The Melting Pot

This was my first trip to a fondue place and it was pretty good.
We did the special big night out or whatever it’s called where you get all sorts of starter, meats and desserts.
It was pricey considering how much you get but it’s the experience that counts. We enjoyed the starter and desserts the most. The main course was just ok.
Guess this place closed — it was a bit nasty inside, it was dark and it felt scummy/​sticky in places like it had never been properly cleaned. Shame but as it’s gone now, guess it don’t matter!

Save your money!!! Cook at home on the grill. Terrible food. $ 65 for food you could buy at jewel, literally I have had better food at my house.

I’ve always heard a lot of hype around the Melting Pot, and last night I went there with a group of people to see what all the fuss was about. First, it is pretty expensive for what you get, but I think that’s largely because they don’t turn over the tables as fast as a «normal» restaurant. The quality of food doesn’t seem to justify the price tag, but it is a great place to have a conversation since you’ll be there for awhile.
Our entrée platter had chicken, steak, duck, and lobster on it… all of which was okay. The problem I ran into is that you could never get the food cooked just right. I like to have my steak a little pink on the inside, and most of the time I found that it was either overcooked or way undercooked and had to put it back in for a little longer which then lead to it being overcooked. I could never get it just right, and you only have a few pieces of each kind of meat to experiment with.
The thing I walked away the happiest about was desert. We had the smores combination (chocolate, marshmallow crème, and crumbled graham crackers) along with some added peanut butter. It was excellent! At least we ended the night on a good note!
What I would have preferred from a restaurant like this is to have the fondue focused on for the appetizer (melted cheese with chips and bread) and for desert (melted chocolate with various fruits and sweets). This is where the fondue experience really shined in my opinion, and trying to mess with it for the entrees was a bit too much.

This was my first time experiencing The Melting Pot and I have to say, it was good, but I was expecting better given all of the hype I heard about it. Here are a few tips:
1. Be prepared to be there for a long time (we were there for around 3 hours).
2. Know that you will be cooking your own food.
3. Dessert will probably be the best course!
4. Expect to walk out spending around $ 100 per couple if you get every course.
A group of 11 of us went to celebrate a birthday and we all went with «The Big Night Out» which was themed around France. The waitress said that in a couple of days it will be changing to a Latin America theme. The Big Night Out includes a cheese appetizer, salad, three different options for your entrée, and of course, dessert. Some of the items included didn’t sound very appetizing to us, so we made some substitutions which the waitress was fine with.
If I were to go back, I think I’d go for the dessert which was the best part! Our waitress told us her favorite was the chocolate s’mores and then she adds peanut butter to it. We went with it and it was AWESOME!

This place takes care of me every single time… I frequent because of four things. 1. Food, 2. ambiance, 3. Dennis and last but not least my favorite server who knows how to make a chees… DAVE…yummy yummy food

This was my first Melting Pot experience, and let me tell you, I am a HUGE fan!
Our waitress was awesome – she had great suggestions, and was very knowledgeable about the menu. She was really quick about getting our drinks and courses out to us. For our dessert, my friend and I were deciding between the peanut butter dessert and the s’mores dessert, and she suggested that we combine them. Best.Idea.Ever!!!
We did the Big Night Out with the Spinach Artichoke dip (YUM!), a regular house salad, the meat dishes with the lobster tail (I loved everything served except for the duck – that wasn’t great) and then for dessert was the aforementioned delicious combination!
Also, the sangria was delicious and came with practically a fruit salad on top of it! Also, I CHUGGED my LOVE martini (see pictures), it was that delicious (bad idea on an empty stomach, btw! lol).
My overall experience here was a very positive one, and I highly recommend it!

After my last Melting Pot fiasco on New Year’s I was a little leary about the Suburban locations. However, this was a completely different experience. Our server, Connor, was really good and we enjoyed our Valentine’s Day experience immensely. We had the Big Night out with the Wisconsin Trio, the house salad with house dressing, the lobster, filet, new york strip, ravioli, chicken, duck, and shrimp option, and the Crème Brulee fondue for dessert. The Crème Brulee I wouldn’t necessarily recommend because some of the other dessert fondues are so good but everything else was on point.
This location isn’t quite as nice as the Downtown location but I would definitely come back (especially after I check out the Naperville location).

