My favorite Sweet Tomatoes of them all, here in the Chicago area. Well organized and great service. There are two Hispanic fellas that are so nice, please be sure to leave a couple dollars tip, they deserve it!!
(4)
Kristine M.
I have been a fan of Sweet Tomatoes for years, but my most recent visit was expensive and the food was horrible. I'm not sure what's going on but the food options are skimpy and over priced. The bakery items (muffins, etc.) were awful -- not the same flavor and the cookies were puke worthy. The soups were also gross. I'm not sure if we just came on an off day or what, but we won't be going there again. Before you buy -- go in and look. If it looks skimpy and the bakery items look like they have been baked in an oil slick, leave. So disappointing too because we used to love going here!!!
(2)
Avinash K.
Soup's and salad's. I have been to a couple of sweet tomatoes. It's a regular chain but I got some decent friendly service but it was ok experience. The tomato basil soup was pretty good.. The clam chowdar was ok. They have a limited time garlic asian soup or something - which was pretty good too. As usual the tuna terragon was really good.. :D.. Everything else in the bakery section was Ok.. Nothing else special :)
(3)
Nelson M.
Restaurant review Yummy salad, carbs, and more! I can't believe that I have not written a review previously, but this is a great place for AYCE salad and pastas/soups. The real highlight is the wonderful salad creations they have premade including the tuna tarragon and wonton happiness. After you are done with your salad course you can move on to the different soups. I recommend the chili, chicken noodle, and clam chowder. Get it while it is available as the soups rotate. Finish this off with some mac and cheese and the multiple bread options. Froyo and brownie is the perfect dessert right before you head out the door. Pro: inexpensive lunch, fresh, multiple options Cons: Dinner is not the worth the extra $ as they add one extra dessert Hidden gem: Sign up for the Club Veg email to receive monthly discount coupons
(4)
Suze B.
Creamy garlic salad dressing! I hope they never discontinue it because I'll probably have a mini breakdown. One of the few places - a buffet, at that - where you can stuff your face and not feel like a complete bobo fatty. Get the chili. Pass on the focaccia breads. Prices are a little high but if you sign up online, they always send out decent coupons. Plus the pops pays every time we dine here. Can't beat that!
(5)
Greg J.
This place has changed. Food used to be much better, now seems to have lost taste. For the price, expect more. Ice cream and salads are the only consistent foods. Chili was good. That's about it
(2)
Sue R.
I eat here frequently, and everything is fresh tasting, nothing sits out for a long time. Workers here are friendly, and keep the restaurant clean. It's certainly a healthier alternative to other buffet places (like Golden Corral), that are nothing more than feeding troughs for a bunch of pigs. Check online for some coupons to save $ on meals.
(4)
Brian M.
Manager doesn't understand gluten free at all. The staff seemed to spend more time chatting with each other than working. The food was all around blah in my opinion. The location in aurora/Naperville off rt 59 is much better.
(1)
Kathleen K.
This place was pretty good. I came in for take out and they had a whole little system for containers and how much you can get of everything and all that. I thought some things stood out more than others. The mushroom soup was good, but the mac and cheese was lacking. The bakery items were either dry or tasted like you could buy them prepackaged. Oh and I bet the salad was good, but I am TERRIBLE at salad bars. How is that possible? you might ask... Well I don't have a plan of attack. So i get in line and I think "Oh spinach! I like spinach! And beets! And cucumbers! And chick peas! And peppers!" and so on... and by the time I get to the dressing I look at my salad and think "What the hell do I put on this mess???" So basically I need to stick to their premade salads.
(3)
Sarah H.
We love coming here for a change of pace. The longest salad bar line ever, and many different soup options. They've got a bread area with plenty of butter options (butter, margarine, honey butter...), and focaccia/pizza bread options. There's the pasta area (but I've yet to actually have anything from this section, as nothing has appealed to me (I am extremely picky when it comes to mac n cheese) and then of course, the dessert area. My kids absolutely LOVE coming here. They aren't like most kids that fling themselves on the floor because they are being forced to eat SALAD! They pile their plates high with lettuce, fresh broccoli, cucumbers, olives and more.
(4)
Jocelyn M.
I very much enjoy sweet tomatoes. I mostly steer clear of the breads and pasta but the salad bar has never let me down, it lets me get full without all the guilt. I even like the sugar free chocolate pudding. =) we will be back.
(4)
Colin C.
Was avoiding this place because I am not a huge veggie/salad fan but was pleasantly surprised. Lots of other options like a almost a dozen delicious soups, flatbread pizzas, pastas, desserts, etc. You can definitely make it a non-healthy meal as a result. The salad bar itself is plentiful with some pre-made options and he calorie counts on everything. Tasted good and a great place to take the family.
(4)
Pradeepa K.
I love sweet tomatoes :) This was a regular one :)
(4)
Courtney C.
