Got our waters after 25 mins of waiting. How is this place still running? Also the manager had the audacity to ask us if we're 21. Is this not a family restaurant? He didn't even have the courtesy to ask if we wanted drinks. Pathetic place. If I hadn't been with one of my best friends, I would have walked the hell out.
(1)
Fiona L.
Definitely a good one time experience for the four course meal, but I wouldn't come back for it again. Though I would come back just for the cheese or chocolate fondue or both! The entree was not all that tasty as the quality of the meats were average. The steak was so bland and tasteless since it's cut in cubes but not marinated. For the price on the entree portion of the four course meal, it's just not worth it! I rather go to an asian hot pot restaurant for that. Yes, I would say that the dim lighting exuding its romantic and cozy fine dining feel may be where the price of the meal is going towards, but still, it's not worth it! Cause with the four course meal and a drink, each person can easily drop a $100, which can be just as expensive as a one michelin star four course meal. The chocolate and cheese fondues are much more delicious and fun! It's literally impossible to go wrong with dipping fresh fruits in chocolates! Also, the last time we still had a lot of chocolate left, we asked to order a plate a strawberries, but our waitress gave us a plate for free! How nice! Definitely check out the flaming turtles!
(3)
Elizabeth L.
Our server Joseph was great! He was extremely attentive and polite. We could tell he was trying to give us enough time to enjoy ourselves and talk, but also was trying to make sure our food came in a timely manner. We really appreciated the fantastic service that he gave us. The one thing we didn't like was that the manager kept coming to our table and turning our fondue pots on or off. We didn't like that he was messing with the pots when we felt like Joseph was taking great care of us. It happened so often that we felt that the manager's presence was overbearing and unwanted.
(3)
Morgan M.
So disappointing. We came tonight (Monday) and the restaurant was really quite empty however also understaffed as two waiters told us. It took us 45 minutes to get our appetizer as the stove top was never turned on. When the server came back to check on us he realized he didn't turn the stove on so did so. Or so he thought. It never turned on. There was roughly 10-15 minutes between each visit from our server followed by about 1000 "I'm sorry". Normally I'm very empathetic but this was ridiculous. Every single table in our line was complaining about a different problem. We didn't even get anything comped despite the ridiculous wait times. $75 for cheese app and dinner entree. Whole meal took 2 hours and 15 minutes. Bummed. We won't be going back. What's more is that one of our pieces of cauliflower was moldy and the dips were crusty as if they had been left in the fridge uncovered. Gross.
(1)
Shefali A.
We went with our friends for Dinner and the service was horrible. We waited for over 2 hours for our main course and finally decided to cancel the order as it was getting late. We just asked for s check and to our surprise the bill was $400 which included the food that we never received. We were adamant not to pay for food we never ate and just paid for drinks and appetizers. We started walking out and the waiters blocked the doors and would not let us out till the entire amount was paid. We had little sleepy kids with us as we were not allowed to leave. This is the worst restaurant ever and we will never go back here.
(1)
Michael D.
I can only say that I was extremely disappointed after my last trip here. I had only ever come to "The Melting Pot" for a chocolate fondue course as dessert and remember being very impressed when the location first made its debut in Somerville. A few months ago I returned with friends, after a delicious meal the town over, promising them dessert greatness. What I got was embarrassment as to how much I had hyped this place only to find a dirty, sticky location with odd odors wafting this way and that and a tired, unprofessional staff, who were, while very nice, not going out of their way to make the experience filled with the glamorous, fondue sensationalism that I remember.
(2)
Jennifer T.
I think people have a love/hate relationship with this place. We decided to try it because there was a Groupon deal. It's definitely pricey but we were full when we left. We did the cheese course with the artichoke dip, the regular broth for the meats course and the chocolate peanut butter for dessert (they ran out of the chocolate raspberry that was our first choice). The thing we found most funny was cooking the meats and keeping track of the timing as we had to use the timer feature on our cell phones. The cheese with the artichokes is just phenomal and I would've dipped the meats in it too if I could. For the meats course the filet mignon was delicious boiled with the teriyaki sauce. The only thing we wouldn't necessarily get again would be the chicken dumplings - not that they were bad but the meats were just so much better. We also had the seasoned pork, shrimp and mushroom dumplings. Dessert was just decadent with all the fruits and sweets to dip. You can't go wrong with strawberries, bananas and pineapples in chocolate. I would've like more pineapple - there was only two somewhat small pieces. The chocolate and peanut powder covered marshmallows- amazing. All in all we would go back again as it was a fun dinner activity.
(4)
Gale M.
A fun evening for a group, but a lot of money for relatively little food. Dessert was the highlight of the meal.
(2)
Zulay V.
written by my guy, for guys: This review is long overdue...the melting pot is the punch line to so many jokes and I often use it as a reference to getting ripped off anywhere. Back in 2009 2010 sometime around then I went to the melting pot. Dinner for 2 was 200.00 after tip. I was sick to my stomach leaving, not because of the food, but because of the price and what I actually paid for...we left starving. You dip some bread, some meat, some strawberries and leave. I went to Wendy's after I left because I was so hungry. Do not let your significant other talk you into this. Furthermore, if she (or he, thats cool too) is begging to go, thats a relationship red flag. They dont value money or your money if they beg for this place, this was proven true in my case!! Its a complete ripoff and tourist type of trap. 200.00 and I left hungry...I still joke about it 5-6 years later.
(1)
Casey J.
The first time going and most definitely the last! Short story - THE WORST service I have ever experienced. We never even got water delivered to our table. We left and went to a WAY better place (Yutaka Hibachi & Steakhouse) (Go get yourself hibachi...seriously, you won't be disappointed!) Long story - We had reservations for 6 to celebrate my friend's 29th birthday. When I walked in the hostess saw me, proceeded to walk away (to seat a party) but never said anything like "One moment, I'll be right with you." As I'm waiting up front a server appeared and he ignored me for about a minute and then said "Oh the hostess will be back eventually." So I'm still waiting and I decide to go to the bathroom. When I return a different hostess is up front and she too ignored me. At this point 4 out of the 6 from our party were present and we were seated. The 2 others that came were treated rudely when they asked to join the party. We all sat at the table for about 10 minutes before a waiter showed up. I could barely hear how unenthusiastic he was. He was also not familiar with the menu. We all ordered water. Another 10 minutes goes by and nothing. I suppose he was milking the cow...... We decided to leave because of the awful experience. As we walked past the hostess we were going to be polite enough to let them know we were leaving, however, the hostess never even looked up or paid attention to 6 people standing in front of her. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME, MONEY OR EFFORT ON THIS LOUSY PLACE!
(1)
Michelle P.
I've been to other melting pots before and always loved it but this location isn't the best. Went for dessert and as we were eating we realized the chocolate wasn't even warm - our server didn't even turn on the heater, so we had to wait for it to get warm - it wasn't the same once the chocolate was already cool. Although they did give us some "special" extra desserts to make up for the mistake it was still disappointing.
(2)
Stefanie V.
I love the Melting Pot, but was a little disappointed when they started changing their menu and taking off some of my favorites. Then I found Somerville. They have all my favorites (yay Fiesta cheese), PLUS the new stuff, which is how a restaurant should be. The wait staff is always friendly, it's a pretty large location, and it's in a great area. I can't wait to dip again!
(5)
Chris C.
A great idea that I'm happy somebody thought of. Plenty of different cheese dips with vegetables, apples & a salad to start the meal off...than comes your entree with your choice of cooking broth...the finale is an plate full of bite size cakes & fruits with your choice of chocolate dip. Do yourself a favor & study the menu before you order...everything's good, but there's a wide selection to choose from. FYI...the drinks are strong (most likely a double shot of liquor). There's little chance of leaving hungry or unhappy.
(4)
Amber H.
Great place to come if you're celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Look forward to coming here again.
(4)
John D.
Everything fondue and more, unfortunately everything ain't great including the price. Dipping pieces of meat, fruits and vegetable into warm cheesy and sweet and different types of dressings really triggers my inner kid to rear up and say "hmm hmm". I mean seriously what's not to like about fondue? It's messy. It's fun. It's gooey. And its a great group eating activity. Well let me tell ya something. Now of course the decor is clean and modern with almost a lounge type of a feel. Keep in mind this is a chain so they have a formula and each follows through from location location. The lights are very dim in fact great for a first date or couples, but I was there with kids that need to see the cheese and other gooey dips that we were about to dive into. We ordered combinations of fruit, veggie and meat dishes. Immediately noticed that the steak was not seasoned at all. Other than firing up a few of the fondue plates there wasn't anybody there really helping guide us through the process other than the initial introduction. So as expected mess and chaos ensued. Thank God they have a fairly extensive alcohol and martini menu, but he prepared to pay a premium which is clearly a theme here. A couple of specialty drinks a piece later along with a few apps & 3 different portions of fondue pushed $150.00, ouch. What did we get for it? Bland steak, some cut fruit & vegetables, gooey cheese, chocolate, kids covered in a rendition of a Picasso, inattentive service and a big ass bill. Nope I'm not a fan. My advice is to really study the menu to determine what you want and please ask questions. We will most likely not be back.
(2)
Marlo B.
THE ABSOLUTE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER! This was my FIRST and LAST time here! My boyfriend and I made reservations for 9:45pm wanting to try something new for Valentine's Day. Well we traveled 50 minutes here, only to be told we had to wait an additional 45 minutes to be seated when we had a RESERVATION! We finally got seated around 10:45pm.. Seated at a FILTHY table! The table was not even wiped down what so ever GROSS!!!! I'm starving by now, we order drinks and then come to find out its a SET MENU! No one informed me when I called to make this reservation, and I do not eat sea food and that's all it was pretty much. Didn't complain, just disappointed. Was served our salad course.. Did not receive any utensils and informed our waiter he then said oh I'm sorry I'll be right back (15 minutes later) he asks how's your salads I replied "I don't know we still don't have utensils." Finally got them and when the main course came out for TWO people at $75 a person it was on one plate that should be for ONE person. I ONLY HAD two little chunks of steak that was not even OKAY. Oh we also never got napkins! Desert: was okay but took about 15 mins for the chocolate to heat up. We were not offered any discount. All we received was 6 chocolate covered strawberries for free IN WHICH I CALLED AHEAD OF TIME FOR AND WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FREE. We did not leave there til ONE am!! NEVER AGAIN!!!!! AWFUL.
(1)
Yin L.
Disappointed. That about sums up our experience tonight. We like The Melting Pot, just not this one. Cheese Fondue: The temperature must not have been right, the cheese stayed lumpy. We waited and waited and waited... Entree: The entree was pretty good. A couple of items were overly seasoned, but overall we were happy with the entree. Dessert: Have you ever had a stale rice crispy treat? We did tonight. It's a little disgusting. To top it off, they wouldn't accept a gift certificate we had from a deal site. The certificate had no expiration date, and the manager didn't even offer an alternative. I would think it would be good business to offer a different amount off, or heck even a coupon for our next visit. Instead all we got was a statement of "we don't do business with them anymore" Well, that's not my problem is it? No, no it's not. So Melting Pot of Somerville, we aren't doing business with you anymore either.
(1)
Carla Z.
I got a living social for this place back in July. Tried to use it today and they refused it. Pretty shady business practices of you ask me. I have been to the Randolph, NJ location. Honestly, don't waste your time and money on this place. The food was overpriced as many of the reviews say below.
(1)
Claire L.
If it was up to be I would give melting pot 5 stars but I know my husband and a few other people don't love this place. I can't take my husband because he doesn't like it. He doesn't like to cook his own food that you pay $100 for! Lol. I think it's amazing. I love it. It's expensive and it's more like a special occasion restaurant then a normal Friday night quick bite. The melting pot experience takes a while. But it's worth it once and a while. I love the festa cheese and the turtle chocolate. Everything else I've had has been great too!! Need to place another girls night there!
(4)
Tamr A.
The food was great. The reason I'm giving it a two starts was because the service was terrible. We made reservations but we still had to wait an hour. What's even the point of the reservation? After we got seated, we waited for ten minutes before we even had a server introduce herself. Once we ordered the dessert came out quick, but that was the last we saw of our server for a long time. Bill took forever to come and took forever for her to bring back my card
(2)
Amanda g.
I used to have fondue parties at home with my bestie so I've been wanting to kick back and have all the work done for me for a long time. Went to MP last week with a couple girlfriends to celebrate our birthdays and had a great time! We ordered the Alpine cheese fondue and then the chocolate/peanut butter mashup for dessert. The Alpine bowl was OK - I would have liked more depth of flavor. Now that I know what to expect I'll order one of the more exciting cheese selections next time. The chocolate was stellar and the dips were so indulgent. Rice Krispies treats? Nutty marshmallows? What?? Service was excellent without being pushy and they let us linger after closing time. I'll def be back!
(4)
Daniel D.
Went here with my girlfriend for her birthday back in September. We purchased a living social voucher for it and decided to give it a go. Here's the breakdown. First impression: The atmosphere was nice and though it does feel a little narrow, it definitely felt like an upscale kind of place. I suddenly wished I wasn't in jeans and a t-shirt the moment I stepped in. Food: The cheese fondue was delicious. We had a blast dipping all varieties of veggies and bread into the pot. However, perhaps because it was my first experience with a hot pot, I didn't enjoy cooking the meat. We got trays with little pieces of seasoned meats and dipped them into the fondue pot for cooking. Although I wouldn't say that the final result is bland, you certainly don't feel like you're eating $18+ worth of meats. She ordered the orange duck and didn't like it hers very much. I enjoyed my pork medallions though I enjoyed it less every time I stopped to think about how much I was paying for them. This was followed by a creamy alcoholic beverage from the bar (that was kind of meh) and the salad's which asked to be given to at the end but were too full to eat at this point. By the end, we were full and wholly wished we'd opted to skip the entrees and just shot straight for the chocolate fondue's and maybe then I wouldn't have felt like I wasted a ton of money. I mean you can't go wrong with chocolate fondue right? Even with the voucher plus tip, between the two of us, $100 was still spent after making the choice to omit desserts. It was the most I'd ever spent on a meal. Service: What's keeping me from making this a completely negative review is that I can honestly say, the service was some of the best. Our waiter, who admitted he'd only been working there for 3 weeks, did an amazing job walking us through the process, giving us recommendations after we'd asked him, sent us the salads at the end like we'd asked, checked on us frequently, made great small talk, never rushed us even though it was past closing, and just made the whole experience almost seem like it was worth it. For once, I was happy to give a 20%+ tip. Advice to those planning on fonduing: skip the meats, go right for the cheeses and desserts and be prepared to spend a lot if you want to be full. The great service alleviates some of the pain of the expense.
