R.I.P Souplantation (Camarillo, Brentwood: how much, closing, restaurants)

[(901)]

One of my favorite places to dine is done

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money...ts/3094319001/

I will miss the baby ice cream cones most

[volosong]

My mom loved us taking her to the location in Camarillo when we made our bi-monthly visits. I really liked being able to make a salad exactly like I wanted. Had to stop going myself because their muffins and other waist-expanding fare was too difficult to avoid.

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by (901)

One of my favorite places to dine is done

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money...ts/3094319001/

I will miss the baby ice cream cones most

I wouldn’t close down. I would revamp my serving line where someone dishes out food in their section and the customers are on the other side behind a sneeze screen. Just like Subway makes sandwiches. Only longer. Space the serving stations 6 feet apart this way the customers cannot come in close contact with each other. The plexiglass keeps the customer from blowing spit and snot everywhere. There is a cutout on one side of the plexi where the plate enters customer says they want this tha and the other and the plate comes out from a cutout on the other side.

They will save on food as people won’t be able to pile a ton of food on a plate. Hell I would go as far as giving them smaller plates and glasses.


Sure the price goes up a little but hey everything will go up. You’re gonna have to make more space between the tables anyway because they are sit down. Like I said sit down eating is gonna get expensive. Someone has to pay for all this reconfiguration of eateries. Someone will figure out how to still do buffet style eating. It may not be fully self serve.

I watched a video on what some people do at buffets.....it’s enough to make you never wanna eat there. I haven’t touched a buffet after that video.

[thenext88]

We used to go once a week to the Brentwood location. Getting a healthy meal topped off with a guilt-free ice cream and warm chocolate brownie for like $10 was a great deal. I'm really bummed about this, especially since my infant really liked going there as well.

[V8 Vega]

It's my favorite too, I went every Saturday and sometimes more. The Porter Ranch one is big and always full, had to be a real money maker. Healthy food too.
Home Town buffet has a bigger selection but somehow just isn't as good.
I wonder about the salad bars in regular restaurants like Sizzler and Shakeys and many more.

[Mike930]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

I wouldn’t close down. I would revamp my serving line where someone dishes out food in their section and the customers are on the other side behind a sneeze screen. Just like Subway makes sandwiches. Only longer. Space the serving stations 6 feet apart this way the customers cannot come in close contact with each other. The plexiglass keeps the customer from blowing spit and snot everywhere. There is a cutout on one side of the plexi where the plate enters customer says they want this tha and the other and the plate comes out from a cutout on the other side.

They will save on food as people won’t be able to pile a ton of food on a plate. Hell I would go as far as giving them smaller plates and glasses.


Sure the price goes up a little but hey everything will go up. You’re gonna have to make more space between the tables anyway because they are sit down. Like I said sit down eating is gonna get expensive. Someone has to pay for all this reconfiguration of eateries. Someone will figure out how to still do buffet style eating. It may not be fully self serve.

I watched a video on what some people do at buffets.....it’s enough to make you never wanna eat there. I haven’t touched a buffet after that video.

This wouldn’t have been too hard to do. They already had the plexiglass and people behind the counters preparing food. You just would have had to hire a few more people.

[Vic Romano]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

I wouldn’t close down. I would revamp my serving line where someone dishes out food in their section and the customers are on the other side behind a sneeze screen. Just like Subway makes sandwiches. Only longer. Space the serving stations 6 feet apart this way the customers cannot come in close contact with each other. The plexiglass keeps the customer from blowing spit and snot everywhere. There is a cutout on one side of the plexi where the plate enters customer says they want this tha and the other and the plate comes out from a cutout on the other side.

They will save on food as people won’t be able to pile a ton of food on a plate. Hell I would go as far as giving them smaller plates and glasses.


Sure the price goes up a little but hey everything will go up. You’re gonna have to make more space between the tables anyway because they are sit down. Like I said sit down eating is gonna get expensive. Someone has to pay for all this reconfiguration of eateries. Someone will figure out how to still do buffet style eating. It may not be fully self serve.

I watched a video on what some people do at buffets.....it’s enough to make you never wanna eat there. I haven’t touched a buffet after that video.

I'm sure they did the math and figured it wouldn't work.

They already spent a ton of money a few years ago updating a lot of restaurants and opening new ones. Over the years they have cheapened their recipes (no meat in their staple "Wonton Happiness" salad anymore) and already made their plates smaller. I didn't like the changes and went there less over the years.

[TR95]

Originally Posted by Vic Romano

I'm sure they did the math and figured it wouldn't work.

They already spent a ton of money a few years ago updating a lot of restaurants and opening new ones. Over the years they have cheapened their recipes (no meat in their staple "Wonton Happiness" salad anymore) and already made their plates smaller. I didn't like the changes and went there less over the years.

Souplantation’s troubles pre-date the Covid era. They had financial troubles in 2008/2009 and again in 2016/2017. This just ended it for good this time.

[Chava61]

Souplantation is a favorite among some of my family members. I am sorry to hear that it might be closing down for good.

[Taiko]

Originally Posted by Mike930

This wouldn’t have been too hard to do. They already had the plexiglass and people behind the counters preparing food. You just would have had to hire a few more people.

Of course how much are people willing to pay for the extra staff and time going back in line because the server might be less willing to overload a plate in the all you can eat model.

There is a smaller chain that does build the salad for you, but no soups, yet the price for that salad alone was more than
Soup Plantation's unlimited soups,drinks,deserts, pizza/bread along with the salad built to individual taste.