When I go to buffets, I usually stick to only the soup and salad, so a buffet that focuses on these things is my kinda spot. After running around doing a ton of errands on a busy Saturday morning, I wanted to stop and have something somewhat healthy for lunch. Enter Sweet Tomatoes. Let me start with when you enter. You might be a little confused if you've never been here, but you're basically greeted with a giant salad bar. There's two sides with identical items on each side. The trays are against the wall near the glass doors. Pick up a tray and start building your salad. You'll also grab your utensils and order a drink should you want one. Give the cashier your money (also, look online for coupons pre-visit) then find a seat. The soup, bread and all that other good stuff are on the other side of the wall and you can grab that after paying or on trip #2. Salad bar: The salad bar was great. They have some pre-made salads but the focus is mainly on fresh ingredients allowing you to build your own. I tried the pre-made Caesar. I really liked the dressing--it tasted really lemony. I also made my own salad and used mushrooms, green peppers, onions, olives and cheese. I used the "honey mustard" dressing but I believe it was labeled wrong as it tasted nothing like any mustard I've ever tried. I wish that they offered cottage cheese, since that's one of my favorite items, but it was nowhere in sight. I tried that tuna stuff that everyone was raving about, but wasn't a fan. The pasta was a little undercooked AKA crunchy, which pasta should never be. There was also some broccoli salad with cashews and cranberries and that was completely on point. I got a few servings of that. Soup: This is why ST doesn't get a better rating from me. Your main drawing point is soup and salad, yet your soup is not good. I put a tiny amount of each into bowls so I could give an educated opinion on them. I tried 4: potato and leek, white chicken chili (limited time soup; marked as a chili cook-off winner) blue cheese and broccoli, and also clam chowder. First, clam chowder is one of my favorite soups and this was not even close to being on mark. I added salt and pepper and it was better, but it was missing the traditional flavor. I would venture to guess they probably didn't use clam juice in the broth, but that's just a guess. The potato and leek was fine but nothing to write home about. The white chicken chili was actually my favorite. I really liked the broth and ended up eating just the chicken, broth and vegetables as the beans were undercooked. However, I'd still give it a mark of approval comparatively. The broccoli/blue cheese soup was ok. I really hope they take constructive criticism and work on improving the soup recipes and execution. Maybe I was here on an off day, but the soup needs some work. Other offerings: there was a pretty decent selection of bread, pizza, and pastries, but I didn't try any of them. I did however get a baked potato from the baked potato bar. I realize that I could have just put a baked potato in the oven and did this myself, but I was still really excited to see that. I made one with bacon, cheese, sour cream, butter and lots of green onion. We got here right when they first opened at 11 AM. The service was friendly at checkout, although they weren't super helpful since we wandered around looking lost for a few minutes. I don't think I'd come back frequently as I don't feel the value was there for me, but I might try again to see if the soup improves.
(3)
Dorothy P.
Salad fixin's as far as the eye you can see (oh yes, you heard me right) is the primary thing that Sweet Tomatoes offers. It just so happens that I love my veggies, so Sweet Tomatoes is a no brainer. Even my hungrier half, who is 110% a meatatarian, loves indulging in the occasional trough of salad, soup, bread & strawberry lemonade. The best thing about Sweet Tomatoes is the fact that you can create your dream salad with just a few swoops and scoops of the hand (obviously while using the appropriate utensil. Don't go sticking your dirty mitts in the veggies, dressings & other accoutrement; it's gross and bad manners...your mother would be ashamed). ST offers a wide variety of veggies that you might not partake in every day (yay!) such as squash, beets, beans, and the like. For those who are having a salad "brain fart" (or are too lazy to create a culinary masterpiece), they also kick off the salad bar with pre-made salads, which are pretty decent. If you like croutons soaked in dressing, I HIGHLY suggest the ceasar salad...yum. *TIP* Never go to Sweet Tomatoes without a coupon, unless you like needlessly spending money, in which case, please be my friend and spend money on me. Once you've nabbed all the salad your arms can carry, you make a short visit to the cashier who will help you part with your money. If you're lucky, he or she will also help you find a seat (and if you've got your hands full with little kids, they just might carry your tray to boot). After devouring more salad that you ever thought imaginable (or just a simple plate of salad if you've actually got self control) and IF you can still move, Sweet Tomatoes also has a large offering of soups (which are hit or miss...if you come during April, you can partake in my favorite: lemon chicken orzo). My advice is to take a small scoop to sample before settling on a crock; I've been disappointed more than once in the soup that I've chosen (and it always seems to be when I just go all in and get a heaping bowl). They've also got baked potatoes & fixins (cheese, salsa, green onions, sour cream, etc, a variety of bread, muffins & muffin-like baked goods (the hubs LOVES the chocolate chocolate chip muffins but not the ones from the dessert bar). Also worth note is the honey whip, which you can practically eat with a spoon. If you're anything like our family, you'll need 20 or 50 plates of their pizza bread (per diner)...it's really tasty, and who doesn't like pizza?! Skip on the pasta with flavorless sauces (yes, every single one I've ever tried has been junk), and just get more pizza. If you've got room for dessert (bless your heart), they also offer an ice cream bar, fruit (mostly to make fun of) & sugar free mousse something or other. Don't forget your fat pants, you're going to need them.
(3)
Michael L.
One of my favorite parts of this restaurant is the huge salad bar that you just pass through to get to the other items. The pizza is good, although I think that they should have one more pizza option, when I went, there were 3 kinds: cheesy garlic, a regular cheese pizza and I forgot the other kind. I'm not a big fab of their soups, so that's why they got 4 stars. And last but not least, desert. There was ice cream, muffins, low fat chocolate pudding and fruit.