(3)
Ashley M.
This is our go-to special occasion place. It's a unique experience and always delicious. For a romantic evening, those cute little tables in the back are perfect for cuddling. Yes, it's expensive but you will not leave hungry. You will need someone to roll you out the door in a wheelbarrow when you're finished here. Staff is friendly and they do not hover, so take your time and enjoy the experience.
(4)
Kiran D.
Worst place will melt your wallets that's all Overpriced overhyped worst Saturday night dinner was there with the whole family except the cheese course the entrees a total waste of money horrible service overall spent 2.5 hours watching frozen broth boil. I am really surprised how this kind of rip off stays in business my bill for family of 4 was $200
(1)
Gabrielle N.
My friends and I were regulars at Melting Pot Somerville for many years. Since we've had kids not so much but still 1-2 times a year as opposed to our usual 3-4 times. Last night we went for my birthday and I must say, I was disappointed for the first time. I am not sure if our server was new or just inexperienced but she was not friendly at all. She forgot our forks, forgot our napkins and when she put down the cooking broth for our entree she slammed it down on the table and it splashed all over everywhere. She did not even apologize but rather responded with "oh sorry did I burn you?" No but you got the broth all over my sleeves! The portion size of the cheese was half of what we used to get. I remember the pot being full last time I went. This time it was half full. They had a nerve to charge a $5 sharing fee for the entree this time (we didn't want to order 3 different entrees). Well the one entree consisted of 4 little bite size pieces of chicken, 4 pieces of beef and 4 raviolis about the size of a quarter! The chocolate dessert no longer comes with the slice of cheesecake. If you want it now you need to upgrade the dessert platter for an extra fee. The rice krispie treats served on the tray were also stale. The only redeeming qualities were the drinks were good and the free chocolate strawberries I got with my birthday coupon. My friend asked for some strawberries to go to be added to the bill and the waitress (most likely trying to recover from not being on her game) comped the berries for my friend. Which is the reason I gave 2 stars instead of just 1. I would like to say to the owner/manager of this Somerville franchise, as I hope it is perhaps just this location and not all of them that have taken a turn for the worst, is this: Improvement is needed! The way things used to be were much better. You have raised your prices, charging per person rather than per pot of food AND you are making your portion sizes SMALLER. Things you used to include as basic are now extra. You are going to lose customers, especially long time customers who remember how much better it used to be. And please express the importance to your servers about being on their game. I know it is not the server's fault your prices and portions are unfair but the unfriendliness and sloppiness of service is also going to hurt you as well. I am sad to say that as a loyal and regular customer I am done with you and won't be back.
(2)
Michelle M.
Pretty expensive for a very mediocre experience. The cheese was the best part, otherwise the entrees were less than memorable. The waiter dropped some of the food in our drinks and just shrugged it off like nothing. Otherwise, the service was okay. It really was an -eh- experience overall. Doubt I'll go back.
(3)
Neha M.
Plus: Dessert is fun and tasty I have been here a few times and the food has always been mediocre. The food is too overpriced for its quality. However, it is a great place for dessert, especially a great place for couples or a date night. But NOT good for a main course! Negative: Bad Customer Service I probably will not visit them anymore due to their lack of customer service. I called and the person who answered the phone spoke too quickly and I had no idea what he was saying. Once he slowed down I asked him for a reservation for dessert. He told me there was availability late that night and I was transferred to someone to make the reservation. The lady I was transferred to told me that I could not make a reservation for dessert. To unorganized and frustrating for me. So many other places for dessert that having to go through so much trouble is just not worth it.
(2)
Tara M.
Like many other reviewers, my husband and I decided to try it for my birthday. We knew, going in, that it was more for the experience than the food itself and that it wouldn't be cheap (glad we read the reviews). We decided to go early on a Sunday when it was not going to be as crowded. This was a good decision, even though we noticed at the end of our meal that they had played the same Whitney Houston CD on loop twice. I'm thankful it wasn't Celine Dion or Michael Bolton, but they could have mixed it up more. I guess they were trying to create a romantic atmosphere. Instrumental Jazz would have been a better choice. We saw the sign out front for the $23.95 deal, but found out when we asked the waiter that this was cheese, salad and chocolate. We felt we wanted some meat and ordered the 4-course experience, which was a mistake (more on that later). Started with the spinach/artichoke cheese with garlic. It was delicious. The cheese sticks to the bread easier than the fruit and veggies. Next I got the land and sea while my husband got some other combo with sausage. I was concerned about combining all those different raw meats and shrimps in the same pot. Hubby had to run to the bathroom mid-way through, but didn't tell me it was a run for the border because he didn't want to ruin my birthday. I had a glass of wine, which might have killed the bacteria and I didn't have those problems. Anyway, the cooking of raw meats and shrimps was tedious and not really worth it. They were basically boiled and you dipped them in something tasty but it was overall just odd. It might have been better if we just got cooked food with dipping sauces. It just wasn't my thing. The cheese course was fun and good because it was all cooked. The chocolate S'mores fondue for dessert was a nice treat. Service: I can't say anything bad about the service. We were there when it wasn't busy. I've learned over the years that when restaurants are crowded and servers are stressed, you don't get great service, so I would not try this on a Saturday night. If I ever tried this again, I'd skip the raw meats. Cheese and chocolate all the way. Yes, the other reviewers are right - it's very expensive and you're paying for the experience. I would definitely not take young children here and would not want to do this in a group, having too many folks dipping into the same pot is too much to ask of this germophobe. I think it's best for couples and it's a nice treat for a birthday or anniversary, but I couldn't see making this a regular dining out destination. Edited to add: our server's recommendation on cooking times for meats was off. 1.5 min for shrimp and 3-5 for meats barely did it. We used our phone's timer and put the meats back in longer. Especially the chicken.
(3)
Kelly O.
First and only time I will ever dine in this place. The place is poorly lit and the tables look rather dirty. The food selection is not bad however the artisan bread that is described in the menu is stale chunks of Italian bread. The chocolate fondue was not bad however leaves a terrible feeling in your stomach after. I went with two friends and all of us got sick that night.
This was our second visit. I had a vague recollection that the last time we loved the cheese fondue, but didn't care for the entree. That was exactly what happened this time. The fondue (we selected Classic Alpine) was excellent with a nice assortment of breads, apples and raw vegetables. Next time we'll ask them to blanch or steam the vegetables first. The carrots, cauliflower and broccoli were just too raw for our liking. The salads (California) was perfect in all ways. The entrees, however, were a disaster. We selected the Mojo cooking style, following the suggestion of the waiter. It was far too vinegary to enjoy. The process of needing to cook chunks (not thin slices) of raw meets at the table meant that we needed to use the timers on our cell phones - and that meant the entire meal was about watching a clock and testing the meat/poultry to see if it was done. Next time: I will skip the meat course and just enjoy the cheese and salad. The mixed drinks were creative and tasty. The service was polite but not frequently seen. The bill was brought to me while all of the dishes were still on the table, which seemed odd. The best part of the meal - my wife looking gorgeous as ever.
(3)
Liz B.
Took my daughter for dinner. A $43 four course "meal" that was good but we left still feeling hungry. Started with a half a bowl of cheese with hard bread for dipping. Apples and veggies were okay. Salad was okay - again very small. Entree was a joke! Ordered the classic - 3 shrimp, 3 tiny cubes of chicken, 2 tiny cubes of pork, 3 small slivers of teriyaki steak, 2 small slices of sirloin. Small bowl of veggies and some dipping sauces. Chocolate was good - small plate of dippers - 2 small pieces of each dipper (I had to ask for a little more just so we could finish the chocolate). They previously gave cheesecake with the dessert dippers. Now it's an extra $6 for s small slice. We drank only water and $60 later (total for a four course meal plus tax and tip) I went home and ate a half a bagel. Portion size is minuscule for the price. I'm not a cheap person by any means but these prices for the amount given is a joke. I don't have a huge appetite either and neither does my daughter - so this should have satisfied us. Not even close!!! Server was nice, food taste is okay - nothing special - but the price and portion sizes are just ridiculous! The place is s RIP OFF! I won't go back again. Very disappointing. Next time I want a cheese fondue, I'll buy a bag of shredded cheese a FRESH loaf of bread, an apple and some raw veggies and make my own at home for approx $5 - that will make triple what we received!! Seriously - don't waste your money! The experience is fun.....until the bill arrives and you're still hungry. Just not worth it!
(1)
Jessica O.
A group of us went here for a birthday party. I was a little surprised that nothing was done by the wait staff to acknowledge the birthday girl. Regardless, we had a wonderful time and experienced great service. This is definitely a good place to go with a group. We did the 4 course dinner option. The cheese was good even for those who were not cheese people. I honestly do not understand why there was even a salad option and really think it's not fitting for the theme of the restaurant. Half our salads where tomatoes which was strange. The entree was decent and the chocolate was good. I just think after all our courses we were a little too full to enjoy the dessert. Overall it was a good experience and fitting for a special occasion. Next time I would probably just skip the salad and the entree not worth the price.
(3)
Nicole H.
It was really not good. Bad atmosphere, unfriendly hostess, staff you could hear fighting. The portions were tiny the sauces made no sense with the flavor of the food and the price..christ on a cracker! 80 for two people. Luckily i had a groupon. Still...yuk. don't bother!
(1)
Giovanni A.
I went here a while back with two friends. The three of us were not satisfied at all when we left this place. We have passed this place tons of times and had always wanted to eat there so one night we decided to make reservations and we went. We enjoyed the cheese dip as the appetizer with the pieces of bread and fruit and everything. And the dessert was FANTASTIC. But the dinner, we did not enjoy at all. They give you little raw pieces of meat and fish and you have to stick it in the pot and let it cook for 7 minutes or more depending on what it is. I prefer to have my lobster steak chicken or whatever it is I'm eating, cooked on my plate ready for me to dig in. I thought that they give you the food cooked and you dip it in like a homemade marinade or homemade cheese in the pot. But no, you cook it yourself. I had to wait like 7 minutes or more to eat two pieces of shrimp. It was ridiculous and we did not enjoy it. We contemplated going to McDonald's after we left because we were so hungry. The bathrooms were also very filthy and reminded me of a Chinese restaurants bathroom I've been to in NYC. It was gross. I won't ever go back here again and neither will my friends. If I ever do try it out again I will go to one in a different location, such as Philly. *Also, we got the suggested basic broth to dip our dinner in. And everything tasted the same and the broth did not even taste good with some of the things we got. Such as the lobster. Everything tasted the same. We REALLY did not enjoy the dinner. The dessert we would maybe go back for.
(2)
Debbie A.
As everyone else says, the place is overpriced. We went because we had a gift card. We had the 4 course meal. Bread/cheese fondue was very good, but not enough cheese for the amount of bread, veggies and fruit. Then the salad came, which we could have passed on. So-so. The entree was a mixed fare of beef, chicken pork and shrimp to dip in a wine and broth. The dessert was the best course; who doesn't love chocolate? The service was, put simply, curt and efficient. The waiter was all business, not much charm. If we return, it will most likely be for the bread and dessert courses only.
(3)
Clif S.
We've been coming here for over 10 years for special occasions and have always enjoyed the atmosphere, service and staff's ability to really make their customers feel like the money was well spent. This year is the first time we've really felt like something has changed in the overall operation of the restaurant. Our server was pleasant and polite, and generally good. However, a busboy and other support staff were constantly coming by checking in "are you finished, can I take that?" before we had even had time to get halfway through a course. We also kept getting asked by other servers if they could get us anything like a drink, and anytime we said yes -- it was promptly forgotten. We came here for an Anniversary, reserved it with a note on our reservation, and even confirmed it with the hostess... but instead of the normal box of chocolates or card --- nothing was said or done about the occasion. At the end of the night, I pulled the manager aside and relayed our experience to him along with the fact that we were multi-year customers -- and basically was given the response "That's too bad that you had a negative experience, we'll try better next time" -- no real concern or apology whatsoever. Truly disappointing --- we'll probably be moving on to another restaurant for our special occasions in the future.
(2)
Robert H.
Now I usually give this place 4+ stars for Somerville However made a reservation for 9 with the kids and wife just for dessert. Took 15 minutes to see a waiter. Then took until 936pm to get 2 coffees and 2 hot chocolates. Did I mention that we came for dessert. Pretty simple in my book. It's a Saturday eve and the placed in far from "packed" ordered the banana foster and smores and I see that 2 plates for the dessert (aka the medley that will be dipped) and no fondue. Now at 944pm dessert is ready. One bad experience. A shame since this was the 1st time for our boys.
(2)
Carmen R.
I have been to the Melting pot in Farmingdale NY many times and loved it! I always go for Happy Hour and get a cheese fondue and end with a chocolate fondue. They usually have Happy Hour specials Monday - Friday from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. until closing. $6 cheese & chocolate fondues (per person) $5 select red and white wines by the glass $5 glass of red sangria/$20 pitcher $4 draft beers (excluding Delirium Tremens - $6) $5 well drinks (includes Svedka, Bacardi, Jim Beam and more!) Plus - specials on our Small Plates menu! Now that I live in Somerville I was so excited to see that we have a local Melting Pot. Whomp Whomp! They dont have the same specials as NY. I thought they would because Melting Pot is a franchise. Big disappointment. Somerville Melting Pot is expensive and not worth it. I rather go to NY and get the specials.
(2)
Kat M.
Went here for a bday dinner and it was pretty good. It was very loud and crowded but the food was good. The cheese fondue app was good, and so was the California salad with the candied pecans with Gorgonzola! YUM! For the main entree I had the Land & Sea which was filet mignon, chicken breast, and shrimp. The dessert was AMAZING. 'Nuff said.
(4)
Joey B.
