Restaurant Story Adventures: 2015

Wednesday, 30 December 2015

Game update: 30/12/15

We've reached the last weekly update of 2015, and we're finishing with a box.

Notification for Snowman Hat

The Snowman Hat is Storm8's final offering of the year. At 24 gems you get a shot at the numerous prizes hidden within, with only the fates deciding how rare an item you obtain.

It's always difficult to judge what we're going to get on the Wednesday between Christmas and New Year. A lot of players (myself included) had hoped for a New Year themed update full of glitz and glamour, but I'm actually okay with what we do have. This box is a sort of halfway house between Christmas and Winter, and provides a good transition from the holiday festivities to the cold and bitter months ahead.

Christmas showcase 2015

I hope that everyone has had a fantastic Christmas! It all seems to come and go so quickly, but it's not completely over just yet - there's still time for a showcase of some of the great scenes my lovely neighbours have magicked up this holiday season.

Remember that you can expand any of the photos in this post just by clicking on them, and I strongly urge you do so or you'll miss much of the brilliance exhibited by these wonderful players!

We'll start the feast with a feast at A Chilly Corner.

A Chilly Corner

The Garlic Tree celebrates Christmas

Season's greetings! As you read this you are probably tucking into an extravagant Christmas dinner or otherwise feeling the effects of having stuffed down too much! Whatever the case, make some more room and come along to my restaurant, The Garlic Tree, where you can relax and enjoy the festive ambience and yet more tasty grub!

When you first enter there's a blinding amount of pink:

Foyer section of The Garlic Tree

Game update: 23/12/15

There are just two sleeps to go before Christmas finally arrives, so this is the last update before the big day.

So many players have been begging for a special sale like we had last year, but alas, there is no such feature. Instead this is your typical update, including a new appliance. Here's the complete list of additions, all of which can be unlocked at level 22:

Wall decorations:

Festive Spoons - 14,000 coins

Floor decorations:

Village Display - 44 gems
Holiday Bouquet - 18 gems
Christmas Cookie Table - 74,000 coins

Suggestions Box (Dec 2015)

Every month I list five things I'd like to see added, altered or abolished from the game. Because even though my long time of playing Restaurant Story clearly shows I love it, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Some of the ideas I'll air will be significant game changers while others will be low-key and irrelevant in the eyes of many of you readers.

You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!

In no particular order, here are this month's entries...

Game update: 16/12/15

We're now nine days out from Christmas, and this week's update provides another opportunity to prepare your restaurant for the most important service of the year.

Notification for Holiday Crate

The solitary addition this week is the Holiday Crate, which costs 24 gems. You know the drill by now - upon opening this box you will receive one of a number of possible prizes. They are of varying quality, with the biggest and best of the decorations the most difficult to obtain.

Christmas 2015 goals content report

It's now six days since the Christmas goals went live with the second update of the festive season, and many players are already done! There are some real Winter Wonderlands on the go, so let's take a look at some of the goal content which is contributing towards the beautiful scenes across the playing community.

The first goal unlocks the Open Fire, which is the first of two new appliances. In terms of appearance this is a really pleasing cooker. It's got a brickwork structure with an open fire (surprisingly enough!) contained within. This is one of those appliances which I'd love to be able to convert into a floor decoration for cosmetic purposes.

To put the Open Fire together you'll need the help of neighbours.

Chocolate Cog and Winter Handle

Christmas 2015 goals (in full)

Please note that this set of goals expired on Wednesday 6th January 2016.

The bells are ringing in Christmas, and that means goals in Restaurant Story! Along with the second update of the festive season is a new set of goals which celebrate this most wonderful time of the year.

The clock indicates that 29 days are available to complete this quest, meaning that the end date should be Wednesday 6th January 2016. By this time you'll hopefully have gained access to a new table, two floor decorations and two appliances, as well as six recipes.

So without any further ado, here's the complete list of goal steps:

Game update: 09/12/15

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

Introduction to Christmas 2015 goals

It's goals week in Restaurant Story, and that means a fresh quest. Christmas is of course the theme, and there's a snowy outlook to this goal set. You need to be at level 12 or above to access both the goals and all the content that comes with it. And on that note, here's a list of all the goodies added in this update...

Tables:

Icicle Table - locked by goal

RS2 News (Dec 2015)

Time for another review of the crazy cooking going on in Restaurant Story 2, and in the last month there's been plenty happening to keep us players hooked.

At the time of my last check-in The Tummy Rumble goals were just getting underway, and little did we know how much anguish they would cause. The quest was very complex in nature, with many different components and requirements for the goals which were deeply interwoven. There were six recipes to consider, with two of these being feeders for other dishes. The Autumn Seeds and Roasted Squash were the two products that fed into the main recipes, but even making them was tricky as both required Nutmeg, an ingredient exclusively dropped by Katryn Evergreen on her visits, and the squash also needed a brand new ingredient in the market.

