reddeadplace.com – Restaurant City, launched on April 28, 2009, by Playfish, was a beloved Facebook game that defined the social gaming era. Players managed their own virtual restaurant, blending strategy, creativity, and social interaction. The game, which peaked at over 18 million monthly active users, closed on June 29, 2012, but its legacy endures through fan revivals and nostalgia.
In Restaurant City, players designed their restaurant’s interior and exterior, choosing from a vast array of decorations, furniture, and themes. They hired Facebook friends as employees, assigning roles like chef, waiter, janitor, or bartender. At least one chef and waiter were needed to operate, with additional hires unlocked as the restaurant leveled up. Gameplay revolved around earning “gourmet points” by serving dishes, which leveled up the restaurant, unlocking larger spaces, new items, and menu options.
Menu management was key. Players started with one starter, main, and dessert, collecting ingredients through trading, gardening, or market purchases to unlock and upgrade dishes. Higher-level dishes earned more points, with level 10 dishes unlocking special items. Social features shone, as players visited friends’ restaurants to clean, trade ingredients, or gift items, fostering a tight-knit community.
The game’s charm lay in its addictive simplicity and social trading system, which built trust and friendships among players. However, hacking issues and the 2009 acquisition by Electronic Arts (EA) led to challenges, with EA retiring the game in 2012. Fans mourned, but revivals like Restaurant City 2016, Food Friends, and Restaurant Streets (a Russian rebrand) emerged, though some faced server issues or EA’s restrictions.
Restaurant City’s cult following persists, with active Facebook pages and preservation efforts like Flashpoint Archive. Its blend of management, creativity, and social bonds made it a standout, inspiring players to chase its magic years later.
