They got the salad thing down okay. I always love how salad is billed as the healthy food choice, then they give you all kinds of fatty meats, cheeses, and dressings to goop it up with. That's not a problem inherent to Sweet Tomatoes, but it is on full display at a salad buffet like they've got. To say nothing of the all-you-can-eat NON-salad stuff they have hanging around after you've pretended to be healthy by downing a mile-high plate of "salad". But I digress.. As far as the restaurant goes, they're straightforward enough. The salads seem pretty fresh and the ingredients are okay. The breads and soups are pretty disappointing, usually. It's hard to keep warm buffet food fresh, though. The quality of them is definitely lower than the quality of the salad buffet line, too. At least it's hard to screw up soft-serve ice cream. Yum. But about that healthy meal factor again...
(3)
Nancy Y.
Before spring of 2013 this was really excellent. Apparently the chain has been sold, and we have seen a lot of changes we do not like. The most popular soup was Big Chunk Chicken Noodle. It is no longer served. I assume because it was costly: real chicken broth, real chunks of chicken. It was delicious. The pot was always half down or more and needed replacement. The soups now tend to be thickened, there is never a good clear soup choice. They used to serve a very good quality frozen yogurt. Now, the machine is labeled "ice cream", but what comes out is again, lower quality. The only thing I could taste in the vanilla was dried milk, reconstituted. There is no vanilla flavor, and certainly it is not creamy. The sourdough bread used to be great. It is now like the cheap stuff from supermarket bakeries. It has the texture of Wonderbread. We used to go to Sweet Tomatoes a lot, and had not been since May 2013 because of these changes. We tried yesterday, Oct 2013, and were disappointed that things had not improved. I think the new owners are making poor decisions and that will catch up with them eventually.
(2)
Maria R.
Yummy and healthy never disappoints
(4)
Tom C.
Lots of choices. Blueberry muffins are amazing my 12 year old son says! Yummy
(4)
Christine P.
I am a fan overall of sweet tomatoes. Their soups are worth the trip, the chili, chicken noodle, and french onion are all sooooo good. They also have great blueberry muffins :) Love the frozen yogurt station and cornbread. They send you coupons online if you sign up which is always a bonus! They have buy one get one free sunday brunch that they send.
(4)
Jenny M.
As American cuisine buffet places go, this one has not only healthy options, but good taste in ingredients. For around $7.50 I got to load up on all the soup, salad, pasta, and even ice cream that I wanted. That sounds like total gluttony, but it's not, thanks to the many healthy yet interesting items one might encounter. My favorite finds were the lightly pickled beets, the deliciously light and dilly potato salad, and the tortellini soup with big chunks of garlic clove and spinach. There were around 8 different soups available, including Posole! Who'da thunk it! I'll be sure to try it next time. For a chain restaurant, this is really, really good. They even thought to put out toffee bits for the ice cream! Some one who plans the menu is very thoughtful and creative. So yeah! I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Jonathan H.
If you've been to a Sweet Tomatoes before, you've been to this one. That's about as plain and simple as it is, this just your average Sweet Tomatoes. The salad bar was fresh and good as normal. The soups were absolutely delicious and did not seem old. The muffins were very good as well. The Alfredo sauce was lacking in flavor, and the texture was not great, but I suppose that's the price you pay for a cheap buffet. Overall, this is your average Sweet Tomatoes and is worth the price.
(4)
J R.
You get what you pay for. The salad seemed mostly fresh and there is a great variety of toppings/dressings. My experience wasn't pleasant. When it was brought to the attention of the staff, I was ignored and the manager was "too busy" to speak with me. Lesson learned, I'll eat elsewhere since there are MANY other options in the area. Btw, if you are a fan of the same NFL team as the owner, you'll get a discount, but, if you are a civil servant or military, don't bother asking if they offer one.
(2)
Ricky M.
I had never been to Sweet Tomatoes before and honestly wasn't impressed. This place is wayyyyy over priced for just salad and soup but not to mention the salad products were wet which made for a wilted salad. I tried a few of the soups which were ok and the pizza here is pretty meh. Kids seemed to of liked the place but I sure didnt care for it especially for $35 bucks for 2 adults and 2 kids.
(2)
Penelope A.
If your are looking for something fresh and don't mind the running around of serving yourself then you have found your place. You plate it yourself, get your own drinks and pay up front. Good can be so so but it is s salad buffet joint.
(3)
Amanda S.
Great restaurant! My daughter and I are both gluten free and they have MANY gluten 'friendly' options to choose from, including their house made ranch which is delicious! Their Soft serve ice cream is also gluten free which is a big deal for my 2 year old daughter :) they also send out lots of coupons if you go to their website and sign up with your email, BONUS! :)
(5)
Michael G.