So we were already on the back foot in the race to complete these goals! And Katryn didn't exactly help with her drops of just two Nutmeg which was the norm. Occasionally she did relent and provide a batch of 10 but these were few and far between. In fact Katyrn's miserly behaviour was eventually eradicated by Storm8 as they realised the difficulty they had created for their players, and Katyrn's drops became larger.

Game update: 02/12/15

Snow is falling, all around me...

We're into December, and that means that Christmas is fast approaching. We're wasting no time in getting groovy with the festive content this year, with this update commencing what will hopefully be a month full of glorious Christmas stuff.

Here's a list from Santa of the items added...

Tables:

Wreath Table - 4 gems

Chairs:

Merry Chair - 6,000 coins

The Garlic Tree celebrates Thanksgiving

It's fair to say that it has been a turbulent few days in Restaurant Story. Black Friday was the mother of all anticlimaxes, with only six items offered up and little to provide any cheer for the players.

But that doesn't mean we couldn't celebrate Thanksgiving! I may not be from the US, but that hasn't stopped me from paying homage to this US holiday. I've sacrificed part of my outdoor area to house a cosy family feast:

Thanksgiving feast section of The Garlic Tree

At the centre of this section is the Thanksgiving Feast which was a goal prize in last year's Autumn goals. I know there have been a lot of dining based decorations of this format, but this one is quality in my opinion. There's a really happy feel to it, stemming from the smiling faces and tasty food. The basket of flowers is also really nice, and the wreathed chairs make for an excellent match with the Fall Dividers I have used to flank the zone.

Black Friday 2015 analysis

Black Friday. The day everyone waited for with baited breath. The day we'd all been saving for over the course of the last few months. The day the game's developers could be sure of a large windfall of cash from its devoted players. And the day that delivered one of the great let-downs in Restaurant Story history.

Before I go to town with my thoughts on this year's big sale, let's get the housekeeping done. There were six items made available in the market, all for a 40% discount on their original price.

Notification for Black Friday 2015 sale

Game update: 25/11/15

We've reached the big week! The last weekly update of November is always something of a sideshow as we prepare ourselves for the drama of Black Friday, and this year is no exception.

Notification for Acorn Crate

We were long overdue a new box, so it should come as no surprise that the Acorn Crate has been added. As ever with boxes, upon opening it for 24 gems you'll receive one of nine possible prizes. It's just your luck as to how rare an item you obtain so think carefully before making that fateful tap.

Suggestions Box (Nov 2015)

Game update: 18/11/15

Thanksgiving is a week tomorrow, and you can get ready for it with this latest update.

With eight new items added, there's plenty to get our teeth stuck into, all of which is available at level 22. Let's have one of those traditional lists...

Tables:

Hay Bale - 6,000 coins

Chairs:

Acorn Stool - 4 gems

Wall decorations:

Colorful Corn - 4,600 coins

Autumn 2015 goals content report

It's now six days since this year's Autumn goals were released, and many players have now completed all the steps, thus unlocking a number of items exclusively available via the quest.

The speed at which everyone was able to pass through the goals was varied by some noticeable differences in the difficulty of certain steps. Perhaps the most tricky section of the quest has been the neighbour requests. The fourth step required you to ask 10 neighbours for Golden Apples, which in itself doesn't seem unreasonable. But this was then followed up in the fifth step with a request for 10 Silver Apples. And of course there was then construction of the second appliance to think about too.

Autumn 2015 goals (in full)

Please note that this set of goals expired on Tuesday 8th December 2015.

It's once again time to open up that clipboard and get busy with goals! The most recent Autumn update is accompanied by a new quest, which offers the chance to obtain five new items, including two appliances which themselves house six recipes.

There are 28 days available to get through all the steps, so expect the goals to vanish forever on Tuesday 8th December.

Here is the complete list of steps:

Game update: 11/11/15

It's not just leaves falling from the trees at this time of year - there are apples dropping to the earth too!

Introduction to Autumn 2015 goals

This is your November goals update, which naturally means a greater range of content than we sometimes get. It should also mean an absence of gem items, but that's not the case this time. There are a handful of floor decorations for gems, but I think they're designed to compliment the coin goodies involved in the quest.

RS2 News (Nov 2015)

It's only a fortnight since my last Restaurant Story 2 round-up, so that means we have a little less to dissect in this edition. So we'll go deeper with the thoughts and analysis!

The focal point of this post is the Ghost Pirate Cruise Event, which was just getting underway at the last review. This was the culmination of a really impressive Halloween season in the sequel game, and featured a slightly different final prize from the norm.

Notification for Ghost Pirate Cruise Event

Until now all but one of the cruise events have featured a gem producing recipe as the end goal, but on this occasion the big reward was the Ghostly Stove, which contains six new recipes. I'm not sure what to make of this. The prospect of unlocking six more dishes and therefore access to another 18 mastery stars is clearly exciting, but it's not on the same level as adding to gem production.

Game update: 04/11/15

As we enter November, the time has come to get out your hat, scarf and gloves.

