PrintMelting Pot
I'm not a chain restaurant fan, but my sister wants to go to The Melting Pot this week-end for her b'day.
Has anyone been there, and what are your thoughts?
I tried looking online for reviews, and all I found were newspaper reviews (which I tend not to always trust)....and badly written reviews from people who seem to enjoy the chains.
I just want to know what I'm in for when I get there! lol
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19 Comments:
I haven't eaten there but I have heard that it is REALLY expensive but probably would be fun and good.
Hunnyoil at 7:19PM on 03/05/08
Zagat gives it 19 (out of 30), which translates to a 3 on a 1-5 scale. Depending what part of the country, about $45-$50 per person.
Gayot gives it an average of 11 or 12 (out of 20) depending upon which location (with a 10 and 13 here and there). That's a rating of "average" on a scale that starts with average (lowest rating) and works up to "exceptional." Pricing here is reflected as under $50.
I've heard almost identical feedback from pretty much everyone I know who has been to one of these restaurants (I have not been). It always seems to include the following statements: we thought we'd do something different, it was a nice change of pace, sort of a fun/silly thing to do with friends, we haven't had fondue since the 70s, don't know that I'd go again, seemed pretty expensive for what it is.
It's her birthday. I'd go and have fun. If it's disappointing, you'll never return.
LoCo at 7:50PM on 03/05/08
I've had two really great meals at the Melting Pot. Both full of good food and good wine and I'd return more often if they were closer to me, I like a fondue, or three!
The place is fairly expensive, I don't think ridiculously so, but it's more of an eating experience, don't expect it to be a fast meal either, you'll be there a couple hours.
I agree with Loco, go and have fun, eat a three course meal and drink some good wine and have some laughs. I'm always up for paying more money to have memories that will last a lifetime, and on top of that the food I've eaten there has been of great quality and taste.
bobcatsteph3 at 9:50PM on 03/05/08
My wife and I love both the cheese course and the dessert course, but we pretty much always dislike the main -- the hot oil option (traditional) is never hot enough to properly fry food, so you end up with a grease-laden mess; the hot broth option just seems to take forever to cook. We have resolved to go for dessert only -- they serve ripe fruit, pound cake, brownie chunks, and marshmallows (and bring more of any you want) with an ample amount of whichever chocolate option you want.
That being said, if you've never been there, it's pretty fun.
Dominic
the zen kitchen
dvchurch at 10:07PM on 03/05/08
My opinion may not really weigh much since it's the only fondue restaurant we've gone to despite 2-3 fondue restaurants fairly nearby. My husband was very skeptical about going there, but he came out wanting to return. I expected everything to be cheese cheese cheese, which would be a bad thing, and very small portions that I'd need to hit someplace else to get a snack.
We got their specially priced meal for two for $75 a couple years ago. In reviewing the menu online, it looks like they've changed the menu in our area. :(
It includes a salad, appetizer fondue, entree fondue, dessert fondue. We changed everything on the 'set price' menu that we chose. :P
Looks like they no longer have the same mushroom salad. I thought it was going to be a variety of mushrooms at first, but it was just fresh mushrooms lightly tossed in an oil dressing and a few greens. It was pretty good.
The appetizer and the main fondue were good. The dessert fondue was great. I'm not a chocolate fan at all, but enjoyed the Chocolate S'mores fondue. It was a lot of fun dipping strawberries, bananas, cake, brownies, etc.
I don't drink a drop of alcohol so I don't know how good their drinks are. At the one we went to, there's a large display of wine displayed rather nicely in a floor to ceiling glass refrigerator as you walk in. You pass by it to get to your table.
The booths are high backed so it's quite private, but not necessarily too romantic but it is intimate.
I think the make or break is who your chef is at your table. We may have been lucky to have someone entertaining - didn't talk too much, was funny, and seemed to like his job. It is a lot of food for 2 people.
It's a lot of fun - hope you have fun too!
Cassaendra at 11:46PM on 03/05/08
My husband and I went several years ago in Asheville, NC. It's in an old bank building, which made a nice atmosphere. The food was good, although my husband didn't like having to cook his own entree. It was fairly expensive for what you get. It's one of those meals that you go to for conversation as much as the food. Several people we knew went only for the dessert fondue.
beth1 at 11:54PM on 03/05/08
What your in for is a day of being thankful you've got your sister to celebrate. I can't imagine enjoying any meal that comes from an "average" chain and cost $50/person! Go and enjoy your sister and make sure she enjoys her annual fifteen minutes of fame. Bear in mind that you'll get to pick the venue for your birthday party. Have fun!
czken at 7:11AM on 03/06/08
I had my first Melting Pot experience last year. I loved it. I went with my BF, brother, his partner and a childhood friend. (Interesting mix - made for good conversation.)