A very cool place, be ready to drop about $150.00 or more for 4 people. The food is good and the concept is unique. You cannot eat here without having the fondue dessert. I recommend this place if you are looking to try something very different. My kids love this place.
(5)
Jeff M.
Went here with my girl, my brother and my brother's girl for a nice little dinner. Its not my first time in The Melting Pot, I have been in the one in Weehawken. This one im reviewing is for the Somerville location. We decided to go with the cheese fondue appetizer: Cheddar Cheese Fondue Aged, medium-sharp Cheddar and Emmenthaler Swiss cheeses, lager beer, garlic and seasonings. This came with two different kinds of breads cut in small squares and apples cut in small pieces. This was delicious, I love cheddar cheese especially, mixed with Sam Adams beer. WHAT!!!! We were really there for dessert, so we skipped the entree and went straight for the Chocolate Fondue! We ordered: Yin & Yang Half dark chocolate and half white chocolate artfully swirled for a perfect balance of flavors...But went with Half Dark Chocolate and Half Milk Chocolate. Our waitress Viviana was nice enough to switch it for us. Request for her if you're ever there. Shes sweet and nice and will ask any questions with a smile. She was one of the best waitresses Ive had by far ;) The chocolate fondue came with: Cheesecake, brownies, red velvet cupcake squares i think, chocolate dipped marshmallow, regular marshmallow, and my favorite rice crispies treat!!! We were all in sugar high after, but it was well WORTH it!!! It was a great night.
(5)
Leslie M.
My husband and I eat here for special occasions and we have never been let down by the quality or the service. It's a bit pricey but we understand that when we go in. The atmosphere is wonderful and the lighting is dim enough to feel intimate in the booth but bright enough to see your food well. The servers always have a smile on their faces and are very pleasant and helpful. The seats in the booths could use some revamping tho. One of the seats had a tear in it, another time the seat was a little loose and wobbly but it didn't ruin anything. We always do the four course meal and end up leaving stuffed and happy, but not gross. It's a good experience, expect to spend at least $100 per couple, more if you buy drinks and at least an hour and a half but the experience is well worth it.
(4)
Annie V.
Was a unique experience. Quality of food is exceptional and the booth we were seated at was very private, it made for a romantic evening but ultimately we ended up being a bit impatient when hunger kicked in as the fondue dinner took quite some time to cook. Very pricey for having to cook your own meal. Once in a lifetime thing for me.
(3)
Dan W.
You either like the melting pot or you dont thats how it is. People complain about paying for cooking their food. You're paying for the experience and the meat is high quality. This is the only location I have been to so I have to explore to get a better picture of melting pot and I am sure there are better locations out there. The cheese fondue is unbelievable. Got the spinach and artichoke last time and it was F'in nuts. Chocolate fondue is out of this world too and they give you oreo crusted marshmallows, fruit, rice krispies, cheesecake, etc... to dip in it. 5 stars for cheese and chocolate, 3 stars for the meat fondue, but not enough to warrant an overall 5 stars. Service is good and the waitstaff is very friendly. Great place for dates and they have intimate booths where you sit next to your partner in dim lighting. I hate corny stuff but whatever screw it. I will agree it is overpriced but show me another fondue spot thats cheaper and dont tell me to book my ass a flight to Switzerland.
(4)
Diego S.
It was Valentines Day. I made a reservation for 10 p.m. (since they did not have any earlier ones). I reserved for the top Valentines Day package which included romantic seating with roses and champagne. When we got there and told them we made reservations, they made us wait for over 20 minutes. When they finally sat us down it was not even close to romantic. They sat us in a double family booth table, with no low lighting , flowers or candles. I waited for the roses that i had reserved for , but again, they never came. I asked the waiter about it, and he brought the manager who told us there had been a mix up and somebody else had received our package so there was nothing left for us. They told us that there were no roses left but surprisingly we saw kids walking out with roses while we were waiting for our table. Another thing i would like to point out is that when the manager came to talk to us, the waiter interrupted our conversation and sent him away saying to not listen to him and that "he is just a crazy french guy"; we found this very unprofessional and it meant that our disappointments never got resolved. By the way, this little night of disappointment totaled $190.00
(2)
Kelly Z.
First, the management hear really tries to get things moving, but the staff aways comes up short. On all of my visits, managers have spontaneously stopped by our table to ask for feedback, and the complaint is always the same: service is too darn slow! It should not take 2 hours for a 2 course dinner, when at best 1/2 hour is spent inhaling the food. Don't even bother with the fish/meat/chicken section. This is what holds up every meal, and it is underwhelming. Stick to cheese and chocolate! I am always happy with the swiss and chedder. Adding wine and beer gives then both a kick, but the cheeses are also fine withhout them. Keep your eyes out for their facebook/coupon deals to keep the price in check.
(3)
Tamara S.
I always enjoy going here when I either want to catch up with friends or have a romantic night with the hubs. It's quiet, you are never rushed (dinner almost always takes 3 hours) and it's casual. The mojo cooking style is by far the best. The cheese is delicious. My husband prefers a large steak rather than small pieces of meat that he has to cook himself, but he continues to go as he loves the dessert haha. I have never had a waiter/waitress that was not friendly here. If you have never been there, definitely try it at least once, as it is different than most of the other restaurants around.
(4)
Tiffany F.
The food was excellent, our waiter was stellar, and the drinks were great. The only reason I did not give Five Stars is because I made a reservation for four two weeks prior to visiting and requested a table that had two cook tops. I didn't reserve two because I just wanted my own pot, but I am highly allergic to shellfish. When I made the reservation, whoever it was that answered the phone said it was no problem. When we arrived we were sat at a table withonly one cook top. I brought up that I made the reservation two weeks ago and then they simply told me "We cannot guarantee that you will get a double cook top on a Saturday." Why didn't they tell me that when I called? Why didn't a manager at least come over and say something? Luckily everyone at my table agreed not to order shellfish, but I felt bad and it ruined our experience. I most likely won't go back for dinner again. There are plenty of other (less expensive) places nearby and the chocolate fondue was the best part anyway.
(3)
Laura M.
I brought my daughter Friday night and have to say it was the best experience I've had at a restaurant in a very long time. Started with a small blip with my reservation but was immediatly taken care of and the manager was awesome!! He took care of us and followed up with complimentary cocktail. Very classy move which unfortunately you Never see in any restaurant in NJ. The bartender Beck is the best bartender ever. I would come back just for his drinks. Friendly, knowledgable, professional and the best Cosmo I've ever had. The service was the best I've ever experienced. Joe and Jared, I was actually at this restaurant twice in two weeks, the best servers, totally proffesional, knew ever single aspect of the menu. This fact alone is astonishing ever restaurant you go to now the staff is so poorly trained they don't even bother to learn the menu. Joe and Jared both were enough for me to keep coming back. The cheese fondue is amazing worth every penny, perfectly balanced and delicious. Salads great, entree was great, we had filet mignon, sirloin, shrimp and the ravioli all were excellent. The dessert worth the calories, do not miss the expertly done chocolate. If you're looking for a beautiful night, relaxed and gorgeous atmosphere this is the place to go.
(5)
Ryan N.
Its the melting pot. Commercial fancy-ness. IF you like cheese fondue go, and the chocolate fondue is the best. Be prepared to spend a penny or two on this meal though. Its all about the experience. Overall the Somerville location was nice. Waiter was friendly and helpful. No complaints! Great for a date.
(3)
Daniel M.
Took two of my daughters there. First time fondue for them, and they loved it. The place is NOT cheap by any means, so keep it in mind for special occasions, but the service was great, the cheese fondue was spot on, and the dessert was incredible.
(4)
Leean O.
I've been here years ago where things didnt feel right. I've been back since and finally the place feels like it has had a turn around. Jared our server was very good at making the customer feel at home, he came by often to make sure everything was in place without being annoying or overbearing. The guy has a pageant smile and made our group feel like we were family eating at home.
(4)
Bianca C.
My BF took me here on a double date, it was our first time... Pros: 1. Unique experience & worth trying once. 2. The cheese is cheese is yummy! 3. Recommend California Salad 4. The chocolate is excellent! U can't go wrong with any pick. 5. Yin-Yang Martini is 2 die for. (recommend an x-tra shot of vodka or u might as well give it 2 ur child as dessert) 6. Chocolate fondu Martini is 2 die 4! (read #5) Cons: 1. The ratio between mushrooms & food is a lot off! 2. EXPENSIVE! 3. They didn't have the beer, the cheese, or the salad of our choice. (No discount offered or incentive 2 return) 4. EXPENSIVE! 5. Once u put the meat in the broth, everything taste the same. In a nut shell, this is a cool place. Do not go with a large party or u will all end up looking at each other when the bill comes. For example, my BF's friends probably didn't think my exotic Martinis were too cute at this point. LOL! Lucky my BF always has it under control. Thanx BEB!
(2)
Sara V.
My friends took me here to celebrate my 30th about a month ago. The server was AWKWARD. There's no other way to put it. He stood around after we'd ordered trying to drum up conversation. We even earned nicknames including "Icing" and "Cupcake". He didn't make recommendations at all and didn't check on us to see how we were. The food was OK. It's The Melting Pot - what can you expect? Call me a food snob if you will, but it was sub par. We started with salads. I had the spinach salad. It looked like they cut open a bag of pre-made salad and dumped it on a plate. We then moved on to our 2nd course. The cheese fondue of the month was DISGUSTING. It had beer in it, which made the oil separate from the cheese. Blech. On top of that, the beer overwhelmed the flavor of the cheese itself. Now, it's dinner time! We're ready to grub. Maybe. The portions are ridiculously small for what they charge you. I had to eat when I got home I was so hungry. We all had a variety of entrees from vegetarian to surf and turf and it was equal all across the board. The dessert was awesome but hello, it's chocolate. YUM. If you're new to fondue, give it a whirl.... but I'd look for other places first!
(3)
Sunia T.
Three stars because I usually love the melting pot. This one in particular would have been a horrid experience if I did not have good company. Bruised strawberries and stale brownies combined with slow and rude service was unexpected from melting pot. It took at least 30 minutes for our bill to arrive and while splitting it, the waitress stated it was an "odd request", I'm pretty sure bills are split regularly with large parties. Needless to say, I won't be coming to this location again. 5 stars from me for the locations in Philadelphia and King of Prussia, PA, they do not disappoint.
(3)
Roger T.
The idea of having to work for my meal seemed a little weird to me, but doing it with friends made me forget. Had a great time and the food was great. Make sure you order the chocolate.
(5)
X M.
not a fan. People are nice but it does not worth the price.
(3)
Rebecca D.
Went here with a group for a birthday. It was a fun and different experience. I recommend it for doing something special or to experience something different. We had a group rate that included 3 fondues and salad. We were there for over 3 hours, but it did not feel like that long. It was expensive, even with the group rate, which is why I don't recommend it as a regular place to go (except maybe for the dessert only). I do wish the place could be byob, the main reason for 4 and not 5 stars, because the drinks were way over priced. The idea of bringing our own wine increase the chances of us going back. Otherwise, service was great, place was clean. I really enjoyed it!
(4)
David S.
I've gone here a couple times with my girlfriend and the food has always been great. I love that dessert is included with The Big Night Out meal. I saved a few $$ using a $25 coupon from Restaurant.com that I paid $2 for. I would like to see this place on OpenTable sometime soon.
(4)
Dan E.
I'm not going to lie - my wife has been trying to get me to come here for a while now and I have always been against it for some reason. We had dinner in Somerville and decided to stop over here to have some dessert. I had never been to the Melting Pot or any fondue restaurant before. We walked in a little past 9pm and there was actually a wait for a table. I was a little surprised to see that - I guess reservations are a must? They do have a bar with about 3 microbrews on tap - except for 1 patron, the bar was totally empty. In about 10 minutes, we were seated at one of the booths. It was a pretty private booth and you have the mini stove on the table to keep your fondue hot (not sure if that's the correct description). We decided to go with their original chocolate fondue. It was a chocolate sauce/fondue with some peanut butter in it. They also give you a plate of different desserts to dip into your fondue. There was strawberries, bananas, brownies, cakes, rice krispie treats, etc. You get the picture. I must say that it was pretty good. It was definitely something different and unique for us to do. Everything we tasted was good - it wasn't phenomenal but I can understand that you are paying a little bit for the experience here. I especially liked dipping the strawberries - nothing like chocolate covered strawberries. I did see some people eating dinner, and I actually think I am curious enough to give this place another shot for dinner. I would definitely go back to do dessert again. The menu is also a little confusing, but I may have just not read it correctly. The dessert we ordered was $8.95 (which I thought was incredibly cheap). I guess they charge you per person, because it showed up as twice that on the bill. But, that does make sense for the amount of food we received. Just a friendly tip for people to be aware of that. So...it's a cool place and other people must agree because the place had a wait after 9pm. I'm sure that I will be back.
(3)
Brett O.
I surprised my fiance by taking her here for her birthday as she always talked about this place. The environment was intimate for couples and seemed private despite having other patrons seated within your view. We being new to the experience were glad the server was very helpful and explained how everything worked. We decided on a trio (appetizers, dinner, dessert). The experience was different than the normal since your really cooking your own food but it was fun to try in this setting. The amount of food you get isn't huge but it's actually fulfilling enough ate the end of the meal. As for the food itself it was very tasty. The biggest down side to this place was it was very expesive, expect to spend 80 bucks for two people without drinks. If your looking for a romantic night with a twist this might be it.
(4)
Tiffany C.
After hearing about this place from a friend, I finally went about a month ago. First, I'll start by saying that the experience is what got this place the first star. We had so much fun just cooking our food in front of us! The second star is for the privacy that the tables offer. It's a nice place if you want a little more seclusion with your dinner. Now on to the food. While I wasn't wowed by our first few courses, the last course, which was the dessert, was INCREDIBLE, earning The Melting Pot it's final star from me. The chocolate fondue is simply amazing!!! I think I would go back JUST for the dessert and probably the cheese. Beware, it is kind of pricey, so anticipate a high bill if you're looking to do one of the four course meals that they offer.
(3)
Olivia H.