There's an opportunity to sprinkle some Autumn chill on your restaurant in this update, although there are only eight new items in the market. They're all unlocked at level 21, and are shown in the following fabulous list:

Wall decorations:

Leaf Torches - 17,200 coins
Wall Flowers - 33,000 coins

Floor decorations:

Autumn Kitten - 17 gems
Puppy Pile - 24 gems

A Halloween showcase

The dust has settled on another Halloween, with the skeletons firmly back in the closet. But that doesn't mean we can't distribute some more fear into the world, and so I present a Halloween showcase!

At Christmas last year I offered a glimpse into some of the festive creations a few of my blog-contributing neighbours had conjured up, and so I'd like to repeat that now with a look at some of the tricks and treats that Halloween has inspired...

We'll start at Nibble and Noms, who posts regularly on the blog as Whipped Cream.

Nibbles and Noms

The Garlic Tree celebrates Halloween

Today marks the start of November, and that means that yesterday evening the streets were swarming with all manner of queer beings. And my restaurant, The Garlic Tree, was no exception. As has become tradition every year, I have decked out my place for the occasion, with every corner given a Halloween twist. So let's take a look!

We'll start the tour where the magic happens - in the kitchen.

Kitchen section of The Garlic Tree

Generally my kitchen is largely unaffected when these big decorating projects some around, and that was the case again this time for a good while. But after the goals I felt there was scope to do some re-jigging. The Potion Vials and Spooky Brooms were the main motivation, with the Light Bar wallpapers and Purple flooring following. Swapping out my Plus Windows for Stormy Windows adds some dramatic effect, and the Modern Circle Art is there just because it fits the colour scheme and has a wacky feel to it.

Suggestions Box (Oct 2015)

Game update: 28/10/15

With Halloween now three days away, there's one last update to get you set for the occasion.

It's a standard update, with all the new items unveiled at level 22. However there are only five additions to pour over, but that won't stop me drawing up the usual list:

Chairs:

Vamp Throne - 1,800 coins

Wall decorations:

Haunted Mirror - 4,300 coins

Floor decorations:

Vampire Party - 56 gems
Coffin Couple - 27,000 coins

Appliances:

Vamp Fountain - 34,000 coins

RS2 News (Oct 2015)

We're deep into October and the last month has been stuffed full of things to do in Restaurant Story 2.

We'll get to some of the Halloween treats shortly, but the first development since my last review was the addition of the Deep Fryer. Following the increase of the level cap to 55, the Deep Fryer is unlocked at level 50, making it the last appliance unearthed. On board are six recipes which stand out from the crowd for two reasons.

Deep Fryer with recipe list

Firstly, the ingredient requirements are tough. The quantities needed are excessively high, including a shocking 10 Cream for the Fried Ice Cream. Plus there's a new ingredient has been added to the Fish Seafood Shop - the Fresh Cod cost 200 coins each and has a three hour refresh time. Ouch. But it's the pair of new recipes on the Mixer which feed into the Deep Fryer that really make things tricky. The Breading and Batter will eat into your stores of Flour very quickly and slow down the process of mastering the Deep Fryer offerings.

Game update: 21/10/15

The Halloween shenanigans are continuing in Restaurant Story for a third week, with a box update.

Notification for Monster Crate

The Monster Crate is the solitary addition this week. For 24 gems you get a lucky dip into the box, with one of nine floor decorations added to your inventory. There are lots of different sizes and qualities of items in there - your chances are slimmer for the top drawer stuff, but if you don't buy the ticket, you don't win the lottery!

Halloween 2015 goals content report

With six days having now elapsed since this year's second Halloween update brought with it a new set of goals specially for the occasion, let's have a review of the quest and the content unlocked within it.

I'm going to start with some overall thoughts on the goals. The big talking point heading into the event was very much surrounding the Witch's Cat and its gem price tag. There was plenty of concern (myself included!) that purchasing this cat would be a requirement in one of the goals, a scenario which would have been damaging to the game's freemium status. But our fears were misplaced as it turned out the cat was not necessary for progression through the steps.

That leads me to wonder why Storm8 even decided to release the Witch's Cat last week. All it did was cause increasing panic, and with everything else introduced being for coins, I suspect many players were happy enough with their gains from the goals. So even economically the addition of the Witch's Cat is questionable. Adding it with the previous update may have been a wiser move, although I realise that its witchy theme clearly fits in better with the goal stuff.

Halloween 2015 goals (in full)

Please note that this set of goals expired on Wednesday 11th November 2015.

Got your cauldron? Got your ingredients? Then let's get brewing! The latest update brings with it a new set of goals to celebrate Halloween.

There is a chair, counter and floor decoration to unlock in this quest, along with two appliances which yield six new recipes. So get busy! You've got 29 days to get finished before the goals head to the land of the dead forever, so that means the deadline should be Wednesday 11th November 2015.

Here's the complete list of steps:

Game update: 14/10/15

The witches are brewing something up! Halloween goals have landed in Restaurant Story!

