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meamea

Beach Comber
Sep 5, 2006
46
0
Santa Rosa Beach
We ate at The Melting Pot last night with another couple. In case you haven't heard it is a fondu restaruant - a flash back from the 70's with high tech cook surfaces. The food was good but....it took us 3 hours to eat a complete meal (cheese fondu, salad, mail course, and chocolate fondu dessert) that we had to cook ourselves. Where was Rachael Ray when I needed her? It also wasn's inexpensive.
 

30A Skunkape

Skunky
Jan 18, 2006
10,303
2,339
54
Backatown Seagrove
We went to one of the Melting Pot entries before and it was just OK and really expensive. I forget what the exact food options were, but we got something 'appropriate' for two people and it was so much stuff, mostly vegetables cut up into bite sized pieces and some sort of meat. Everything pretty much began to taste the same after awhile. I remember leaving at least half of the stuff uncooked and feeling sickly stuffed when done. It is probably best suited for groups of more than just two people.

My favorite food critic points out that deep south towns and 'melting pots' are poor pairings because fondue is such a heavy product. Who on Earth wants to go to the beach all day then hover over a vat of hot oil and feast on fried stuff prepared by amateurs?:dunno:

I am sure it will thrive in the Destin market.:roll:
 

drsvelte

Beach Fanatic
Jul 12, 2005
305
3
Sandestin & Red Stick
The Melting Pot is one of our daughter's favorite places and we usually go on her birthday. Personally, I like the salads and the cheese fondue, but the entrees are just so-so. The last time we were there I tried the lobster fondue and it was good, but probably not worth the extra tariff.

Its hard to imagine how this will work year-round in a beach community, but apparently heavy fare restaurants like Ruth's Chris and Flemings are doing OK.
 

NOLA TRANSPLANT

Beach Lover
Jul 24, 2007
145
21
Been there done that.....once long ago in New Orleans
The concept is a nice throw back to the what 70's? You know its a fun one time thing.....
I DON'T care for the idea that they charge the prices they do and I have to cook the food myself. AT ALL...!!!!!
If I want melted anything Ill stay at home and get in 20 minutes or less and if I want a great dinner Ill go to FIRE! (Sorry I couldn't pass that one up)
MERRY CHRISTMAS YALL!!
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
Fondue was our traditional New Year's Eve meal when we were little. Getting to cook your own food, drink sparkling grape juice, and hunt for mushrooms and lost shrimp or beef in the oil made it festive. The slower pace and lack of prep time meant we spend a realaxed meal together (it was not uncommon for Dad or my brother to have eaten half their meal while Mom and I were still waiting for the butter or gravy to be passed) and Mom get a break from all the holiday cooking.

The Melting Pot in summer or a 3 hour meal at a chain isn't my cup of tea, but if my ideas of nutrition, service, and food quality were the standard used, the Destin restaurant scene would be decimated. ;-)
 

beachyteachy

Beach Fanatic
Apr 4, 2005
328
30
51
The fam and I went to the one in P'Cola. The cheese part was good, but overall, it was a fonDON'T...sorry...:lolabove:
 
Apr 16, 2005
9,491
160
61
Buckeye Country
The fam and I went to the one in P'Cola. The cheese part was good, but overall, it was a fonDON'T...sorry...:lolabove:

I agree, but now I've perfected the cheese and chocolate fondue at home so no need for The Melting Pot. It used to be a favorite birthday spot for my daughter too. I took 8 girls there once for Sam's birthday....let me just say, it wasn't pretty....8 girls practically licking the chocolate pot clean!:eek:
 
I've been to the Melting Pot in Cleveland OH a couple of times and I wasn't impressed.

If you want really great fondue - find an Asian restaurant (probably Chinese - but I wouldn't be surprised if SaiKyo in Destin can do this) and order "huo goa" or Hot Pot. The price will be half what you'd pay at Melting Pot and the food will be twice as good!
 

elgordoboy

Beach Fanatic
Feb 9, 2007
2,507
888
I no longer stay in Dune Allen
If it were a pot of oil you were cooking it in the food might be better. As it is (or all I have had)-a flavored broth poaching lean cuts of meat..bleh. An ex gf loves the place but for the two of us to go and have a bottle of wine is close to $200 with tip. Is it more expensive here like many things I 'wonder? The atmosphere does nothing for me. I may have to try it in the oil.
 
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Matt J

SWGB
May 9, 2007
24,862
9,670
If it were a pot of oil you were cooking it in the food might be better. As it is (or all I have had)-a flavored broth poaching lean cuts of meat..bleh. An ex gf loves the place but for the two of us to go and have a bottle of wine is close to $200 with tip. Is it more expensive here like many things I 'wonder? The atmosphere does nothing for me. I may have to try it in the oil.

Never heard of the broth, but most Melting Pots use oil to cook the main course. This is usually what takes the longest is waiting for the oil to heat. The last time I went was in Tallahassee and they were using tea lights. It took forever.
 
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