It is not fast food by any means. It takes a while. The waiter we had was very good.
It's nice for a romantic dinner for two but it's also good for a group as long as you want to linger.
It is also not cheap. You pay for ingredients, the time it takes to eat and the theatrical "cooking" by the waiter. He might throw garlic in the fondue pot and combine ingredients, depending on what you order.
The food was delicious. I'd definitely go again either with friends or just my BF. I had a great time and definitely left full.
chiff0nade at 7:59AM on 03/06/08
Remember the Zagat Guides give a rating only for the city they're about - i.e., the Los Angeles one may give a chain a 19, but the Orlando one may give it 21. The votes on national chains are not averaged across the country. Also, certain cities seem to have higher overall scores than others; their voters just grade higher than others, just like some teachers. (I've always thought the Orlando voters were quite liberal, for instance.)
I've been to the MP once; it was okay, but don't have any burning drie to return.
lemons at 10:28AM on 03/06/08
I've been there once .. I felt like it was way overpriced, but pleasant enough, I would probably return only for dessert.
mrsbao at 10:39AM on 03/06/08
Went three years ago for Valentine's Day. Only the cheese fondue is worth it. I had cheddar.
Salad was fine, not memorable. The mushroom one had an overwhelming amount of sliced button mushrooms. Entree (at least the coq au vin option) is not very tasty or flavorful, and the dessert is lackluster in terms of dipping options other than fruit (i.e., tasteless marshmallows, bland poundcake and cheesecake that looks and tastes like it's from the freezer. Chocolate itself was fine, but you can't go very wrong with melted chocolate fondue. Just stick with the fruit.
raspberryberet at 12:03PM on 03/06/08
I've been to three of the Melting Pots in Maryland, all were good. It's expensive, but a great way to force yourself to slow down and enjoy the company. The cheese course is always my favorite, but isn't anything I can't make at home -- go for the seasonal special or the mexican one if your franchise has them, but the plain cheddar fondue is boring, as is the traditional swiss. (they once had this asian inspired cheese with sake in it, OMG was is good!)
The entree course is fun, and VERY filling. I like the Mojo cooking style, it has citrus in it so the flavor is bright. I've never tried the hot oil cooking style, so I can't comment on it. Definitely throw all your veggies in at the beginning and fish them out with the "search and rescue" spoon rather than wasting meat cooking time by cooking your veggies on the fork. And be sure to try the Gorgonzola Port sauce mixed with the Plum sauce on the beef tenderloin bits. mmm.
I go often enough to know that the "Big Night Out" is just too much food (and I'm a big eater so that's saying something.) We usually get the individual entrees, it's a little cheaper that way too (and still comes with a salad.)
as for the chocolate course, go for one that they flambe at the table; it's all about the show.
Enjoy and happy birthday to your sister!
AliceBlue at 1:34PM on 03/07/08
We went for the Girls Big Night Out. We had a really fun time, but it was expensive for the quality of the food. To repeat some of the other observations, it probably depends on the location as to the level of quality and service. We have 2 or 3 in our area. When we left, I said to my friend that I really did not care if we went back.
crazyspice at 4:10PM on 03/07/08
I've been there and I love it. It's been a couple years since I've gone but I used to want to go on my birthdays so I highly recommend it. Fondue is just so fun!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 4:59PM on 03/07/08
I was skeptical the first time my wife suggested it, but I have to admit that I had a great experience at the Melting Pot. We've been back several times. If you want to reduce the sting of the price, you can use AmEx points to get Melting Pot gift cards.
PhotoKirk at 8:39AM on 03/08/08
They have Scotch there right? I don't see a problem..... go for your sis.
Pavlov at 7:17PM on 03/11/08
I neglected to mention - the "special" of the night when I went was some type of lobster fondue. It was a mildly flavored dipping cheese sauce with pieces of lobster and other seafood like shrimp, etc. It would have been wildly expensive but my brother had two coupons for this specific special and we had enough people to order two of them.
chiff0nade at 10:14AM on 03/12/08
If I wanted to cook my own food I would stay home!
RichardCrystal at 10:30AM on 03/12/08
Not that expensive
Definitely a dining experience, including excellent service
Dessert + cheese are the best parts for sure, which you can fill up on and save $ if that's what you're looking for
Check out their "club fondue" for special deals:
http://www.themeltingpotclubfondue.com/signup.cgi
Talmagelisabeth at 10:46PM on 03/13/08