How to Build a Restaurant in "The Sims 2"

"The Sims 2 Nightlife" added several new items and destinations to the base game "The Sims 2," including a downtown neighborhood, cars and new building options. Now, instead of sending your sim to a restaurant, nightclub or bowling alley, you can build and design your own community lots for them. Restaurants in "The Sims 2 Nightlife" are ideal locations for trying new foods, going on dates or friendly outings, or just meeting new sims.

Choose an adequate sized lot for the restaurant. After clicking the "Lots and Houses" button on the control panel, select a lot size that will be large enough to accommodate your building and any landscaping or outdoor items you would like to add. After selecting a lot size, place it in any part of the neighborhood you choose.

Create the building. You can start by either laying flooring or adding a foundation if you'd like the building higher than ground level. Adding a spacious dining area and bathrooms will be more convenient for your sim and improve their environment score while they are on the lot. Also remember to leave enough room for a kitchen and a front door area where your sim will be met and seated by a restaurant greeter.

Decorate the interior of the restaurant. A stove for the chef and podium for the restaurant greeter are essential to the functionality of the restaurant. Once you've added these items you can begin interior decorating like adding flooring, wallpaper, lighting and windows. If you're adding bathrooms to your restaurant, be sure to designate each bathroom with the appropriate gender specific doors. All of these items can be found in the"Build" and "Buy" sections on the control panel.

Add landscaping if you choose. Trees, shrubs and flowers, as well as fences, gates and stair railings, can all be found in the "Build" section, and add visual appeal to the lot. Outdoor items like benches, water fountains, tables, chairs and swings can also be used to decorate the lot. Grass and ground leveling can be altered to make the lot look greener, or to add hills and ponds.