(4)
Sydney D.
One of my favorite places to eat when I'm visiting home! I'm a chronic can't-decide-er so this place is perfect, and the food is delicious. Staff is friendly, the manager is really nice and always floating around. Can't beat this place for a causal lunch or dinner.
(5)
Sarah G.
This is a great spot to catch a healthier option for dinner. They have a wonderful selection for salad, pasta, soup, and drink. They are great about keeping the salad bar fresh and clean.
(4)
Morgan O.
Love this place! So good great salad, pasta, breads and desert! Love the lemon muffins! Soo good!!!
(5)
Winchester D.
never thought i would see a concept like this. with salad being the main course. it's a salad bar, and then everything else. not everything else, then salad. place was clean, food was good and hot, people were friendly. price was on par with what you would pay for a regular non-salad buffet.
(5)
Yu H.
I'm not a big fan of salads or soups but sometimes you're just in the mood for a hot bowl of soup on a cold day. I drive by this place everyday and finally after seeing the parking lot full everyday for a month, I decided to see what the fuss is all about. This is a soup and salad buffet. The prices are a little less than old country buffet but the selection is also pretty limited. They have a few custom salads pre-made but the majority of it is a big build your own salad joint. After you piled on your salad you sit down and grab a soup and some bread. I would say the best part about this place is the selection and quality of soups and breads. Some of the salad seems kind of wilted after sitting out all day but the soups and breads and kept hot and fresh all the time. The worst thing about this place is the LACK OF PROTEIN. There is pretty much no meat to be found except in 2 soups and 1 salad. I had to fish in the chicken noodle soup for a couple big chunks of chicken breast. As someone on a high protein diet, eating here can be quite a challenge. Aside from that, this place is pretty good. It is perfect for a vegetarian who can't cook. If you're in the mood for soup and bread for dinner, check this place out.
(3)
Joseph P.
Got here when they opened up during the week. I love their salads and the choices. Rest of the family liked what they ordered (anything but salads) - food taste good and a relaxing atmosphere. Server ready to remove your plates while you go back for more........salad! We will be back again.
(4)
Amy R.
Usually hit the Schaumberg location, but J& I were in the area so we stopped in at this location for a late lunch early dinner. It was still pretty busy with people sitting there grazing in a haze of the buffett mindset, but a good type of grazing on greens from the salad bar and soup. Nice alternative then the typical fast food options. Self-serve salad bar with lots of fresh toppings. Soup option, baked potatoes, bread and pasta as an option. Wouldn't recommend the brocolli cheese soup. Ick! It was a creepy shade of green the texture and taste was blech! Clam chowder was good, like the size and way they cut their potatoes. Didn't try and pasta because it didn't look that appealing. It's reasonably priced and a nice alternative.
(4)
Christina E.
Is cost about $12 a person with a coupon for dinner and a drink. I would consider that pretty outrageous for a buffet of this kind. BUT the food here is really good. I went for the salad and they a lot of different toppings to choose from so you can build your own salad any way you like it. They also have premixed salads that you can add to add to. They have many different soups to choose from as well. I didn't eat much of anything else but all of it sure looked good. I would recommend this place but keep your eyes out for coupons as it is quite expensive.
(4)
Courtney S.
On a childhood trip to California, I encountered this magical land called Soup Plantation, where the salad bar stretched as far as the eye could see and every edible plant you could imagine was just a fork away. I thought this mystical paradise was forever out of reach until a miracle occurred... ...and it moved to my hometown. The rebranded Sweet Tomatoes was and is just about the best stop to take a vegetarian, with hundreds of salad options (although not quite as many choices as its Californian cousin, particularly the fruit selection) as well as soup and freshly prepared pasta dishes. Coming from someone who usually can't eat anything on a restaurant menu, it was like I'd ventured into the rabbit hole and come out in opposite land -- almost everything was there and I could eat! And eat I did. And eat you should. Forks up!
(4)
Greg V.
Rabbits beware we are taking over your summer stash of food! This is a great place to get unlimited soup and salad at a reasonable price . Do you like something special on your salad I'm sure its on the buffet line.I never knew there was so many salad toppings and its all included in your meal.They had 6 different soups one was Chili not quite as good as Mine but it was tasty. The employees here were helping the elderly and handicapped with getting to their tables and were very friendly. Great job Sweet Tomatoes I'll be back!
(4)
James L.
The only downside of a healthy buffet (or just about any buffet in the area) is the hefty price. It's best to save $ by just getting a glass of water as opposed to paying $2.50 for a drink. It's usually very crowded too, but there's a reason for that. It's really darn good. I love the fact that there's a buffet with over a half of dozen soups to choose from. Soup is my favorite thing to eat, and Sweet Tomatoes has a plethora of wonderful soups (Lemon Rice is a favorite). The salad bar is pretty typical but high quality, and they do offer some carbs and breadsticks that are quite good as well. If you're going to opt for a buffet, it's best to go with a healthy one like this one. No need to ever visit Old Country or Golden Corral.
(4)
Joy S.
I'm a fan of Sweet Tomatoes in general. But loving the Naperville and Lombard locations, I wasn't impressed with this one. It's a lot smaller, so the food selections are a lot fewer. Customer service was good, though.
