Sweet Tomatoes Menu: Full Historical Item List

No. Sweet Tomatoes permanently closed all of its locations on May 5, 2020. The closures affected all ~97 Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation restaurants across the United States. The company, Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., cited the COVID-19 pandemic and the impossibility of operating a buffet concept under social distancing and sanitation guidelines as the reason for the permanent closures.

Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation were two brand names for the exact same restaurant chain, operated by Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp. Souplantation was used primarily in California and the West Coast, while Sweet Tomatoes was the name used in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Arizona, and other southeastern and Sun Belt states. The menus, concept, and standards were identical under both names.

Sweet Tomatoes was an all-you-can-eat buffet concept. Guests paid a single entry price that covered unlimited food. Historically, adult prices ranged from approximately $10–$14 depending on the location and whether it was lunch or dinner. Senior pricing was typically $8–$11 and children ages 4–12 paid roughly $5–$7. Children under 4 ate free. Beverages were usually priced separately at around $2–$3. These prices varied by market and changed over the years.

The chain had several iconic staples that appeared on the menu year-round. The Caesar Asiago Salad and Joan's Broccoli Madness were perennial salad bar favorites. The Big Chunk Chicken Noodle Soup and Deep Kettle House Chili were consistently the most ordered soups. On the baked goods side, the Wildly Blue Blueberry Muffin and the Cheesy Garlic Focaccia developed cult followings among regulars. The Classic Mac and Cheese was a hit with families.

Yes — Sweet Tomatoes was widely regarded as one of the most vegetarian and vegan-friendly buffet concepts in the U.S. A large portion of the salad bar items, soups, and pasta dishes were vegetarian or vegan by default, and the menu consistently labeled items as Vegetarian (VG), Vegan (VE), and Gluten-Friendly (GF). Items like Joan's Broccoli Madness, Lentil and Spinach Soup, and Marinara with Fresh Basil were popular vegan choices.

Sweet Tomatoes closed because the COVID-19 pandemic made the buffet dining format economically and operationally unviable. State and local governments across the U.S. banned buffet-style service during the pandemic due to concerns about shared serving utensils and surfaces. Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp. announced on May 5, 2020 that the business could not be restructured to survive indefinitely under those restrictions, and made the decision to permanently close all ~97 locations rather than attempt a reopening under a different concept.

At the time of permanent closure in May 2020, the combined Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation brand operated approximately 97 locations across about a dozen states. Sweet Tomatoes locations were concentrated in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Arizona. The Souplantation brand covered California and other Western states. Together they employed approximately 4,400 people at the time of closure.

Sweet Tomatoes offered many items labeled "Gluten-Friendly" (GF), which the company used to indicate items prepared without gluten-containing ingredients. Regular GF options included Joan's Broccoli Madness, Deep Kettle House Chili, Spicy Sausage and Kale Soup, Lentil and Spinach Soup, and the Backyard BBQ Turkey Salad. The restaurant also offered a Gluten-Friendly Chocolate Chip Muffin. However, as a buffet environment with shared serving areas, cross-contamination was possible, and the GF label was not a celiac-safe guarantee.

As of 2026, there are no confirmed plans for Sweet Tomatoes or Souplantation to reopen. Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp. dissolved after the 2020 closures, and no successor company has announced plans to revive the brand at scale. A number of former employees and fans launched petition campaigns and social media efforts urging a revival, but these have not resulted in a formal reopening announcement. The sweettomatoes.com website remains online as an archive but does not list active locations.