Bye-Bye Buffets ---Sweet Tomatoes closing 97 stores

[Northerner52]

FDA says not good.

Sweet Tomatoes closing for good amid coronavirus pandemic, report says (https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/05/08/sweet-tomatoes-closing-for-good-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-report-says/?outputType=amp)

[delima2000]

We love sweet tomatoes. Sorry to see it go, now what about Golden Corral, and the Chinese buffets? How about salad bars at ruby tuesdays? Going to be weird not to see buffets.

[DARFAP]

Sux. Love Sweet Tomatoes.

[UpNorth]

What a shame. Another casualty of the shutdown, not the virus. Expect more soon.

[dewilson58]

Buff's should be gone. Quantity, not quality. Gross. Come on people.....enjoy good food, enjoy good friends, enjoy good wine...............life is too short.

[Stu from NYC]

Buff's should be gone. Quantity, not quality. Gross. Come on people.....enjoy good food, enjoy good friends, enjoy good wine...............life is too short.

Always liked it sorry to see it go

[claricecolin]

We love sweet tomatoes. Sorry to see it go, now what about Golden Corral, and the Chinese buffets? How about salad bars at ruby tuesdays? Going to be weird not to see buffets.

I don't see how buffets or any self serve food bar can exist as they used to. I don't see any option other than a cafeteria type set up. That defeats the purpose of that type of establishment. I think these may not continue as they may decide the costs to convert will not be profitable.

[patfla06]

:ohdear:

[photo1902]

Always liked it sorry to see it go

Same here. Really liked Sweet Tomatoes

[Windguy]

What a shame. Another casualty of the shutdown, not the virus. Expect more soon.
Didn’t read the article, did you? The article said it was due to discouragement of self-serve food and drink. It truly is all about food safety.

[mydavid]

FDA says not good.

Sweet Tomatoes closing for good amid coronavirus pandemic, report says (https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/05/08/sweet-tomatoes-closing-for-good-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-report-says/?outputType=amp)

Never heard of Sweet Tomatoes

[junction29]

FDA says not good.

Sweet Tomatoes closing for good amid coronavirus pandemic, report says (https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/05/08/sweet-tomatoes-closing-for-good-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-report-says/?outputType=amp)

What a shame, we always loved going there 👿👿

[MIskra]

In Austin Texas, where I used to live, the Golden Corral opened last week. Drove by the one in Buffalo Ridge yesterday and they were doing some work on the roof.

[ithos]

Buff's should be gone. Quantity, not quality. Gross. Come on people.....enjoy good food, enjoy good friends, enjoy good wine...............life is too short.

From a health standpoint a good salad bar was one of the best options for dining out. Especially if you are plant based like me. Most salads from menus are ridiculously overpriced and not that good. But the average person does gorge themselves at buffets preferring the high fat and high calorie foods. So maybe this will prevent a few heart attacks and strokes as well.

[Dawnsville]

Buff's should be gone. Quantity, not quality. Gross. Come on people.....enjoy good food, enjoy good friends, enjoy good wine...............life is too short.

Is was salad how can you mess up salad what have a organic version? Didn’t know you could eat to many vegetables as far as I’m concerned it was the only healthy place to eat in the villages. Unfortunately it was buffet style which I agree never liked but the food, there was nothing wrong with that. I wish they would set up like chipotle and yes absolutely add the good wine.

[greenflash245]

no one really needs buffets. creates over indulgence

[greenflash245]

you are joking, right?

[Topspinmo]

What’s a buffalo to do! I can’t graze for hour till the good meat comes out?:shocked:

[Dianalea]

Never heard of Sweet Tomatoes but sounds like something I would have liked. Would love if a Chipotle would open up down here! Most people can't say the name right, but they have great food 👍

[ficoguy]

It had been going downhill anyway...the quality was not there....very sloppy.....running out of things like chicken soup and clam chowder and not replenishing.....soft serve ice cream station was a mess....they would go down to 1 serving line 2 hours before closing and not refilling salad line.....seems like they were teetering over and ready to topple.

[justjim]

Buff's should be gone. Quantity, not quality. Gross. Come on people.....enjoy good food, enjoy good friends, enjoy good wine...............life is too short.

I’m not a big fan of buffets but Sweet Tomatoes is an exception. I doubt if you have seen the last of buffets as they will somehow adapt. There is a bit of government “overeach” in some of this IMHO.

[davem4616]

back in the late 50's what we know to be the buffet was referred to as a "Smorgasbord" and was something that a few high end restaurants offered once and awhile on a Sunday as a unique way to attract customers....then it morphed into a regular business model over the years

I suspect that the buffet will survive in some manner....most likely it won't be self serve though

[mokey]

Hmm! Wonder what to do with my gift certificate now?