I don’t think this location provides the full experience as it should be experienced… I’ll preface by saying I LOVE the downtown restaurant.
This was my first time at the Buffalo Grove location, and in my opinion the B.G. restaurant has NO BUSINESS charging the same prices.
1) The Building: I was hit with an odd odor when first entering. I don’t know quite what the smell was, but it was bad. It was kind of like a mix of old musty basement and body odor. After I bragged and bragged to a few family members about Melting Pot, and got them to agree to such an expensive menu, I was really embarrassed when we walked in.
Once I got past the odor, I couldn’t help but notice the really awful carpeting and décor. It looked older than my grandma’s sofa. Like, really bad. It was also really dark — the lighting was bad. Downtown is kinda dark, but it has beautiful lamps.
2) The table itself: There were 4 of us. I was anticipating ordering 2 of the «dinner for 2», meaning we’d get to choose 2 of each cooking style. This was NOT the case, as when we were seated there is only 1 cooking spot at each table. Not happy.
3) The food: The food deserves 4 or 5 stars. I think the food was still fabulous. I loooove the New Orleans cajun style meat, and it did not disappoint! I always, always, always leave here with a belly-​ache. It’s that good kinda pain. LOL
4) Waiter: Our waiter was good. He was friendly and prompt, and kept our drinks filled. He was knowledgeable about the food, etc. I can’t compain about the service.
Overall I have to say I will probably not ever come back to this location. It’s WAY to expensive to not have the beautiful, fun ambiance like the downtown location. I love going for fondue. If you have a good group, there’s nothing better than sitting around a table for a few hours together with good wine, good food, and great conversation. If you’re a newbie to fondue, please don’t let this location be your overall judgement for the experience.

At first glance, it seems like a classy joint… the food is ok (better be! I cook everything myself)…my first problem was halfway through the evening when the fondue death fog rolled in… the culmination of dozens of fondue pots with various witches brews-​a-​going belching their fumes into the air. I hate to go outside three times for air… plus my clothes reeked.
A group of four of us went, each had one drink and then fondue (appetizer, protein and desert) and I think our bill was approaching $ 350…AND we had to cook it ourselves (which admittedly is fun, but not for the price)…the worst aspect though, was by far the death fog!

Loved it, they made accomodations for us on Sweetest Day 2009, think Valentine’s Day but not, and seems to be only a midwest thing. Reminded me of the fondue in France, ahhh French and Thai cuisine are my favorites, with Indian that sneaks up between it but yes, I had an enjoyable experience and the waitress was very accomodating and understanding, what we need more in this world. I find some places can look superb but the wrong waitress can ruin it for the business. Bön Apetite!

I came in for dessert after dinner very good the experience was nice. The strawberries were fresh and the chocolate and marshmallow was great. I didn’t have dinner here but I would defiantly come back for the dessert menu great time and a nice change if you don’t want the evening to end just yet.

WHAT HAPPENED!!!
Keep in mind I have eaten at this location at least 5 times before – and each and every time was very enjoyable.
We arrived on a Friday close to 9pm. Last seating is at 11pm, so I figured we were in good shape for time. Our table took a few minutes to prepare, but that was fine with us – BAR! My ten dollar drink was weak enough for an infant, and had these nasty old waxy chocolate bits on it. Oh well — at least I will be enjoying a nice long meal with my sweetie.
Our table was one of those «romantic» two seaters with a curtain. Everything was going fine untill the constant announcing: «CORNER – HOT POT!!» by the servers started. I understand the need for safety, but why have a table there, or perhaps offer it with a disclaimer? Oh well — we decide to ignore it the best we could and enjoy everything.
Our plan worked for about 30 minutes. Then the «employee meetings» began about three feet from our table. We were treated to the latest gossip with all the servers, who had asshole customers, and other conversation with a hefty helping of the F word.
WHAT A TREAT!

I recently stopped in here after dinner… it was my birthday, and I had a craving for some fondue and champagne. I’ve been to the Melting Pot in Schaumburg before, and had a fabulous (albeit slightly overpriced) experience there, so I was expecting more of the same. Oh, how wrong I was.
We were seated in a private alcove with a curtain. How lovely, right? No. The walls were grease splattered and the privacy curtain had a huge hole burnt into it. Ew.
I was hoping that the service would make up for the décor, but no again. It was 9 PM on a Thursday night, and the restaurant was not crowded, yet we waited for 10 minutes for someone to take our drink order. After another 15 minutes (15 minutes to pour a glass of champagne and some Kahlua on the rocks?), our server returns. I look at the glass of champagne that he’s brought me and I don’t even have to taste it to know that it is flat.
Unfortunately, he bolted from our table after delivering our drinks, so I have to wait another 20 minutes for him to return with our chocolate fondue (which has already been made — he does not melt the chocolate at our table) to get a fresh glass of bubbly.
And the aforementioned chocolate fondue? Delicious, with the exception of the brown, mushy bananas it is served with. Double ew.
Our bill? Somewhere around $ 60, which is a tremendous waste of money for a less than mediocre dessert experience.
Next time I’m craving fondue and I’m in the suburbs, I’ll make the drive to Schaumburg and avoid this place at all costs. I suggest you do the same.