Introduction to Halloween 2015 goals

Any concerns that the October goal set wouldn't be Halloween based have very much been placed on the back burner. Let's get straight to the new content which can all be accessed (including the goals) at level 12:

The gem count

Recently there was a rather intriguing question came to my mind: how many gems have I spent in Restaurant Story?

It's a compelling question, and one which is pretty much impossible to give an answer to immediately with any degree of certainty. I've been playing the game since August 2012, so there's over three years of investments have collected in my armoury, enough to make even a prediction futile.

The only way to get any sort of insight into just how many gems have exchanged hands over the years was by counting up those gem items in my arsenal. I'm fortunate that - unlike in Bakery Story - I've never fallen into any major gem traps (such as gem expansions and extra appliance slots) so the number of accidental buys isn't enough to really impact the results.

So, after totalling up all that premium décor in my inventory, I can declare that I have spent 1,761 gems in the game! That's the equivalent of 139 gems per month, or a little over 1.5 gems per day. I didn't realise I was quite so gem hungry!

Game update: 07/10/15

It's off to the lab this week, as we get into the Halloween groove with a sinister science update.

There's a range of new content has been added, including a fresh appliance. Here's a full list of the additions, all of which lose their padlock at level 25:

Floor decorations:

Lab Pup - 30 gems
Science Lab - 55 gems
Mad Chemist - 16,000 coins

Wallpapers:

Mad Lab - 5,100 coins

The Garlic Tree celebrates Autumn

In this bonus post, I'd like to offer a tour of the latest incarnation of The Garlic Tree, with the nippy winds of Autumn very much in the air.

It's in my outdoor section that the changing season is really felt, with a forested layout taking precedence:

Forest section of The Garlic Tree

It's actually very unusual for me to go for a wild setting as I have here, since I'm generally too regimental and preoccupied with precision to pull it off. But I was determined to give it a go for Autumn, and am really happy with the result.

Black Friday beckons

We're now 56 days out from Black Friday, which means the countdown is on!

For those who are not familiar with the event, Black Friday falls on the day after Thanksgiving in the US, which this year is Friday 27th November. That day will see many retailers putting on some very special sales to kick off the Christmas shopping season. The aim is to encourage people to start their spending spree, and it is certainly a strategy which has worked. Black Friday is very much of US origin, but it is becoming a larger and larger concept overseas, particularly in the UK where is has exploded into the spotlight in recent years. And the fun and games go on all weekend, running into Cyber Monday when online shopping takes centre stage.

But what does this mean for Restaurant Story? Well, if you haven't been around at Thanksgiving time previously, you're in for a treat! Every year Storm8 gets involved in the Black Friday shenanigans by offering up some very enticing deals, and you can fully expect that to happen again in 2015.

Game update: 30/09/15

We're closing out September with an update revolving around the birthstone for the month, the sapphire.

There's a new edition of the app for Android players - 'Restaurant Story: Royal Blues' is now available to download from Google Play. And here is the complete list of additions, all of which are unlocked at level 10:

Tables:

Sapphire Table - 2 gems

Chairs:

Sapphire Stool - 2,000 coins

Suggestions Box (Sep 2015)

RS2 cruise guide

The Cruise Catering events are probably the most popular aspect of Restaurant Story 2, but they're also the most challenging. Stress is never far away as everyone battles their way through 10 days of orders in a bid to earn a major prize, usually a gem producing recipe.

So with the British Cruise Catering Event having just got under way, I am going to offer up a guide to the cruise events via 10 hints and tips for surviving the distance. In no particular order...

Hint #1: Upgrade your pantry

Okay, I lied. I reckon this is the single most useful thing you can do to better your chances. Indeed the Pantry is probably the most important feature at any time. Having a large capacity allows you so much more breathing space, and when the Cruise events come round that is crucial.

Game update: 23/09/15

It's Wednesday, and that should mean the buzz of update night in Restaurant Story. But a second box update in as many weeks with a less than appealing theme may just snuff out the excitement.

Notification for Dino Crate

The Dino Crate costs 24 gems, and upon opening this box you'll receive one of eight possible prizes. They are all floor decorations of varying size and quality - it's just your luck how satisfying an item you gain upon parting with those precious gems.

RS2 News (Sep 2015)

Time for a run-down of the latest goings on in Restaurant Story 2. There have been two themed goal sets since my last round-up, as well as another 10 day cruise event. In addition there have been some other goal related features introduced, so let's get cracking!

It's with the Alaskan Cruise Catering Event we begin. Launching on 21st August, this event fell into line with all the other recent cruise specials. The overall aim was to make it through to the end, this time unlocking Park Ranger Sesi and the Baked Alaska recipe aboard the Celebration Stove.

For me the event appeared to fall at a bad time as it was during the week I was away on holiday. However my fears were soon abated - I held off until the event automatically started and caught up quick enough.

Game update: 16/09/15

We've been waiting for it, and now Autumn has landed in Restaurant Story!

There are a wide selection of floor decorations up for grabs, but there is a rather serious caveat - they come in a crate. The Fall Harvest box is a 24 gem investment and will give you one of eight possible prizes.

