Sweet Tomatoes — Restaurant in Tucson

If you used to go before it closed down during covid, then you want to go back again now that all the initial opening hoopla is over and the long lines are no longer crazy! It's still got the same things to eat, in the same places within the store, physically, and still just as delicious and fresh. The decor has only changed very slightly in that there is a new coat of paint of a lovely light gray on the walls and ceiling up by the food, and the carpet has been removed, though I do recall that was gone right before they closed. It has a much cleaner and sharper look to it now. All of your favorites are there, food wise, and a lot of the staff has been rehired, so if you were a regular, as I was, it's delightful to have the same friendly faces clearing away dishes and getting your refills on drinks for you, if you choose to have them do that, of course. All of the staff are very friendly and helpful, and if you do need assistance, as I do, for instance, as I use a cane and can't carry the tray at the same time, they are more than happy to help you do that. By the way, for those that don't realize because it is a buffet style restaurant, those folks that clear your dishes for you and get those refills do work for tips and need them as their pay grade is different than the folks that are working behind the salad bar counter and the food counters. So, tip those folks! They deserve it schlepping around all those plates and bowls and things, and all the while being friendly and pleasant! I highly recommend if you've never been, that you at least give it one. Try as it's a really good buffet salad bar restaurant. It's not just salad, by the way, they also have seven fresh soups everyday, fresh sweet potato and baked potato with all the fixings, different breads, hot chocolate, lava cake and hot brownies, as well as four different pastas that are hot, and then there is soft serve ice cream as well as a bunch of fruit, puddings, and sugar-free Jello. They have sugar-free chocolate mousse, as well, so yes, people like me who are diabetic can have dessert and be healthy with our blood sugars! All in all, it's a really great place to have a meal, whether alone or with friends. (And it truly is all you can eat, but hey, don't be like so many people and take such a giant plate of food that you look ridiculous and then waste a whole bunch that you don't eat, okay? OK!)

One note: I like my Mac and cheese really rich, extra creamy, and made with sharp cheese in addition to the usual cheddar, and as there's is more mild, I just do what I do and get creative! I added a little bit of some cream of mushroom soup for a more creamy texture, and some Parmesan cheese. Yummo! There are some great ways to craft some awesome dishes with what Sweet Tomatoes offers you to create with, if you...

I finally had the opportunity to come back to sweet tomatoes since it closed down in 2020. Ever since it reopened there has been lines wrapping around the building so we never stopped in. I squealed with excitement this evening when we finally passed by and found there wasn’t a long line to get in. As we got into the salad bar area and got our plates I was immediately disappointed that the lettuce options were sub par at best. The romaine had so many brown leaves in it that I opted for iceberg instead (not my preference) the rest of the vegetables were overripe and unappealing. After getting through the salad bar we paid our $64 for 4 of us to eat and found a seat. The dining area was mostly clean. After eating my salad I was ready for some of that familiar pasta, baked potatoes, and soups. I went in for the Alfredo, and pizza bites. The pizza bites were ok. The Alfredo was nothing like I remembered. It was flavorless and the pasta was overcooked, it tasted like I was just eating milky pasta that left an odd aftertaste in my mouth. I decided to go try the soups and went for the chicken pot pie, which also had little flavor and left an odd taste in my mouth. I also witnessed on of the employees scraping the dried soup from the sides of the pots and mixing it back into the main soup which completely turned me off of the soups. I then went to try the baked sweet potato with honey butter, the same employee was refilling the honey butter, and he completely buried both of the scoopers into the honey butter, (and now that I am realizing it he buried the parts that everyone touches). After I slathered the honey butter all over my potato, I took my first bite and tasted and smelled something disgustingly sour, I couldn’t figure out what it was until I smelled the cup of honey butter. It was rancid. After wasting yet another food item I decided to try the Mac and cheese, because that should be just as good as I remembered it. It wasn’t. It was a fresh batch just put out and when I took my first bite it was cold, and completely flavorless.

The only thing that was decent was the apple cobbler and the ice cream. Myself and my family are currently dealing with the horrible stomach aches that we got as a result of choosing to spend our evening at sweet tomatoes.

I will not be returning. That was a waste of an evening with my family and a...

My family was thoroughly disappointed when our local Sweet Tomatoes had to close during Covid. It was with near disbelief then when the news reached our ears of this location reopening. So today we went for the first time; to see a long line outside did not deter us from waiting. The experience was such an enjoyable one that far exceeded our expectations! The salad bar was fully decked out with the freshest, finely cut vegetables and some of the prepared salads were exceptional, the Wonton Happiness was exquisite. There were a few additions that proved to be addictive including the pickled dill ranch dressing which gave the salad a tangy zing. Everything is very clean and well maintained, it's clear the staff does a superb job keeping it tidy. Once you get past the salad there is another 'world' of delectable foods, everything was intact from the old Sweet Tomatoes days including the pasta bar, pizza chunks, and the freshest, moist brownie and blueberry muffins that you can't stop eating. The soup bar had such a great selection, do yourself a favor and try a little of each. The standout for me was the cream of mushroom soup the was filled with literally slabs of mushrooms and loaded with shocking flavor. Also the sweet and russet potatoes are so satisfying with a thoughtfully laid out section of toppings from bacon to green onions. (Of course the soft serve ice cream was there and it didn't hurt to layer it over some warm lava cake brownie:) EVERYTHING was perfectly cooked and is made from scratch, being an avid home cook I found myself in growing awe because each item was not only perfectly cooked but filled with flavor. The staff was very attentive and friendly, my family felt highly pampered and coddled! A gentleman named Mike was overseeing things and welcoming the guests in, he lent such a charming, happy vibe to the restaurant. It is clear that a lot of thought and attention to detail went into every aspect. To sum it up, not only was our Sweet Tomatoes experience everything we hoped it would be from the former years, it went...