The Melting Pot

Cheese has always been an important part of my life. Despite the widespread presence of lactose intolerance in many ethnic groups, I was blessed with the ability to consume and easily digest milk products with very little gastrointestinal hindrance.
With the hopes of indulging myself in beautifully melted cheese with an assortment of finger foods with my company of friends, we drove through the dreaded traffic of Los Angeles. Upon reaching The Melting Pot, we were kindly greeted by the hostess and promptly seating in the immense restaurant. After ordering our cheese and chocolate fondue, we chatted and waited while resting our elbows on the sticky tables.
Surprisingly, the fondues took about 30 – 40 minutes to come. Rather than being negative Nancys, we took this as a sign of the good things to come. Out came the cheese fondue and our server carefully crafted the soon to be «masterpiece» in front of our eyes. Round about the cauldron go. In the gooey cheese goes. Double, double toil and trouble. Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. Alas, it was ready to eat! We eagerly grabbed our 5-​foot long stabbing utensils and speared what we could from the feast in front of us. As we pulled back our arms to deliver the gooey cheese coated foods into our mouths, we closed our eyes in anticipation…
Sadness. As commented by George Perry, an author of The Good Wine Guru in 2009, The Melting Pot «continued their trend of delivering on amazing meals… and service that is to brag about.» With this in mind, I cannot but help to cry out. The cheese fondue was flavorless and gritty and soon enough it began to burn. The chocolate fondue, despite taking 30 minutes extra before reaching our table and another 40 minutes extra due to faulty electric table burners, was better than the cheese fondue but still mediocre.
We quietly ate our food, paid the bill, thanked the staff, and left. I was angry. Not at the staff but at the restaurant. My anger turned to sadness as we quietly spoke about our experience on the long ride home. It was an experience that we looked forward to. And we were disappointed that The Melting Pot could only deliver the first half of what they stood for: great service and amazing food.
With this being said, I say goodbye to The Melting Pot. To fondue. Yet I thank you for the experience and I sincerely hope you uphold your support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the fight against childhood cancer.

This place is def going to go out of business soon! You walk in… It smells like a hospital cafeteria. The utensils have water spots all over them. Yuck soo in appetizing… Definitely over rated! They have potential to make it good but I think management doesn’t really give 2 shits. Ohh well

While the food was okay (and by I okay I mean ‘okay’) the service was less than satisfactory. First off, the hostesses were incredibly rude. We came by on mother’s day after just going to an Angels game (so we looked like we’d just come from a game and not necessarily in dresses and tuxes). When we approached the hostess, she gave us a scowling look over. I asked for a table for four, she said we could just sit in the bar. We had a 10-​year-​old with us, but she didn’t care. She told us the restaurant was packed. When we looked around, not even a ¹⁄₃ was filled. By the time we left there was still only a third filled. She was very rude.
Our server was nice enough, but she was hardly ever around. She was busy chatting in the bar with others. She’d drop off SOME of our food, tell us she’d be right back with the rest, then go chat it up some more and leave us waiting for 10 minutes before we could start eating. The portion sizes were not appropriate for the cheese fondue. We had a group of 4 and we only got a portion for two. Also their vegetables/​fruits for dipping were cheap produce, like bell peppers and carrots and celery, which are not very tasty with cheese. Where’s the broccoli, all of my group asked?
During dinner, my husband and I both had to use the restrooms to wash our hands. On our way over we had to walk by the kitchen where in the hallway two employees were canoodling and blocking our path. It was very awkward and uncomfortable. Another employee smacked them and told them to move and they were embarrassed, but what kind of professionalism is that in a ‘high-​end restaurant’? I was appalled by their behavior.
I would not come back. It was silly how expensive the food was for what we got and the customer service was terrible.

WOW. This place is so inconsistent… also I was just there yesterday, so did this location just close? My friend and I were treated really well during DineLA happy hour week, so we wanted to go back. Unfortunately this time, the service was atrocious and we walked out. I’m almost glad this location is closed, if it is. When we first walked in, I asked the waitress if they were doing happy hour 4 – 7 pm and she was SO rude and rolled her eyes at me and said «yeah. if you can find a spot.» My friend noticed that even after I turned my back, she was smirking and seemed really irritated by my ONE little question. Then, as we get to the bar, we sat down and waited for a bartender or someone to help us… we waited about 10 minutes with no service even though they CLEARLY knew we were there. But, because the chocolate fondue was good last time, we gave them another chance and waited another 5 minutes before just walking out.
HORRIBLE experience & I’m utterly disappointed.

