Spinning Plates

"It’d be easy to turn down yet another helping of behind-the-scenes restaurant fare. But that would be a shame. Spinning Plates is really nothing like its screechy reality cousins. Instead, it’s a gentle, inspiring and sentimental look at the passion, creativity, family, community and love surrounding three very different American restaurants. Those hoping for insight into the cooking might be disappointed as this is primarily about the people, all of whom have endured their share of Shakespearean tragedy."

"So involving that one might not notice until afterward that little in the way of a unified theme emerges to turn Joseph Levy's feature into something more than a semi-random survey of restaurant life."

"The overall effect is not unlike watching a chef de cuisine experimenting in his off-hours; not everything takes, but you still come away with a pleasingly stimulated palate."

"This dully structured film makes its points early and often, treading water before a purposely delayed big finish."

"Episodic doc could use more focus on food preparation, but vividly captures the human element involved."