My wife and son like this place so they took me today for lunch. Overall it was pretty mediocre, but it wasn't terrible either considering the cost. The salad bar was pretty fresh and had plenty of veggies to choose from, but I don't remember seeing any ham or turkey. The salad dressing and pasta choices were pretty average and all seemed overly processed and not fresh. Same goes for the soup, bread, and brownies, although there was some apple (I think) bread that was really good.
(3)
Lena L.
I love my vegetables and I love salads. That is pretty much all they do here. Their broccoli salad is amazing. I love the dressing it has and the fixings mixed in with it. I always get a large serving of that and it always seems to be fresh here. The wanton salad is also one of my favorites. The cold pastas and sides they have are also tasty. I would avoid their warm pasta buffet. It's alright, but it's pasta that has been sitting out on a warmer for a few hours- made with regular store bought pasta and canned sauce. Really, it's just not that great. You can probably do better at home. The potato soup is typically really yummy. If the salad does not fill you up, that will! If you don't like a salad for dinner, this is not your place. It's a buffet, so it can get loud and crowded and it takes a while for the bus boys to keep up with the mess. The tables and booths are clean as are the restrooms, which is the important part. It's cheap, it's a chain and it's a giant salad bar. It's not spectacular or anything special. There is no service- remember, it's a buffet. I want to give it four stars for their yummy salads, but since half their buffet is just "Meh", I really don't think it's fitting. Get some broccoli salad and potato soup and you will have a nice dinner.
(3)
Keira M.
Yum. Fresh all day. Fair price for the food you get. Usually have good coupons too.
(4)
Dave D.
Average, as always. The brownie muffins were really good though. I'm not a veggie person, so the only reason I even come here is because my wife likes it.
(3)
Gregory R.
Typical soup and salad bar. All items seemed quite fresh and they change the soup varieties on a regular basis. Make sure to join their "club," the weekly coupons make the cost of the meal reasonable. Careful with adding drinks and special toppings, then your meal will go over $10. Offered: salad bar with many differently prepared salads and build your own. Lots of toppings available, but if you want chicken, special nuts, cranberries, etc ... will cost a little more. Soups - usually 6-7 different ones. Their chili is pretty good and some of the seasonal soups can hit the spot. Pasta bar - three different pastas, average quality, one is always mac & cheese. Potato bar- typical bakers & sweet potatoes Cheesy bread and other muffins (corn bread, etc) ... depends on time of year Desserts- frozen yogurt, chocolate muffins, toppings. Self serve but helpers come by to pick up your used plates. Friendly.
(4)
Cruz K.
I like this place better than soup or salads because they have so much more bang for your buck..Great salad bar and great soup and potatoe bar and swirl ice cream.Desserts are good..Only thing is that Its kinda like eating Chinese food..You can eat a lot and only be full for a couple of hours then your hungry again..
(4)
Joseph K.
Have been to the one on San mateo and that was much better then this one.the hot food that was out was very little and looked old. People were scraping the bottom of the cake tray right in front of the worker and he didn't even try to change it out.it even was there when I walked back up.a customer had asked him for more butter and he acted like it was a bother for him to get it.a manager happened to walk by our table and asked us how things were.so we told him.his excuse was we have gotten complaints on him before and we have talked to him about it.it seems more like a lack of management problem to me.
(2)
Chelsea W.
Really wanted salad for lunch and this salad bar is the best of its kind in ABQ. BONUS: it's lemon month, my favorite theme month at SWeet Tomatoes! The lemon cream mousse (sugar free) with the tangy lemon muffin is sweet, tangy, delicious! It's a salad bar, with great options.
(4)
Stephanie R.
My family and I just wanted salad for dinner and were not expecting more than average since we have been here before. We ended up below average for sure. The pre made salads, Ceasar and Chinese Chicken, looked old and wilty. When I walked past the pasta bar, the pasta looked old and hard. The worst was that the Bus Boys used a booth to stack dirty dishes and trays ....there must have been a stack of 25 or so right in the middle of the restaurant. That was the final straw and I lost my appetite. We will not be returning.
(1)
Jazmine V.
This is my first time and I was impressed! I love salad bars. This place has lots of fresh goodies to choose from. They also have fresh, home-made soups, a potato bar, a sundae bar, some baked goods, and hot pasta dishes. That all makes for a fabulous meal! The only thing that I wish was at the salad bar (maybe it is sometimes and not others) was tuna salad and/or chicken salad. I felt like I needed more protein for my salad. The baked goods were yummy, and I really enjoyed the pork posole :). I'll be heading back to Sweet Tomatoes, for sure.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No 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
Tom C.