My night began badly as I made a reservation for 7:00 PM, yet I was taken to my table by 7:30 due to a "delay." They also placed us at the first table, right behind the front desk, which caused some of us to feel the cold breeze from the doors. There were a couple of open tables further down, so I don't know why they didn't allow us to do there... Although it started out as a bad night, the waiter and environment was pretty nice. Our waiter was very energetic, fun, and knew what he was talking about. The restaurant itself is a bit cramped but nicely set up - it's not too casual, and not overly formal either. As for the cheese fondue and dessert, I give two thumbs up. Our first round was fantastic with vegetables, chips, bread, and apples to use to dip into the cheese. (I recommend the Fiesta cheese.) The dessert was wonderful - strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, cheesecake, and more to dip! The banana white chocolate was amazing. Sadly, the actual entree was disappointing - the food wasn't very special (and not to mention the high prices for every entree). I guess it's an interesting experience to "cook" your own food... but it wasn't very efficient with only one boiling pot of water to share with 4 other people. The only good part were the sauces. If it's your first time going to the melting pot and you have some money to spend, I actually do suggest you to check it out. It's fun as a first experience.
(3)
Claire Y.
The one star rating is for the slower-than-a-turtle-in-slow-motion service. We were seated at 6:30 at a booth. Told the waiter that we have a groupon (worth $95) and gave our drink orders of water and a bottle of wine. Twenty long minutes later, our waiter arrived with water and the bottle of wine. Since we had gotten a preview of slow service, I mentioned that we were pretty hungry and the waiter said that he would speed up the service. So we put in our cheese fondue and entree orders....and another thirty long minutes later, the cheese fondue arrived. The time between the cheese fondue and entree were not as bad, but it was now 8:30 and we really wanted to just leave, but we had chosen the option with the dessert fondue. After the waiter confirmed our dessert fondue, he was nowhere to be seen for another twenty minutes! We flagged someone down and they rushed the dessert to us. The check was the fastest thing they brought to our table where they decided to give themselves an 18% tip, which I would have not given. I paid to the last cent and went to a pizzeria down the street because the amount of food they give you here is the portion for a mouse.
(1)
Jorge T.
What can I say? I wish I could say this place was overprices but you walk away with a unique experience that makes you forget about the price and savor the memory. The fondue set up definitely sets the perfect mood for valentines day. The food is prepared extremely well and than you cook it to your delight. You have to try the ying yang martini with desert. You won't regret it. Get the catena malbec. 2007 was a great year.
(5)
James A.
Overrated! This place makes eating complicated and overly expensive. And this is coming from a person who never complains about paying for a fairly priced item.
(2)
Hugo E.
So I took the GF here for her bday as an attempt at a new experience and some fondue - and we hit a good one! OWTR!!!! Decoration: Okay well yeah -it is nice clean restaurant, some slight interior design gives it a slightly modern feel - the bar did look nice. The table areas are nothing to write home or yelp about, but they suit their purpose. Easy to say, nothing will distract you and you can wear a suit or jeans and still not look out of place. Food: I have had fondue before, so yes, I know what I am talking about. The food combos are very good. We had the "Big Night Out" experience and it was worth it. The cheese fondue appetizer was awesome and the selection of meats were good and their marinades blended well with the food. The waiter will help you with choosing the best broths with the best foods to enhance the flavor instead of over powering. But really - you cannot go bad with cheese choices. It does surpass typical chain food easily. The dessert is dang good too - and overall VERY filling meal. Staff: We must have won the lottery with this waiter. Very well trained, attentive, knew exactly how to take an order and what to do recommend. We said we never went to Melting Pot and he took it from there. Excellent!!! Ambience and Crowd: We went on an off night, so there was plenty of seats. They have a Tuesday night ladies nights, so I am sure the nightlife is a little more crowded. It is quiet, and private for most tables if not all - good here. Drinks: They have a full bar and a few very cool cocktails concoctions. I do recommend trying one of their signatures. Decent wine list which pair with most foods. Price: Ok - this is NOT cheap. NO. NOT. We had fondue, food, one bottle of wine and dessert which came out to about $200 with tip. The bottle was $50. We left absolutely full however. There were two people here, but three could have eaten with no problem. Overall: We enjoyed the experience and the food. Pricey to make it a special occasion type of place for a full sit down meal, but reasonable for drinks and a fun bite. This is a good entry to the world of fondue and although you can find better, it will be very difficult to do so. Pros: Great food Awesome experience Fun to eat Cheese! Melted Chocolate! Mini metal spears! Cons: Expensive Not completely gourmet Can cause anxiety if you don't ask for help H-Cane Final Spin: This is definitely a group or special occasion type of place due to the price and nature of the meal. I have Swiss family, and it is a great intermediate passage into this cuisine. A group of friends can down a bottle and some cheese/dessert fondue and have a great time - AWESOME date place if you go with someone who is a slightly open to new experiences. Go!
(4)
Becca R.
I went here with my hubs for my birthday...it was a fun experience. I've never been to another fondue place, so I don't really have anything to compare it with, but we enjoyed it. It is pricey, but you're paying for the experience...and ours was good. Our waiter was amazing. He told us everything we needed to know about the menu. I'm with everyone else on the entree --overpriced, and I wasn't very impressed. But the cheese/dessert is soooo good. Over all, worth it for the experience...Try it at least once!
(3)
Drew P.
As usual, our dining experience was a bit different. We are a party of three and the third is our young daughter. Her manners are usually impeccable, but she was so hungry after waiting, through the cheese plate, she begged the waitress to bring the meat already. If this establishment's purpose is to serve well choreographed 1 of dinner, than they seem to be doing a 3+ stars job. If this is a place Im might go back to, I'd say 2+ stars. We didn't have a reservation, but started the night very early, so it didn't stop us from getting a table in a basically empty restaurant. The waitress was polite and sweet but did a poor job of explaining a depressingly badly written menu. They managed to make fondue look complicated. The cheese platter was offered with nice chunks of artisinal bread The meat platters for 2 were lean and the beef bourguignon cost us an additional $6 dollars over the other options. The bottled beers were in the $10 price range. Dreadful system. Here's the upside. This restaurant offers you an option for another pace. This meal can be enjoyed at leisure. The staff respects the slow process of serving and eating. That was a real pleasure. If they didnt charge such high prices, I imaging that it would have been impossible to get a table w/o wait on a Friday night, no matter how early.
(2)
The Angry C.
I called this weekend for a reservation of 8 people for dinner, after the hostess took my info and made a reservation, she told me I needed to give credit card to charge $25 per person if we didn't show!! Is this place nuts? In a down economy, you CANNOT turn down 8 tops!! You also cannot take CC info manually over the phone, it violates Visa/mastercard PCI standards... I will not eat there or recommend it, need to get your management together.....
(1)
John Y.
I agree with most reviewers - this place is overpriced. Price aside, I think this place is decent. The cheese options are quite tasty. The desert / chocolates are definitely the best part. We had the vegetarian entree. $22 to cook vegetables in broth for yourself ... eh ... It's a good place to enjoy company, taste some nice cheese and chocolates. However, I think a good tapas place or a good "Asian hotpot" restaurant would have been a nicer choice.
(3)
Jessica C.
If you have a six-figure income, are lazy and love fondue, then this place is for you!!! I echo another reviewer here in saying that The Melting Pot is best when used as a supplement. Eat dinner somewhere else and then head to Somerville for some fondue-dipping fun with cheeses and chocolates! Otherwise, you'll be dishing out $75 a head for a dinner you get to cook yourself.
(3)
Michelle M.
If you come here plan to spend alot of money on mediocre food. The cheese course was ok as so is the desert, but the entree course, with the boiled meat/seafood is not good. Tastes just as you would imagine, like boiled meat. The price is a bit steep for the portion you get, but I guess your paying for the novelty. Also the martinis/drinks are a bit much for Somerville, $14 for a chain is ridiculous. If you must go and experience just get the cheese and chocolate.
(2)
Dustin M.
I can't disagree with what other people have said. It's a 3-hour experience, the cheese course is great, and dessert is gooey, rich, and good. But, I've eaten at a couple Pots over the years, and once you separate the food from the experience, you realise you're spending a freaking fortune on food that *you* have to cook. I could go and do the cheese and the dessert, and maybe that wouldn't be too bad, but add in a regular meat course and all of a sudden you're at almost $80 a head. I'm sorry, but for that price you could do way better, and have someone bring the cooked food to you. Also, although it's a great place to have a lot of people with you, the more meat you put into a pot to cook, the longer it takes. Go once, and get it out of your system. Next time, eat somewhere else first, then get some cheese/dessert here and save yourself a ton of dough.
(1)
Cherryl L.
we ate dinner there on a Wed nite. Our reservation for 7pm. If you plan to go there for the whole nine yards--cheese fondue, salad, entree and dessert fondue plan on being there for 3 hours. we got "the big nite out" and the fondue feast. our dessert was flaming turtle. The cheese fondue was ok..bread, apples and celery sticks were dipped on the cheese fondue we have picked. There are several selections of cheese fondue. Next is our salad- we get to choose what salad we wanted and our dressings. I got the southwestern cobb salad w/ honey mustard vinaigrette. Knowing myself I was hesistant a bit to order a salad because i hate to have wilted lettuces but i was suprised myself that the salad even if it was an iceberg lettuce every single bit was not wilted so i was happy and the "honey mustard vinaigrette" omit the mustard the dressing is sweet but not too sweet. Next was our entree..cedar plank salmon, fillet mignon, pork teriyaki, honey mustard chix,(they were all cubed) the sides were potatoes and mushrooms. They were frozen though when it got to our table. I thought that these foods won't fill me up but it did. I was soo stuffed and just ready for desserts. our dessert was the flaming turtle.Milk chocolate,caramel, and chopped pecans, flambeed table side. dipppers were strawberries, cheesecake, marshmallow,brownies, rice krispies. It was yummy.... next time i go back there i'm surely will just eat the salad and the dessert fondue.
Man, I don't care if it's a dumb chain restaurant, it's a dumb chain restaurant that involves big bowls of hot cheese and chocolate, and if you expect me to say a word against hot cheese and chocolate, you are clearly some kind of pinko hippie commie. No one can deny the joy of dipping stuff into other stuff! No one!! Unlike other stupid chain restaurants, I always enjoy myself when I'm here, feel like it's worth the cost, and leave with a happy belly. Thank God there isn't one in NYC, or I'd be going there ALL THE TIME. Mmm... hot cheese...
(4)
Jenn H.
I absolutely love this place!! I don't think it's a first date place unless you're rich, but it's certainly worth the visit! Great assortments for cheese and chocolate and they make dinner fun! Kids will have fun (they just need to be careful because it's open heat sources) as well as adults. Friendly and casual atmosphere!
(5)
Joe W.
It is, what it is and I really like it. One problem with the "idea" of fondue though is the meat course. It's just not good. I really don't like Seafood, Steak and Chicken boiled in wine and frankly it just isn't good. Don't get me wrong, they serve fine quality meat and seafood, it just isn't good without a browning or grilling effect in my opinion. The cheese fondue of course is great, the desert of course is great. How could it not be great? If they worked on maybe seperate entree service where they delivered an entree another way I'd be here much more often.
(4)
Shelle G.
Echoing the other reviews - go for the cheese course, and the chocolate course, maybe throw a salad in between courses. If you have the extra cash to drop on the entree, try the 7 Deadly Zins wine... so delicious!
(4)
Vanessa W.
The Melting Pot restaurants are an experience. We were there for 3 hours! Plan to drop 30-50 bucks and spend a lot of time to really enjoy it. Wasn't a big fan of the hot flavored oils, but the cheese and the chocolate fondues were amazing. Only four stars because our server sucked. Took him 45 mins to get us water! Unfortunately gratuity was included since we had more than 6 people.
(4)
C E.
If I could give 21/2 stars I would. It is extremely expensive you aren't getting out for less than $50 a person. I love fondue and my wife loves dessert so it is an interesting experience, not an everyday place to go. The Entree is average at best but it is different than most places you go and something we treat our selves to once in a while. The staff is well educated on fondue and they let you customize your combination even when you order the special (choosing different fondues, salads and desserts) but you are not going there for the entree you are going there for a different type of meal get to eat slowly at your own pace and when with friends its a nice relaxed atmosphere. Drinks are astronomically priced but if you like fondue and interesting dessert and don't mind cooking your own food (which all ends up tasting the same regardless of if its pork, chicken or shrimp) go here at least once for the experience.
(3)
Kent S.
Is it sad that I've never had fondue outside of The Melting Pot? I mean, if you read my other reviews, you'd see that I tend to go out and enjoy all kinds of food, but never have I said to myself, "Tonight, I want a big pot of melted cheese to dip bread in." Nevertheless, I've been to The Melting Pot in Somerville several times and each time has been an enjoyable experience. Expensive, yes, but I left full and happy and slightly drunk so I can't really complain. The Melting Pot has gone to the trouble of training the wait staff to treat customers as if they are not dining in a casual, chain restaurant. You are essentially paying for this treatment because the food, at its core, is not that expensive. That being said, I've always had impeccable service and I appreciate that. The second someone ignores me I get all Compton. Internally, that is. I can't be a jerk to someone I don't know. Since most people at home are incapable of preparing 3 styles of edible fondue in one night, The Melting Pot is definitely worth trying. If you have a positive experience, don't be surprised if a few months later, you find yourself sitting in the office at 3pm and saying, "I really wan't a big pot of melted cheese tonight."
(4)
Logan F.
I still don't understand why I'm being charged up the ass to cook my own food BUT it's romantic (if you're going for that sort of thing), the staff is nice, and last time I was there they had a boss playlist going on. I've been here three times and while I don't toke up in the restaurant much I consider myself a devoted melting pothead.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Rad B.
Got our waters after 25 mins of waiting. How is this place still running? Also the manager had the audacity to ask us if we're 21. Is this not a family restaurant? He didn't even have the courtesy to ask if we wanted drinks. Pathetic place. If I hadn't been with one of my best friends, I would have walked the hell out.
(1)Fiona L.