(3)
Angry A.
Have to concur on the $2.50 per drink, but go online and get a two for one coupon for lunch. It puts it at less that $10 per person. Gotta say though, that this isn't the best laid out location for a Sweet Tomatoes. It's too cramped in the hot line and encourages a lot of pushing and jostling for the good stuff. The parking lot was too small to handle the Friday lunch crowd. I'll admit though that maybe there was some kind of senior citizen's special going on. A lot of change purses being clutched, a lot of over examination of the products, a lot of complaining to the harried staff, and a lot of wide eyed wonder at the ice cream machine.
(2)
Jessica D.
Very nice, all you can eat salad bar, that has a hot food and dessert bars as well. You line up, grab a tray, fill a plate with as much fresh salad and toppings/sides as you can, then proceed to pay, get seated by the hostess, and then have a go at the hot food/dessert/soda fountain area. Usually very popular, crowded, and tasty.
(4)
Diane K.
This used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Lots of delicious food, the kids like it, and I love that you have the option to get a salad to go. But the last time I went there, there was dirt/mud in the lettuce. I only realized it after I bit into it and it was oddly crunchy. Obviously this was an appetite killer. Already phobic about restaurant cleanliness, particular with salad bars, I said something to the bored and uninterested salad stocker/server. She looked at me like "And your point is?" then took the salad bin back to the kitchen. I felt like she was probably going to just turn around and put it back after I walked away from sight. When I got home I was so grossed out and mad at the pretty high price you pay when you go there. I called corporate. They eventually got back to me, apologized, and offered to send me some vouchers. I really didn't feel like going back though, and they only sent three instead of the promised 5 vouchers for my whole family to go. A follow up phone call mentioning this error went completely ignored. So, I don't plan to go back here. Luckily there are other places that have fantastic salad bars such as Whole Foods and Mariano's. I'm giving it three stars because when the salad doesn't look like it was just plucked out of the ground and not washed, it's excellent.
(3)
Anna K.
One of our favorite places to go for a light meal. The only reasons they don't get 5 stars is the price is a bit high and they need to redo the tables (the wood is sticky even though it is clean). We only go with a coupon, but join their "Club Veg" and they email you coupons almost every week. The drinks are a bit expensive - so skip and go with ice water. If you do purchase a soda, I highly recommend their Strawberry Lemonade located by the cashier (yummy!). You cannot find another salad buffet to even compete with all the selections on this one. Just beware: carnivores will be very disappointed - about the only thing with meat is the chili.
(4)
Yvonne O.
I like this location more than the one out near Woodfield just because it seems less cramped. That said, the offerings are the same and the concept is what it is. I think $8.95 for the lunch buffet is totally fair, but $2.50 for a drink is whack. Seriously? Is there vodka in my strawberry lemonade for that price? Do you think I will drink 4 liters of coke to warrant $2.50? Soups are always really fresh and offer interesting changes on old favorites, like pinto bean and barley or the yummy curried split pea.
(3)
Sara J.
MMMmmmMMM!!!!! I love me some Sweet Tomatoes!!! I've been coming to this restaurant for years. I have never had a better Ceasar Salad ever!! It is so tasty and fresh! The restaurant is best described as an all you can eat. They have raised their prices in the last few years and I believe lunch in now up to $9.00 while Dinner is $10.00. So yeah, they are pretty pricey, but hey! You can eat as much as you want! They don't just have salad's they have soups, breads, pastas and ice cream! This is perfect for any vegitarians because they do not have any meat products what-so-ever. On a monthly basis they have a new dish. For the Fall months they have their Peach Cobbler..OMG it is to die for..soo yummy..and they have other specials..but I forget.. :) I highly reccomend you try this place at least once just so you can say you've been here! It's very tasty..and healthy! Oh and I just remembered they now offer Breakfast..I've never been there for that..so check it out!!
(5)
Emily C.
I like this place, lots of veg items, some meaty items too. The price can be a bit off putting, and a dinner for 3 runs us $35-40 with drinks. They were a lot better when they first opened, they have slid back a little - the staff is not as accomodating - they used to make fresh pasta dishes for you. This place makes me long for the All you can eat Vegetarian Buffets in CO, Healthy Express think they were called.
(3)
Steven L.
This is a good location. It has those tasty freshly baked chocolate cookie.
(4)
Sum Fun D.
It's a fresher all you can eat buffet than most. You can tell the quality is better than a typical buffet. The price is without drinks which puts me off a bit, because I worked in foodservice and drinks are one of the cheapest items but the highest mark ups. So the drinks add quite a bit to the bill. Also, there is not that big of variety. The chili is good, salad fresh, desserts are so so. Focaccia is very good and for me the pasta usually is overdone and bland. Most of the help does not speak English well, so I don't bother asking for anything anymore as it is a little frustrating if you want a special pasta dish made.
(4)
Andy G.
The cesar salad here is not the best but among the best I have ever had. Another good salad they have frequently is the Greek salad. They are good about rotating the salads to achieve optimal freshness. The selections here are extensive, but if you are looking for more than soup, salad, and desert for a meal I recommend somewhere else. The soups are good for the most part. I recommend the cream of mushroom or the chicken noodle. If you have a craving for soup and salad this is a good place to try.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Dr M.
