Cook, Serve, Delicious!

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,398 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Cook, Serve, Delicious! Game Cover
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The first hardcore cooking sim ever made. Slice and dice your way to the top!

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,398 reviews
gameplay55 positive mentions
grinding37 negative mentions
  • Engaging and addictive gameplay that combines cooking and time management.
  • Variety of recipes and customization options keep the game fresh and interesting.
  • Challenging yet rewarding, with a good balance of difficulty that scales with player skill.
  • Progression can feel slow, requiring many days to level up and unlock new content.
  • Some tasks and chores can become tedious and disrupt the flow of gameplay.
  • The game can be overwhelming during rush hours, leading to frustration if players are not quick with their keyboard skills.
  • gameplay155 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by an engaging and addictive loop that combines fast-paced cooking mechanics with restaurant management elements, offering a variety of challenges and side quests to maintain interest. While some players find the difficulty progression slow and the mechanics repetitive, the rush hour feature adds intensity and excitement, making it satisfying to master. Overall, the game successfully balances simplicity with depth, appealing to both casual and hardcore gamers.

    • “Very engaging gameplay loop and pleasant visuals.”
    • “What makes the game, obviously, is the food variety, which is encouraged/forced by the buzz mechanic of menu items becoming stale over repeated use, and the thoroughly addicting gameplay itself, which is fast-paced but precise, rewards muscle and visual memory and feels really satisfying when you're throwing out orders like clockwork during the absolute chaos that is rush hour.”
    • “The gameplay is perfectly paced, ranging from somewhat slow during off-hours to extremely hectic during rush hour.”
    • “My biggest complaint would be that the game's a tad bit slow when it comes to difficulty progression: twenty in-game days to gain a star for the restaurant is just too long of a time, and the intensity of the gameplay in a normal campaign is just really low mostly.”
    • “Since money accumulation takes a bit, it seemed like I was forced into juggling the same menu items over and over, making the gameplay a little too repetitive.”
    • “The main negative of this game is that it is repetitive and fairly demanding in terms of optimal gameplay.”
  • music85 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and engaging soundtrack, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the variety, with tracks that shift from relaxing to upbeat, perfectly matching the game's pace and challenges. However, some users noted that the music can become repetitive over time, suggesting a desire for more diverse tracks or volume control options.

    • “The music is absolutely incredible.”
    • “From chill lounge jazz to intense upbeat music when rush hour hits - it's pretty much perfect.”
    • “The brilliant music also helps to make this a memorable great experience that I think is well worth playing full price.”
    • “The music gets repetitive.”
    • “The music can get slightly stale after so many hours, so I recommend finding some sweet jazz tracks once you get bored; this game is even more amazing with jazz.”
    • “It's well-made music, but there aren't many tracks in the game. You'll often hear repeats of tracks on each day; they're not very memorable either, but at worst they serve as suitable background music.”
  • graphics61 mentions

    The graphics of the game are described as charming and engaging, featuring a unique art style that blends simplicity with quirky elements, making it visually appealing despite some divisive opinions. While some players appreciate the detailed animations and cohesive design, others find the visuals underwhelming or overly simplistic. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the gameplay experience, enhancing the game's fun and casual atmosphere.

    • “The visuals have a certain cuteness to it, and looks like some love and thought went into it: the little flecks of oil that fly out of the fryer when you dunk chicken wings, or the bits of veggies or sauces that go flying as you build a monster pizza.”
    • “I adore the artwork and every detail they have put into it.”
    • “The graphics are mouthwatering, and the recipes get more and more complicated as you upgrade them.”
    • “Before diving into the actual gameplay, I'd like to cover possibly the most divisive part of the game, the visuals.”
    • “This game has a great UI design, and yet has one of those art styles you'd see on Adult Swim that is almost intended to disgust you.”
    • “Don't let the quirky graphics and the cooking theme fool you.”
  • grinding37 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, with players noting that it can become stressful, especially when trying to achieve specific goals like star ratings or serving a large number of customers. While some enjoy the challenge and variety it offers, many feel that the grinding can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a sense of monotony as they progress through the game. Despite these criticisms, players appreciate the game's depth and the ability to mix up gameplay to alleviate some of the grind.

    • “It is a bit grindy, repetitive, and sometimes stressful.”
    • “So I had to serve about 4,000 more people as the last task for completing the game, which was tedious and redundant.”
    • “It's got all the makings of a bad game, what with repetitiveness, little in the way of cosmetic upgrades, constant grinding, and being very much a button-mashing game.”
  • humor34 mentions

    The game is praised for its quirky and engaging sense of humor, featuring funny storylines, amusing emails, and clever details that enhance the gameplay experience. Players find the humor to be a refreshing element that keeps the game enjoyable and light-hearted, even during stressful moments. Overall, the combination of humor, fun challenges, and a unique art style contributes to its appeal as a casual and entertaining game.

