Melting Pot

User Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My fiance' and I went to The Melting Pot last night, as we were looking for something a little different from the typical dinner out. Boy, did we ever find it! There are both positive and negative things about the restaurant, as you might expect from the type of restaurant it is.

First, the positive...The Melting Pot has a great romantic atmosphere and the staff was VERY courteous. We made a reservation and didn't have to wait at all once we arrived which is always nice. Our waiter was extremely helpful in navigating the menu and helping us pick our dinner selections. He really took the time to explain everything in detail so we knew exactly what we were getting into with every course. The food was good and I will say I tried combination's of flavors that I have never had before in my life, and most of them were great. The dessert was probably the best of all, of course who doesn't like fudge brownies dipped in chocolate and peanut butter melted down?!
Now, the negative...The menu was pretty pricey. My fiance' and I paid $102.00 for our dinner, which was a first for me! Of course, we were partly to blame since never having done fondue before we wanted to get the "total experience" and ordered the full four course deal they promote for couples. Also, since I am not the "man about town eating at the coolest spots everyday" kind of guy, I felt the restaurant was almost going out of it's way to be super trendy and elite, which admittedly is also part of it's allure as well. Also, be careful when ordering your salad. I ordered the special salad of the night, and the description made it sound really good, but what I ended up with was something that looked like it was created as a work of art and not a food item. Also, the combination of flavors that comprised my "salad" were funky at best and it was by far the least attractive course of the meal.

To sum up...all in all The Melting Pot is the perfect place to go if you and a date or group of close friends really wants to mix it up and do something totally different for dinner. It is a place that you will certainly be telling people about the next day. Just remember, you will pay handsomely for the experience and you will spend the better part of 2 hours experiencing the, um, experience that is The Melting Pot of Raleigh. In other words, it's the perfect place to go to every couple years or so, but any more than that and the novelty won't be worth the money.

Comment on Review

Y! Updates An Update about your review will be shared via Yahoo! Updates Manage who sees your Updates

Post CommentCancel

User Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

I can't understand how this place stays in business. The novelty ought to have worn off by now. It's expensive, and the quality isn't that great. And after all, how much fondue pot stuff can you eat in one meal?

Comment on Review

Y! Updates An Update about your review will be shared via Yahoo! Updates Manage who sees your Updates

Post CommentCancel

User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Other reviewers on this page have it right: The Melting Pot is THE place to go for special occasions or a romantic night out.

Fondue food is fun as well as delicious, and the exception service of the staff make your restaurant experience one to remember. The atmosphere, due to low lighting and cozy booths, remains intimate even when the restaurant is at its busiest.

Plan to spend at least 2 hours for your dinner out. Each course arrives separately and is cooked on the burner at your own table using your fondue forks. A variety of meats and vegetables will be brought to you, to be cooked in your selection of broth or sauce, with several sauces for dipping. It's quite filling, so be sure to save room for dessert. (Try the Flaming Turtle!)

Highly recommend. It's pricey - expect to spend around $80 per couple at least (tack on more if you want wine or cocktails).

It's a family restaurant, but I agree with the critic below who recommends it for more for adults or teens. The mature atmosphere is, for me, one of the star attractions.

Comment on Review

Y! Updates An Update about your review will be shared via Yahoo! Updates Manage who sees your Updates

Post CommentCancel