They got the salad thing down okay. I always love how salad is billed as the healthy food choice, then they give you all kinds of fatty meats, cheeses, and dressings to goop it up with. That's not a problem inherent to Sweet Tomatoes, but it is on full display at a salad buffet like they've got. To say nothing of the all-you-can-eat NON-salad stuff they have hanging around after you've pretended to be healthy by downing a mile-high plate of "salad". But I digress.. As far as the restaurant goes, they're straightforward enough. The salads seem pretty fresh and the ingredients are okay. The breads and soups are pretty disappointing, usually. It's hard to keep warm buffet food fresh, though. The quality of them is definitely lower than the quality of the salad buffet line, too. At least it's hard to screw up soft-serve ice cream. Yum. But about that healthy meal factor again...
(3)Nancy Y.
Before spring of 2013 this was really excellent. Apparently the chain has been sold, and we have seen a lot of changes we do not like. The most popular soup was Big Chunk Chicken Noodle. It is no longer served. I assume because it was costly: real chicken broth, real chunks of chicken. It was delicious. The pot was always half down or more and needed replacement. The soups now tend to be thickened, there is never a good clear soup choice. They used to serve a very good quality frozen yogurt. Now, the machine is labeled "ice cream", but what comes out is again, lower quality. The only thing I could taste in the vanilla was dried milk, reconstituted. There is no vanilla flavor, and certainly it is not creamy. The sourdough bread used to be great. It is now like the cheap stuff from supermarket bakeries. It has the texture of Wonderbread. We used to go to Sweet Tomatoes a lot, and had not been since May 2013 because of these changes. We tried yesterday, Oct 2013, and were disappointed that things had not improved. I think the new owners are making poor decisions and that will catch up with them eventually.
(2)Maria R.
Yummy and healthy never disappoints
(4)Tom C.
Lots of choices. Blueberry muffins are amazing my 12 year old son says! Yummy
(4)Christine P.
I am a fan overall of sweet tomatoes. Their soups are worth the trip, the chili, chicken noodle, and french onion are all sooooo good. They also have great blueberry muffins :) Love the frozen yogurt station and cornbread. They send you coupons online if you sign up which is always a bonus! They have buy one get one free sunday brunch that they send.
(4)Jenny M.
As American cuisine buffet places go, this one has not only healthy options, but good taste in ingredients. For around $7.50 I got to load up on all the soup, salad, pasta, and even ice cream that I wanted. That sounds like total gluttony, but it's not, thanks to the many healthy yet interesting items one might encounter. My favorite finds were the lightly pickled beets, the deliciously light and dilly potato salad, and the tortellini soup with big chunks of garlic clove and spinach. There were around 8 different soups available, including Posole! Who'da thunk it! I'll be sure to try it next time. For a chain restaurant, this is really, really good. They even thought to put out toffee bits for the ice cream! Some one who plans the menu is very thoughtful and creative. So yeah! I'd definitely go back.
(4)Jonathan H.
If you've been to a Sweet Tomatoes before, you've been to this one. That's about as plain and simple as it is, this just your average Sweet Tomatoes. The salad bar was fresh and good as normal. The soups were absolutely delicious and did not seem old. The muffins were very good as well. The Alfredo sauce was lacking in flavor, and the texture was not great, but I suppose that's the price you pay for a cheap buffet. Overall, this is your average Sweet Tomatoes and is worth the price.
(4)J R.
You get what you pay for. The salad seemed mostly fresh and there is a great variety of toppings/dressings. My experience wasn't pleasant. When it was brought to the attention of the staff, I was ignored and the manager was "too busy" to speak with me. Lesson learned, I'll eat elsewhere since there are MANY other options in the area. Btw, if you are a fan of the same NFL team as the owner, you'll get a discount, but, if you are a civil servant or military, don't bother asking if they offer one.
(2)Ricky M.
I had never been to Sweet Tomatoes before and honestly wasn't impressed. This place is wayyyyy over priced for just salad and soup but not to mention the salad products were wet which made for a wilted salad. I tried a few of the soups which were ok and the pizza here is pretty meh. Kids seemed to of liked the place but I sure didnt care for it especially for $35 bucks for 2 adults and 2 kids.
(2)Penelope A.
If your are looking for something fresh and don't mind the running around of serving yourself then you have found your place. You plate it yourself, get your own drinks and pay up front. Good can be so so but it is s salad buffet joint.
(3)Amanda S.
Great restaurant! My daughter and I are both gluten free and they have MANY gluten 'friendly' options to choose from, including their house made ranch which is delicious! Their Soft serve ice cream is also gluten free which is a big deal for my 2 year old daughter :) they also send out lots of coupons if you go to their website and sign up with your email, BONUS! :)
(5)Michael G.