    • “It's an awesome game that's fun to play - I love the food pictures and the nonsensical funny storylines you get in your email in-game.”
    • “My favorite feature of the game has got to be the hilarious emails you get after you complete a day's work.”
    • “The varied and humorous emails are always fun to read after each day.”
  • story26 mentions

    The game's story is minimal and often considered secondary to its gameplay, with a simple goal of improving a restaurant's star rating. While some players appreciate the lighthearted and comedic elements, such as in-game emails and side missions, many agree that the lack of a substantial narrative does not detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is praised for its addictive mechanics and fun challenges, making the story feel more like a backdrop than a central focus.

    • “It's an awesome game that's fun to play - I love the food pictures and the nonsensical funny storylines you get in your email in-game.”
    • “What could be considered the 'campaign mode' is full of a fun storyline, lovable humor, and consistent progression of both content and difficulty.”
    • “On top of this, the game offers many different little stories or upgrades through the email system.”
    • “There is not much of a storyline here, but the game doesn't need one.”
    • “There’s a minor story here, but it’s safe to ignore it.”
    • “There isn't much of a story, except for the goal to constantly improve the restaurant's star rating, but you will find that the game doesn't need one since it is more or less an arcade title.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    Overall, the games in the series exhibit strong replayability, with players enjoying the challenge of improving scores and completing achievements. While many find the gameplay engaging and rewarding, some note that a lack of variety in content can lead to repetitiveness over time. Nonetheless, the casual nature and depth of the games contribute to their appeal for repeated play.

    • “All of the games in the series are enjoyable in their own right, but the classic is still highly polished and thoroughly replayable.”
    • “There is just enough complication and progression to keep you interested and give plenty of replay value in order to try and beat your previous scores or reach the conclusion in a shorter space of time than before without getting bogged down in tedious grinding and micromanagement.”
    • “Good challenges, satisfying sound effects, cute art style, endless replayability if you're into this sort of thing.”
    • “The few cons I have with this game are the progress and the replay value. The game doesn't have many foods, and upgrading them usually doesn't change that much about it, so there is really no sense of progression. This, combined with how long it takes to jump through enough hoops to make your restaurant better, makes it feel quite repetitive later on.”
    • “Beyond the career mode, the battle kitchen offers decent single challenge events for moderate replay value.”
    • “The game is simple and enjoyable (as long as you can handle making a few mistakes here and there) and is also surprisingly replayable and long for a petty price tag of $9.99.”
  • optimization9 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some users noting that it struggles to run smoothly on Windows 10 and 8, while others highlight better performance and controls compared to similar titles like Cooking Simulator. Overall, the game features engaging mechanics that can impact gameplay, but its optimization issues may hinder the experience for some players.

    • “Better gameplay than Cooking Sim, better gamepad controls than Cooking Sim, better optimization than Cooking Sim.”
    • “Your performance can also affect your buzz, which will affect the number of customers coming in, especially during non-rush hour times.”
    • “I work in a restaurant in real life and I can confirm that this game is a 100% accurate representation of what needs to go on for things to run smoothly.”
    • “Devs have not optimized this to run on Windows 10.”
    • “The optimization is quite demanding.”
    • “Like many games created in Game Maker, this game is poorly optimized for Windows 8.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The stability of the game is polarizing among users; while some report numerous glitches and unresponsive controls, others have experienced no issues at all, even after extensive playtime. This divide suggests that stability may vary significantly between different platforms or user experiences.

    • “Troubleshooting online shows me that many people have the exact same problem and they can't fix it either!”
    • “Not only that, but the game is riddled with glitches. Several times you'll fry something for a mere second and have it turn black and unusable; other times you'll click buttons and they simply won't work.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players report that the game evokes strong emotions, with impactful storytelling and memorable moments, such as a burger that brings them to tears. The combination of excellent sound design and humor enhances the emotional experience, compelling players to immerse themselves fully in the campaign.

    • “It makes you feel emotional.”
    • “The latter alone made me play non-stop and not touch my other Steam games until I finished the campaign just to listen to the music.”
    • “Excellent sound, great sense of humor, a burger that made me cry, and more!”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized as dull and dark, yet it is effectively articulated and contributes significantly to the overall experience. While the user interface and menu variety are considered acceptable, the game's atmosphere and customization options are highlighted as its standout features.

    • “What makes this game special is the atmosphere and the customization.”
    • “The atmosphere is dull and dark, lacking any engaging elements.”
    • “While the UI is not bad and the menu variety is acceptable, the atmosphere feels poorly articulated.”
    • “The atmosphere is the game's strongest point, but it still falls short of creating a truly immersive experience.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The game features highly original character design, contributing to a unique and engaging character development experience that stands out in the genre.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly deep and engaging, allowing players to truly connect with each character's journey.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their growth feel authentic and rewarding.”
    • “The unique backstories and personal arcs of each character add layers to the gameplay, making every decision feel impactful.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game is praised for its engaging casual mechanics combined with hardcore difficulty and a rich variety of content, all while avoiding exploitative monetization practices.

    • “A game that uses the best casual game mechanics, but with hardcore difficulty, with an amazing variety of content, and without any crummy monetization schemes.”
    • “The monetization system feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “I appreciate the game design, but the constant push for in-game purchases ruins the experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Cook, Serve, Delicious!

Play time

15hMedian play time
17hAverage play time
18hMain story
38hCompletionist
8-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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