Sweet Tomato - Lafayette

When this restaurant disappeared a few years back we were disappointed — but it has come back with the identical menu, decor and quality food! It’s better than ever. Sweet Tomato bridges a gap between a more upscale Italian restaurant and a casual neighborhood Italian American joint. Light and airy decor, fresh flowers and attractive art offsets the traditional red checkered table cloth. The small menu reflects this same duality with sandwiches, hearty pasta, old stand-bys lke eggplant Parmesan, pizza and killer spaghetti and meatballs alongside dishes such as chicken and asparagus pasta with herbs/olive oil and lemon, and delicious pasta dishes featuring wine, seafood and fresh veggies. Try the eponymous “sweet tomato” pizza, the Radiatore Annie and the pull-apart, heabed “Micciah’s bread” with dipping sauce. Nice wine list, desserts and after dinner mints!

5 of us all thought the new restuarant name and the superb food were worth going back many times. Local friends had been there before and were surprised when they saw the “Pinocchio” sign. The waitress assured us it was the same owner and chef. The local friends also enjoy the Sunday Brunch. It is an excellent restaurant. If you drive up and see the “Pinnochio’s” sign and think you will miss “Sweet Tomato,” be reassured. It is the same place but better.

I have been a regular customer at the Sweet Tomato for several years (since it first opened in Lafayette) and the food has been excellent for the most part. I have recently been disappointed with the level of service—slowness, having to request refills of coffee, tea and spoons. The food was not very warm this time as if it had sat in the kitchen but not on a warmer. Our wait for our breakfast was longer than it should have been and ditto for the wait to pay once we had finished our meal. Part of the problem seems to be staffing—-too few in the kitchen and as wait staff. Little extras seem to be forgotten (mints served with bill were forgotten this time) and I am sure it is due to staffing shortages. I hope this can be corrected soon—-it is all those little touches that add up to a great experience. If the restaurant manager cannot find a way to fix it, they may lose some long-time customers.

We’ve (4 of us) have been here 3 times now weI’ve loved it everytime. We had great service and food from the appetizer to the cocktails. Try the artichoke dip/spread or Miccaiah’s bread marinera for starting, Sweet Tomato pizza, Sweet Tomato cheese-stuffed ravioli with chicken in a delicious tomato cream sauce or Garlic Cream chicken pasta. Marvelous appletinis too if you’re a cocktail person. It’s on the northwest corner of Baseline N. Public Road – plenty of free parking too in their lot behind on side of the building. Try them once – you’ll be back like us! Oh they have breakfast Sat Sun too/full take-out menu – closed Mon.

The have reopened after being gone for almost 5 years. The food and ambiance is better than ever!!