not spicy but juicy. All the food was under my budget. It was quite exciting for me because I had a lot of fun while eating my food and playing at the same time.”
“The French fries and chicken nuggets taste really awesome. If you want a happy family, you have a Happy Meal.”
Olive Garden: “It’s a kid’s dream dinner. They have stuff like pizza, strawberry smoothies, and even lasagna fritattas, which are all pretty good if you ask me. There is also a very nice waiter named Bill and he is very important for your meal because he is the one who gives you all of your food.”
P.F. Chang’s: “The lettuce wraps were delicious. They had small chunks of tofu wrapped in lettuce. The lo mein comes with meat but you can ask them to make it vegetarian! I give this place 4 out of 5 noodles!”
“Would you like to have a healthy and tasty meal? Try P.F. Chang’s. Kids and adults can enjoy the restaurant. The hot and sour soup is not sour. It is so yummy that I ate three bowls of it! The soup costs $8.99.”
RedBerry Frozen Yogurt: “There are lots of flavors to choose from. There is vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate and many more. Also, toppings: rainbow sprinkles, Oreos, M&Ms, and many more. It does not cost much money. I give it five stars.”
“The flavors are sour, sweet, delicious. You get the ice cream by yourself and it’s like an ice cream machine. There are tons and tons of toppings all sorted in neat groups. It’s really peaceful in there.”
Romeo’s Restaurant: “I ordered chicken and fries. The fries were good but the chicken tasted like fish. It was pretty quiet; it was also comfortable. I give it 4 stars because the food is great. There are meats, drinks, soups, and desserts.”
Smashburger: “The best part is spending time with your family or friends while eating delicious food. You can either create your own burger or order a burger on the menu.”
Subway: “I liked the [veggie] sandwich the most because it tasted so crunchy. My favorite part was when I said thank you to the waitress, she gave me a free cookie. She appreciated me and I feel great when I am nice.”
TGI Friday’s (Hamilton): “The atmosphere was beautifully decorated and the booths were nicely leathered. Server Kim was really nice. I had pizza. [It] was just the right size for a kid, and the rich gooey flavors were so amazingly good.”