My favorite Sweet Tomatoes of them all, here in the Chicago area. Well organized and great service. There are two Hispanic fellas that are so nice, please be sure to leave a couple dollars tip, they deserve it!!
(4)Kristine M.
I have been a fan of Sweet Tomatoes for years, but my most recent visit was expensive and the food was horrible. I'm not sure what's going on but the food options are skimpy and over priced. The bakery items (muffins, etc.) were awful -- not the same flavor and the cookies were puke worthy. The soups were also gross. I'm not sure if we just came on an off day or what, but we won't be going there again. Before you buy -- go in and look. If it looks skimpy and the bakery items look like they have been baked in an oil slick, leave. So disappointing too because we used to love going here!!!
(2)Avinash K.
Soup's and salad's. I have been to a couple of sweet tomatoes. It's a regular chain but I got some decent friendly service but it was ok experience. The tomato basil soup was pretty good.. The clam chowdar was ok. They have a limited time garlic asian soup or something - which was pretty good too. As usual the tuna terragon was really good.. :D.. Everything else in the bakery section was Ok.. Nothing else special :)
(3)Nelson M.
Restaurant review Yummy salad, carbs, and more! I can't believe that I have not written a review previously, but this is a great place for AYCE salad and pastas/soups. The real highlight is the wonderful salad creations they have premade including the tuna tarragon and wonton happiness. After you are done with your salad course you can move on to the different soups. I recommend the chili, chicken noodle, and clam chowder. Get it while it is available as the soups rotate. Finish this off with some mac and cheese and the multiple bread options. Froyo and brownie is the perfect dessert right before you head out the door. Pro: inexpensive lunch, fresh, multiple options Cons: Dinner is not the worth the extra $ as they add one extra dessert Hidden gem: Sign up for the Club Veg email to receive monthly discount coupons
(4)Suze B.
Creamy garlic salad dressing! I hope they never discontinue it because I'll probably have a mini breakdown. One of the few places - a buffet, at that - where you can stuff your face and not feel like a complete bobo fatty. Get the chili. Pass on the focaccia breads. Prices are a little high but if you sign up online, they always send out decent coupons. Plus the pops pays every time we dine here. Can't beat that!
(5)Greg J.
This place has changed. Food used to be much better, now seems to have lost taste. For the price, expect more. Ice cream and salads are the only consistent foods. Chili was good. That's about it
(2)Sue R.
I eat here frequently, and everything is fresh tasting, nothing sits out for a long time. Workers here are friendly, and keep the restaurant clean. It's certainly a healthier alternative to other buffet places (like Golden Corral), that are nothing more than feeding troughs for a bunch of pigs. Check online for some coupons to save $ on meals.
(4)Brian M.
Manager doesn't understand gluten free at all. The staff seemed to spend more time chatting with each other than working. The food was all around blah in my opinion. The location in aurora/Naperville off rt 59 is much better.
(1)Kathleen K.
This place was pretty good. I came in for take out and they had a whole little system for containers and how much you can get of everything and all that. I thought some things stood out more than others. The mushroom soup was good, but the mac and cheese was lacking. The bakery items were either dry or tasted like you could buy them prepackaged. Oh and I bet the salad was good, but I am TERRIBLE at salad bars. How is that possible? you might ask... Well I don't have a plan of attack. So i get in line and I think "Oh spinach! I like spinach! And beets! And cucumbers! And chick peas! And peppers!" and so on... and by the time I get to the dressing I look at my salad and think "What the hell do I put on this mess???" So basically I need to stick to their premade salads.
(3)Sarah H.
We love coming here for a change of pace. The longest salad bar line ever, and many different soup options. They've got a bread area with plenty of butter options (butter, margarine, honey butter...), and focaccia/pizza bread options. There's the pasta area (but I've yet to actually have anything from this section, as nothing has appealed to me (I am extremely picky when it comes to mac n cheese) and then of course, the dessert area. My kids absolutely LOVE coming here. They aren't like most kids that fling themselves on the floor because they are being forced to eat SALAD! They pile their plates high with lettuce, fresh broccoli, cucumbers, olives and more.
(4)Jocelyn M.
I very much enjoy sweet tomatoes. I mostly steer clear of the breads and pasta but the salad bar has never let me down, it lets me get full without all the guilt. I even like the sugar free chocolate pudding. =) we will be back.
(4)Colin C.
Was avoiding this place because I am not a huge veggie/salad fan but was pleasantly surprised. Lots of other options like a almost a dozen delicious soups, flatbread pizzas, pastas, desserts, etc. You can definitely make it a non-healthy meal as a result. The salad bar itself is plentiful with some pre-made options and he calorie counts on everything. Tasted good and a great place to take the family.
(4)Pradeepa K.
I love sweet tomatoes :) This was a regular one :)
(4)Courtney C.