This was the BEST service I’ve ever had. My girlfriend and I went here for our 1 year anniversary and Brian the server made our night. I had never had fondue and we were the only people in the restaurant (I don’t know why I made a reservation). He was knowledgeable, witty, and let us sample multiple wines. We ordered the Lobster Indulgence which was excellent. It was a dinner for two that included Fillet, 2 Lobster Tails, Chicken, Scallops, and other very tasty meats. The cheese fondue that Brian recommended was also unforgettable. It was not cheap, but it was an unforgettable experience! If you’re in the mood for a romantic low key meal this is the place to come!

Romantic restaurant to go to for a date. This place is pricey but very much worth it. If you do one of the menu deals you will get a bang for your buck. For one of the feasts you get the cheese fondue appetizer served with apples, bread cubes, and vegetables. The main course then is all the raw steak cuts, 2 diff kinds of chicken, shrimp, ravioli, vegetables. And for dessert the TO DIE FOR chocolate fondue which comes in many different flavors. My boyfriend and I always get the Smores one which is milk chocolate fondue and you can dip marshamallows, graham crackers, brownie bits, strawberries, etc. It takes a while to get you food and to cook it so be prepared to spend at least an hour and a half here but hey get to know your date then right!!? Servivce is good food is good, damnit its just all good!

This place is pretty yummy but it does take forever. Worth going there just for the dessert. In fact I have done that before, gone elsewhere for dinner, didnt like that place’s dessert options and went to Melting Pot for the chocolate fondue. Otherwise, it is a bit out of my price range for me to spend the time cooking. Though the cheese is yummy too. And I can totally make a meal out of the cheese and dessert :)
It would get a fifth star if it didn’t scream DATE NIGHT every time I walked in there.

I like the food but can’t stand the little show & tell. They should have an option for «people who know how it works» so we could avoid the thorough description of the tools and the reminders not to touch the center of the table.
So when I feel like eating fondue and don’t feel like making it myself, I go to the Melting Pot and pray for patience so I can stand the entire presentation. For the most part, we always eat well there.
Disclaimer — there’s no way on earth you’re going to leave this place not smelling like fried beef so make sure you don’t wear a fancy coat or anything like that whenever you go.

I met some friends out for dinner — four of us — to round out into «couples» since that’s how they price their meals. Am I the only one who thinks that’s strange?
We got the «Big Night Out» Fondue Feast. It had fillet, balsamic marinated sirloin, garlic herb chicken, white shrimp, mushroom ravioli and roasted red pepper rigatoni along with a medley of fresh veggies. All OK but I felt like they were so heavily marinated that you couldn’t even taste the meat. And the whole cook it yourself thing… our waitress took like ten minutes to explain the rules — this before that and never use this with that… bla, bla, bla.
My favorite part and honestly the only reason to go back… chocolate! They don’t just have plain old chocolate but — cookies and cream marshmallow dream and turtle and it’s all yummy goodness. We managed to talk our waitress into bringing us two pots of chocolate so we could try more than one flavor and I’m so glad we did!
Bottom line — dinner is about a 5 but bring on the chocolate — that’s a big 10!

This was the only place open for my husband’s birthday on xmas day… or did we go xmas eve? Whatever, even McDonalds was closed so it was primo holiday time. Nice novelty, but I felt like I could’ve cooked at home… when I go out, I want to be served cooked food, I don’t want to wait. This really wouldn’t have been my choice but hey, they were the only game in town. I may go back one day, I may not, it’s ok but not THAT impressive.

fondue is so romantic… so this place is really nice for romantic dates. definitely not the best place for a first date because it takes forever for your food to cook and eat… there could be a lot of awkward silences and such. hehe. not fun.
the reason why i gave it 4 stars is because it does take forever to cook and eat. i’m impatient. hehe. but it was worth the wait with the sprinkles of uncomfortable silences.
it’s also pretty pricey and i consider myself a cheap date. ;)
so, guys, save up your nickels and dimes to take your special lady for a romantic night of fondue fondling!