À la Food Cart (2021) Board Game

À la Food Cart is a card game designed by Astrid Abreu and published by Button Shy in in 2021. The game is a fun and light-hearted take on the food cart industry, where players compete to create the most successful food cart business.

Game Components of À la Food Cart

Market Cards: These cards form the central market where players place their workers.

Bonus Cards: Each player receives one Bonus Card and one Goal Card.

Goal Cards: These cards outline the recipes players need to complete.

Workers: Represented by Market Cards dealt to players, these are used to cover spaces on the Market Cards.

Starting Player Card: Determines the starting player.

Pantry Cards: Provide ingredients for players to use.

Starting Arrow: Indicates the current starting player.

How To Setup À la Food Cart

To set up, shuffle the Bonus Cards and deal two to each player; one becomes their Bonus Card, and the other their Goal Card. Shuffle the Market Cards, flipping some 180 degrees, and reveal five face-up to form the Market. Place the Starting Arrow and Pantry Cards on either side of the Market. Each player receives two Market Cards as their workers, and the Starting Player Card is flipped to point to the starting player.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Worker Placement: Players place their workers to cover two squares on any card or pair of cards.

Resource Management: Players collect ingredients to complete recipes.

Blocking: Only one player can place a worker on a card.

Actions: Spaces on the Market Cards have actions that players can take immediately.

Game Objective

Collect ingredients to complete recipes on the Goal Card.

Move the Bonus Card up and across the Goal Card by earning the necessary ingredients.

Earn bonuses and unlock abilities to aid in subsequent rounds.

The game ends when one player completes their Goal Card; if both players complete it, the player the Starting Player Arrow points to loses.

Player Experience

À la Food Cart offers a fun and challenging experience, particularly for fans of worker placement and resource management. The game is well-suited for teaching the concept of worker placement due to its simple yet engaging mechanics. However, initial gameplay can be confusing due to some ambiguous rule interactions, which might require some trial and error to fully understand.

Pros

Engaging Theme: A food-themed game with great art.

Accessible Mechanics: Easy to learn, making it a good introduction to worker placement.

High Replayability: Random setup and multiple paths to victory ensure varied gameplay.

Quick Games: Rounds are relatively short, making it a great fit for a quick gaming session.

Cons

Rule Clarity: Some rules and ability interactions can be confusing.

Limited Player Count: Designed exclusively for two players.

Availability: Can be out of stock at various retailers.

Personal Thoughts on À la Food Cart

À la Food Cart is ideal for those who enjoy quick, strategic games with a delightful theme. It’s a great choice for couples or friends who want to engage in a fun, competitive experience. While it may not be the favorite of every gamer, it is certainly a unique and ambitious title that worker placement enthusiasts and food game fans will appreciate.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.