When I go to buffets, I usually stick to only the soup and salad, so a buffet that focuses on these things is my kinda spot. After running around doing a ton of errands on a busy Saturday morning, I wanted to stop and have something somewhat healthy for lunch. Enter Sweet Tomatoes. Let me start with when you enter. You might be a little confused if you've never been here, but you're basically greeted with a giant salad bar. There's two sides with identical items on each side. The trays are against the wall near the glass doors. Pick up a tray and start building your salad. You'll also grab your utensils and order a drink should you want one. Give the cashier your money (also, look online for coupons pre-visit) then find a seat. The soup, bread and all that other good stuff are on the other side of the wall and you can grab that after paying or on trip #2. Salad bar: The salad bar was great. They have some pre-made salads but the focus is mainly on fresh ingredients allowing you to build your own. I tried the pre-made Caesar. I really liked the dressing--it tasted really lemony. I also made my own salad and used mushrooms, green peppers, onions, olives and cheese. I used the "honey mustard" dressing but I believe it was labeled wrong as it tasted nothing like any mustard I've ever tried. I wish that they offered cottage cheese, since that's one of my favorite items, but it was nowhere in sight. I tried that tuna stuff that everyone was raving about, but wasn't a fan. The pasta was a little undercooked AKA crunchy, which pasta should never be. There was also some broccoli salad with cashews and cranberries and that was completely on point. I got a few servings of that. Soup: This is why ST doesn't get a better rating from me. Your main drawing point is soup and salad, yet your soup is not good. I put a tiny amount of each into bowls so I could give an educated opinion on them. I tried 4: potato and leek, white chicken chili (limited time soup; marked as a chili cook-off winner) blue cheese and broccoli, and also clam chowder. First, clam chowder is one of my favorite soups and this was not even close to being on mark. I added salt and pepper and it was better, but it was missing the traditional flavor. I would venture to guess they probably didn't use clam juice in the broth, but that's just a guess. The potato and leek was fine but nothing to write home about. The white chicken chili was actually my favorite. I really liked the broth and ended up eating just the chicken, broth and vegetables as the beans were undercooked. However, I'd still give it a mark of approval comparatively. The broccoli/blue cheese soup was ok. I really hope they take constructive criticism and work on improving the soup recipes and execution. Maybe I was here on an off day, but the soup needs some work. Other offerings: there was a pretty decent selection of bread, pizza, and pastries, but I didn't try any of them. I did however get a baked potato from the baked potato bar. I realize that I could have just put a baked potato in the oven and did this myself, but I was still really excited to see that. I made one with bacon, cheese, sour cream, butter and lots of green onion. We got here right when they first opened at 11 AM. The service was friendly at checkout, although they weren't super helpful since we wandered around looking lost for a few minutes. I don't think I'd come back frequently as I don't feel the value was there for me, but I might try again to see if the soup improves.
(3)Dorothy P.
Salad fixin's as far as the eye you can see (oh yes, you heard me right) is the primary thing that Sweet Tomatoes offers. It just so happens that I love my veggies, so Sweet Tomatoes is a no brainer. Even my hungrier half, who is 110% a meatatarian, loves indulging in the occasional trough of salad, soup, bread & strawberry lemonade. The best thing about Sweet Tomatoes is the fact that you can create your dream salad with just a few swoops and scoops of the hand (obviously while using the appropriate utensil. Don't go sticking your dirty mitts in the veggies, dressings & other accoutrement; it's gross and bad manners...your mother would be ashamed). ST offers a wide variety of veggies that you might not partake in every day (yay!) such as squash, beets, beans, and the like. For those who are having a salad "brain fart" (or are too lazy to create a culinary masterpiece), they also kick off the salad bar with pre-made salads, which are pretty decent. If you like croutons soaked in dressing, I HIGHLY suggest the ceasar salad...yum. *TIP* Never go to Sweet Tomatoes without a coupon, unless you like needlessly spending money, in which case, please be my friend and spend money on me. Once you've nabbed all the salad your arms can carry, you make a short visit to the cashier who will help you part with your money. If you're lucky, he or she will also help you find a seat (and if you've got your hands full with little kids, they just might carry your tray to boot). After devouring more salad that you ever thought imaginable (or just a simple plate of salad if you've actually got self control) and IF you can still move, Sweet Tomatoes also has a large offering of soups (which are hit or miss...if you come during April, you can partake in my favorite: lemon chicken orzo). My advice is to take a small scoop to sample before settling on a crock; I've been disappointed more than once in the soup that I've chosen (and it always seems to be when I just go all in and get a heaping bowl). They've also got baked potatoes & fixins (cheese, salsa, green onions, sour cream, etc, a variety of bread, muffins & muffin-like baked goods (the hubs LOVES the chocolate chocolate chip muffins but not the ones from the dessert bar). Also worth note is the honey whip, which you can practically eat with a spoon. If you're anything like our family, you'll need 20 or 50 plates of their pizza bread (per diner)...it's really tasty, and who doesn't like pizza?! Skip on the pasta with flavorless sauces (yes, every single one I've ever tried has been junk), and just get more pizza. If you've got room for dessert (bless your heart), they also offer an ice cream bar, fruit (mostly to make fun of) & sugar free mousse something or other. Don't forget your fat pants, you're going to need them.
(3)Michael L.
One of my favorite parts of this restaurant is the huge salad bar that you just pass through to get to the other items. The pizza is good, although I think that they should have one more pizza option, when I went, there were 3 kinds: cheesy garlic, a regular cheese pizza and I forgot the other kind. I'm not a big fab of their soups, so that's why they got 4 stars. And last but not least, desert. There was ice cream, muffins, low fat chocolate pudding and fruit.