[coffeebean]

Never heard of Sweet Tomatoes

Sweet Tomatoes faces 441, in front of Bed Bath and Beyond. You must have passed it a few times?

[GoodLife]

Buff's should be gone. Quantity, not quality. Gross. Come on people.....enjoy good food, enjoy good friends, enjoy good wine...............life is too short.

I've been to Sunday Brunch at Ritz Carlton and buffets at high end Vegas hotels. Very high quality and they actually served good wines.

[coffeebean]

Wonder if we have seen the last of buffets on cruise ships.

[Flyingnorm]

I wonder about Golden Corral

[EnglishJW]

Wonder if we have seen the last of buffets on cruise ships.

Very interesting point.

[Jayhawk]

Wonder if we have seen the last of buffets on cruise ships.

Wonder if we've seen the last of cruise ships.

:icon_wink:

[ffresh]

I’m not a big fan of buffets but Sweet Tomatoes is an exception. I doubt if you have seen the last of buffets as they will somehow adapt. There is a bit of government “overeach” in some of this IMHO.

"a bit"

understatement of several magnitudes, I think :icon_wink:

Fred

[kendi]

From a health standpoint a good salad bar was one of the best options for dining out. Especially if you are plant based like me. Most salads from menus are ridiculously overpriced and not that good. But the average person does gorge themselves at buffets preferring the high fat and high calorie foods. So maybe this will prevent a few heart attacks and strokes as well.

Healthy food definitely. And it is nice to be able to create your own salad. But buffets are not healthy because they are so easily contaminated. Kids putting serving spoons in their mouth as they go through the line, people touching food But not taking it, multiple hands touching the same serving utensils, etc.

[fdpaq0580]

Never heard of Sweet Tomatoes

Sweet Tomatoes aka The Soup Plantation is a restaurant with a huge salad bar right inside the front door. Once you get past the cash register there are other food and drink stations where you pick up various soups, breads, pizza, drinks and dessert items. Sort of a mostly vegetarian buffet.
My wife really liked it because she felt it forced her to eat more healthy. I, on the other hand, never liked the idea of food (especially raw food) being left exposed for extended periods of time.
Some buffet type restaurants may be able to convert to cafeteria mode fairly easily. We will have to wait and see.

[NavyVet]

Buffets are generally 'evil' on several levels, but I have been a fan of Soup Plantation for years, starting in 1992 when I moved to Broward County, FL. I will miss Sweet Tomatoes. Salad bar at Ruby Tuesday's was always good too.

[shut the front door]

This is odd because Boston Lobster Feast on I drive i n Orlando opened up yesterday.

[JulieER]

What a shame. Another casualty of the shutdown, not the virus. Expect more soon.
Yes because of virus. Too hard to protect people and food in this type restaurant. And when you also have to take away seating, profit just can’t be made. No liquor sales to fall back on either.

[theruizs]

Stand by and watch the goings-on at a busy buffet for about an hour. If what you see doesn’t turn you off to buffet food, then go for it. But for us, the extra cost of menu pricing is worth it to have far fewer hands on and around our food before we eat it. And we decided that long before covid-19.

[GoodLife]

Those mocking cheap buffets should maybe check their privilege. For a lot of Dads and Moms, it's the only place they can afford to take their kids.

[dewilson58]

Some people with minivans who normally drink cheap wine like to splurge a little when they can finally afford a vacation.




Very true.


:)

[45candyapple]

Have you ever been inside a restaurant kitchen? Don't think things are the cleanliest there; plus they don't use gloves or hair nets, some smoke and who knows about the spitting in your food!!!!! Same for waiters and waitresses!!!


Stand by and watch the goings-on at a busy buffet for about an hour. If what you see doesn’t turn you off to buffet food, then go for it. But for us, the extra cost of menu pricing is worth it to have far fewer hands on and around our food before we eat it. And we decided that long before covid-19.

[dewilson58]

Have you ever been inside a restaurant kitchen? Don't think things are the cleanliest there; plus they don't use gloves or hair nets, some smoke and who knows about the spitting in your food!!!!! Same for waiters and waitresses!!!




I think there are a lot (big, big majority) of cooks, chefs, waiters, waitresses, bartenders, etc., who work very hard and take pride in the jobs and are sanitary. I think the prior poster was talking about clueless people going down a buff-line and their poor habits.

[Aloha]

I understand that Golden Corral is pivoting to a Cafeteria style instead of Buffet style. Servers will place food on your plate or covered containers can be selected for some items. Also, a Family Style, where items are brought to your table may be available. Actually sounds better and safer than the old buffet style.

