The 50 gem question

You've been working hard for weeks to master recently added recipes, and have now accumulated 50 gems in your bag. So the question is, what do you do with them?

Well the first option is quite simple. Do nothing.

It may sound daft at first, but there's method in my madness. You see most of the limited time offers (which these days come just about every week) cost between 30 and 40 gems. So it might be wise to hold on to those gems until an LTO which you fall in love with comes up.

Cider Bar in The Garlic Tree

The Cider Bar was such a limited time offer back in September which I decided to buy for 38 gems. They may be expensive, but the LTOs tend to be large in size and contain lots of detail. Plus you're getting a rare item - once it's gone it will be the envy of the community!

Another choice is to hold on to your gems for a sale. But I'd treat this idea with caution. The only times that there have been special sales of items in my time of playing Restaurant Story are on Black Friday and in the week of Christmas (not in 2013 though!) So unless you're reading this in the Autumn, I would suggest that saving your gems for a sale is not a good idea.

These two conservative options come with strings attached, because there's always a looming threat of gem traps. These are features of the game's interface which have been put in place by TeamLava very deliberately in hope that you may accidentally part with gems courtesy of the slip of a finger. I've fallen foul to this before, although most of my woes have been in Bakery Story.

Notification for a Valentine's Day update with a gem trap

Shown above is a typical example of a gem trap. All in-game notifications can be closed by tapping the 'OK' button. But when an update includes a new box, the corresponding notification uses an 'X' button in the corner to close. Meanwhile tapping 'OK' results in Design Mode opening up at the boxes tab. If you're in a rush then it's very easy to double tap and consequently purchase a box for 24 gems. The lack of a confirmation button for the boxes is also very deliberate.

So unless you reckon there's a sale coming up or a have a feeling there'll be a good limited time offer, you want to spend your gems. But what to spend them on?

Well you've just passed the threshold to unlock a new appliance slot.

Additional appliance slot button

So you could add to your supply of appliances. This will result in an increase in the rate you can earn XP and the amount of food you can get on the counters. This sounds a fine proposition, but the 49 gem tag has always been enough to keep me away. Back in the day additional slots could be unlocked for 24 gems - a much more reasonable price.

Also, lower level players may regret unlocking an extra slot in the future. This is because once you've got the full bank of free slots (18 in total) you can keep the counters stocked without much effort and the value of gaining XP is lost once you reach the maximum level.

How about a couple of tipples in the boxes then? I studied the merits of the boxes some time ago, and came to the conclusion that they are worth the 24 gem punt, but only if you are satisfied that you would be happy with one of the 3rd or 4th prizes which you're more likely to get than the 1st and 2nd prizes. I've had nine dips into the boxes in all, with the Grand Piano and Instrument Display being my only items above 3rd prize gained.

Retro diner section of The Garlic Tree

But as my retro diner section shows, you can make the most of 4th prizes - the Retro Gumball Machine and Popcorn Cart were both 4th prizes in the 50's Diner Box, but still help flesh out the themed area. Then again I did spend quite a few gems to get the red and white checkered floor shown above.

If you're not keen on living on the edge, then you may instead take a liking to some premium items which are readily available to buy from the market. Floor decorations such as the Picnic Prep (40 gems), Heart Piano (48 gems) and the Pool Table (40 gems) are all substantial and can make a real impact in your restaurant, especially when blended into a theme. Personally I invested in the Sports Bar some time ago for 42 gems and it looked superb in a sports themed section.

So in summary, there are many paths to trek down if you reach 50 gems. You could hold fire until a special sale or until a limited time offer catches your fancy. If you're a shopaholic you could unlock an appliance slot, take a couple of gambles in the boxes or browse Design Mode for some exceptional pieces. Really, it's up to you!