Look what's cookin' in Elmo's Restaurant -- an entire world of pretend-play possibilities! This two-sided restaurant comes with a working microphone, cash register and play money. Little chefs can turn the chunky Bert and Ernie knobs to hear fun phrases that will make them giggle. Place the pot on the burner to hear realistic bubbling sounds and hear sizzling sounds with the pan. Press on the cutting board to hear chopping sounds, and press the bell for a delightful "ding!" Elmo talks when you take the spatula out of this hand. When the cooking is complete, turn to the kitchen's Grover side for dining fun. Take the menu out of Grover's hand to hear him speak, and open/close the refrigerator door for Oscar phrases. All play pieces fit neatly inside the unit's built-in storage spaces. Requires three "AA" batteries, included. Kitchen measures 22"L x 26.3"W x 38"H.Kids will love hearing sound effects voiced by their favorite Sesame Street characters with this Elmo's Restaurant set from Fisher-Price. With a variety of plastic utensils and food items included, kids aged 18 months and up can enjoy pretending to cook alongside Elmo and his visiting friends at this fun-filled restaurant.
The two-sided kitchen offers lots of opportunities for interaction. View larger. |
Keep play money in the cash register's working drawer. View larger. |
 | What We Think
Fun Factor: 
Durability: 
(what this means)
The Good: Interactive restaurant counter with lots of accessories
The Bad: Sound effects could grow tiresome
In a Nutshell: Fun features inspire hours of imaginative play | At a Glance
Ages: 18 months to 4 years
Requires: 3 AA batteries
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Open for Business
Before kids start helping Elmo run this restaurant, a parent will need to snap the legs and arch onto the main unit and check the batteries. The pieces fit together easily and securely. Since these parts make use of one-time snaps, the unit cannot be broken down once it is assembled. Batteries for demonstration purposes are included, but these may need to be replaced with three new AA batteries, which requires use of a Philips head screwdriver.Once this is done, simply make sure the switch, located inside the oven, is in the "on" position and watch as children explore the restaurant and delight in prerecorded messages from their Sesame Street friends.
Detailed, Interactive Construction
With the idea of a restaurant as their starting point, kids will quickly begin role playing and inviting their friends to enjoy a piece of pizza pie or a bunch of broccoli--once they've paid with some Duck Bills or Trash Cash, of course.
Kids will love the surprise of discovering what makes their favorite characters speak. They'll hear an effect right away when play begins with taking the spatula from Elmo or picking up the menu from its resting place in Grover's hand. Opening and closing the oven prompts the hungry Cookie Monster to speak, and knobs picturing Bert and Ernie let kids know whether they are cranking up the heat or turning it down. The smart stove makes a sizzling noise when the frying pan is set on its burner. There's even a bell to ring that inspires a yell of "order's up," just like in a real kitchen. The cash register offers a drawer for stashing bills, and it includes a working microphone so that kids can hear themselves talk with the same speaker that plays all the restaurant's fun sound effects.
Room for Imaginative Play to Flourish
With a side for cooking and a side for serving, this set is perfect for inspiring cooperative play between friends and siblings, or keeping a single child with an active imagination engaged for hours. Since the restaurant only comes with one set of utensils, kids will need to get creative if there are lots of diners.
Parents will love the way all the accessories that come with this set can be neatly stored inside the oven and refrigerator. Of course, getting kids to remember to clean-up may be tough when they're having so much fun. Coming from Fisher-Price, a brand know for fun, durable toys that inspire learning, Elmo's kitchen is well-suited for the demands of active play. Parents will love the sturdy construction and the way accessories can be neatly stored inside the oven and refrigerator.
What's in the Box
Main unit, arch, and two legs. Plastic play fork, spoon, plate, cup, spatula, frying pan, menu, egg, milk carton, cookie, bunch of broccoli, slice of pizza, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, bun, hamburger patty, and 12 bills of colored paper money.
