Sweet Tomatoes, also known at Soup Plantation in other parts of the U.S., is closing all of its restaurants permanently, according to the San Diego Tribune. WKMG reported the self-service eatery will close all 97 restaurants, it announced Thursday. San Diego based Garden Fresh Restaurants, which owns Sweet Tomatoes, has been trying to salvage its operations but the coronavirus pandemic took its toll on the buffet-style eatery as the FDA put out recommendations to discontinue this style of serving. “The regulations are understandable, but unfortunately, it makes it very difficult to reopen. Sweet Tomatoes opened its first store in Florida in 1990 in Palm Harbor.