[dewilson58]

I understand that Golden Corral is pivoting to a Cafeteria style instead of Buffet style. Servers will place food on your plate or covered containers can be selected for some items. Also, a Family Style, where items are brought to your table may be available. Actually sounds better and safer than the old buffet style.


Interesting concept. That chain was kinda in a box.

[Topspinmo]

From a health standpoint a good salad bar was one of the best options for dining out. Especially if you are plant based like me. Most salads from menus are ridiculously overpriced and not that good. But the average person does gorge themselves at buffets preferring the high fat and high calorie foods. So maybe this will prevent a few heart attacks and strokes as well.

No, they just go to Kentucky fried chicken or IHOP.

[LiverpoolWalrus]

Would love if a Chipotle would open up down here! Most people can't say the name right, but they have great food 👍

Many people can’t even say the English words foliage and verbiage right, but life goes on.

[vermonster]

Everyone is focusing on the "micro" changes that have occurred and will continue to occur because of the coronavirus. If you step back and focus on the "macro" picture, I believe you will see very different future in the US, in the world, and even in The Villages over the course of the next few years. Things will not get back to normal in my opinion, but instead will evolve into a new normal. The best advice is to stay flexible, stay safe, prepare to adapt (difficult for us seniors), and fight against negativity and harmful changes that may appear (reference article in The Daily Sun the other day about the rise of hate groups).

[RUCdaze]

Another over reaction. I love Sweet Tomato, but regardless, why does big government have to tell us where we can or can not eat? So much for free enterprise.

[Carla B]

So sad to see Sweet Tomatoes go. But hope cafeterias can make a comeback, especially a Luby's (of Texas origin). So much better and more healthful than a deli or diner.

[dewilson58]

Another over reaction. I love Sweet Tomato, but regardless, why does big government have to tell us where we can or can not eat? So much for free enterprise.




Yes it would be quite lovely eating out with no Health Department standards & inspections. Let's bring in all types of food from other countries without regulations. Yum Yum.

[ithos]

Healthy food definitely. And it is nice to be able to create your own salad. But buffets are not healthy because they are so easily contaminated. Kids putting serving spoons in their mouth as they go through the line, people touching food But not taking it, multiple hands touching the same serving utensils, etc.

The threat of becoming sick from using buffets are GREATLY exaggerated for the healthy. They have been around a long time and if it was a significant problem health departments would have banned them long ago. Personally I have never gotten sick from buffets. You can not avoid contamination whether you are picking up a salt shaker, opening a door, touching a table top or are served dishes mishandled by the server or cook. And don't you remember all the stories of ice in restaurants being more contaminated than toilet water?

I am more than willing to take the risk and it should be my choice. Besides it is well known that being exposed to bacteria and germs to a certain extend improves you immunity system. That is why in third world countries with poorer sanitation it is believed that they have stronger immune systems. It is called adaptive immunity. That being said I do agree that they should be shutdown as long as we are in a pandemic since this is such a highly contagious disease.

But by far the biggest risk of buffets is that they are usually comprised mostly of unhealthy foods which contribute greatly to heart disease and diabetes.

[waynehal55]

Never heard of Sweet Tomatoes
We loved Sweet Tomato, it was totally different than Golden Corral. The latter was cheap mass produced fattening foods.You could eat healthy at S.T, plenty of salad and soup if that's all you're interested in, a lot better than Panera and price was very reasonable.

[waynehal55]

no one really needs buffets. creates over indulgence

No one needs a million dollar house either.

[DeafDeaf]

Simple solution - do the buffet style at your home and no worries about the pandemic!

[ithos]

Simple solution - do the buffet style at your home and no worries about the pandemic!

But then you have to worry about parasites and bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella if you prepare it yourself. So do take out. :icon_wink:

[mabreyjk]

Any suggestions on organizing a neighborhood group to help Sweet Tomatoes weather the storm?

We have not had an unpleasant experience in 4 years. Matter of fact, it is probably the BEST soup 'n salad buffet that I have ever visited.

[ficoguy]

Actually in the last 2 years it got sloppy and funky. Not refilling the soups, especially the chicken noodle, where you had to dig to find some actual chicken. Tables not bussed and left piled up with dirty dishes and you had to sit right next to them. It had all the signs of a deteriorating franchise...

[billethkid]

Actually in the last 2 years it got sloppy and funky. Not refilling the soups, especially the chicken noodle, where you had to dig to find some actual chicken. Tables not bussed and left piled up with dirty dishes and you had to sit right next to them. It had all the signs of a deteriorating franchise...

It was like that the first time I ever went and never returned since.

[Hplaw]

no one really needs buffets. creates over indulgence

Freedom of choice in where and what to eat. No need to police how much anyone eats. Good heavens! :pray:

[Hplaw]

Stand by and watch the goings-on at a busy buffet for about an hour. If what you see doesn’t turn you off to buffet food, then go for it. But for us, the extra cost of menu pricing is worth it to have far fewer hands on and around our food before we eat it. And we decided that long before covid-19.