Notification for Fall Harvest

New York goals content report

It's been six days now since the New York update which brought with it a new set of goals. Many players have already completed this fresh quest, so let's review these goals and all the goodies unlocked through them.

First of all, a comment on the structure of the goals. The order of the steps was changed somewhat from the norm, giving for an alternative experience. For example, the goal that requires the purchase of wallpapers and floor tiles didn't make an appearance until quite late on, as opposed to its usual position as the opening step.

And in a cruel twist the game's developers included two steps which necessitated requesting items from neighbours. Both Vendor Hats and City Maps were called for at certain intervals, meaning progress was hindered for many. It is in situations like this when only sending out part requests to a select few reliable neighbours is of huge benefit, as it gives you a chance of still collecting any extra materials asked for.

New York goals (in full)

Please note that this set of goals expired on Wednesday 7th October 2015.

New York, New York! The most recent update takes us to the biggest city in the US, bringing with it a new set of goals for your gaming enjoyment.

The clock indicates that there are 29 days available from the outset until the goals expire, meaning you should have until Wednesday 7th October to get them complete. Remember that after that time you won't be able to unlock any of the goal prizes, so make sure to get done before then.

Here is the complete list of goal steps:

Game update: 09/09/15

It's off to the Big Apple this week, with an update revolving around New York.

Introduction to New York goals

One of the most prominent cities in the world, there's so much to do in New York, not least a set of goals! Here's the complete list of new items, with everything unlocked at level 12.

The Garlic Tree celebrates Summer

Now that we're into September, it is with a heavy heart that I say that Summer is just about over. So I thought I'd serve up a bonus post in which I give a brief glimpse of the scene I adopted for my restaurant, The Garlic Tree, over the hot months.

Last year I used three different surroundings for my outdoor section. The riverside, beach and park all featured, but this time around I opted to apply a different strategy. Instead of regularly freshening up throughout June, July and August, I opted to apply just one theme and invest heavily to make it as impressive as possible.

That theme was, inevitably, the beach!

Beach section of The Garlic Tree

Path to portions

All information accurate at time of publishing.

Slightly later than billed, this is the concluding instalment of my series of posts looking at how to maximise your gains in the game. Our final focus is on the subject of portions and how to stack up your counters with enough food to last a lifetime (or near enough!)

Now for many players this post is largely irrelevant. I'm speaking here of those who already have a feast on their counters and no risk of selling out anytime soon. With my massive heaps of Biscuits and Gravy and Kiwi & Cake, I'm very much in that category, but it's still worth looking into how to once again build up some big stacks in a short time.

Before getting going, I should point out that throughout this post I'll be assuming that your diner is capable of selling somewhere in the region of 40,000-45,000 plates per day. That's the figure most players manage (even if they're not aware of it!) with the only difference really being inflicted by having a very inefficient layout (too few tables, very long walks for the bots etc.)

Game update: 02/09/15

Into September we go, and our latest destination is in the Far East!

This update takes us to China, with a small selection of themed items. Let's waste no time in getting to it, with a full list of the additions, all of which unlock at level 26:

Wall decorations:

Wall Fan - 8,720 coins

Floor decorations:

Waving Cat - 6 gems
Panda Pen - 22 gems
Lucky Bamboo - 4,300 coins

The Garlic Tree opens its doors to the world

I've always tried to be very secretive when it comes to my Storm8 ID. The reason for this is quite simple - I try not to have too many neighbours, and publishing my Storm8 ID could possibly result in a barrage of neighbour requests that I could really be doing without.

But I've found a workaround! I have a secondary account which I only use for 'emergency gifting' and checking the level at which new content is unlocked. This account has been on-the-go for a long time, but for some reason I'd never thought to use it as a gateway to my primary account.

So here's how it works. If you fancy stopping by my restaurant, The Garlic Tree, you need only invite lorettasapron to be a new neighbour. This is my secondary account's Storm8 ID. After doing this you'll be able to visit Lilac Hill which is a hovel of a place. But that's really not the point! The magic happens when you visit the wall - there you'll find a message posted by yours truly, and thus a link to The Garlic Tree!

Suggestions Box (Aug 2015)

Every month I list five things I'd like to see added, altered or abolished from the game. Because even though my long time of playing Restaurant Story clearly shows I love it, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Some of the ideas I'll air will be significant game changers while others will be low-key and irrelevant in the eyes of many of you readers.

In no particular order, here are this month's entries...

The past, the poppies and the gem dispenser

I'm back from my break, and so am duty-bound to round up the activity over the last week, which includes two traditional updates and a very special offer for iOS players.

We'll get those two updates out of the way first. On Wednesday 19th August there was a medieval themed release which included a range of new content, unlocked at level 10. You can see all the stuff via the following image taken from the Storm8 Blog:

Items from Medieval update as shown on Storm8 Blog

RS2 News (Aug 2015)

As ever it has been a busy month in Restaurant Story 2, with a number of events and goal sets keeping everyone well engaged. So let's have a review of the latest act.

