Papa's Cheeseria is a simulation game that shows a player how to run a restaurant, provide order-taking and other services and hone their time-management skills. The game starts with a member of the band Scarlett & The Shakers leaving the band's equipment in the back of an open truck while talking with Papa Louie inside the Toastwood Papa's Cheeseria. Whether a player chooses to play Rudy, Scarlett or designs a custom member of the band, the outcome is the same. Someone steals their equipment, and Papa Louie offers them a job.
The player starts work as a Newbie who handles all aspects of taking orders, preparing and cooking ordered items, serving cooked food and accepting payment. If they do well, they receive new ingredients and customers, reviews based on their performance and great tips. They might receive a promotion or tickets. They can use the tips to buy new clothing and lobby decorations. The tickets give them optional opportunities to win prizes in Foodini's Mini Game Show.
Papa's Cheeseria penalizes the player if they move too slowly or make mistakes with an order. For example, they must toast each side of a sandwich for a specific amount of time and add ingredients evenly and near the center of the bread or plate. They must also align a finished sandwich perfectly on a cutting board so that the game cuts it into equal pieces.