What goes on in some of the kitchens where you can't see is truly frightening. They are no cleaner!

[photo1902]

Freedom of choice in where and what to eat. No need to police how much anyone eats. Good heavens! :pray:

Bingo!

[retiredguy123]

Any suggestions on organizing a neighborhood group to help Sweet Tomatoes weather the storm?

We have not had an unpleasant experience in 4 years. Matter of fact, it is probably the BEST soup 'n salad buffet that I have ever visited.
I think it is too late. Apparently, all 97 of the restaurants are company owned and they are closing all of them.

[ficoguy]

With or without salmonella?

[mrbgull]

Whats next all pre packaged individual fruits and vegetables in the grocery stores?? Need a little common sense or the cure will be worse than the cause:

[ficoguy]

Ugh. Not me. It was fine when we first moved here but went downhill the last 2 years.....

[JoMar]

Cruise ships are talking about eliminating buffets, guess the Chinese buffets will be history also. Until they can make them safe they will go away and adjust how they serve. New normal is on the way.

[stan the man]

Ugh. Not me. It was fine when we first moved here but went downhill the last 2 years.....

Should have been here 15 years ago - want to talk about downhill:cry:

[BamaBoy451]

There is no reason a buffet can still be done having the staff serve all the food the guests want without the guests actually handling it. A simple solution.

[photo1902]

Should have been here 15 years ago - want to talk about downhill:cry:

Has Sweet Tomatoes been in Lady Lake that long?

[Chi-Town]

There is no reason a buffet can still be done having the staff serve all the food the guests want without the guests actually handling it. A simple solution.

Reminds me of high school lunch period. Or a prison movie (pretty much the same). Hopefully one can get second helpings.

[tophcfa]

Dam, no more all you can eat feeding troughs loaded with carbohydrates. I can live with that, but I will miss a good salad bar.

[Chatbrat]

just go to Fresh Market & join the grazing herd

[BamaBoy451]

Reminds me of high school lunch period. Or a prison movie (pretty much the same). Hopefully one can get second helpings.

LOL. Exactly. Of course it would still be all you can eat. Not like prison.

[Chatbrat]

With buffets going away, a lot of golf carts will no longer be riding with PORT lists

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I stopped going to all-you-can-eat joints after graduating college. During college years, they were a godsend. I was living in an apartment, school full-time, three part-time jobs including being a street performer. The happy hour buffet in a place in Harvard Square was my lunch -and- dinner protein four days every week. I just had to buy one beer, and could have as many nasty plastic-cheese-sauce-and-canned-chili nachos and I have no idea what it was that they insisted was BBQ chickens, that I could get into my belly. A beer was a buck on tap. So for $1 per night I ate my fill 4 days a week.

After that I stopped because watching OTHER people eat at these places is watching a live-action experiment in gluttony and it disgusted me.

All you can eat is - just nasty, when you see people literally distending their stomachs with several pounds of food in a single sitting. I just don't have the fortitude to be a part of that anymore.

[photo1902]

Ahhh. The Sanctimonious Villagers Club is alive and well.

[stan the man]

Golden Corral opening soon -- some store open already.. I know the elite people for tv would not eat their

[xcaligirl]

We love sweet tomatoes. Sorry to see it go, now what about Golden Corral, and the Chinese buffets? How about salad bars at ruby tuesdays? Going to be weird not to see buffets.
IF it's only Sweet Tomatoes, then it's more than a COVID-19 issue. I can definitely see shutting down the salad bars, everyone handles the same serving spoons. That's always a problem on a cruise ship too. I also liked Sweet Tomatoes and other salad bars.

[coffeebean]

IF it's only Sweet Tomatoes, then it's more than a COVID-19 issue. I can definitely see shutting down the salad bars, everyone handles the same serving spoons. That's always a problem on a cruise ship too. I also liked Sweet Tomatoes and other salad bars.

I get that everyone handles the same serving spoons. But.....are they handling the part of the serving spoon that is put into the food? I think not. Everyone handles the door knob to gain entry to the restaurant. Who, prior to this pandemic, would wash their hands before they began filling their plates with food? I know I didn't.

Our Sweet Tomatoes did not have a large population of kids so I would imagine adults know how to handle a utensil that is used to place food on a buffet plate. But....that is just me.

I will miss Sweet Tomatoes.

[DDVeteran]

What a shame. Another casualty of the shutdown, not the virus. Expect more soon.

The shutdown and the virus are mutually exclusive? Buffets will be a thing of the past if not already. Not a casualty of the shutdown, a casualty of Covid-19.