Last month, the Galleria Mall proved that what goes around, comes around. The mall recently debuted The Melting Pot, a contemporary restaurant specializing in fondue. While fondue is best known as a popular fad of the seventies, The Melting Pot has taken the classic fondues of the flower-child generation and revamped them in a chic, avant-garde atmosphere.
The dim-lit restaurant has a swanky New York feel, with faint jazz playing in the background. Every black marble table is equipped with its very own electric stovetop. There are several private rooms available for larger parties, although the restaurant itself is on the smaller side and requires reservations. Each place setting is equipped with two color-coded fondue skewers wrapped in a cloth napkin. Stainless steel fondue pots are placed on each of the cook tops along the length of the table.
While an atmosphere this ritzy would normally dissuade students strapped for cash, the menu prices are surprisingly diverse, featuring everything from basic fondues to pricey four-course meals.
The basic cheddar cheese fondue is a popular choice, which consists of aged medium-sharp cheddar and Emmanthaler Swiss cheeses, dark beer, garlic, and seasonings. The one to two person serving costs $14.00, and $7.00 for each additional person.
The restaurant features six different cheese fondue creations, all with various types of cheeses and ingredients. Each cheese fondue is served with fresh breads, vegetables, and green apple slices for dipping. A tasteful recommendation if dining with one or two other people, not to mention a good deal price-wise, is to split the spinach artichoke cheese fondue. It is satisfying, and there is more than enough to go around. Surprisingly, the green apples complemented the fondue well.
The menu also features many combination entr?(c)es of varying components and prices, including a wide array of different meats for a fondue experience tailored to each customer. Entrees consist of filet mignon, shrimp, teriyaki-marinated sirloin, boneless chicken, or fish fillet. A shrimp and sirloin combo costs $19.00, while a chicken entr?(c)e costs $16.00. Each entr?(c)e is served with a salad and fresh vegetables.
The menu accommodates vegetarians, and offers an entr?(c)e consisting of tofu, artichoke hearts, Portobello mushrooms, fresh vegetables, and spinach and Gorgonzola ravioli. It is also served with salad for $16.00. Like the meat, the veggies are served raw to be skewered on a fondue fork and cooked in the boiling broth.
Of course, the experience wouldn't be complete without a chocolate fondue finale. The Melting Pot serves up nine types of chocolate fondues to melt your senses. The restaurant's signature milk chocolate complimented by a crunchy peanut butter swirl is their traditional recipe. They also feature a Yin and Yang fondue, which consists of dark chocolate and white chocolate swirled together.
The real winner of the fondues is the flaming turtle, which is composed of milk chocolate, caramel and chopped pecans. Ingredients are combined and flamb?(c)ed tableside, resulting in a sinfully rich, decadent fondue. All of the fondues are served with an array of bananas, Rice Krispy treats, strawberries, cheesecake, marshmallows, brownies, and pound cake for dipping. The cost for a small is $14.00 (which is plenty for three people), and a regular size is $28.00. The experience is definitely worth every penny.
The Melting Pot is the perfect place to take that special someone this Valentine's Day, or for any special occasion with friends. The act of cooking your own food in front of your eyes, bite by bite, is what makes this a truly unique dining experience.
Rating overall: 3 out of 4 fondue forks.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
