Sweet Tomato’s

Well we walked in and the first three employees we saw didn’t make eye contact, one walked right passed us and intentionally looked away. It’s 8:30 on a Wednesday so we thought maybe it’s just cause we are a bit late, maybe it’s because we’ve been at the beach and look a bit sloppy. Either way uncomfortable entry. Our son had the worst Lasagna I’ve ever tasted. Over cooked pasta, Hamburger meat and the thinnest red sauce ever. My wife had Lobster risotto. The chunks of lobster were nice but the risotto tasted like it was from a box. I had the Striped Bass special which was ok. The fish was over cooked but not terribly dried out. We waited for 10 minutes to have our plates cleared and another 15 to get a check, our waiter checked on us once during our meal. $ 120 plus tip for 3 entrees, a glass of wine and a beer. No salad, appetizer or dessert. Disappointing to say the least.

I have been to Sweet Tomato’s a number of times over the last few years and while I liked the ambiance and found the staff friendly and attentive, the food was just so-​so and, frankly, not worth the money.
I found myself there again last week and just have to say «Wow»… I commented to the wait staff that the food was much improved and was informed there is a new chef. In my view he’s made a night and day difference! The menu is just as varied but the food quality is absolutely outstanding.
If you’re looking for an excellent dining experience on Shelter Island, I’d highly recommend Sweet Tomato’s. It’s the same warm and friendly place but now has great food; the wine list is extensive and well-​priced. Very happily, Sweet Tomato’s lacks the pretentiousness of some of the other eateries on Shelter Island.
Finally, Sweet Tomato’s also has a very attractive bar if all you want is to stop by for a drink.

The duck special was pretty good, but the shrimp pasta dish was somewhat bland, and overall, everything was overpriced. Ended paying $ 100 (before tip) for two entrees, one appetizer, and two drinks, which is way more than you’d expect based on the quality.

I’ve come here several times. The atmosphere is great: relaxed and classy. The food is also wonderful as well as the service. The burger I had was flavorful and juicy and the salad was crisp and fresh. I look forward to spending more evenings there and trying the rest of their menu.

Great food, good service, no wait on a Saturday night. Overall good spot for dinner.

Should have read the reviews before dining here tonight… Service was slow even though the restraunt was less than half full at 8 PM. The waiter told my wife she couldn’t substitute an alternative to the pasta and short ribs because it would ruin this apparently perfect dish. As apparent punishment for daring to ask, she only got half the promised amount of ribs. My «half a chicken» with rosemary turned out to be three gamey tasting legs and a wing from some undefined species of poultry with no seasoning to speak of. No way are we returning…

I have been coming here every year to enjoy great food and atmosphere. Yesterday was my 4^th annual trip here, and right away I wondered where the crowd was. I almost always have to wait for a seat at the bar or squeeze in. But not yesterday. And then I ordered the bolognese meal and asked them to put a few dollops of ricotta cheese on top. The waitress seemed to have trouble understanding what that was. And when the meal came out, it was covered with Parmesan cheese instead. And it was cold. And kind of bland tasting. And no bread or salad came with this dish either. And I ordered a couple of glasses of «house wine», thinking that they would be in the 6 — 8 dollar range, but no, they were 12 dollars each. I had a feeling something changed about this place, and with new ownership I guess I was right. I need to find a happy new annual spot on Shelter Island.

Overpriced, terrible food, slow service, rude staff… I have never in my life had such a horrific experience eating out. Do yourself a favor and enjoy your night out at literally any other restaurant on Shelter Island. Absolutely terrible

Dont waste your wallet here. TERRIBLE PLACE Terrible service

TERRIBLE. 43 dollar Ciopinno with zero flavor, no broth. It was awful and a travesty. I’m never going back. I’ve been a loyal customer for 3 years when Jimmy was at the helm. Now it is an overpriced, flavorless shadow of what it once was. Do yourself a favor, and spend your hard earned dollars on a much better meal at SALT, Shelter Island House, Red Maple, or Vine Street.

What a shame! This had been such a consistently good restaurant until now. Aparently Sweet Tomatoes is under new ownership; and sadly, everything about it is awful. Items are listed on the menu and they are not included in the dishes. When asked about the missing ingredients, waiters become defensive and elusive. The service was bad and the food was worse. The quality of almost all of the dishes we ordered were weak. Pasta not cooked correctly, sauces flavorless and disjointed. We could not leave soon enough. So sad to have lost what was once a great place to have dinner. It seems like whoever runs this place has no background in food service or hospitality.

The food was delicious, no denying that. The service really needs work though. Servers seem stretched thin, you could feel the stress. Things got a little sloppy & slammy; Dirty dishes piled up in random areas around tables. They could use a couple busboys picking up the slack.
Recommend the Lamb Shank & Artichoke Dip.

We went here for our anniversary earlier this year and again a few weeks ago. Our first time in the restaurant was especially fantastic — the owner came out, spoke with us and when he heard it was our anniversary, he brought us free dessert wine to have after our meal. As a same-​sex couple, we felt especially happy to be treated so well on our special day. The food is a bit overpriced, but it’s delicious and the ambiance is nice. Excellent service, too. We’ll be back.

Decent food. Last week I went for the first time. Had a flatbread with some wine. Good times.
Last night: Had some bolognese last night. You could tell it was sitting under a heat lamp. Moisture was gone from the pasta and sauce. Lobster risotto didn’t have much creaminess and was low on lobster. The risotto had a nice flavor profile, but coulda used less salt.
Idk not impressed with the pasta, but I’ll go back for some flatbread action and wine.

Usually very good food. The service can be hit or miss which is why I didn’t give 5 stars. I will say the owner is very friendly and takes the food and restaurant very seriously. It’s good but can be a touch inconsistent just needs a little more to be great.

Things have changed, and not for the best. The menu and possibly the owners have changed. Jimmy, made this place special and whomever took over is far for being able to fill his shoes. When you inquire as to his whereabouts, the staff looks scared and tired of the same question, people can clearly sense something is off. Service was extremely slow. Menu items, at 8:00 pm where already not available, on Memorial Day weekend, this is unacceptable. These new guys were not prepared for this. Our order was taken 20 minutes after we sat down, 10 minutes after that, we finally got some bread. The food was ok, nothing you can’t find somewhere else. The most delicious plate on the previous menu, the Cioppino, is sadly gone.
I’m sorry to say, but no Jimmy and no Cioppino means we’re probably not going back. The slow service also doesn’t do them any favors.
#wheresjimmy

Just came
the start of the season. Jimmy is gone, prices are jacked up, service is terrible even sitting at the bar and the food has gone way down hill. Not what it used to be.

Great Vodka gimlet with fresh lime juice. Good portion size on the calamari. We went during the off season so it was quiet. The bartender was friendly (we sat at the bar). I have to say the restaurant was impeccably clean. Even the ceiling fans were sparkling. We don’t get out to shelter island much but would come back for drinks.

Just stopped in today, everyone was so nice, very attentive and informative.
I got the Bolognese, it was great, a hearty meat sauce with perfect pasta.
Great experience, highly recommended!

Love love love this restaurant! I couldn’t have asked for a better experience for my romantic birthday dinner. The staff was extremely friendly, including Jimmy who greeted us, sat us and checked on us twice during our meal. Our waiter was young but well trained, and he didn’t even blink when we asked to share one salad on two plates. We each had the fluke over the best risotto ever topped with an olive tapenade sauce. Incredible, we *yummed* with every bite!
Sometimes you go to a fancy restaurant and pay a lot of money, and leave feeling like «eh, that was OK», but at Sweet Tomato’s you definitely get your money’s worth!