(4)Sydney D.
One of my favorite places to eat when I'm visiting home! I'm a chronic can't-decide-er so this place is perfect, and the food is delicious. Staff is friendly, the manager is really nice and always floating around. Can't beat this place for a causal lunch or dinner.
(5)Sarah G.
This is a great spot to catch a healthier option for dinner. They have a wonderful selection for salad, pasta, soup, and drink. They are great about keeping the salad bar fresh and clean.
(4)Morgan O.
Love this place! So good great salad, pasta, breads and desert! Love the lemon muffins! Soo good!!!
(5)Winchester D.
never thought i would see a concept like this. with salad being the main course. it's a salad bar, and then everything else. not everything else, then salad. place was clean, food was good and hot, people were friendly. price was on par with what you would pay for a regular non-salad buffet.
(5)Yu H.
I'm not a big fan of salads or soups but sometimes you're just in the mood for a hot bowl of soup on a cold day. I drive by this place everyday and finally after seeing the parking lot full everyday for a month, I decided to see what the fuss is all about. This is a soup and salad buffet. The prices are a little less than old country buffet but the selection is also pretty limited. They have a few custom salads pre-made but the majority of it is a big build your own salad joint. After you piled on your salad you sit down and grab a soup and some bread. I would say the best part about this place is the selection and quality of soups and breads. Some of the salad seems kind of wilted after sitting out all day but the soups and breads and kept hot and fresh all the time. The worst thing about this place is the LACK OF PROTEIN. There is pretty much no meat to be found except in 2 soups and 1 salad. I had to fish in the chicken noodle soup for a couple big chunks of chicken breast. As someone on a high protein diet, eating here can be quite a challenge. Aside from that, this place is pretty good. It is perfect for a vegetarian who can't cook. If you're in the mood for soup and bread for dinner, check this place out.
(3)Joseph P.
Got here when they opened up during the week. I love their salads and the choices. Rest of the family liked what they ordered (anything but salads) - food taste good and a relaxing atmosphere. Server ready to remove your plates while you go back for more........salad! We will be back again.
(4)Amy R.
Usually hit the Schaumberg location, but J& I were in the area so we stopped in at this location for a late lunch early dinner. It was still pretty busy with people sitting there grazing in a haze of the buffett mindset, but a good type of grazing on greens from the salad bar and soup. Nice alternative then the typical fast food options. Self-serve salad bar with lots of fresh toppings. Soup option, baked potatoes, bread and pasta as an option. Wouldn't recommend the brocolli cheese soup. Ick! It was a creepy shade of green the texture and taste was blech! Clam chowder was good, like the size and way they cut their potatoes. Didn't try and pasta because it didn't look that appealing. It's reasonably priced and a nice alternative.
(4)Christina E.
Is cost about $12 a person with a coupon for dinner and a drink. I would consider that pretty outrageous for a buffet of this kind. BUT the food here is really good. I went for the salad and they a lot of different toppings to choose from so you can build your own salad any way you like it. They also have premixed salads that you can add to add to. They have many different soups to choose from as well. I didn't eat much of anything else but all of it sure looked good. I would recommend this place but keep your eyes out for coupons as it is quite expensive.
(4)Courtney S.
On a childhood trip to California, I encountered this magical land called Soup Plantation, where the salad bar stretched as far as the eye could see and every edible plant you could imagine was just a fork away. I thought this mystical paradise was forever out of reach until a miracle occurred... ...and it moved to my hometown. The rebranded Sweet Tomatoes was and is just about the best stop to take a vegetarian, with hundreds of salad options (although not quite as many choices as its Californian cousin, particularly the fruit selection) as well as soup and freshly prepared pasta dishes. Coming from someone who usually can't eat anything on a restaurant menu, it was like I'd ventured into the rabbit hole and come out in opposite land -- almost everything was there and I could eat! And eat I did. And eat you should. Forks up!
(4)Greg V.
Rabbits beware we are taking over your summer stash of food! This is a great place to get unlimited soup and salad at a reasonable price . Do you like something special on your salad I'm sure its on the buffet line.I never knew there was so many salad toppings and its all included in your meal.They had 6 different soups one was Chili not quite as good as Mine but it was tasty. The employees here were helping the elderly and handicapped with getting to their tables and were very friendly. Great job Sweet Tomatoes I'll be back!
(4)James L.
The only downside of a healthy buffet (or just about any buffet in the area) is the hefty price. It's best to save $ by just getting a glass of water as opposed to paying $2.50 for a drink. It's usually very crowded too, but there's a reason for that. It's really darn good. I love the fact that there's a buffet with over a half of dozen soups to choose from. Soup is my favorite thing to eat, and Sweet Tomatoes has a plethora of wonderful soups (Lemon Rice is a favorite). The salad bar is pretty typical but high quality, and they do offer some carbs and breadsticks that are quite good as well. If you're going to opt for a buffet, it's best to go with a healthy one like this one. No need to ever visit Old Country or Golden Corral.
(4)Joy S.
I'm a fan of Sweet Tomatoes in general. But loving the Naperville and Lombard locations, I wasn't impressed with this one. It's a lot smaller, so the food selections are a lot fewer. Customer service was good, though.
