I want to invite you on a special journey I took tonight. A journey we should all take at some point in our extraordinary lives.
Won’t you join me?
Tonight the bestie and I went to my all time favorite restaurant in the world:
Despite the overall horrible picture quality I got of the lighted sign outside, the picture quality inside was actually not too bad.
I started by picking up one of these…
and loading up my plate with some of these….
and ended up eating way more than just this.
The bestie and I were able to catch up and talk about everything under the sun.
Did you know we have been best friends since we were 3? (THREE!!) We used to say we were going to grow up, go to college together, and be roommates. How crazy it is to me that has already gone and passed (and it totally happened). My life is passing before my eyes – I think I just hyperventilated and had a quarter century (minus 2 years) crisis.
I took quite the stunning picture with my bean salad and wanted to wow you all with my shweaty self after running 4 miles after school.
Impressive, right?
We used this card a couple of time…
And Kimee got some of this – while I opted for some veggies and a potato (see it on the bottom?)
But we were sad when we had to use this:
Question: Have you ever been to Sweet Tomatoes? If not, what’s your favorite restaurant?
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
AAAAAAA I LOVE SWEET TOMATOES!!! lol. but seriously, heaven. My bf used to live in the west suburbs and we went to the one in Naperville allll the time. Too bad IL is the eastern most location (I believe) and we are now in PA
That’s the one we went to tonight!
YES….
I haven’t been since my mom came to visit. aka waaaay too long!
I’m pretty sure we could do a sweet tomatoes date in the future…. because we live so terribly far away from each other.
I’ve never been. Looks interesting. Glad you ladies had such a good time. And, how cool is it that you grew up together. Being a Navy Brat, I didn’t have too much of that myself. Ciao
Never been there, but I think I would love it.
I devour salad bars! I definitely get my money’s worth
Back in March of this year I was in Orlando for the Disney Princess Half Marathon and we went to Sweet Tomatos on a whim and I totally LOVED it! I wish there was one in my town!!!!
Jealous you did the Princess 1/2! I wanted to do it this upcoming year but I can’t take off work that day.
It was a ton of fun! It was a great choice for my first half marathon! To bad you can’t get the time off it’s a fun race very empowering running with a lot of “princesses”! I absolutely LOVE your blog!
Thanks for always reading Stephanie!
I’ve heard of this Sweet Tomatoes of which you speak, but I’ve never been. Looks like I’d love it though!
You went without me again!
I LOVE that place
Sorry!
Aww my best friend (since I was 3, too) and I used to say we would do the exact same thing!! I’m now at school in Alabama and she’s in Wisconsin….
And I have a Sweet Tomatoes right by where I live, I’ll definitely try it!
I have never been there but I LOVE salad bars!! Your green salad and bean salad look to die for:) We would have a good time together at a salad bar…I can pound my veggies! That is so fun that you two have been besties since you were three!?! Girl, if that is you after a workout I am jealous!
Please, I have seen pictures of you after running a marathon.
Aww this makes me miss my best girlfriends! unfortunately since many of them have already graduated college, we’ve all kinda dispersed into different states, etc.
Or, soup-plantation (if some still use that name). They actually have some buy 1 get 1 free coupons online! I think they’re for breakfast only though…
And I love sweet tomatoes
We had coupons! We used a 2 meals & drinks for $14.99. That is a steal - especially since I rob them.
haha good job! yea, that’s definitely a steal, they have so many fresh options! little salads at to-go places end up costing at least $6 anyhow
I definitely rob them. It’s the truth.
None in Michigan
Bummer, because it looks fantastic!!!
Jen
Never been - but it looks awesome! I love their little cards
Sounds like you had a fun night to catch up!! (and I almost wrote “ketchup,” as a play on tomatoes…but decided that was too corny, even for me.)
I would have loved you even more.
I’ve never heard of that restaurant but any place with a huge salad buffet looks good to me!
That’s awesome that you’re still so close with your childhood bestie! I go to university with my childhood best friend, so we’re still super close too.
i don’t htink there are any in miami, so sad, I like a good easy salad bar
This looks like such a fun place! I wish there was something like it near me
One of my closest friends and I went to nursery school together and are still going strong, yay for those lasting friendships!
Sweet Tomatoes is called Souplanation here in L.A. My kid loves that place! I can’t really eat too much there seeing as I’m allergic to everything except lettuce leaves, but I do love their baked potatoes.
I really love CPK and Cheesecake Factory…they aren’t THAT unique but they are easy, kid-friendly, fairly inexpensive.
We went there actually on Thurs night on the way to the retreat. I was feeling very, very nauseous though and didn’t get to enjoy it. I was so bummed!
Hey I’m new to your blog, but so far I love what I am reading
You are very inspiring! I was just wondering if you could tell me how to make overnight oats. My sister, who is a second-grade teacher, said she had bought some oats so she could eat them for breakfast, but realized she doesn’t have enough time in the mornings to make it. I wanted to tell her about the overnight oats idea, but I really don’t know how to make them. Thanks so much!
Sure - you can find them at this link:
Standard Overnight Oats
Looks like fun! I totally know how you feel about the quarter century minus 2 crisis. Especially lately now that my [little] brother is headed off to college and I realize that freshman year was SIX years ago?!?!
I’ve been to one and liked it..my hubby refuses to go…he says buffets gross him out…weirdo
I’ve only been to Sweet Tomatoes once. The horror! There used to be a restaurant here called Boulder Salad Co. that was like a non-chain version of Sweet Tomatoes and my family used to go ALL THE TIME. I recall going through a large number of plates every time we went. It is missed.
that looks really yummy!! Are they all over the suburbs? The only place I ever insisted on going when I visted my family in Elmhurst was Portillos…lol. There aren’t any of those in central IL
My favorite place is Jason’s Deli! I love that place! I’ve also never seen one in Illinois but when I lived in Texas they were all over!
Your parents live in Elmhurst? What a small world!
i love having dates with my bestie, so i can totally relate to how valuable the time is
i wish there were a sweet tomatoes in my area! looks awesome! and you are too cute with your bean salad. haha.
xo.
Love that place