At release the game was a step down from the sequel as you were essentially thrust into the role of a mercenary chef working for dozens of different restaurants. You own a restaurant as well, though, it does not have nearly as many progression hooks as the first game did. The variety of food upgrades in the first game have been replaced with an extensive range of unlockable decorations to customise your restaurant. Because of this the game got boring much sooner than I thought it would.
After a couple of months the developer has added emails and different modes that make the game more fun, such as zen mode where customers can have infinite patience, and stress mode where the orders just keep coming in. While the emails in this game are amusing and work well to break up the gameplay, they do not live up to the 'Cook4luv' dating-system of the first game. You can also upgrade chores now, but since you have to buy pretty much all the foods for your restaurant with money that you earn working for other restaurants (or your own restaurant which early on has very limited foods and decorations), your role as a mercenary chef specialising in cooking all types of food is undeniably the main focus.
Fans of the first game will enjoy a familiar gameplay experience. New comers should be directed to the first game to understand the hype behind the sequel.
Playing this game is still fun even if it also makes it easier to acknowledge the first game as a restaurant simulator that really got it right. Kind of like an Arkham City to Arkham Asylum scenario.
I nominated this game for "The world is grim enough lets just all get along" steam award since the gameplay hook facilitates feeding people nice food.