Definitely a good one time experience for the four course meal, but I wouldn't come back for it again. Though I would come back just for the cheese or chocolate fondue or both! The entree was not all that tasty as the quality of the meats were average. The steak was so bland and tasteless since it's cut in cubes but not marinated. For the price on the entree portion of the four course meal, it's just not worth it! I rather go to an asian hot pot restaurant for that. Yes, I would say that the dim lighting exuding its romantic and cozy fine dining feel may be where the price of the meal is going towards, but still, it's not worth it! Cause with the four course meal and a drink, each person can easily drop a $100, which can be just as expensive as a one michelin star four course meal. The chocolate and cheese fondues are much more delicious and fun! It's literally impossible to go wrong with dipping fresh fruits in chocolates! Also, the last time we still had a lot of chocolate left, we asked to order a plate a strawberries, but our waitress gave us a plate for free! How nice! Definitely check out the flaming turtles!
(3)Elizabeth L.
Our server Joseph was great! He was extremely attentive and polite. We could tell he was trying to give us enough time to enjoy ourselves and talk, but also was trying to make sure our food came in a timely manner. We really appreciated the fantastic service that he gave us. The one thing we didn't like was that the manager kept coming to our table and turning our fondue pots on or off. We didn't like that he was messing with the pots when we felt like Joseph was taking great care of us. It happened so often that we felt that the manager's presence was overbearing and unwanted.
(3)Morgan M.
So disappointing. We came tonight (Monday) and the restaurant was really quite empty however also understaffed as two waiters told us. It took us 45 minutes to get our appetizer as the stove top was never turned on. When the server came back to check on us he realized he didn't turn the stove on so did so. Or so he thought. It never turned on. There was roughly 10-15 minutes between each visit from our server followed by about 1000 "I'm sorry". Normally I'm very empathetic but this was ridiculous. Every single table in our line was complaining about a different problem. We didn't even get anything comped despite the ridiculous wait times. $75 for cheese app and dinner entree. Whole meal took 2 hours and 15 minutes. Bummed. We won't be going back. What's more is that one of our pieces of cauliflower was moldy and the dips were crusty as if they had been left in the fridge uncovered. Gross.
(1)Shefali A.
We went with our friends for Dinner and the service was horrible. We waited for over 2 hours for our main course and finally decided to cancel the order as it was getting late. We just asked for s check and to our surprise the bill was $400 which included the food that we never received. We were adamant not to pay for food we never ate and just paid for drinks and appetizers. We started walking out and the waiters blocked the doors and would not let us out till the entire amount was paid. We had little sleepy kids with us as we were not allowed to leave. This is the worst restaurant ever and we will never go back here.
(1)Michael D.
I can only say that I was extremely disappointed after my last trip here. I had only ever come to "The Melting Pot" for a chocolate fondue course as dessert and remember being very impressed when the location first made its debut in Somerville. A few months ago I returned with friends, after a delicious meal the town over, promising them dessert greatness. What I got was embarrassment as to how much I had hyped this place only to find a dirty, sticky location with odd odors wafting this way and that and a tired, unprofessional staff, who were, while very nice, not going out of their way to make the experience filled with the glamorous, fondue sensationalism that I remember.
(2)Jennifer T.
I think people have a love/hate relationship with this place. We decided to try it because there was a Groupon deal. It's definitely pricey but we were full when we left. We did the cheese course with the artichoke dip, the regular broth for the meats course and the chocolate peanut butter for dessert (they ran out of the chocolate raspberry that was our first choice). The thing we found most funny was cooking the meats and keeping track of the timing as we had to use the timer feature on our cell phones. The cheese with the artichokes is just phenomal and I would've dipped the meats in it too if I could. For the meats course the filet mignon was delicious boiled with the teriyaki sauce. The only thing we wouldn't necessarily get again would be the chicken dumplings - not that they were bad but the meats were just so much better. We also had the seasoned pork, shrimp and mushroom dumplings. Dessert was just decadent with all the fruits and sweets to dip. You can't go wrong with strawberries, bananas and pineapples in chocolate. I would've like more pineapple - there was only two somewhat small pieces. The chocolate and peanut powder covered marshmallows- amazing. All in all we would go back again as it was a fun dinner activity.
(4)Gale M.
A fun evening for a group, but a lot of money for relatively little food. Dessert was the highlight of the meal.
(2)Zulay V.
written by my guy, for guys: This review is long overdue...the melting pot is the punch line to so many jokes and I often use it as a reference to getting ripped off anywhere. Back in 2009 2010 sometime around then I went to the melting pot. Dinner for 2 was 200.00 after tip. I was sick to my stomach leaving, not because of the food, but because of the price and what I actually paid for...we left starving. You dip some bread, some meat, some strawberries and leave. I went to Wendy's after I left because I was so hungry. Do not let your significant other talk you into this. Furthermore, if she (or he, thats cool too) is begging to go, thats a relationship red flag. They dont value money or your money if they beg for this place, this was proven true in my case!! Its a complete ripoff and tourist type of trap. 200.00 and I left hungry...I still joke about it 5-6 years later.
(1)Casey J.
The first time going and most definitely the last! Short story - THE WORST service I have ever experienced. We never even got water delivered to our table. We left and went to a WAY better place (Yutaka Hibachi & Steakhouse) (Go get yourself hibachi...seriously, you won't be disappointed!) Long story - We had reservations for 6 to celebrate my friend's 29th birthday. When I walked in the hostess saw me, proceeded to walk away (to seat a party) but never said anything like "One moment, I'll be right with you." As I'm waiting up front a server appeared and he ignored me for about a minute and then said "Oh the hostess will be back eventually." So I'm still waiting and I decide to go to the bathroom. When I return a different hostess is up front and she too ignored me. At this point 4 out of the 6 from our party were present and we were seated. The 2 others that came were treated rudely when they asked to join the party. We all sat at the table for about 10 minutes before a waiter showed up. I could barely hear how unenthusiastic he was. He was also not familiar with the menu. We all ordered water. Another 10 minutes goes by and nothing. I suppose he was milking the cow...... We decided to leave because of the awful experience. As we walked past the hostess we were going to be polite enough to let them know we were leaving, however, the hostess never even looked up or paid attention to 6 people standing in front of her. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME, MONEY OR EFFORT ON THIS LOUSY PLACE!
(1)Michelle P.
I've been to other melting pots before and always loved it but this location isn't the best. Went for dessert and as we were eating we realized the chocolate wasn't even warm - our server didn't even turn on the heater, so we had to wait for it to get warm - it wasn't the same once the chocolate was already cool. Although they did give us some "special" extra desserts to make up for the mistake it was still disappointing.
(2)Stefanie V.
I love the Melting Pot, but was a little disappointed when they started changing their menu and taking off some of my favorites. Then I found Somerville. They have all my favorites (yay Fiesta cheese), PLUS the new stuff, which is how a restaurant should be. The wait staff is always friendly, it's a pretty large location, and it's in a great area. I can't wait to dip again!
(5)Chris C.
A great idea that I'm happy somebody thought of. Plenty of different cheese dips with vegetables, apples & a salad to start the meal off...than comes your entree with your choice of cooking broth...the finale is an plate full of bite size cakes & fruits with your choice of chocolate dip. Do yourself a favor & study the menu before you order...everything's good, but there's a wide selection to choose from. FYI...the drinks are strong (most likely a double shot of liquor). There's little chance of leaving hungry or unhappy.
(4)Amber H.
Great place to come if you're celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Look forward to coming here again.
(4)John D.
Everything fondue and more, unfortunately everything ain't great including the price. Dipping pieces of meat, fruits and vegetable into warm cheesy and sweet and different types of dressings really triggers my inner kid to rear up and say "hmm hmm". I mean seriously what's not to like about fondue? It's messy. It's fun. It's gooey. And its a great group eating activity. Well let me tell ya something. Now of course the decor is clean and modern with almost a lounge type of a feel. Keep in mind this is a chain so they have a formula and each follows through from location location. The lights are very dim in fact great for a first date or couples, but I was there with kids that need to see the cheese and other gooey dips that we were about to dive into. We ordered combinations of fruit, veggie and meat dishes. Immediately noticed that the steak was not seasoned at all. Other than firing up a few of the fondue plates there wasn't anybody there really helping guide us through the process other than the initial introduction. So as expected mess and chaos ensued. Thank God they have a fairly extensive alcohol and martini menu, but he prepared to pay a premium which is clearly a theme here. A couple of specialty drinks a piece later along with a few apps & 3 different portions of fondue pushed $150.00, ouch. What did we get for it? Bland steak, some cut fruit & vegetables, gooey cheese, chocolate, kids covered in a rendition of a Picasso, inattentive service and a big ass bill. Nope I'm not a fan. My advice is to really study the menu to determine what you want and please ask questions. We will most likely not be back.
(2)Marlo B.
THE ABSOLUTE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER! This was my FIRST and LAST time here! My boyfriend and I made reservations for 9:45pm wanting to try something new for Valentine's Day. Well we traveled 50 minutes here, only to be told we had to wait an additional 45 minutes to be seated when we had a RESERVATION! We finally got seated around 10:45pm.. Seated at a FILTHY table! The table was not even wiped down what so ever GROSS!!!! I'm starving by now, we order drinks and then come to find out its a SET MENU! No one informed me when I called to make this reservation, and I do not eat sea food and that's all it was pretty much. Didn't complain, just disappointed. Was served our salad course.. Did not receive any utensils and informed our waiter he then said oh I'm sorry I'll be right back (15 minutes later) he asks how's your salads I replied "I don't know we still don't have utensils." Finally got them and when the main course came out for TWO people at $75 a person it was on one plate that should be for ONE person. I ONLY HAD two little chunks of steak that was not even OKAY. Oh we also never got napkins! Desert: was okay but took about 15 mins for the chocolate to heat up. We were not offered any discount. All we received was 6 chocolate covered strawberries for free IN WHICH I CALLED AHEAD OF TIME FOR AND WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FREE. We did not leave there til ONE am!! NEVER AGAIN!!!!! AWFUL.
(1)Yin L.
Disappointed. That about sums up our experience tonight. We like The Melting Pot, just not this one. Cheese Fondue: The temperature must not have been right, the cheese stayed lumpy. We waited and waited and waited... Entree: The entree was pretty good. A couple of items were overly seasoned, but overall we were happy with the entree. Dessert: Have you ever had a stale rice crispy treat? We did tonight. It's a little disgusting. To top it off, they wouldn't accept a gift certificate we had from a deal site. The certificate had no expiration date, and the manager didn't even offer an alternative. I would think it would be good business to offer a different amount off, or heck even a coupon for our next visit. Instead all we got was a statement of "we don't do business with them anymore" Well, that's not my problem is it? No, no it's not. So Melting Pot of Somerville, we aren't doing business with you anymore either.
(1)Carla Z.
I got a living social for this place back in July. Tried to use it today and they refused it. Pretty shady business practices of you ask me. I have been to the Randolph, NJ location. Honestly, don't waste your time and money on this place. The food was overpriced as many of the reviews say below.
(1)Claire L.
If it was up to be I would give melting pot 5 stars but I know my husband and a few other people don't love this place. I can't take my husband because he doesn't like it. He doesn't like to cook his own food that you pay $100 for! Lol. I think it's amazing. I love it. It's expensive and it's more like a special occasion restaurant then a normal Friday night quick bite. The melting pot experience takes a while. But it's worth it once and a while. I love the festa cheese and the turtle chocolate. Everything else I've had has been great too!! Need to place another girls night there!
(4)Tamr A.
The food was great. The reason I'm giving it a two starts was because the service was terrible. We made reservations but we still had to wait an hour. What's even the point of the reservation? After we got seated, we waited for ten minutes before we even had a server introduce herself. Once we ordered the dessert came out quick, but that was the last we saw of our server for a long time. Bill took forever to come and took forever for her to bring back my card
(2)Amanda g.
I used to have fondue parties at home with my bestie so I've been wanting to kick back and have all the work done for me for a long time. Went to MP last week with a couple girlfriends to celebrate our birthdays and had a great time! We ordered the Alpine cheese fondue and then the chocolate/peanut butter mashup for dessert. The Alpine bowl was OK - I would have liked more depth of flavor. Now that I know what to expect I'll order one of the more exciting cheese selections next time. The chocolate was stellar and the dips were so indulgent. Rice Krispies treats? Nutty marshmallows? What?? Service was excellent without being pushy and they let us linger after closing time. I'll def be back!
(4)Daniel D.
Went here with my girlfriend for her birthday back in September. We purchased a living social voucher for it and decided to give it a go. Here's the breakdown. First impression: The atmosphere was nice and though it does feel a little narrow, it definitely felt like an upscale kind of place. I suddenly wished I wasn't in jeans and a t-shirt the moment I stepped in. Food: The cheese fondue was delicious. We had a blast dipping all varieties of veggies and bread into the pot. However, perhaps because it was my first experience with a hot pot, I didn't enjoy cooking the meat. We got trays with little pieces of seasoned meats and dipped them into the fondue pot for cooking. Although I wouldn't say that the final result is bland, you certainly don't feel like you're eating $18+ worth of meats. She ordered the orange duck and didn't like it hers very much. I enjoyed my pork medallions though I enjoyed it less every time I stopped to think about how much I was paying for them. This was followed by a creamy alcoholic beverage from the bar (that was kind of meh) and the salad's which asked to be given to at the end but were too full to eat at this point. By the end, we were full and wholly wished we'd opted to skip the entrees and just shot straight for the chocolate fondue's and maybe then I wouldn't have felt like I wasted a ton of money. I mean you can't go wrong with chocolate fondue right? Even with the voucher plus tip, between the two of us, $100 was still spent after making the choice to omit desserts. It was the most I'd ever spent on a meal. Service: What's keeping me from making this a completely negative review is that I can honestly say, the service was some of the best. Our waiter, who admitted he'd only been working there for 3 weeks, did an amazing job walking us through the process, giving us recommendations after we'd asked him, sent us the salads at the end like we'd asked, checked on us frequently, made great small talk, never rushed us even though it was past closing, and just made the whole experience almost seem like it was worth it. For once, I was happy to give a 20%+ tip. Advice to those planning on fonduing: skip the meats, go right for the cheeses and desserts and be prepared to spend a lot if you want to be full. The great service alleviates some of the pain of the expense.
(3)Ashley M.
This is our go-to special occasion place. It's a unique experience and always delicious. For a romantic evening, those cute little tables in the back are perfect for cuddling. Yes, it's expensive but you will not leave hungry. You will need someone to roll you out the door in a wheelbarrow when you're finished here. Staff is friendly and they do not hover, so take your time and enjoy the experience.
