Entering the restaurant, you’ll be met by a receptionist and a wall of wine, and the restaurant is really about two things: fondue and wine. Walls, high-backed booths and low lighting create an atmosphere of intimacy—you’re really not aware of more than half a dozen other diners. That sense of intimacy is further enhanced by dark ceilings, dark walls and carpeting, soft seating in the booths, each of which comes with a granite table containing a single burner for the fondue.
I admire high-volume American restaurants because they are extremely efficient and they are timed to give you a pleasant dining experience including drinks and wine in an hour. The Melting Pot is equally efficient, but the slow pace of fondue will extend your meal to at least two hours of pleasant time and conversation. Since the turnover rate is rather low, it is advisable to make reservations.
The menu features fondue combinations and individual fondues. The ultimate suggestion is "The Big Night Out" for two people with two main entrée choices. You can start with your choice of four cheese fondues, followed by one of four salads and then to either the "Lobster Indulgence" or the "Fondue Feast". The latter includes two filet mignon, teriyaki sirloin, tiger shrimp, pork tenderloin, breast of chicken and roast vegetable ravioli. In the Lobster Indulgence, substitute two lobster tails for the tenderloin. For your dessert, you may choose one of eight chocolate fondues. The lobster choice (2006) was $84.00/couple; the feast was $70.00.
Other menu choices include individual cheese fondue (for one or two people) at $12.00, individual meat fondues average $15.00 and entrees for two with three courses average $50.00, so it is possible to pick and choose and build a pleasant meal without going for the "Big Night Out". Add to that a wine list containing hundreds of selections in every price range.
The service is quite personal as your cheese fondue and the broth for your entrée are mixed at the table; we found our server excellent. You can probably coast through this restaurant quite cheaply, but choosing "The Big Night Out" and a bottle of wine (Our Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc was $42.00.) will put a big dent in your wallet.
Finally, I can’t recommend this restaurant for young children; there is a burner and a pot of hot liquid at the table. I was surprised to find that this is part of a chain, but you’ll find this very nice representative of the chain in the Hilltop East shopping area (From the beach take 31st Street (Laskin); it’s on the right).