Appallingly bad.
Highs: Our server was polite attentive and really worked to make our dinner good.
Lows: The drinks from the bar were absolutely atrocious. We sent back 3! The food was mediocre and way over priced.
Since it’s closing down today I’m only going to say that I completely understand why they can’t keep the doors open.

Horrible service by certain staff and poor management contributed to the closure of this location. Sad to see this establishment close after a decade being in Old Town.

My boyfriend and I have been planning our 10 year anniversary for quite a while now. We had decided to go to the Melting Pot as we thoroughly enjoyed it about 3 years ago and went a few years in a row. However, we have not been within the past 3 years — and boy has it changed.
— Reservations/​Touch of Romance Package: As we arrived to our table in Lover’s Lane (not the table we specifically asked for while making reservations even though they confirmed that we WOULD have that table), I was pleasantly surprised with the rose pedals and candle lights. Upon closer examination, I was not so pleasantly surprised with the disgusting glass cups that the candles were sitting in. They were covered in smudges and wax. For the price we were paying ($ 10) for this package, is it really that difficult to have these clean? Not only that but half of the pedals on the table were incredibly small and had black wilted sides. I also had a wire dangling where my legs were the whole evening which was quite uncomfortable.
— Service: The service at the Pasadena location was incredibly slow. My boyfriend and I were there for a romantic evening so we didn’t mind waiting a while but the waiter took forever to even give us water, refills, and had to get someone else to take our dessert order. Not only this, but the waiter was way too talkative when he came to our table. We came to talk to one another, not hear his life story. When our waiter was making our cheese fondue, we asked what type of beer was going into it (we’d much rather hear this than his adventures with online dating) and he replied with a «I don’t know, let me check» — he never came back with the answer.
— Drink: As for drinks, I got the love martini which was delicious but it was at room temperature which was very disappointing. I also had a cup of coffee at the end of the meal with my fondue and it tasted watered down and horrible. The waiter also never offered me a refill, instead handed my boyfriend the bill and kept asking every few minutes if it was ready to go. This ruined the experience of dessert for us quite a bit.
— Food: The food was okay. I ordered the Caesar salad and was so excited for the encrusted pine nuts but my salad failed to come with any. I asked the waiter if I could have some more — he said that they are hidden in the salad. We did not see him again until way after we were finished with our salads, I informed him that there were no pine nuts in it but I felt like he could care less.
— Service: When the waiter sat down our main course, he failed to tell us what anything was. We overheard another waiter telling a different table what the sauces were and figured it out from there. This was disappointing.
— Dessert: Last but not least, the dessert. I was sad to find out that the cheesecake is no longer included with the price of the chocolate fondue but that was just a minor inconvenience. A different waiter now came to our table and told us that the fondue would be hot — about 5 times (we get it). Then gave us our dippers which were COVERED in cocoa powder. I noticed right away that the strawberries were yellow and not ripe, however, the waiter tried to argue with me that it was just covered in cocoa powder and too dark for me to notice. After a bit more talking, he finally took the strawberries and gave us fresher ones.
All in all, this meal was incredibly disappointing for being over TWICE the price of what it was a few years ago. This isn’t how I imagined remembering my boyfriend’s and my 10 years together. We remember more about the waiter being not attentive and too talkative rather than us enjoying the meal together. I really hope that someone will take a look at the Pasadena location of Melting Pot as I can see by the Unilocal reviews, it sounds like it is going down hill. I would like it to be how I remember it a few years ago, rather than this.

For the life of me I cannot understand the negative reviews surrounding this place. I have been here 7 times and have always had an excellent experience.
If you are looking to run in and run out, then no this is not the place for you. A 4 course fondue dinner tends to take a little while… That’s the nature of it. Enjoy the experience and relax.
I love the California Salad, wife loves the House.
We both love the alpine Swiss cheese and my favorite is the Wisconsin trio. Tonight we tried the new loaded baked potato and it was also great.
The filet pieces and shrimp are amazing. If you can, try to order some salmon pieces too. Those are not offered in any of the menu combos but they are fantastic.
The original (crunchy peanut butter) chocolate and the s’mores chocolate are to die for.
The makers Manhattan is great and the wife loves trying the different fruity drinks. We have a great time every time you come. If you aren’t in a hurry, try it for yourself!

