Diner Dash: Sizzle & Serve review

Noisy babies, jerkwad customers, and measly tips. That TPS report doesn't look so bad now, does it?

Reviews
By
published

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Super simple to grasp

  • +

    Multiplayer oddly fun

  • +

    70 levels

Cons

  • -

    $30 is at least $10 too much

  • -

    Impatient customers

  • -

    Rough controls

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

To quote a very good movie about a group of very bad men named after colors, waitressing "is the number one occupation for female non-college graduates in this country." So, back in 2004, a casual games developer created a clicky, dot-to-dot waitressing game called Diner Dash. Finally, an entire legion of double-X-chromosomed potential customers could feel like they were slogging though a double shift at work even when they were actually at home “relaxing” at their computer.

Diner Dash: Sizzle & Serve brings the long hours and greasy aprons to PSP and DS. You’re Flo, a burned out white-collar business woman who clearly has no idea how hard waitresses actually work. So she chucks her cushy office job, buys a run-down, fixer-upper restaurant and embarks upon a career as a food server.

More info

GenreFamily
DescriptionServe dishes, clean up messes, and keep your customers happy as you build a restaurant empire worthy of Mr. T. G. I. Friday.
Platform"PSP","DS"
US censor rating"Everyone","Everyone"
UK censor rating"3+","3+"
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
More
CATEGORIES
Eric Bratcher
Eric Bratcher
I was the founding Executive Editor/Editor in Chief here at GR, charged with making sure we published great stories every day without burning down the building or getting sued. Which isn't nearly as easy as you might imagine. I don't work for GR any longer, but I still come here - why wouldn't I? It's awesome. I'm a fairly average person who has nursed an above average love of video games since I first played Pong just over 30 years ago. I entered the games journalism world as a freelancer and have since been on staff at the magazines Next Generation and PSM before coming over to GamesRadar. Outside of gaming, I also love music (especially classic metal and hard rock), my lovely wife, my pet pig Bacon, Japanese monster movies, and my dented, now dearly departed '89 Ranger pickup truck. I pray sincerely. I cheer for the Bears, Bulls, and White Sox. And behind Tyler Nagata, I am probably the GR staffer least likely to get arrested... again.
The Blood of Dawnwalker: A screenshot of the vampire Brencis holding up a crown during the trailer for the upcoming game.

Blood of Dawnwalker devs explain how the vampire RPG's "narrative sandbox" builds on what they were "known for crafting" in games like The Witcher 3
Screenshot from Guns Undarkness

Persona and Metaphor: ReFantazio composer's new JRPG gets a Steam Next Fest demo, and it's basically a turn-based Metal Gear Solid
Avowed screenshot showing companion Kai wielding a pistol in one hand and short sword in the other while facing a large reddish-orange bug-like creature

Avowed is nothing like Bethesda's RPGs, but The Elder Scrolls 6 should take inspiration from its combat
See more latest
See comments