(4)Kiran D.
Worst place will melt your wallets that's all Overpriced overhyped worst Saturday night dinner was there with the whole family except the cheese course the entrees a total waste of money horrible service overall spent 2.5 hours watching frozen broth boil. I am really surprised how this kind of rip off stays in business my bill for family of 4 was $200
(1)Gabrielle N.
My friends and I were regulars at Melting Pot Somerville for many years. Since we've had kids not so much but still 1-2 times a year as opposed to our usual 3-4 times. Last night we went for my birthday and I must say, I was disappointed for the first time. I am not sure if our server was new or just inexperienced but she was not friendly at all. She forgot our forks, forgot our napkins and when she put down the cooking broth for our entree she slammed it down on the table and it splashed all over everywhere. She did not even apologize but rather responded with "oh sorry did I burn you?" No but you got the broth all over my sleeves! The portion size of the cheese was half of what we used to get. I remember the pot being full last time I went. This time it was half full. They had a nerve to charge a $5 sharing fee for the entree this time (we didn't want to order 3 different entrees). Well the one entree consisted of 4 little bite size pieces of chicken, 4 pieces of beef and 4 raviolis about the size of a quarter! The chocolate dessert no longer comes with the slice of cheesecake. If you want it now you need to upgrade the dessert platter for an extra fee. The rice krispie treats served on the tray were also stale. The only redeeming qualities were the drinks were good and the free chocolate strawberries I got with my birthday coupon. My friend asked for some strawberries to go to be added to the bill and the waitress (most likely trying to recover from not being on her game) comped the berries for my friend. Which is the reason I gave 2 stars instead of just 1. I would like to say to the owner/manager of this Somerville franchise, as I hope it is perhaps just this location and not all of them that have taken a turn for the worst, is this: Improvement is needed! The way things used to be were much better. You have raised your prices, charging per person rather than per pot of food AND you are making your portion sizes SMALLER. Things you used to include as basic are now extra. You are going to lose customers, especially long time customers who remember how much better it used to be. And please express the importance to your servers about being on their game. I know it is not the server's fault your prices and portions are unfair but the unfriendliness and sloppiness of service is also going to hurt you as well. I am sad to say that as a loyal and regular customer I am done with you and won't be back.
(2)Michelle M.
Pretty expensive for a very mediocre experience. The cheese was the best part, otherwise the entrees were less than memorable. The waiter dropped some of the food in our drinks and just shrugged it off like nothing. Otherwise, the service was okay. It really was an -eh- experience overall. Doubt I'll go back.
(3)Neha M.
Plus: Dessert is fun and tasty I have been here a few times and the food has always been mediocre. The food is too overpriced for its quality. However, it is a great place for dessert, especially a great place for couples or a date night. But NOT good for a main course! Negative: Bad Customer Service I probably will not visit them anymore due to their lack of customer service. I called and the person who answered the phone spoke too quickly and I had no idea what he was saying. Once he slowed down I asked him for a reservation for dessert. He told me there was availability late that night and I was transferred to someone to make the reservation. The lady I was transferred to told me that I could not make a reservation for dessert. To unorganized and frustrating for me. So many other places for dessert that having to go through so much trouble is just not worth it.
(2)Tara M.
Like many other reviewers, my husband and I decided to try it for my birthday. We knew, going in, that it was more for the experience than the food itself and that it wouldn't be cheap (glad we read the reviews). We decided to go early on a Sunday when it was not going to be as crowded. This was a good decision, even though we noticed at the end of our meal that they had played the same Whitney Houston CD on loop twice. I'm thankful it wasn't Celine Dion or Michael Bolton, but they could have mixed it up more. I guess they were trying to create a romantic atmosphere. Instrumental Jazz would have been a better choice. We saw the sign out front for the $23.95 deal, but found out when we asked the waiter that this was cheese, salad and chocolate. We felt we wanted some meat and ordered the 4-course experience, which was a mistake (more on that later). Started with the spinach/artichoke cheese with garlic. It was delicious. The cheese sticks to the bread easier than the fruit and veggies. Next I got the land and sea while my husband got some other combo with sausage. I was concerned about combining all those different raw meats and shrimps in the same pot. Hubby had to run to the bathroom mid-way through, but didn't tell me it was a run for the border because he didn't want to ruin my birthday. I had a glass of wine, which might have killed the bacteria and I didn't have those problems. Anyway, the cooking of raw meats and shrimps was tedious and not really worth it. They were basically boiled and you dipped them in something tasty but it was overall just odd. It might have been better if we just got cooked food with dipping sauces. It just wasn't my thing. The cheese course was fun and good because it was all cooked. The chocolate S'mores fondue for dessert was a nice treat. Service: I can't say anything bad about the service. We were there when it wasn't busy. I've learned over the years that when restaurants are crowded and servers are stressed, you don't get great service, so I would not try this on a Saturday night. If I ever tried this again, I'd skip the raw meats. Cheese and chocolate all the way. Yes, the other reviewers are right - it's very expensive and you're paying for the experience. I would definitely not take young children here and would not want to do this in a group, having too many folks dipping into the same pot is too much to ask of this germophobe. I think it's best for couples and it's a nice treat for a birthday or anniversary, but I couldn't see making this a regular dining out destination. Edited to add: our server's recommendation on cooking times for meats was off. 1.5 min for shrimp and 3-5 for meats barely did it. We used our phone's timer and put the meats back in longer. Especially the chicken.
(3)Kelly O.
First and only time I will ever dine in this place. The place is poorly lit and the tables look rather dirty. The food selection is not bad however the artisan bread that is described in the menu is stale chunks of Italian bread. The chocolate fondue was not bad however leaves a terrible feeling in your stomach after. I went with two friends and all of us got sick that night.
(1)Brianna I.
*It's been about an hour since dinner. And me and my friends are all sick. Definitely not worth the trip out there. It was dimly lit but not dim enough to hide the fact that our table was dirty. Also when we were seated at our first table our waiter didn't notice that our burner wasn't working and moved us to another table. We ordered a cheddar cheese fondue which was $10 per person. It came with green apples, coliflower, celery and STALE bread. Then we ordered the Cococino fondue (also $10 per person) which was supposed to be a milk chocolate and espresso mix fondue. It tasted like a Hershey bar. It came with a variety of fruit and brownie bites and also Rice Krispie bars which again were STALE. Also we had two alcoholic beverages which were good but also had mostly ice. One of my friends refused to let us get the flambé dessert because she said our waiter was incompetent.
(1)Dave W.
This was our second visit. I had a vague recollection that the last time we loved the cheese fondue, but didn't care for the entree. That was exactly what happened this time. The fondue (we selected Classic Alpine) was excellent with a nice assortment of breads, apples and raw vegetables. Next time we'll ask them to blanch or steam the vegetables first. The carrots, cauliflower and broccoli were just too raw for our liking. The salads (California) was perfect in all ways. The entrees, however, were a disaster. We selected the Mojo cooking style, following the suggestion of the waiter. It was far too vinegary to enjoy. The process of needing to cook chunks (not thin slices) of raw meets at the table meant that we needed to use the timers on our cell phones - and that meant the entire meal was about watching a clock and testing the meat/poultry to see if it was done. Next time: I will skip the meat course and just enjoy the cheese and salad. The mixed drinks were creative and tasty. The service was polite but not frequently seen. The bill was brought to me while all of the dishes were still on the table, which seemed odd. The best part of the meal - my wife looking gorgeous as ever.
(3)Liz B.
Took my daughter for dinner. A $43 four course "meal" that was good but we left still feeling hungry. Started with a half a bowl of cheese with hard bread for dipping. Apples and veggies were okay. Salad was okay - again very small. Entree was a joke! Ordered the classic - 3 shrimp, 3 tiny cubes of chicken, 2 tiny cubes of pork, 3 small slivers of teriyaki steak, 2 small slices of sirloin. Small bowl of veggies and some dipping sauces. Chocolate was good - small plate of dippers - 2 small pieces of each dipper (I had to ask for a little more just so we could finish the chocolate). They previously gave cheesecake with the dessert dippers. Now it's an extra $6 for s small slice. We drank only water and $60 later (total for a four course meal plus tax and tip) I went home and ate a half a bagel. Portion size is minuscule for the price. I'm not a cheap person by any means but these prices for the amount given is a joke. I don't have a huge appetite either and neither does my daughter - so this should have satisfied us. Not even close!!! Server was nice, food taste is okay - nothing special - but the price and portion sizes are just ridiculous! The place is s RIP OFF! I won't go back again. Very disappointing. Next time I want a cheese fondue, I'll buy a bag of shredded cheese a FRESH loaf of bread, an apple and some raw veggies and make my own at home for approx $5 - that will make triple what we received!! Seriously - don't waste your money! The experience is fun.....until the bill arrives and you're still hungry. Just not worth it!
(1)Jessica O.
A group of us went here for a birthday party. I was a little surprised that nothing was done by the wait staff to acknowledge the birthday girl. Regardless, we had a wonderful time and experienced great service. This is definitely a good place to go with a group. We did the 4 course dinner option. The cheese was good even for those who were not cheese people. I honestly do not understand why there was even a salad option and really think it's not fitting for the theme of the restaurant. Half our salads where tomatoes which was strange. The entree was decent and the chocolate was good. I just think after all our courses we were a little too full to enjoy the dessert. Overall it was a good experience and fitting for a special occasion. Next time I would probably just skip the salad and the entree not worth the price.
(3)Nicole H.
It was really not good. Bad atmosphere, unfriendly hostess, staff you could hear fighting. The portions were tiny the sauces made no sense with the flavor of the food and the price..christ on a cracker! 80 for two people. Luckily i had a groupon. Still...yuk. don't bother!
(1)Giovanni A.
I went here a while back with two friends. The three of us were not satisfied at all when we left this place. We have passed this place tons of times and had always wanted to eat there so one night we decided to make reservations and we went. We enjoyed the cheese dip as the appetizer with the pieces of bread and fruit and everything. And the dessert was FANTASTIC. But the dinner, we did not enjoy at all. They give you little raw pieces of meat and fish and you have to stick it in the pot and let it cook for 7 minutes or more depending on what it is. I prefer to have my lobster steak chicken or whatever it is I'm eating, cooked on my plate ready for me to dig in. I thought that they give you the food cooked and you dip it in like a homemade marinade or homemade cheese in the pot. But no, you cook it yourself. I had to wait like 7 minutes or more to eat two pieces of shrimp. It was ridiculous and we did not enjoy it. We contemplated going to McDonald's after we left because we were so hungry. The bathrooms were also very filthy and reminded me of a Chinese restaurants bathroom I've been to in NYC. It was gross. I won't ever go back here again and neither will my friends. If I ever do try it out again I will go to one in a different location, such as Philly. *Also, we got the suggested basic broth to dip our dinner in. And everything tasted the same and the broth did not even taste good with some of the things we got. Such as the lobster. Everything tasted the same. We REALLY did not enjoy the dinner. The dessert we would maybe go back for.
(2)Debbie A.
As everyone else says, the place is overpriced. We went because we had a gift card. We had the 4 course meal. Bread/cheese fondue was very good, but not enough cheese for the amount of bread, veggies and fruit. Then the salad came, which we could have passed on. So-so. The entree was a mixed fare of beef, chicken pork and shrimp to dip in a wine and broth. The dessert was the best course; who doesn't love chocolate? The service was, put simply, curt and efficient. The waiter was all business, not much charm. If we return, it will most likely be for the bread and dessert courses only.
(3)Clif S.
We've been coming here for over 10 years for special occasions and have always enjoyed the atmosphere, service and staff's ability to really make their customers feel like the money was well spent. This year is the first time we've really felt like something has changed in the overall operation of the restaurant. Our server was pleasant and polite, and generally good. However, a busboy and other support staff were constantly coming by checking in "are you finished, can I take that?" before we had even had time to get halfway through a course. We also kept getting asked by other servers if they could get us anything like a drink, and anytime we said yes -- it was promptly forgotten. We came here for an Anniversary, reserved it with a note on our reservation, and even confirmed it with the hostess... but instead of the normal box of chocolates or card --- nothing was said or done about the occasion. At the end of the night, I pulled the manager aside and relayed our experience to him along with the fact that we were multi-year customers -- and basically was given the response "That's too bad that you had a negative experience, we'll try better next time" -- no real concern or apology whatsoever. Truly disappointing --- we'll probably be moving on to another restaurant for our special occasions in the future.
(2)Robert H.
Now I usually give this place 4+ stars for Somerville However made a reservation for 9 with the kids and wife just for dessert. Took 15 minutes to see a waiter. Then took until 936pm to get 2 coffees and 2 hot chocolates. Did I mention that we came for dessert. Pretty simple in my book. It's a Saturday eve and the placed in far from "packed" ordered the banana foster and smores and I see that 2 plates for the dessert (aka the medley that will be dipped) and no fondue. Now at 944pm dessert is ready. One bad experience. A shame since this was the 1st time for our boys.
(2)Carmen R.
I have been to the Melting pot in Farmingdale NY many times and loved it! I always go for Happy Hour and get a cheese fondue and end with a chocolate fondue. They usually have Happy Hour specials Monday - Friday from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. until closing. $6 cheese & chocolate fondues (per person) $5 select red and white wines by the glass $5 glass of red sangria/$20 pitcher $4 draft beers (excluding Delirium Tremens - $6) $5 well drinks (includes Svedka, Bacardi, Jim Beam and more!) Plus - specials on our Small Plates menu! Now that I live in Somerville I was so excited to see that we have a local Melting Pot. Whomp Whomp! They dont have the same specials as NY. I thought they would because Melting Pot is a franchise. Big disappointment. Somerville Melting Pot is expensive and not worth it. I rather go to NY and get the specials.
(2)Kat M.
Went here for a bday dinner and it was pretty good. It was very loud and crowded but the food was good. The cheese fondue app was good, and so was the California salad with the candied pecans with Gorgonzola! YUM! For the main entree I had the Land & Sea which was filet mignon, chicken breast, and shrimp. The dessert was AMAZING. 'Nuff said.
(4)Joey B.
