A la carte
- Players
- 2-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 30 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 8+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 1.3 / 5
- Year
- 1989
About the game
A silly dexterity game for 2-4 players by designer Karl-Heinz Schmiel, casting players as slightly unhinged cooks trying to perfect their culinary skills. Each turn, players either heat their hotplate with a die roll, season their dish by up-ending small bottles of colored wood pellets, or attempt to steal an opponent's recipe in progress. Over-spicing a dish (more than two pellets) ruins it, forcing you to toss it out. The 2009 update adds a new victory condition and revised rules to the original 1989 design.
Hobbli's Notes
A la carte is a lighthearted dexterity game with genuine charm in its silly cooking theme and tactile pellet-pouring mechanic. It's not deep, but it doesn't try to be: it's built for laughs and light tension around precise, careful component handling. At just 30 minutes, it's a great quick filler or icebreaker for casual groups. Its age (originally 1989) shows in its simplicity, but the 2009 revision keeps it feeling fresh.
What we like
- Fun, tactile dexterity mechanic with the pellet-pouring bottles.
- Silly cooking theme suits a light-hearted group.
- Quick 30-minute playtime works well as a filler.
- Updated 2009 edition refreshes the original 1989 design.
Keep in mind
- Very light complexity (1.3) offers little for strategy-focused gamers.
- Dexterity-based scoring can be inconsistent and luck-driven.
- Older base design may feel dated compared to modern dexterity games.
Who it's for
Great for casual groups and families aged 8+ looking for a light, silly dexterity filler game.
