Diner Dash was a hit when it was released earlier this decade, converting the fast-paced, low-paying field of waiting tables into a strategy game. PlayFirst Inc.’s follow-up, Cooking Dash, ups the fun by again casting you as waitress Flo, but this time you’re in charge of fry stations, smoothie machines and the flow of customers during hectic shifts.
The polished game quickly gets intense, and has clearly been tailored for the iPhone rather than merely ported. You can customize your own soundtrack as Cooking Dash lets you pick songs from your iPhone or iPod touch to play in the background.
Your own tunes won’t cool the heat in the kitchen, though, as you’ll need to keep an eye on customers waiting at the door for seats, then cook their order no matter how strange it might seem (coffee and French fries, anyone?), serve it to them, bus their station, and send them on their way.
Like in a real restaurant, if the service is sluggish or unreliable, customers will storm off. Yet strategically cooking orders before patrons are seated won’t help, since you can only hold two dishes at a time. Cook the wrong item and you’ll have to throw it out, resulting in a loss of points.
But earn those points and you’ll be able to invest in cosmetic upgrades to the restaurant like a shiny new counter, or more functional upgrades like a speed boost for your server, Flo.
Who knew working in the food-service industry could be so entertaining?