Not only was the food disappointing & incredibly overpriced, the service my boyfriend & I received was absolutely terrible. The servers seem to have no consideration for the dining experience. They come by your table only when necessary to drop off your food then all hang out in the back room/​kitchen. I literally could hear their conversations from my table during the entirety of my meal. It took 15 minutes after being seated for the waiter to even show up at our table. It then took another 20 minutes for our cheese fondue appetizer to come out.
Appetizer: $ 20 for cut up veggies/​bread & a single pot of fondue. You could honestly make this yourself at home.
Entrée: I got the «Fondue By You» where you can choose 3 choices on the entrée menu. The portion size was so small, it was sad. Minimally seasoned meats that heavily rely on sauces for taste for $ 25. Fml.
Dessert: The chocolate fondue desserts are the only good thing about this place.
Honestly, eat somewhere else and only eat at The Melting Pot for dessert. Nothing else on their menu is worth it.

I came here last night for a casual dinner for the very first time. I have to say that I am very torn with the experience.
Pros:
–Great Fondue — we agreed on the cheddar, and the appetizers (bread) that accompanied it were delicious!
–Great Entrée Combo: I had the Fondue Fusion which consisted of: Cold water lobster tail accompanied by teriyaki-​marinated sirloin, Memphis-​style BBQ pork medallion, honey orange duck breast, and wild mushroom sacchetti.
–Loved the experience of getting to cook my own food — the sauces/​seasoning on everything was absolutely delicious! The veggies that they give you to cook were very good — the broccoli and red potatoes tasted amazing with the seasoning.
Cons:
–VERY SLOW restaurant — and even then our waiter was never around, he seemed panicked and overwhelmed with the 2 – 3 guests he had.
–OVERPRICED — $ 240 + tip for 4 PEOPLE … I could’ve gotten myself a brand new bag or clothes for what we spent. ($ 45-​$ 50/​person for a 4-​course experience) + drinks
Overall, this was definitely a one time thing for me. Too expensive, and the portions sizes, although delicious were TINY … and I felt $ 45-​$ 50 for a tiny plate of uncooked food was too expensive.
The desert was delicious and I felt made up for everything! If you do end up going I would suggest the Flaming Turtle and Chocolate smores. It was to die for and the best part of the meal!

This was the first time I have ever been to a Melting Pot restaurant and it was a very good dining experience. For the first course we had the Classic Alpine cheese fondue which was made with Gruyère cheese mixed with white wine and garlic. For the second course we had three types of protein and they were Duck breast, Ahi Tuna and Filet Mignon. For the third and final course we had a dark chocolate fondue and it was amazing. Take a look at the pictures I have posted.

There’s a reason why the other melting pots have closed… Lol.
This was my first time and my last.
Food sucked. I’d rather take my money elsewhere. Very pricey place! Just for a couple pieces of not so great tasting food.
Came home feeling gross. And sad that I wasted my money here.
Don’t bother.
Our waiter was great though, but you don’t walk into a restaurant for the waiter. It’s for the food lol

The Melting Pot has never been my first choice for a dining experience, simply because I think it is overpriced. I always leave the restaurant still hungry and with an unhappy, empty wallet. This was my first time at this particular location and once again, I left somewhat disappointed.
My friend and I each ordered a combination of three meats from the ‘individual entrée selections’. This also included vegetables and dipping sauces. I do not think that the other premium cooking styles offered are worth the extra charge, so we opted for the «Seasoned Court Bouillon». The fresh seasoned vegetable broth lacked any real flavor, but hey, it cooked my meat and did its job!
I have a huge sweet tooth and enjoy the dessert fondue over the entrée selections. The chocolate fondue, of your choice, comes with fresh strawberries and bananas, marshmallows, Rice Krispies Treats, cheesecake, brownies and pound cake. The actual number of pieces and portion size for the ‘dippers’ were satisfying.
The restaurant was fairly quiet and empty for Thursday night, but the service was nonexistent for the most part of our dinner. Sadly, I will most likely not return to this location or any Melting Pot restaurant any time soon.

