Soup ‘n Fresh - Rancho Cucamonga — Restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga

The food's mundane (well food in rancho cucamonga's mundane in general, what do I really expect?) - some of it is healthy, most of what's by the tables isn't. The best they got going for it would be the vegan and allergen labels (of which they wouldn't need if they just were all vegan and allergen free, but I digress).

The real issue is that it's not souplantation. They have a long line (0.5 - 2 hours daily), and instead of calling by name, they call by number in a party (so if there's people with the same number as you - you wouldn't know who they're calling). So it's hard to wait already.

But the worst is that they set up a time limit of 2 hours. And they enforce it when they have empty tables too - and I mean many. Why, like what's the point if I'm just there resting, relaxing, and not eating anything and am on my out anyway? I don't need to be told to leave if I'm already going, like I still need to stay to make sure I can find everyone. Instead of wasting time telling me to leave, maybe they can use it on making sure guests are happy, so they feel like they want to leave - there's a right and wrong way to do it. I mean if you rush everyone out, they won't leave a tip. The money going to telling people to leave can easily go towards paying someone's salary to keep the place running a little longer - it's just common sense. It's just too short and is misplaced energy. It made me leave really disappointed, which is just pointless. I mean that part is why I removed so many stars - because that's worth negative stars. Another place did that to me - letting me go to a buffet but without warning placed a 2 hour time limit and told me mid meal that it's only two hours (like soup n fresh did without warning - because I would've left without paying if they told me - they took advantage and I feel my money was stolen from me when they did that), I never went back to that other place again (that was gyu kaku). Look - if you put in a 2 hour time limit out of nowhere - you got to let people know before they walk in, before they pay, otherwise you're just not being fair. There were 3 people that came to the table - it's like they gang up on you to boss you around - it's terrifying to say the least. I left fearful. I'm still sad thinking about it.

Souplantation used to come by and make you happy by giving you hints to leave without being direct - like bringing free cookies over or saying something profound to think about rather than eat - that you'd want to leave to ponder over it and the food you have is enough to get you on that track. You left feeling gifted, entertained, in a life direction. That's how it should be to get people on their way, rather than force it.

Because my family rushed through our meals to meet the 2 hours, after our meals we both puked. So it's just a waste of money and thensome. Maybe the wait in the bathroom of 3 people that you'd have to wait outside of the door to go in had something to do with it too. Also the fact that you have to rush through the salad bar, because people are behind you - that you don't get what you need could've had something to do with it (another commenter said they let people in in bunches - so that might have something to do with it).

Until they have a better system with either a longer time limit (like 3 hours) and just walk in instead of wait in line (at least be called by name) with healthier options near the tables (like less dairy in the soups, switch to sorbet from ice cream, something that's not dairy-laden pudding, get rid of the soda, etc.), it might be worth coming back to, but I know I'm not going back when it's like...

First impression was ridiculous waited in line my entire lunch hour. Went inside to wash my hands and there were several Empty Tables I proceeded to ask questions as to why there was so many empty tables when there was such a long line outside I was told that the manager only lets people inside in bunches when there's more Empty Tables. I am still in line waiting to get in and I have only seen the manager come and let two families in within the last 30 minutes. I was told by one of the employees that there would never be a possibility that I could come and eat here on my lunch hour because of the way that they're bringing people into the empty tables so my first thought is this place is not going to work out they should have made the food area closer to each other and made more seating. I have worked in the restaurant field for 40 years. You do not wait till you have several tables to let people in. When people leave you are to clean the table and immediate seat someone Feeling very disappointed before even trying the food. I am inside now sitting down I'm trying to enjoy my meal as I was getting my food I spoke to the manager Marietta I explained to her that there should not be empty tables why people are standing out in line her response was she didn't want the salad bar crowded because people might start eating the food while in line. I have now been sitting inside a good 15 to 20 minutes there is seven Empty Tables around me and there is still a big long line. The food seems to be so-so. I really enjoyed the baked sweet potato it was very good and baked to perfection. There is a couple pasta salads that do not have a sign on it to say what they are .I brought that to the attention of a very kind lady that worked behind the counter and I let her know that if someone was to eat that fish and be allergic to it they can get deathly sick, it was tuna salad.. the pasta is extremely dry it could definitely use some more sauce on it. A positive note is that the soups were nice and . hot. The chili taste like tomato sauce the clam chowder is to watery the mushroom soup was delicious, I went back to get more and they no longer had it I do believe that was the best soup. I will try my best to come here at another time maybe a month or so after it's open to see if things might be better but if I have to wait in line an hour I definitely will never come again I will be contacting corporate office. I do have to say that the restaurant was very clean and organized . Also they have no handicap parking. All service should have a name tag on them good about a server how can I if none of them have a name tag. Kudos to the Pepsi guy for supplying Pepsi Zero. I have now been here for over an hour there is a long line outside and there is seven Empty Tables when this...

I had been a long-time fan of the previous establishment at this location, and am absolutely thrilled to find that not only everything about it I enjoyed has been recreated by the new owners, but they achieved an even cleaner, fresher aesthetic - and the food is absolutely top-notch!

Admittedly, I was deterred by the line the first time I discovered this place (which was by mere chance while driving by on a weekend) - the guy at the back of the line told me wait-times were nearing 90 minutes, and my blood-sugar informed me I would be taking a rain-check. Well, while yesterday's rain was just coincidental, it's serendipity that I remembered to come back, because I only had to wait about 15 minutes (it was about 8pm on a Friday).

However, while grabbing a cold plate from the ample stacks and filling it from the smorgasbord of various sundry greens, mixes, garden-concoctions, and assorted dishes that run the gamut from stuff you'd find at a 1950s pot-luck (yes, there is carrot-raisin-salad, and no, you don't know why you only ever have it so rarely, because it's so good, lol) to specialty creations offered du jour, I had to double-check what time they'd opened, because it looked like the sign had just been flipped, everything was so spotless. This trend would carry over throughout my visit, from the beverage-dispensers to the restrooms.

The staff was 100% courteous, helpful, and attentive to my needs. There were copious amounts stationed at ample vantage-points, and yet it never felt like anyone was hovering or waiting for something to do (or standing around on their phone, like I'd be probably too tempted to refrain from if I worked there, lol). It felt efficient without being rushed or overly industrious, and I never sensed any pressure to increase my tempo (I stayed for a leisurely 45 minutes to an hour, and though I didn't take more than one trip, I would not have hesitated to if I weren't so full of delicious pozole).

I have literally exactly two points of constructive criticism:

1. They should label which of the dressings is fat-free (I had to ask; it's Italian - and I know, I know; it's always Italian, but still, a label would be nice).
2. Either I didn't see the shredded cabbage, or they didn't offer it, but if you're going to offer pozole, you should also have that. I probably just didn't see it, but when I looked it up for the spelling, the images came up, and I thought "oh, yeah, that's all that was missing..."

Obviously, I love the place, so 10/10 will come back again :)

N.B. Souplantation is a terrible name, anyway....