Sweet Tomatos

It's certainly not fast food but it is a chain, anyone been there?

http://www.sweettomatoes.com/

Been a couple of years since I've been in one but IIRC it's about $6.00 for lunch and $7.00 for dinner not including your drink. Everything is fresh and very good.

John

I've been to several in the Tampa and Fort Lauderdale areas. Price closer to a sawbuck now, but very good and worth it. There's no real meat on the menu, but if you dig deep into the tureen of chicken soup, you can score some big big pieces of white meat chicken. Put some rice in your bowl first and you have a nice chicken and rice dish.

Not only do they have lots of excellent salad bar items, but they have freshly prepared rolls, pizza and baked stuff, as well as a better than average meaty chili. Mrs QFan and I get there about once a month. Never been disappointed.

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

I wish they would open one in Daytona Beach. Looked into franchising one several years ago, at that time they were all company owned, no franchises.

John

There's one of them about 3 miles from where I live but I haven't been in several years. We have another chain, Souper Salad, which actually started here in Houston in the 70s but is based in San Antonio now. There isn't one close to me and I haven't been in many years. Its salad buffet was much larger but the non-salad items weren't as good as Sweet Tomatoes.

These days if I'm wanting a salad and don't have the fixings at home, I pick up one at Jack-in-the-Box or at a local grocery - premade - a club salad or chef's salad. For a buffet, I prefer hitting one of the Middle Eastern buffets. A bit pricier but a better mix of salads and hot dishes for my taste.

There was one in Louisville, CO, for a little while but it just fizzled out. Never made it there myself.

There is 1 in Fresno I went to a few times. Remember that it was pretty good too.

MikeS.

We have a Sweet Tomatos nearby in St. Charles, Il. We go every few months and enjoy the freshness and cleaness of the place.

Been to one in Salt Lake City with the in-laws several times. Always had a good experience with their food...

I thought they opened one in Merritt Island in 2005, but I dont see it on the map..

We ate at one the other day near Cottonwood Mall in Albuquerque. (Our latest destination.) Excellent selection and freshness on the salad bar, but the rest of the menu (soups, bakery, pasta) left a little to be desired. We'll probably return however, just for the salad......

They are a pretty big hit in metro Atlanta. Lunch is a wait, and dinner just a tad better.

The quality seems to be very high. Good chicken noodle soup & turkey chili, aside form the staggering salad choices.

Are they allso noisey>

quote:

Originally posted by ULVER


Are they allso noisey>

The one we have seems to be a real kid magnet and usually very noisy. One reason we don't go very often.

Been to one in Tampa, FL one time. I really liked the selection of breads and rolls but I think that my favorite things are their salads...chicken, tuna, etc. They're very tasty with just the right amount of seasonings. I also think the soups are fantastic!! You can also always find coupons in the Sunday paper for their lunch or dinner buffet.

I was out riding around Houston this morning in Houston and I happened to see one of their four locations in Houston. I was tempted to stop and try them out but I checked my watch and it was 10AM. They were not open

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sweet Tomatos is also known as Souplantation. I used to eat there when I lived in Southern California.

I ate at one of the Jacksonville locations just last night. Their Shrimp Bisque soup in unbelievably good.

OH, I like sweet tomatoes. They have really nice soups and a big selection of them. I think if you know how to go down a (LLLLLLOOONNNGGGG) salad bar and get what you like, the way you like it(and not jut plops of EVERYTHING) it's AWESOME.The food is fresh and tasty and they have about 12 dressings amd oils and vinegars etccc. They have a few pre made salads along the salad bar like broccoli,bacon,red onion and cashews salad,I HEART that! and Pasta,potato salad or caesar salad etc...good toppers like sunflower seeds n cheeze.. mmmmmm.
good bread ,muffins and drink selection.&YA gotta love the soft serve ice cream! BUT>>>>>>>>>
I DO hafta say, the hot pasta they have is usually pretty awful.It's gummy overcooked oversalted oversauced. bleck-o!

I've done Sweet Tomatos in Phoenix and Raleigh. Exact same place, exact same high level of quality. And it's easy to get filled up -- or overfilled there; combine the bulk of the salad and the pasta, soups, bread, and deserts. The soups, pasta, deserts, dressings, bread and such are all prefab, as in most restaurants at that price level, but it's hard to fake fresh veggies.

So much fun, great soups. I love their ice cream with granola. What a treat! I've visited the one in Orlando and one in Carrollwood (near Tampa)

I love these places and the idea of these places, but...don't the ones called Soup Plantation weird you out a little? It's a little insensitive, like Sambo's in the 70s.

I wouldn't have given the name Soup Plantation a second thought. Seems to be carrying the pc a bit to the extreme. To me, the word plantation brings thoughts of good things like long, slow days and good food.

On a different note, I love Sweet Tomatoes. Try to eat there whenever I get to Phoenix. Love that they have blue cheese on the salad bar to sprinkle on everything. Also love the selection of breads (including brownies) and soups.

Stopped there for dinner in Ft. Myers on a school trip... it was fresh and healthy, very good. Unless you're a meat-and-potatoes person, in which case you might not be satisfied. But most of us really enjoyed it.

quote:

Originally posted by kland01s

We have a Sweet Tomatos nearby in St. Charles, Il. We go every few months and enjoy the freshness and cleaness of the place.

Thats the one on North ave. correct? I have been to that one and its great. What a saladbar!!! The soups are really good as well as the pasta bar.

They keep putting Sweet Tomatoes coupons in my newspaper, but the nearest location is in the next county, about 40 miles away.

quote:

Originally posted by The_Q

quote:

Originally posted by kland01s

We have a Sweet Tomatos nearby in St. Charles, Il. We go every few months and enjoy the freshness and cleaness of the place.

Thats the one on North ave. correct? I have been to that one and its great. What a saladbar!!! The soups are really good as well as the pasta bar.

Yes, on North Avenue near Kirk Road. Another one just opened on Rte 59 in Naperville near the Keywester.