We start with the Wedding Cruise Catering Event, which was released shortly before my last update. This was the fourth cruise event, and with my resources stronger than ever I felt confident of a slightly less bumpy ride this time.

Notification for Wedding Cruise Catering Event

And it looked to be running quite smoothly early doors, as I made it through the first half of the event relatively unscathed. I was even able hold back several four cruise coin dishes such as Stew and Ginger Tea for convenient moments, thus working with just two slots at a time.

Back to school goals content report

Over the course of the last week everyone has been very busy with the back to school goals, and having now finished them I'd like to share some thoughts on the content which is available exclusively through the quest.

We'll start with the new appliances, which inevitably provided the main challenge of the goals. Both needed a new part in order to build.

New parts

The Apple Knob and Drip Pan continue the trend of two fresh parts per goal set, as was pointed out in my part analysis last weekend. And with the ever-popular Mallet also making an appearance, it continues to rule the roost as the most commonly called for part of late.

Back to school goals (in full)

Please note that this set of goals expired on Tuesday 15th September 2015.

Got your uniform? Got your pencil case? Then time to head back to school! The latest update is all about the return to the playground at the end of the Summer, and there's a new set of goals included.

There are 35 days available to unlock five items including two appliances and three floor decorations. That means it's likely to be Tuesday 15th September when the goals expire for good, so make sure to finish before then!

Here's the complete list of steps:

Game update: 12/08/15

It's that time of year once again where there's that manic morning in every household as the kids get set to return to school.

This week it's all about school, with a range of new content including a fresh goal set for your enjoyment. Here is the complete list, with it all becoming available at level 12...

Tables:

Apple Table - 7,200 coins

Chairs:

School Chair - 3,200 coins

Picking apart the parts

I had anticipated that this weekend would be all about polishing off the latest set of goals and drawing up a content report. But with the August quest still pending I thought it would be nice to review the current situation with regards to parts.

The last audit was back in January, when the Metal Sheet and Screw were endorsed as the most common parts needed to put together constructible appliances. But even then there was a clear indication that the so-called 'basic' parts were becoming less prevalent, with newer generic parts such as the Sturdy Wood and Purple Knob being commonplace.

I'm sure long time players won't have have missed the fact that not only have the basic parts continued to be less frequently occurring, but brand new parts are on the rise. They seem to come every month, sometimes being used only for a single goal set and rarely again.

Game update: 05/08/15

The opening update of August is all about the tasty sandwich that is the panini.

You can access all of the new stuff from level 23. Here's the comprehensive list:

Tables:

Panini Cafe Table - 9,000 coins

Chairs:

Panini Cafe Chair - 4 gems

Wall decorations:

Panini Sign - 7,200 coins

Path to XP

All information accurate at time of publishing.

It's time to travel along another long and winding path, this time to XP! Following on from my post on boosting your profits, I'm going to delve into the less murky area of maximising your XP gains.

XP can be obtained in the game by three main methods: cooking recipes, buying content and completing collectibles. The first of these is the most significant and sustainable of them, and so it is with respect to the preparing of food that we will focus our attention.

The leading XP maker across all the appliances can be found on the Basic Oven. The Peking Duck was also the top dog for profit, and its 340 XP is the best in the business. But, like with the profit discussion, we have to consider just how long it takes to realise that XP haul. The duck takes two days to cook, meaning that it's not all that efficient.

Game update: 29/07/15

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo. How about you, you, you?

Notification for Zoo Crate

For the third time in six weeks, it's a box update, with the Zoo Crate costing 24 gems and resulting in one of a number of floor decorations being given at random.

Suggestions Box (Jul 2015)

Every month I list five things I'd like to see added, altered or abolished from the game. Because even though my long time of playing Restaurant Story clearly shows I love it, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Some of the ideas I'll air will be significant game changers while others will be low-key and irrelevant in the eyes of many of you readers.

In no particular order, here are this month's entries...

Game update: 22/07/15

The latest stop on our Summer tour is in the fascinating country of India!

Notification for Indian update

It's a normal update with most of the usual features in play, and it's all unlocked at level 22. So let's waste no time in surveying the full list of additions:

RS2 News (Jul 2015)

Once again it's time to summarise the latest goings-on in the sequel game to Restaurant Story. When we last met the Father's Day goals had recently come on the go, and they already feel like a distant memory!

Step from Father's Day goals

The key ingredient to that quest was Sarsaparilla, which in an unusual twist was dropped by cooking certain recipes. The likes of the French Dip and Chicken Alfredo were yielders of the root, and so preparing these dishes continually was critical to giving yourself a chance at completing the goals.

Game update: 15/07/15

What's the best way to keep refreshed during those hot Summer days? Ice cream of course!

Notification for Gelato Crate

If you want to procure some gelato goodies you'll have be willing to part with gems, as this is a box update. The Gelato Crate is a 24 gem buy and upon opening you'll receive one of nine possible prizes. The best of the items up for grabs are the hardest to get, so make sure you're content with the lower end prizes before gambling!

