Sweet Tomatoes on Hopyard Road is an excellent stop for a leisurely self-serve lunch or dinner. When you first enter the moderately sized establishment, you're greeted by stacks of cafeteria trays and a long salad bar. Choose to enter on the near or far side; both have the same salad choices. For some reason, I find that one side generally moves more quickly than the other but it's impossible to tell which before you get in line. Build a plate of the fresh salad ingredients of your choice: Lettuce, spinach, beans, corn, cheese, cottage cheese, peppers, carrots, celery, and on and on. Top off your creation with a dressing of your choice, or leave it bare. Once you've created your salad, you'll pay for your meal at one of the cash registers and receive a drink cup, should you purchase a beverage. Be sure to have a coupon on hand when you go; there is almost always one for approximately $1 off your meal in the Sunday newspaper inserts. Next you find a table; they can be crowded on weekdays at lunch time so you may have to wait a few minutes. Fill your own drink at the soda fountain, and then explore your other food options: Pizza, bread, soups, pasta, fresh fruit, and the month's special items, among others. Take whatever appeals to you and go back for refills over and over again; the buffet is unlimited. The only real criticism I have is that due to the nature of the restaurant and the large number of patrons, some of the food isn't as fresh as it may be elsewhere. For example, the pizza is occasionally cool and the cheese rubbery. Still, for an unlimited amount of food at roughly $7 per person, it's a solid deal.
more