(3)Angry A.
Have to concur on the $2.50 per drink, but go online and get a two for one coupon for lunch. It puts it at less that $10 per person. Gotta say though, that this isn't the best laid out location for a Sweet Tomatoes. It's too cramped in the hot line and encourages a lot of pushing and jostling for the good stuff. The parking lot was too small to handle the Friday lunch crowd. I'll admit though that maybe there was some kind of senior citizen's special going on. A lot of change purses being clutched, a lot of over examination of the products, a lot of complaining to the harried staff, and a lot of wide eyed wonder at the ice cream machine.
(2)Jessica D.
Very nice, all you can eat salad bar, that has a hot food and dessert bars as well. You line up, grab a tray, fill a plate with as much fresh salad and toppings/sides as you can, then proceed to pay, get seated by the hostess, and then have a go at the hot food/dessert/soda fountain area. Usually very popular, crowded, and tasty.
(4)Diane K.
This used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Lots of delicious food, the kids like it, and I love that you have the option to get a salad to go. But the last time I went there, there was dirt/mud in the lettuce. I only realized it after I bit into it and it was oddly crunchy. Obviously this was an appetite killer. Already phobic about restaurant cleanliness, particular with salad bars, I said something to the bored and uninterested salad stocker/server. She looked at me like "And your point is?" then took the salad bin back to the kitchen. I felt like she was probably going to just turn around and put it back after I walked away from sight. When I got home I was so grossed out and mad at the pretty high price you pay when you go there. I called corporate. They eventually got back to me, apologized, and offered to send me some vouchers. I really didn't feel like going back though, and they only sent three instead of the promised 5 vouchers for my whole family to go. A follow up phone call mentioning this error went completely ignored. So, I don't plan to go back here. Luckily there are other places that have fantastic salad bars such as Whole Foods and Mariano's. I'm giving it three stars because when the salad doesn't look like it was just plucked out of the ground and not washed, it's excellent.
(3)Anna K.
One of our favorite places to go for a light meal. The only reasons they don't get 5 stars is the price is a bit high and they need to redo the tables (the wood is sticky even though it is clean). We only go with a coupon, but join their "Club Veg" and they email you coupons almost every week. The drinks are a bit expensive - so skip and go with ice water. If you do purchase a soda, I highly recommend their Strawberry Lemonade located by the cashier (yummy!). You cannot find another salad buffet to even compete with all the selections on this one. Just beware: carnivores will be very disappointed - about the only thing with meat is the chili.
(4)Yvonne O.
I like this location more than the one out near Woodfield just because it seems less cramped. That said, the offerings are the same and the concept is what it is. I think $8.95 for the lunch buffet is totally fair, but $2.50 for a drink is whack. Seriously? Is there vodka in my strawberry lemonade for that price? Do you think I will drink 4 liters of coke to warrant $2.50? Soups are always really fresh and offer interesting changes on old favorites, like pinto bean and barley or the yummy curried split pea.
(3)Sara J.
MMMmmmMMM!!!!! I love me some Sweet Tomatoes!!! I've been coming to this restaurant for years. I have never had a better Ceasar Salad ever!! It is so tasty and fresh! The restaurant is best described as an all you can eat. They have raised their prices in the last few years and I believe lunch in now up to $9.00 while Dinner is $10.00. So yeah, they are pretty pricey, but hey! You can eat as much as you want! They don't just have salad's they have soups, breads, pastas and ice cream! This is perfect for any vegitarians because they do not have any meat products what-so-ever. On a monthly basis they have a new dish. For the Fall months they have their Peach Cobbler..OMG it is to die for..soo yummy..and they have other specials..but I forget.. :) I highly reccomend you try this place at least once just so you can say you've been here! It's very tasty..and healthy! Oh and I just remembered they now offer Breakfast..I've never been there for that..so check it out!!
(5)Emily C.
I like this place, lots of veg items, some meaty items too. The price can be a bit off putting, and a dinner for 3 runs us $35-40 with drinks. They were a lot better when they first opened, they have slid back a little - the staff is not as accomodating - they used to make fresh pasta dishes for you. This place makes me long for the All you can eat Vegetarian Buffets in CO, Healthy Express think they were called.
(3)Steven L.
This is a good location. It has those tasty freshly baked chocolate cookie.
(4)Sum Fun D.
It's a fresher all you can eat buffet than most. You can tell the quality is better than a typical buffet. The price is without drinks which puts me off a bit, because I worked in foodservice and drinks are one of the cheapest items but the highest mark ups. So the drinks add quite a bit to the bill. Also, there is not that big of variety. The chili is good, salad fresh, desserts are so so. Focaccia is very good and for me the pasta usually is overdone and bland. Most of the help does not speak English well, so I don't bother asking for anything anymore as it is a little frustrating if you want a special pasta dish made.
(4)Andy G.
The cesar salad here is not the best but among the best I have ever had. Another good salad they have frequently is the Greek salad. They are good about rotating the salads to achieve optimal freshness. The selections here are extensive, but if you are looking for more than soup, salad, and desert for a meal I recommend somewhere else. The soups are good for the most part. I recommend the cream of mushroom or the chicken noodle. If you have a craving for soup and salad this is a good place to try.
(3)