The Big Deal is set in a restaurant where robot Floyd works as a chef. The player's goal is to ensure that all orders are fulfilled efficiently, using a menu system to control Floyd's actions. Each meal preparation consists of multiple steps, such as preparing ingredients, cutting them, and setting up plates.
The game requires the player to balance efficiency with the risk of customer impatience, which can lead to damage and costly repairs. Up to three meals can be pre-programmed for automatic execution, and recipes can be looked up in the in-game cookbook. The game's interface features a combination of side-view and top-down perspectives.