Path to profit

All information accurate at time of publishing.

In the first in a three-part series of posts, I'm going to break down how to boost your profits in the game via the food you cook. This is one of those more technical entries, so make sure to top up on caffeine before reading on!

Of course my recipe ratings system gives a decent indication of which dishes are solid performers when comes to all the factors - including profit - but it's difficult to compare between foods from different durations and doesn't map out how to get the best bang for your buck.

So let's have a go at doing that now! I'll start by assuming you have passed level 75 and thus have access to every recipe the game has to offer and 18 appliances in tow (we'll get to the alternatives later!) On the face of it, you may think that the dish which provides the highest number of coins profit is the one to cook indefinitely. That would be the Peking Duck (Basic Oven) which yields 11,900 coins profit per batch. Unfortunately it's not that simple, mainly because the duck is a 2 day recipe, so is not a great use of your time.

Restaurant Story 2 released worldwide on Android

It's taken a long time, but Restaurant Story 2 has finally been released around the world on Android devices.

The iOS version of the sequel game was first pushed out in March 2014, but only in limited territories. It was another nine months before the testing procedure was completed and RS2 hit the App Store globally. Ever since the question of when Android players would also be able to play the game has gone unanswered, until now.

There were reports around a month ago of an Android version being available in selected countries, and it is now accessible worldwide, including in the US and UK. You can find the game on Google Play (UK version) here.

Game update: 08/07/15

Bonjour! It's time for our Summer holidays, and we're headed for France!

Notification for latest French update

For the fourth time in Restaurant Story we've got a French themed update, although since the national day in France - Bastille Day - is next week at least this update is timed right! Here is your comprehensive list of the new content, all of which is unlocked at level 20.

Independence Day goals content report

The July the Fourth celebrations may have come and gone, but there's still time for a review of the additions from last week's Independence Day update which are only possible to access via the new goal set.

I'm going to begin with the only goal item which I feel really positive about, and that is the Pool Party. A 4x4 sized piece, this floor decoration is the final prize in the goals, and really conveys all that is great about Summer weather. Only the costumes of the modelled bots hint at the Independence Day theme, meaning that you can get away with using this item throughout the hot months. I like how each of the folks has something novel about them - an earring, a flower in the hair, a snorkel or a rubber ring.

Add in the barbecue on the side and you've got a vibrant decoration which can only be criticised for its inclusion of a grassy floor. As I've mentioned many a time before, it would be nice if the game's developers could just save some work and not include a floor so that we could choose our own. After all there's ample options for outdoor tiles.

Independence Day goals (in full)

Please note that this set of goals expired on Wednesday 5th August 2015.

And we're off! With Independence Day coming up, there's an update to commemorate this big event including fresh goals.

For your chance to obtain three floor decorations, two appliances and six recipes, make your way through this set of goals one step at a time. There are 36 days on the clock, so you have until Wednesday 5th August to finish them, after which time they'll be gone forever!

Here's the complete list of steps:

Game update: 01/07/15

Into July, and it's time to gear up for the Independence Day celebrations this coming Saturday.

To add to the festivities this is a goals update, so get to work! Everything becomes available from level 12, with the full list as follows:

Tables:

July Table - 8,000 coins

Suggestions Box (Jun 2015)

Every month I list five things I'd like to see added, altered or abolished from the game. Because even though my long time of playing Restaurant Story clearly shows I love it, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Some of the ideas I'll air will be significant game changers while others will be low-key and irrelevant in the eyes of many of you readers.

In no particular order, here are this month's entries...

App update: 25/06/15

Late on yesterday there was a new version of Restaurant Story released for iOS devices on the App Store.

Version 1.7.6 is purported to include 'bug fixes' and 'performance improvements', but I can safely say that this is not the case.

The main change is one which I've been expecting for some time. A while back the game's developers rebranded as part of their celebration for reaching one billion downloads. Part of the makeover included bringing all of the Story games under the Storm8 label rather than the TeamLava title. Restaurant Story appears to be one of the last to receive this rebranding.

Title screen for Restaurant Story

Game update: 24/06/15

The latest update is boxed up!

Notification for Roses Crate

The Rose Crate costs 24 gems and is this week's solitary addition. Upon opening it, you'll receive one of nine possible items, some of which are more difficult to obtain than others.

The Storm8 Blog has a picture which includes some of the box's contents:

Lemon goals content report

With the fruity update of two weeks ago came a new set of goals, complete with a number of items only attainable by working through them.

Before we get to those items, I'd like to express a couple of thoughts on the goals themselves. Firstly, I noticed that the pricing was a little steeper than may typically be expected for goals. For the Phoebe's Bike and two of the Lemon Trees (as was required in the quest) you were looking at an outlay of 70,000 coins, and that's before we get to the two appliances at 25,000 and 20,000 coins respectively.

With the Yard Sale and Cashier Lee also being costly (even if not part of the goals) this makes for some hard work for newer players. Having been at level 99 for a long time I do generally neglect to think of the difficulties that rookies encounter, but the expensive content this time round did make me look up and take notice.

