Gilbert Grill

Step back in time to our nostalgic 1950s-themed diner where teamwork, literacy, and mental math are always on the menu! The Gilbert Grill recreates an authentic mid-century restaurant experience where children practice social skills, customer service, and practical math in a bustling community setting that feels like stepping into a classic American diner. 

Take orders at vintage booths using real menus and order slips that build literacy and sequencing skills. Work the cash register to practice counting and making change with play money. Prepare meals in the fully-equipped retro kitchen, serve customers at authentic tables, and coordinate with teammates to keep the restaurant running smoothly. 

Whether you're the head chef flipping burgers on the grill, a server taking orders and delivering blue plate specials, or a customer enjoying a meal with friends, the Gilbert Grill teaches cooperation, communication, and the joy of serving others. 

    • Vintage Kitchen & Grill: A fully equipped play kitchen for preparing and cooking orders 

    • Diner Seating: Authentic booths and tables that encourage social interaction and restaurant etiquette 

    • Menus & Order Slips: Written tools that help children practice literacy and sequencing 

    • Cash Register: A station for applying mental math during play-money transactions 

    • Math: Applying mental math and counting during monetary exchanges 

    • Literacy: Practice narrative comprehension and reading through menus and orders 

    • Society: Conversing, negotiating, and exploring service-based career paths 

    • STEAM Skills: Focuses on Technology, Math, and Literacy 

    • Dramatic Play: Immersive roleplay to build social cooperation and storytelling 

    • Tangible World: Using fine motor skills to prepare "food" and handle tools 

    • Creative: Developing unique scenarios in a community cafe setting 

Explore More 

This exhibit is located in Gilbert House. Also explore: Farm to Table | Vet Clinic 

  • Four young boys in casual clothes gathered around a toy cash register on a counter at an arcade or game center. Behind them, pink walls have a neon sign that reads 'Gilbert Grill.' One boy is sitting on a stool, and the others are standing, smiling at the camera.
  • A young boy with short, brown hair wearing a light checked shirt and striped apron, talking to a woman with long red hair. The woman is holding a red cup and wearing a blue wristband. There is a vintage jukebox in the background.
  • A young girl with light brown hair, a small pink hair clip, and a few face scratches, sitting at a table with a cheeseburger, holding a paper menu or bill, in a restaurant with pink walls and red baskets on the table.
  • A young blonde girl sitting at a restaurant table, smiling and looking at the camera, with a condiment caddy containing ketchup, mustard, and salt and pepper shakers in front of her.
  • A young woman and a small child sitting at a diner booth, looking at a menu.
  • Two young girls sitting at a retro-style booth in a diner. One girl with brown, curly hair is leaning on the table, looking tired or sleepy, while the other girl with braided dark hair, adorned with a butterfly hair clip, is facing away from the camera. The girl with her back to the camera is wearing a velvet red top, and there are condiments on the table. The scene has a nostalgic vintage vibe.
  • Two children sitting at a restaurant table with condiments, one girl holding a large burger smiling, the boy beside her looking at her with a neutral expression.
  • A young boy wearing a striped shirt and apron standing at a diner counter with two red baskets of food, ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper shakers, and a red Coca-Cola cup, looking down at his money.
  • A young girl with braided hair, wearing a neon green t-shirt and denim shorts, is standing at a counter, being served food by a woman at a retro-style diner. The woman is wearing a white t-shirt with a red apron and is handing over two red Coca-Cola cups.