A very cool place, be ready to drop about $150.00 or more for 4 people. The food is good and the concept is unique. You cannot eat here without having the fondue dessert. I recommend this place if you are looking to try something very different. My kids love this place.
(5)Jeff M.
Went here with my girl, my brother and my brother's girl for a nice little dinner. Its not my first time in The Melting Pot, I have been in the one in Weehawken. This one im reviewing is for the Somerville location. We decided to go with the cheese fondue appetizer: Cheddar Cheese Fondue Aged, medium-sharp Cheddar and Emmenthaler Swiss cheeses, lager beer, garlic and seasonings. This came with two different kinds of breads cut in small squares and apples cut in small pieces. This was delicious, I love cheddar cheese especially, mixed with Sam Adams beer. WHAT!!!! We were really there for dessert, so we skipped the entree and went straight for the Chocolate Fondue! We ordered: Yin & Yang Half dark chocolate and half white chocolate artfully swirled for a perfect balance of flavors...But went with Half Dark Chocolate and Half Milk Chocolate. Our waitress Viviana was nice enough to switch it for us. Request for her if you're ever there. Shes sweet and nice and will ask any questions with a smile. She was one of the best waitresses Ive had by far ;) The chocolate fondue came with: Cheesecake, brownies, red velvet cupcake squares i think, chocolate dipped marshmallow, regular marshmallow, and my favorite rice crispies treat!!! We were all in sugar high after, but it was well WORTH it!!! It was a great night.
(5)Leslie M.
My husband and I eat here for special occasions and we have never been let down by the quality or the service. It's a bit pricey but we understand that when we go in. The atmosphere is wonderful and the lighting is dim enough to feel intimate in the booth but bright enough to see your food well. The servers always have a smile on their faces and are very pleasant and helpful. The seats in the booths could use some revamping tho. One of the seats had a tear in it, another time the seat was a little loose and wobbly but it didn't ruin anything. We always do the four course meal and end up leaving stuffed and happy, but not gross. It's a good experience, expect to spend at least $100 per couple, more if you buy drinks and at least an hour and a half but the experience is well worth it.
(4)Annie V.
Was a unique experience. Quality of food is exceptional and the booth we were seated at was very private, it made for a romantic evening but ultimately we ended up being a bit impatient when hunger kicked in as the fondue dinner took quite some time to cook. Very pricey for having to cook your own meal. Once in a lifetime thing for me.
(3)Dan W.
You either like the melting pot or you dont thats how it is. People complain about paying for cooking their food. You're paying for the experience and the meat is high quality. This is the only location I have been to so I have to explore to get a better picture of melting pot and I am sure there are better locations out there. The cheese fondue is unbelievable. Got the spinach and artichoke last time and it was F'in nuts. Chocolate fondue is out of this world too and they give you oreo crusted marshmallows, fruit, rice krispies, cheesecake, etc... to dip in it. 5 stars for cheese and chocolate, 3 stars for the meat fondue, but not enough to warrant an overall 5 stars. Service is good and the waitstaff is very friendly. Great place for dates and they have intimate booths where you sit next to your partner in dim lighting. I hate corny stuff but whatever screw it. I will agree it is overpriced but show me another fondue spot thats cheaper and dont tell me to book my ass a flight to Switzerland.
(4)Diego S.
It was Valentines Day. I made a reservation for 10 p.m. (since they did not have any earlier ones). I reserved for the top Valentines Day package which included romantic seating with roses and champagne. When we got there and told them we made reservations, they made us wait for over 20 minutes. When they finally sat us down it was not even close to romantic. They sat us in a double family booth table, with no low lighting , flowers or candles. I waited for the roses that i had reserved for , but again, they never came. I asked the waiter about it, and he brought the manager who told us there had been a mix up and somebody else had received our package so there was nothing left for us. They told us that there were no roses left but surprisingly we saw kids walking out with roses while we were waiting for our table. Another thing i would like to point out is that when the manager came to talk to us, the waiter interrupted our conversation and sent him away saying to not listen to him and that "he is just a crazy french guy"; we found this very unprofessional and it meant that our disappointments never got resolved. By the way, this little night of disappointment totaled $190.00
(2)Kelly Z.
First, the management hear really tries to get things moving, but the staff aways comes up short. On all of my visits, managers have spontaneously stopped by our table to ask for feedback, and the complaint is always the same: service is too darn slow! It should not take 2 hours for a 2 course dinner, when at best 1/2 hour is spent inhaling the food. Don't even bother with the fish/meat/chicken section. This is what holds up every meal, and it is underwhelming. Stick to cheese and chocolate! I am always happy with the swiss and chedder. Adding wine and beer gives then both a kick, but the cheeses are also fine withhout them. Keep your eyes out for their facebook/coupon deals to keep the price in check.
(3)Tamara S.
I always enjoy going here when I either want to catch up with friends or have a romantic night with the hubs. It's quiet, you are never rushed (dinner almost always takes 3 hours) and it's casual. The mojo cooking style is by far the best. The cheese is delicious. My husband prefers a large steak rather than small pieces of meat that he has to cook himself, but he continues to go as he loves the dessert haha. I have never had a waiter/waitress that was not friendly here. If you have never been there, definitely try it at least once, as it is different than most of the other restaurants around.
(4)Tiffany F.
The food was excellent, our waiter was stellar, and the drinks were great. The only reason I did not give Five Stars is because I made a reservation for four two weeks prior to visiting and requested a table that had two cook tops. I didn't reserve two because I just wanted my own pot, but I am highly allergic to shellfish. When I made the reservation, whoever it was that answered the phone said it was no problem. When we arrived we were sat at a table withonly one cook top. I brought up that I made the reservation two weeks ago and then they simply told me "We cannot guarantee that you will get a double cook top on a Saturday." Why didn't they tell me that when I called? Why didn't a manager at least come over and say something? Luckily everyone at my table agreed not to order shellfish, but I felt bad and it ruined our experience. I most likely won't go back for dinner again. There are plenty of other (less expensive) places nearby and the chocolate fondue was the best part anyway.
(3)Laura M.
I brought my daughter Friday night and have to say it was the best experience I've had at a restaurant in a very long time. Started with a small blip with my reservation but was immediatly taken care of and the manager was awesome!! He took care of us and followed up with complimentary cocktail. Very classy move which unfortunately you Never see in any restaurant in NJ. The bartender Beck is the best bartender ever. I would come back just for his drinks. Friendly, knowledgable, professional and the best Cosmo I've ever had. The service was the best I've ever experienced. Joe and Jared, I was actually at this restaurant twice in two weeks, the best servers, totally proffesional, knew ever single aspect of the menu. This fact alone is astonishing ever restaurant you go to now the staff is so poorly trained they don't even bother to learn the menu. Joe and Jared both were enough for me to keep coming back. The cheese fondue is amazing worth every penny, perfectly balanced and delicious. Salads great, entree was great, we had filet mignon, sirloin, shrimp and the ravioli all were excellent. The dessert worth the calories, do not miss the expertly done chocolate. If you're looking for a beautiful night, relaxed and gorgeous atmosphere this is the place to go.
(5)Ryan N.
Its the melting pot. Commercial fancy-ness. IF you like cheese fondue go, and the chocolate fondue is the best. Be prepared to spend a penny or two on this meal though. Its all about the experience. Overall the Somerville location was nice. Waiter was friendly and helpful. No complaints! Great for a date.
(3)Daniel M.
Took two of my daughters there. First time fondue for them, and they loved it. The place is NOT cheap by any means, so keep it in mind for special occasions, but the service was great, the cheese fondue was spot on, and the dessert was incredible.
(4)Leean O.
I've been here years ago where things didnt feel right. I've been back since and finally the place feels like it has had a turn around. Jared our server was very good at making the customer feel at home, he came by often to make sure everything was in place without being annoying or overbearing. The guy has a pageant smile and made our group feel like we were family eating at home.
(4)Bianca C.
My BF took me here on a double date, it was our first time... Pros: 1. Unique experience & worth trying once. 2. The cheese is cheese is yummy! 3. Recommend California Salad 4. The chocolate is excellent! U can't go wrong with any pick. 5. Yin-Yang Martini is 2 die for. (recommend an x-tra shot of vodka or u might as well give it 2 ur child as dessert) 6. Chocolate fondu Martini is 2 die 4! (read #5) Cons: 1. The ratio between mushrooms & food is a lot off! 2. EXPENSIVE! 3. They didn't have the beer, the cheese, or the salad of our choice. (No discount offered or incentive 2 return) 4. EXPENSIVE! 5. Once u put the meat in the broth, everything taste the same. In a nut shell, this is a cool place. Do not go with a large party or u will all end up looking at each other when the bill comes. For example, my BF's friends probably didn't think my exotic Martinis were too cute at this point. LOL! Lucky my BF always has it under control. Thanx BEB!
(2)Sara V.
My friends took me here to celebrate my 30th about a month ago. The server was AWKWARD. There's no other way to put it. He stood around after we'd ordered trying to drum up conversation. We even earned nicknames including "Icing" and "Cupcake". He didn't make recommendations at all and didn't check on us to see how we were. The food was OK. It's The Melting Pot - what can you expect? Call me a food snob if you will, but it was sub par. We started with salads. I had the spinach salad. It looked like they cut open a bag of pre-made salad and dumped it on a plate. We then moved on to our 2nd course. The cheese fondue of the month was DISGUSTING. It had beer in it, which made the oil separate from the cheese. Blech. On top of that, the beer overwhelmed the flavor of the cheese itself. Now, it's dinner time! We're ready to grub. Maybe. The portions are ridiculously small for what they charge you. I had to eat when I got home I was so hungry. We all had a variety of entrees from vegetarian to surf and turf and it was equal all across the board. The dessert was awesome but hello, it's chocolate. YUM. If you're new to fondue, give it a whirl.... but I'd look for other places first!
(3)Sunia T.
Three stars because I usually love the melting pot. This one in particular would have been a horrid experience if I did not have good company. Bruised strawberries and stale brownies combined with slow and rude service was unexpected from melting pot. It took at least 30 minutes for our bill to arrive and while splitting it, the waitress stated it was an "odd request", I'm pretty sure bills are split regularly with large parties. Needless to say, I won't be coming to this location again. 5 stars from me for the locations in Philadelphia and King of Prussia, PA, they do not disappoint.
(3)Roger T.
The idea of having to work for my meal seemed a little weird to me, but doing it with friends made me forget. Had a great time and the food was great. Make sure you order the chocolate.
(5)X M.
not a fan. People are nice but it does not worth the price.
(3)Rebecca D.
Went here with a group for a birthday. It was a fun and different experience. I recommend it for doing something special or to experience something different. We had a group rate that included 3 fondues and salad. We were there for over 3 hours, but it did not feel like that long. It was expensive, even with the group rate, which is why I don't recommend it as a regular place to go (except maybe for the dessert only). I do wish the place could be byob, the main reason for 4 and not 5 stars, because the drinks were way over priced. The idea of bringing our own wine increase the chances of us going back. Otherwise, service was great, place was clean. I really enjoyed it!
(4)David S.
I've gone here a couple times with my girlfriend and the food has always been great. I love that dessert is included with The Big Night Out meal. I saved a few $$ using a $25 coupon from Restaurant.com that I paid $2 for. I would like to see this place on OpenTable sometime soon.
(4)Dan E.
I'm not going to lie - my wife has been trying to get me to come here for a while now and I have always been against it for some reason. We had dinner in Somerville and decided to stop over here to have some dessert. I had never been to the Melting Pot or any fondue restaurant before. We walked in a little past 9pm and there was actually a wait for a table. I was a little surprised to see that - I guess reservations are a must? They do have a bar with about 3 microbrews on tap - except for 1 patron, the bar was totally empty. In about 10 minutes, we were seated at one of the booths. It was a pretty private booth and you have the mini stove on the table to keep your fondue hot (not sure if that's the correct description). We decided to go with their original chocolate fondue. It was a chocolate sauce/fondue with some peanut butter in it. They also give you a plate of different desserts to dip into your fondue. There was strawberries, bananas, brownies, cakes, rice krispie treats, etc. You get the picture. I must say that it was pretty good. It was definitely something different and unique for us to do. Everything we tasted was good - it wasn't phenomenal but I can understand that you are paying a little bit for the experience here. I especially liked dipping the strawberries - nothing like chocolate covered strawberries. I did see some people eating dinner, and I actually think I am curious enough to give this place another shot for dinner. I would definitely go back to do dessert again. The menu is also a little confusing, but I may have just not read it correctly. The dessert we ordered was $8.95 (which I thought was incredibly cheap). I guess they charge you per person, because it showed up as twice that on the bill. But, that does make sense for the amount of food we received. Just a friendly tip for people to be aware of that. So...it's a cool place and other people must agree because the place had a wait after 9pm. I'm sure that I will be back.
(3)Brett O.
I surprised my fiance by taking her here for her birthday as she always talked about this place. The environment was intimate for couples and seemed private despite having other patrons seated within your view. We being new to the experience were glad the server was very helpful and explained how everything worked. We decided on a trio (appetizers, dinner, dessert). The experience was different than the normal since your really cooking your own food but it was fun to try in this setting. The amount of food you get isn't huge but it's actually fulfilling enough ate the end of the meal. As for the food itself it was very tasty. The biggest down side to this place was it was very expesive, expect to spend 80 bucks for two people without drinks. If your looking for a romantic night with a twist this might be it.
(4)Tiffany C.
After hearing about this place from a friend, I finally went about a month ago. First, I'll start by saying that the experience is what got this place the first star. We had so much fun just cooking our food in front of us! The second star is for the privacy that the tables offer. It's a nice place if you want a little more seclusion with your dinner. Now on to the food. While I wasn't wowed by our first few courses, the last course, which was the dessert, was INCREDIBLE, earning The Melting Pot it's final star from me. The chocolate fondue is simply amazing!!! I think I would go back JUST for the dessert and probably the cheese. Beware, it is kind of pricey, so anticipate a high bill if you're looking to do one of the four course meals that they offer.
(3)Olivia H.
