The Melting Pot
August 9, 2006 by Eric T
2011 Mountain Rd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
(505) 843-6358
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If it is private and romantic to cook a nice meal in your own home for company, how about a restaurant that lets you do that without all of the preparation and cleanup. The Melting Pot is a fondue restaurant that offers private booths and all of the ingredients and cookware right in front of you, so you can make prepare and cook your own food. This establishment began in Maitland, Florida in 1975 and now has over 100 locations nationwide.
This restaurant offers all of the necessities to impress anyone you take along, whether its business or personal. They offer cheese fondue, salads, wine, entrees, signature fondue, and chocolate fondue. When I went I had the “fondue for two” which offers a three-course meal (excluding the dessert portion). A large fondue pot was placed in the center of the table, with meats, batters and sauces filling up a good part of the table surrounding it. You take your extended fork and stab a meat or vegetable, then coat it in a batter, and place it in the pot to cook. Once you get it out you let it cool for a bit and dip it into one of your sauces. The great thing about it was that I had a fun time making my food, trying to find the best batter and dipping sauce to go with my meats (chicken, shrimp, salmon, and teriyaki-marinated sirloin). This isn’t an eat-and-go restaurant, the atmosphere is very comfortable so you can take your time and enjoy yourself. For those who don’t like or want to try the fondue, they also have a very good selection of entrees including a French Quarter Sandwich, Lobster Tail, Shrimp & Sirloin, and Filet Mignon dishes. If you take a look at the wine list, they have a very large selection and can offer some very premium wines. The drawback of course is high prices, but that is what you expect from a restaurant that offers choice ingredients and atmosphere.
One of the most impressive parts is the service here. They are extremely knowledgeable about the history and menu and will likely spend about 5 to 10 minutes explaining everything to you on your first visit. They know it is a comfortable social setting and do not try to get you out as fast as possible, once you begin your meal they will only interrupt to refill drinks and setup each course. You can have that intimate feeling in this restaurant because the servers try not to intrude unless they’re needed.
The atmosphere is great and you are seated in a private booth, completely secluded from the view of other tables. The majority of the restaurant has dim lighting and the booths are better lit so you can see what you’re doing. It is very private and elegant, just what you want if you want to impress a date or business associate. I think it’s a unique experience and I would recommend it for those willing to drop some cash for the same.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 8]
Ambiance:
[rate 8]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
Popularity: 63% [?]
onaclov2000 (5)
Jenny (4)
WestsideWendy (4)
Watercanyon (3)
@iambunnyears (1)
Al Sanchez (1)
just a test
I enjoyed it, but man its expensive here!
Melting Pot is very expensive for what it is which is just a very average fondue restaurant. If I want to get splahsed with hot grease, I’ll eat at home thank you.
Yes, it’s expensive. But if you love fondue and hate the hours of prep and clean up (especaially to serve a four course fondue) it’s totally worth it!
Went there last July on my wife’s birthday.
Service was excellent, food and do-it-yourself was a lot of fun and quite tasty, fondue pot was hot, and the small, semi-private booth where we dined quickly turned into a SAUNA, writ large.
Don’t know if the A/C was down, or whether it was just an unusually hot day, or if that area just does not ventilate well, but we had to take breaks to go out to the bar to cool off every 15 minutes or so.
On the other hand, a good way to sweat off some pounds, but a bit expensive.
Maybe they’ve fixed the problem. Ask before you make reservations.
I work at the melting pot and in the description it says we have french quarter sandwich, but that is wrong. we do not have any sandwiches and all the entrees we have are cooked in the fondue pot on your table by you. its a great place to come eat if youre looking for something different and interactive.
Unique idea, but come on!! I would prefer someone cooking for ME at those prices. A lot better dining for the $$ elsewhere. Loose 20% to see me again.
Decent food, but not worth the price. I honestly was turned off by my waiter. He came off as fake to slightly sleazy. It didn’t take long for his playful, yet unfunny comments about members in my party, to make me wary.
I didn’t appreciate spending $40 on a three course fondue meal as well. You can get much better (and cheaper) food elsewhere in old town. I recommend La Crepe Michel. Great, affordable food, exemplary service and a peaceful atmosphere.