Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes Menu: Historical Archive

No. Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes permanently closed all 97 of their U.S. locations in May 2020. The closures were announced on May 8, 2020, and were attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which made the chain's shared all-you-can-eat buffet format impossible to operate safely. The company stated at the time that it did not anticipate reopening.

Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes were two names for the exact same restaurant concept, operated by the same parent company (Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp). Souplantation was the name used primarily on the West Coast, particularly in California. Sweet Tomatoes was the name used for locations in Florida, the Southeast, and other Eastern states. The menus, pricing, and format were identical across both brands.

Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp cited the COVID-19 pandemic as the direct cause of the permanent closure in May 2020. The all-you-can-eat buffet format — where guests share serving utensils and move through communal food stations — was deemed incompatible with pandemic-era health and safety requirements. The company determined it could not financially survive an indefinite closure or a fundamental redesign of its business model.

Souplantation operated on an all-inclusive admission pricing model. At the time of closure in early 2020, adult admission was approximately $10–$12 depending on the location and time of day. Senior guests (60+) typically paid around $8–$10 with a valid ID. Children aged 4–12 paid approximately $5–$6, and children under 3 ate free. One admission price covered unlimited access to all stations: the salad bar, soups, pasta, the bakery counter, and the dessert station.

Among the most beloved items were the Caesar Asiago Salad, Joan's Broccoli Madness (a broccoli salad with sunflower seeds and raisins), and the Wonton Happiness Asian salad. On the soup side, Big Chunk Chicken Noodle Soup, Deep Kettle House Chili, and Yankee Clipper Clam Chowder were perennial favorites. The Cheesy Garlic Focaccia and the Wildly Blue Blueberry Muffin are among the most-missed items by former regulars.

Yes. Souplantation was particularly well-regarded for its vegetarian and vegan offerings, which was unusual for a large chain of its era. A significant portion of the salad bar and many soups were vegetarian or vegan. Items were labeled with VG (vegetarian), VE (vegan), and GF (gluten-friendly) on the menu boards. Popular vegetarian staples included Joan's Broccoli Madness, Classic Mac and Cheese, Cream of Mushroom Soup, and virtually all of the bakery items.

At its peak, Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp operated 97 Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes locations across 15 U.S. states. California had the largest concentration of locations, with dozens of restaurants throughout Southern and Northern California. Other significant markets included Florida (under the Sweet Tomatoes name), Arizona, Texas, and Nevada. All 97 locations closed simultaneously in May 2020.

As of mid-2026, there has been no announced plan to reopen Souplantation or Sweet Tomatoes. Following the 2020 closures, Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp dissolved, and the brand's assets — including the trademarks — changed hands. Fans have organized petitions and social media campaigns calling for a revival, and there have been occasional rumors of investors exploring the concept, but no restaurant has reopened under either name. The situation could change; follow the official Souplantation social channels or website for any announcements.

The Souplantation experience was considerably more expansive than a typical restaurant salad bar add-on. The salad bar itself featured 50 or more items including composed salads, fresh ingredients, and rotating seasonal options. Beyond the salad bar, guests had access to four or more rotating soups made from scratch daily, a full pasta station with multiple sauces, a bakery counter baking focaccia and muffins throughout the day, a hot food station, and a full dessert section with soft-serve frozen yogurt and baked goods. This breadth, all included in a single admission price, made it unique in the casual dining landscape.