My night began badly as I made a reservation for 7:00 PM, yet I was taken to my table by 7:30 due to a "delay." They also placed us at the first table, right behind the front desk, which caused some of us to feel the cold breeze from the doors. There were a couple of open tables further down, so I don't know why they didn't allow us to do there... Although it started out as a bad night, the waiter and environment was pretty nice. Our waiter was very energetic, fun, and knew what he was talking about. The restaurant itself is a bit cramped but nicely set up - it's not too casual, and not overly formal either. As for the cheese fondue and dessert, I give two thumbs up. Our first round was fantastic with vegetables, chips, bread, and apples to use to dip into the cheese. (I recommend the Fiesta cheese.) The dessert was wonderful - strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, cheesecake, and more to dip! The banana white chocolate was amazing. Sadly, the actual entree was disappointing - the food wasn't very special (and not to mention the high prices for every entree). I guess it's an interesting experience to "cook" your own food... but it wasn't very efficient with only one boiling pot of water to share with 4 other people. The only good part were the sauces. If it's your first time going to the melting pot and you have some money to spend, I actually do suggest you to check it out. It's fun as a first experience.
(3)Claire Y.
The one star rating is for the slower-than-a-turtle-in-slow-motion service. We were seated at 6:30 at a booth. Told the waiter that we have a groupon (worth $95) and gave our drink orders of water and a bottle of wine. Twenty long minutes later, our waiter arrived with water and the bottle of wine. Since we had gotten a preview of slow service, I mentioned that we were pretty hungry and the waiter said that he would speed up the service. So we put in our cheese fondue and entree orders....and another thirty long minutes later, the cheese fondue arrived. The time between the cheese fondue and entree were not as bad, but it was now 8:30 and we really wanted to just leave, but we had chosen the option with the dessert fondue. After the waiter confirmed our dessert fondue, he was nowhere to be seen for another twenty minutes! We flagged someone down and they rushed the dessert to us. The check was the fastest thing they brought to our table where they decided to give themselves an 18% tip, which I would have not given. I paid to the last cent and went to a pizzeria down the street because the amount of food they give you here is the portion for a mouse.
(1)Jorge T.
What can I say? I wish I could say this place was overprices but you walk away with a unique experience that makes you forget about the price and savor the memory. The fondue set up definitely sets the perfect mood for valentines day. The food is prepared extremely well and than you cook it to your delight. You have to try the ying yang martini with desert. You won't regret it. Get the catena malbec. 2007 was a great year.
(5)James A.
Overrated! This place makes eating complicated and overly expensive. And this is coming from a person who never complains about paying for a fairly priced item.
(2)Hugo E.
So I took the GF here for her bday as an attempt at a new experience and some fondue - and we hit a good one! OWTR!!!! Decoration: Okay well yeah -it is nice clean restaurant, some slight interior design gives it a slightly modern feel - the bar did look nice. The table areas are nothing to write home or yelp about, but they suit their purpose. Easy to say, nothing will distract you and you can wear a suit or jeans and still not look out of place. Food: I have had fondue before, so yes, I know what I am talking about. The food combos are very good. We had the "Big Night Out" experience and it was worth it. The cheese fondue appetizer was awesome and the selection of meats were good and their marinades blended well with the food. The waiter will help you with choosing the best broths with the best foods to enhance the flavor instead of over powering. But really - you cannot go bad with cheese choices. It does surpass typical chain food easily. The dessert is dang good too - and overall VERY filling meal. Staff: We must have won the lottery with this waiter. Very well trained, attentive, knew exactly how to take an order and what to do recommend. We said we never went to Melting Pot and he took it from there. Excellent!!! Ambience and Crowd: We went on an off night, so there was plenty of seats. They have a Tuesday night ladies nights, so I am sure the nightlife is a little more crowded. It is quiet, and private for most tables if not all - good here. Drinks: They have a full bar and a few very cool cocktails concoctions. I do recommend trying one of their signatures. Decent wine list which pair with most foods. Price: Ok - this is NOT cheap. NO. NOT. We had fondue, food, one bottle of wine and dessert which came out to about $200 with tip. The bottle was $50. We left absolutely full however. There were two people here, but three could have eaten with no problem. Overall: We enjoyed the experience and the food. Pricey to make it a special occasion type of place for a full sit down meal, but reasonable for drinks and a fun bite. This is a good entry to the world of fondue and although you can find better, it will be very difficult to do so. Pros: Great food Awesome experience Fun to eat Cheese! Melted Chocolate! Mini metal spears! Cons: Expensive Not completely gourmet Can cause anxiety if you don't ask for help H-Cane Final Spin: This is definitely a group or special occasion type of place due to the price and nature of the meal. I have Swiss family, and it is a great intermediate passage into this cuisine. A group of friends can down a bottle and some cheese/dessert fondue and have a great time - AWESOME date place if you go with someone who is a slightly open to new experiences. Go!
(4)Becca R.
I went here with my hubs for my birthday...it was a fun experience. I've never been to another fondue place, so I don't really have anything to compare it with, but we enjoyed it. It is pricey, but you're paying for the experience...and ours was good. Our waiter was amazing. He told us everything we needed to know about the menu. I'm with everyone else on the entree --overpriced, and I wasn't very impressed. But the cheese/dessert is soooo good. Over all, worth it for the experience...Try it at least once!
(3)Drew P.
As usual, our dining experience was a bit different. We are a party of three and the third is our young daughter. Her manners are usually impeccable, but she was so hungry after waiting, through the cheese plate, she begged the waitress to bring the meat already. If this establishment's purpose is to serve well choreographed 1 of dinner, than they seem to be doing a 3+ stars job. If this is a place Im might go back to, I'd say 2+ stars. We didn't have a reservation, but started the night very early, so it didn't stop us from getting a table in a basically empty restaurant. The waitress was polite and sweet but did a poor job of explaining a depressingly badly written menu. They managed to make fondue look complicated. The cheese platter was offered with nice chunks of artisinal bread The meat platters for 2 were lean and the beef bourguignon cost us an additional $6 dollars over the other options. The bottled beers were in the $10 price range. Dreadful system. Here's the upside. This restaurant offers you an option for another pace. This meal can be enjoyed at leisure. The staff respects the slow process of serving and eating. That was a real pleasure. If they didnt charge such high prices, I imaging that it would have been impossible to get a table w/o wait on a Friday night, no matter how early.
(2)The Angry C.
I called this weekend for a reservation of 8 people for dinner, after the hostess took my info and made a reservation, she told me I needed to give credit card to charge $25 per person if we didn't show!! Is this place nuts? In a down economy, you CANNOT turn down 8 tops!! You also cannot take CC info manually over the phone, it violates Visa/mastercard PCI standards... I will not eat there or recommend it, need to get your management together.....
(1)John Y.
I agree with most reviewers - this place is overpriced. Price aside, I think this place is decent. The cheese options are quite tasty. The desert / chocolates are definitely the best part. We had the vegetarian entree. $22 to cook vegetables in broth for yourself ... eh ... It's a good place to enjoy company, taste some nice cheese and chocolates. However, I think a good tapas place or a good "Asian hotpot" restaurant would have been a nicer choice.
(3)Jessica C.
If you have a six-figure income, are lazy and love fondue, then this place is for you!!! I echo another reviewer here in saying that The Melting Pot is best when used as a supplement. Eat dinner somewhere else and then head to Somerville for some fondue-dipping fun with cheeses and chocolates! Otherwise, you'll be dishing out $75 a head for a dinner you get to cook yourself.
(3)Michelle M.
If you come here plan to spend alot of money on mediocre food. The cheese course was ok as so is the desert, but the entree course, with the boiled meat/seafood is not good. Tastes just as you would imagine, like boiled meat. The price is a bit steep for the portion you get, but I guess your paying for the novelty. Also the martinis/drinks are a bit much for Somerville, $14 for a chain is ridiculous. If you must go and experience just get the cheese and chocolate.
(2)Dustin M.
I can't disagree with what other people have said. It's a 3-hour experience, the cheese course is great, and dessert is gooey, rich, and good. But, I've eaten at a couple Pots over the years, and once you separate the food from the experience, you realise you're spending a freaking fortune on food that *you* have to cook. I could go and do the cheese and the dessert, and maybe that wouldn't be too bad, but add in a regular meat course and all of a sudden you're at almost $80 a head. I'm sorry, but for that price you could do way better, and have someone bring the cooked food to you. Also, although it's a great place to have a lot of people with you, the more meat you put into a pot to cook, the longer it takes. Go once, and get it out of your system. Next time, eat somewhere else first, then get some cheese/dessert here and save yourself a ton of dough.
(1)Cherryl L.
we ate dinner there on a Wed nite. Our reservation for 7pm. If you plan to go there for the whole nine yards--cheese fondue, salad, entree and dessert fondue plan on being there for 3 hours. we got "the big nite out" and the fondue feast. our dessert was flaming turtle. The cheese fondue was ok..bread, apples and celery sticks were dipped on the cheese fondue we have picked. There are several selections of cheese fondue. Next is our salad- we get to choose what salad we wanted and our dressings. I got the southwestern cobb salad w/ honey mustard vinaigrette. Knowing myself I was hesistant a bit to order a salad because i hate to have wilted lettuces but i was suprised myself that the salad even if it was an iceberg lettuce every single bit was not wilted so i was happy and the "honey mustard vinaigrette" omit the mustard the dressing is sweet but not too sweet. Next was our entree..cedar plank salmon, fillet mignon, pork teriyaki, honey mustard chix,(they were all cubed) the sides were potatoes and mushrooms. They were frozen though when it got to our table. I thought that these foods won't fill me up but it did. I was soo stuffed and just ready for desserts. our dessert was the flaming turtle.Milk chocolate,caramel, and chopped pecans, flambeed table side. dipppers were strawberries, cheesecake, marshmallow,brownies, rice krispies. It was yummy.... next time i go back there i'm surely will just eat the salad and the dessert fondue.
(4)Robert H.
It was a unique and enjoyable dining experience for a date with my wife (without the kids). Sort of like Hibatchi or a Sushi Bar.... it isn't your everyday meal. The waiter was great, taking time to give us a crash course in how to properly do everything, along with a run down of what everything was and some history on fondue. He kept things fun and lively and had us laughing a lot. Had some duck, chicken, beef, salmon, shrimp, pork, and some pot stickers as part of the entrée. The food was ok, but this place is more about the whole interactive experience. If you go in looking for something different, you've found it. The downside to the place was that the price was high considering we essentially cooked our own meal ($120 without tip). Also the amount of time it takes to get through this is just under 2 hours, so budget your night accordingly.
(4)Whitney R.
Man, I don't care if it's a dumb chain restaurant, it's a dumb chain restaurant that involves big bowls of hot cheese and chocolate, and if you expect me to say a word against hot cheese and chocolate, you are clearly some kind of pinko hippie commie. No one can deny the joy of dipping stuff into other stuff! No one!! Unlike other stupid chain restaurants, I always enjoy myself when I'm here, feel like it's worth the cost, and leave with a happy belly. Thank God there isn't one in NYC, or I'd be going there ALL THE TIME. Mmm... hot cheese...
(4)Jenn H.
I absolutely love this place!! I don't think it's a first date place unless you're rich, but it's certainly worth the visit! Great assortments for cheese and chocolate and they make dinner fun! Kids will have fun (they just need to be careful because it's open heat sources) as well as adults. Friendly and casual atmosphere!
(5)Joe W.
It is, what it is and I really like it. One problem with the "idea" of fondue though is the meat course. It's just not good. I really don't like Seafood, Steak and Chicken boiled in wine and frankly it just isn't good. Don't get me wrong, they serve fine quality meat and seafood, it just isn't good without a browning or grilling effect in my opinion. The cheese fondue of course is great, the desert of course is great. How could it not be great? If they worked on maybe seperate entree service where they delivered an entree another way I'd be here much more often.
(4)Shelle G.
Echoing the other reviews - go for the cheese course, and the chocolate course, maybe throw a salad in between courses. If you have the extra cash to drop on the entree, try the 7 Deadly Zins wine... so delicious!
(4)Vanessa W.
The Melting Pot restaurants are an experience. We were there for 3 hours! Plan to drop 30-50 bucks and spend a lot of time to really enjoy it. Wasn't a big fan of the hot flavored oils, but the cheese and the chocolate fondues were amazing. Only four stars because our server sucked. Took him 45 mins to get us water! Unfortunately gratuity was included since we had more than 6 people.
(4)C E.
If I could give 21/2 stars I would. It is extremely expensive you aren't getting out for less than $50 a person. I love fondue and my wife loves dessert so it is an interesting experience, not an everyday place to go. The Entree is average at best but it is different than most places you go and something we treat our selves to once in a while. The staff is well educated on fondue and they let you customize your combination even when you order the special (choosing different fondues, salads and desserts) but you are not going there for the entree you are going there for a different type of meal get to eat slowly at your own pace and when with friends its a nice relaxed atmosphere. Drinks are astronomically priced but if you like fondue and interesting dessert and don't mind cooking your own food (which all ends up tasting the same regardless of if its pork, chicken or shrimp) go here at least once for the experience.
(3)Kent S.
Is it sad that I've never had fondue outside of The Melting Pot? I mean, if you read my other reviews, you'd see that I tend to go out and enjoy all kinds of food, but never have I said to myself, "Tonight, I want a big pot of melted cheese to dip bread in." Nevertheless, I've been to The Melting Pot in Somerville several times and each time has been an enjoyable experience. Expensive, yes, but I left full and happy and slightly drunk so I can't really complain. The Melting Pot has gone to the trouble of training the wait staff to treat customers as if they are not dining in a casual, chain restaurant. You are essentially paying for this treatment because the food, at its core, is not that expensive. That being said, I've always had impeccable service and I appreciate that. The second someone ignores me I get all Compton. Internally, that is. I can't be a jerk to someone I don't know. Since most people at home are incapable of preparing 3 styles of edible fondue in one night, The Melting Pot is definitely worth trying. If you have a positive experience, don't be surprised if a few months later, you find yourself sitting in the office at 3pm and saying, "I really wan't a big pot of melted cheese tonight."
(4)Logan F.
I still don't understand why I'm being charged up the ass to cook my own food BUT it's romantic (if you're going for that sort of thing), the staff is nice, and last time I was there they had a boss playlist going on. I've been here three times and while I don't toke up in the restaurant much I consider myself a devoted melting pothead.
(4)