By Sophia Muroff (’18)
The Melting Pot is a restaurant chain located in La Jolla where diners can enjoy several styles of fondue as well as a variety of salads and entrees. The restaurant is appropriate for any occasion, whether it’s a date, a birthday celebration, a night out with friends, or a regular dinner. The Melting Pot prides itself on being a place where people can have an interactive dining experience and create memorable moments with family and friends.
The evening begins when a waiter brings a bowl filled with fondue ingredients to the table. Diners enjoy the mesmerizing experience of watching the cheese melt atop the stove that is built into the table before spearing their food and drowning it in fresh fondue. The service is excellent; waiters are very friendly and check back in periodically after the fondue has been made.
The Wisconsin Cheddar fondue is a rich, melt-in-your-mouth classic that will leave diners wanting more. The elasticity of the cheese in combination with the vast array of dipping options makes each bite unique and the dish especially fun to eat. Each fondue on the menu is served with artisanal breads, seasonal fruits, and veggies for dipping. The green apple, however, overpowers the delicious taste and luxurious texture of the cheese.
The Flaming Turtle is a decadent and velvety dessert fondue that, as with all other dessert fondues, is served with fresh strawberries, blondies, bananas, pineapple, marshmallow treats, pound cake, and brownies. This fondue is made from milk chocolate, caramel, and candied pecans. Amber Bartlett (‘18) commented, “It tastes like you mixed a pot of caramel and hot chocolate together.” Though extremely rich, the chocolate used for The Flaming Turtle isn’t too thick so it’s perfect for dipping.
Making reservations is an easy and painless experience because it is done through their website and the restaurant is large and seats many. One downside of The Melting Pot is that the food is on the pricier side and there aren’t a lot of vegan options. There are, however, plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options and the friendly staff adds to the overall ambiance of the restaurant. For those who can look past the price, this is a dining experience not to be missed.
The Lions' Den 