Welcome to the Scene Report, a brand new column by which Eater captures the environment of a notable Los Angeles restaurant at a selected second in time.

When Souplantation introduced it was closing 97 eating places in 2020, together with 44 in California, a collective gasp may very well be heard within the Southland. What is going to change into of each native Californian's favourite soup and salad chain?

On paper, the idea of Souplantation is unusual. Run a bit like a university eating corridor or a summer time camp canteen, the restaurant was a suburban place with a healthful halo in comparison with extra gluttonous opponents like Hometown Buffet and Golden Corral. Beloved dishes with very unserious names, together with “U.S. Senate Beans with Smoked Ham Soup” and “Joan's Broccoli Insanity,” had been out there in limitless self-service parts for an reasonably priced flat fee. The price of the dinner was solely $11.69 on the time of closing earlier than any reductions, which had been standard and identified amongst their followers, had been utilized.

A mean day at Souplantation noticed the coupon-toting crowd and oldsters with youngsters filter by way of the buffet to construct a mountain of greens on their plates earlier than shifting on to stations devoted to soups, breads, meals and desserts. It's an innately comforting and communal expertise for individuals who grew up with it, in addition to for individuals who have dedication points in relation to establishing a single meal plan. Why have a variety of one thing when you’ll be able to have just a little of every little thing? My strongest reminiscence of the restaurant entails a horde of hungry youth soccer gamers lining up outdoors the Camarillo location, able to wreak havoc and push the all-you-can-eat promise to its limits.

The cloud over the restaurant's reminiscence started to elevate when a carbon copy referred to as Soup 'n Recent opened its doorways in Rancho Cucamonga – in a former Souplantation area, no much less – on February 28, 2024. San Diego that may have been housed in an grownup care middle, however the plans had been scrapped.) Lastly, there was one other probability to regain the glory of housing half a dozen totally different soups in a single sitting or snacking casually on a brownie muffin. earlier than returning to a tasty reverie with some garlic cheese focaccia. Though nothing will ever actually substitute Souplantation, this Dupeplantation was fairly shut. Right here's the scene at Soup 'n Recent on Sunday, March 17, 2024 round 2 p.m.

Long line outside a brown building with green trim at Soup 'n Fresh in Rancho Cucamonga.

Diners line up outdoors Soup 'n Recent in Rancho Cucamonga.

Long line stretching into the parking lot outside a brown building with green trim at Soup 'n Fresh in Rancho Cucamonga.

The road stretches out the entrance entrance, down the touchdown, and across the nook onto the sidewalk.

Ready for: The response to the revival of Souplantation was unimaginable, so getting a desk on a Sunday afternoon took about 90 minutes. The road stretches out the entrance entrance, down the touchdown, and across the nook onto the sidewalk. Many of the row is straight uncovered to the solar, apart from the ultimate stretch in the direction of the entrance which incorporates some seats, so deliver sunscreen. The neatest and most well-prepared in line handled it like a tailgate and introduced folding chairs to arrange for the lengthy experience. The road was so lengthy {that a} look led solely to ask if a secret drop had taken place. It’s unimaginable to suppose that there was hardly ever ready for the unique Souplantations.

The environment: Working in a former Souplantation, Soup 'n Recent seems to be identical to the unique, albeit with a contemporary coat of paint and renovated service areas. The gang resembles individuals who frequent Costco on a Sunday afternoon—a mixture of younger adults in search of an affordable meal whereas chasing nostalgia and enormous households making an attempt to throw an impromptu celebration in a public area.

White plate with broccoli, cheese, Asian chicken salad, chickpeas and cranberries on a red table with a fork and knife.

A choice of gives from the self-service salad bar.

Small rectangular slices of pizza on a brown wooden table with metal tongs in the foreground.

Soup 'n Recent Pizza.

The menu: Soup 'n Recent's choices adhere intently to the unique however with a number of modifications to the names of the dishes. Wonton Happiness is now Asian hen salad, whereas the US Senate bean with smoked ham soup is just for chili. The Asian hen salad was the winner of the ready salads, and the pizza bread sitting underneath the warmth lamps stored me coming again for extra. I can solely hope that the upcoming spring strawberry season will revive the Strawberry Fields Spinach Salad, which has been served seasonally at most Souplantation places.

The soup choice consists of corn and clam chowders, plus chili, hen noodle, and extra. Mac and cheese, in addition to noodles with customary marinara, made for skinny pasta decisions. The loaded baked potato bar with its requisite bacon, cheese and chive toppings was additionally on. Dessert choices embrace contemporary fruit and jelly, in addition to brownie muffins and candy treats in chocolate and vanilla flavors. The transfer is to start out with the salad earlier than being seated at a desk, take a number of bites to calm the starvation, after which return to the buffet to assemble and assemble the remainder of the meal.

The decision: There’s a clear divide between diners who’re followers of Souplantation and people who are experiencing the buffet for the primary time. From my vantage level, stationed in entrance of the baked potato bar, each teams appeared to get pleasure from their meals. Soup 'n Recent is an efficient deal at $16.99 for lunch and $18.99 for dinner earlier than any reductions for lecturers, veterans and extra are utilized. At this expansive buffet situated within the coronary heart of San Bernardino County, there's one thing for everybody, even when it's good old style hen noodle soup.

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