Sweet Tomatoes   

If you're under 50, you might feel like a spring chicken at the Altamonte Springs installment of this national buffet chain. Seniors come in droves for the bargain basement prices. Loyal vegetarian patrons also flock here for the ample salad bar, and weekdays always lure a steady lunch crowd from a nearby mall. Grab a tray upon arrival and follow the stream of hungry folks. The salad bar spans half the restaurant -- with everything from the standard chopped veggies to chickpeas, hard-boiled eggs, and shredded chicken -- but round the corner for a hot bar that showcases soups, focaccia pizzas and pastas tossed with chicken and sausage. The dessert bar includes make-your-own sundaes and baked goods. The decor is nothing to write home about, with artificial greenery, bright lighting and kitschy country accoutrements. But with low prices and good food on tap, nobody's complaining. -- Terry Ward