My wife and son like this place so they took me today for lunch. Overall it was pretty mediocre, but it wasn't terrible either considering the cost. The salad bar was pretty fresh and had plenty of veggies to choose from, but I don't remember seeing any ham or turkey. The salad dressing and pasta choices were pretty average and all seemed overly processed and not fresh. Same goes for the soup, bread, and brownies, although there was some apple (I think) bread that was really good.
(3)Lena L.
I love my vegetables and I love salads. That is pretty much all they do here. Their broccoli salad is amazing. I love the dressing it has and the fixings mixed in with it. I always get a large serving of that and it always seems to be fresh here. The wanton salad is also one of my favorites. The cold pastas and sides they have are also tasty. I would avoid their warm pasta buffet. It's alright, but it's pasta that has been sitting out on a warmer for a few hours- made with regular store bought pasta and canned sauce. Really, it's just not that great. You can probably do better at home. The potato soup is typically really yummy. If the salad does not fill you up, that will! If you don't like a salad for dinner, this is not your place. It's a buffet, so it can get loud and crowded and it takes a while for the bus boys to keep up with the mess. The tables and booths are clean as are the restrooms, which is the important part. It's cheap, it's a chain and it's a giant salad bar. It's not spectacular or anything special. There is no service- remember, it's a buffet. I want to give it four stars for their yummy salads, but since half their buffet is just "Meh", I really don't think it's fitting. Get some broccoli salad and potato soup and you will have a nice dinner.
(3)Keira M.
Yum. Fresh all day. Fair price for the food you get. Usually have good coupons too.
(4)Dave D.
Average, as always. The brownie muffins were really good though. I'm not a veggie person, so the only reason I even come here is because my wife likes it.
(3)Gregory R.
Typical soup and salad bar. All items seemed quite fresh and they change the soup varieties on a regular basis. Make sure to join their "club," the weekly coupons make the cost of the meal reasonable. Careful with adding drinks and special toppings, then your meal will go over $10. Offered: salad bar with many differently prepared salads and build your own. Lots of toppings available, but if you want chicken, special nuts, cranberries, etc ... will cost a little more. Soups - usually 6-7 different ones. Their chili is pretty good and some of the seasonal soups can hit the spot. Pasta bar - three different pastas, average quality, one is always mac & cheese. Potato bar- typical bakers & sweet potatoes Cheesy bread and other muffins (corn bread, etc) ... depends on time of year Desserts- frozen yogurt, chocolate muffins, toppings. Self serve but helpers come by to pick up your used plates. Friendly.
(4)Cruz K.
I like this place better than soup or salads because they have so much more bang for your buck..Great salad bar and great soup and potatoe bar and swirl ice cream.Desserts are good..Only thing is that Its kinda like eating Chinese food..You can eat a lot and only be full for a couple of hours then your hungry again..
(4)Joseph K.
Have been to the one on San mateo and that was much better then this one.the hot food that was out was very little and looked old. People were scraping the bottom of the cake tray right in front of the worker and he didn't even try to change it out.it even was there when I walked back up.a customer had asked him for more butter and he acted like it was a bother for him to get it.a manager happened to walk by our table and asked us how things were.so we told him.his excuse was we have gotten complaints on him before and we have talked to him about it.it seems more like a lack of management problem to me.
(2)Chelsea W.
Really wanted salad for lunch and this salad bar is the best of its kind in ABQ. BONUS: it's lemon month, my favorite theme month at SWeet Tomatoes! The lemon cream mousse (sugar free) with the tangy lemon muffin is sweet, tangy, delicious! It's a salad bar, with great options.
(4)Stephanie R.
My family and I just wanted salad for dinner and were not expecting more than average since we have been here before. We ended up below average for sure. The pre made salads, Ceasar and Chinese Chicken, looked old and wilty. When I walked past the pasta bar, the pasta looked old and hard. The worst was that the Bus Boys used a booth to stack dirty dishes and trays ....there must have been a stack of 25 or so right in the middle of the restaurant. That was the final straw and I lost my appetite. We will not be returning.
(1)Jazmine V.
This is my first time and I was impressed! I love salad bars. This place has lots of fresh goodies to choose from. They also have fresh, home-made soups, a potato bar, a sundae bar, some baked goods, and hot pasta dishes. That all makes for a fabulous meal! The only thing that I wish was at the salad bar (maybe it is sometimes and not others) was tuna salad and/or chicken salad. I felt like I needed more protein for my salad. The baked goods were yummy, and I really enjoyed the pork posole :). I'll be heading back to Sweet Tomatoes, for sure.
(4)