RS2 News (Jun 2015)

It's been seven weeks since my last Restaurant Story 2 round-up, and in that time there has been a lot of activity in the game. In fact the high volume of things to do has been characteristic of RS2 so far. After the first couple of months we've had all sorts of bits and pieces to work on, meaning that there's very little time during which we're cooking leisurely.

This has its good and bad points. Personally I'm quite enjoying the busyness of the game. A lack of quests is often cited as a criticism of RS1 and I can see why - the monthly goals are generally quite easy and can be completed within a few days if you invest heavily. There's always something fresh to work on in RS2 and keep us on our toes. At the same time that can be tiring, especially if you lead a busy life. For a lot of players accessing the game is something which can only be done at certain points of the day or week, and challenging and time-consuming goals are not a good fit for such users.

RS2 News

02/05/15 May 2015
11/04/15 April 2015

Game update: 17/06/15

Yesterday was update day, and it brought a range of fresh content.

Notification for Summer solstice update

The Summer theme is very much continued, with all the additions being bright and cheerful. You can access everything from level 15. Here's the full list:

Lemon goals (in full)

Please note that this set of goals expired on Friday 3rd July 2015.

Earlier this week there was a lemony update and with it same a new set of goals.

There are five items you can only access through this quest, as well as six recipes. So it's well worth devoting some time to it. With 24 days to complete the goals expect them to disappear on Friday 3rd July 2015.

There are no 'sidesteps' in this goal set, so you can just work through them one at a time. Here is the complete list of steps:

London and lemons

I'm back! After two weeks of doing not much, it's back to reality, and there's plenty to discuss with regards to our favourite game.

On Wednesday 3rd June there was a London themed update. Trust there to be an update focused on my home country while I'm not there! Although I've never been to London I do relate to a lot of the content. London must be one of the easiest places to pull apart in a game like Restaurant Story since it's got so many unique quirks.

The Storm8 Blog has a glimpse of the décor in the update:

Items from London update as shown on Storm8 Blog

A short break and some sunshine

Those who have been reading this blog from the start will probably be well aware that it is at this time of year that I flunk off for a couple of weeks on a short break and take in some sunshine on warmer shores. And 2015 is no exception - I'm heading off tomorrow and won't return until Friday 12th June.

During that time I won't be publishing any posts on here, so you'll have to find something else to fill your Wednesday nights with! I'll round up all the goings-on when I'm back, and that obviously may include a goal set. Since the derby day goals were added midway through May rather than on the first Wednesday it could be that I don't miss out after all, but I suspect the usual routine will be reinstated next month.

For my neighbours, I do plan to play while away, although I won't be checking in too often - there's going to be a lot of 2 day Roast Chicken cooked!

Until I return take care everyone!

Wednesday, 27 May 2015

Game update: 27/05/15

Can you feel that heat? We need to get ourselves down to the beach!

Notification for Summer update

I've been pumped for proper Summer updates for ages, so am delighted to say that this is a beach themed update, with some fishing on the side!

It looks like Androiders are set to get a new version with the fresh content in the coming days, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Update: 'Restaurant Story: Summer Camp' is now available on Google Play!

The additions, all of which can be accessed by level 7, are as follows:

Suggestions Box (May 2015)

Every month I list five things I'd like to see added, altered or abolished from the game. Because even though my long time of playing Restaurant Story clearly shows I love it, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Some of the ideas I'll air will be significant game changers while others will be low-key and irrelevant in the eyes of many of you readers.

In no particular order, here are this month's entries...

Game update: 22/05/15

This is a short but very sweet update post following another exciting development yesterday.

Notification for new expansion

Five weeks on from the addition of the 24x27 expansion, today we can rejoice at another new expansion, this time to 25x28. The requirements are as follows:

20,000,000 coins and 70 neighbours; or
80 gems

In the April Suggestions Box I asked Storm8 to keep the expansions coming, so it's great to see that actually done, with the game's developers giving long term players all the more reason to keep coming back. Now I'm wondering just how many new expansions we're going to be getting over the next while! As long as the performance of the game isn't compromised the sky's the limit, so here's hoping there's more to come!

Game update: 20/05/15

Wednesday has rolled around again, and there's a train coming!

Notification for railway update

This is a train inspired update, with a large selection of new content for all those rail enthusiasts out there. As is tradition, here is the complete list of additions, all of which unlock at level 18:

Derby day goals content report

Last week's update brought with it goals, and now is the time to reflect on all the goodies which can be attained via that quest. The theme was derby day, and with five items and six recipes only obtainable by completing the goals, it is certainly worth working through the various steps.

The first unlockable is the Kentucky Stove. The first of the new appliances, this stove is certainly distinctive thanks to its lime green colour. And it's shape is original too which is nice. A lot of the appliances added in the game tend to be a recolouring of existing cookers, so it is pleasing to get a fresh form here.

So what of the three dishes found on the Kentucky Stove?

Kentucky Stove recipes

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Hint #1: Upgrade your pantry

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