Bad service and Rotten Strawberries.
Not what I was expecting. I went here this past week for the first time and had always wanted to give it a try.
Service: Our server acted more like a busboy. Very rushed and although not rude, was not all that jazzed to have us there. Surprising considering the possibilities for tips at a place like this, but maybe money isn’t something he is concerned about. At first I brushed it off, but there was one server there doing an excellent job– a serious contrast compared to our guy.
Besides being rushed, the server was taking 15 minutes at a time when we said we needed just one more minute to decide. Another 15 mins to get waters, 15 more minutes for a menu when we thought we might go ahead and do dessert a la carte at the end. (Keep in mind, it was not very busy there and the attentive waitress had double the tables he did.)
In the end we knew we were getting the chocolate strawberries for our anniversary complimentary, so we passed. We barely let him know we were sorry but changed our mind before he snatched the menu up and was walking away to get the bill. He seemed annoyed about the strawberries also, when we had already let the host know first thing upon entering.
WORSE STILL, 3 OUT OF 6 STRAWBERRIES WERE ROTTEN. COMPLETELY MUSHY AND SOFT. I’m attaching a picture so everyone can see. Super sad. I didn’t even have a Groupon, paid full price. Just wanted to be a regular paying customer and get the strawberries they touted on the website.
I see the MP has not replied to any reviews on here, so they probably won’t read this, but the girl with the blonde ponytail who worked Friday night deserves a raise. She was courteous, attentive and went above and beyond for her tables. If I could go back, I would have just asked to switch servers. They only got 2 stars because the entrée wasn’t bad.
Do yourself a favor, go to any one of the other nice restaurants in Old Town that have good food AND good service.

It seems like the majority of the people who go here got a deal on groupon. We did. That’s really the way to go because it is pretty pricey for the quantity of food that you get.
Go for the experience, not a meal. Although, we had the cheese fondue, dinner fondue and chocolate fondue and it filled us up. If you are having fun and talking and cooking and eating, the food will get to your stomach before you leave and you will feel satisfied. I definitely recommend going once, but I’m not sure if I would go back a second time. The service was great. Parking is not easy, but we were lucky since we had an early reservation. Reservations are needed and earlier is probably better if you can swing it.
My husband and I both got the Fondue for You for the «entrée». You get to pick three meats. Great way to sample. Everything was good, but andouille sausage was our favorite.

Where do I began…
FAQS:
Saturday night, 3 girls, @7:00pm/ reservations.
Ambience– Romantic.
Good for dates, friends night out, date inside with very little lighting. Families and birthdays.
Customer service– good. We had Jessica at first then she took off on us and then we had someone else, forgot her name … But she was outstanding.
Food: very confusing menu. Entrée this. entrée that, shareable, one order only yada yada.
Basically you have a hot pot in the center of the table and its fondue style.
Pick an appetizer (only one BC there’s only one pot)
:cheddar cheese delish — served with apples, bread
Salad– Caprese delish /​small portion
Entrée– filet, angus steak, Garlic steak, all were good. (One pot & then pick your cooking style and veggies added as well.)
:meat takes 2minutes to cook in pot
:veggies –10min.
Desert– one kind (one pot) with fruit and shortcake, banana, dipped in chocolate fondue. Delish.
We Ordered two orders BC one order is super small (group Of 3 girls)
Basically the Melting Pot experience take a long time… @ least and hour or two. So if your on a horrible Date good luck.
Will I go
Back… Mmm maybe not sure.

I’ve been here quite a lot but their food just doesn’t improve. Their broth taste like MSG poured all over it and very salty. Pretty overpriced too. I always order course meal but this is last time I’ll be ordering their meal. The meat and lobster smelled after cooked so you really need your dipping sauces to cover the taste from your mouth. It’s better to stick with cheese and chocolate fondue without their food menu. You can always sit at the bar to order these without waiting. You can also order from their happy hour menu from the bar which I didn’t get since I was sitting on the table.

I have been to this location on several occasions. Usually the service here is pleasant, especially at the bar. If you are trying to order just desert, I suggest taking a seat at the bar or one of the few tables behind the bar. It’s quiet and the bartenders are typically attentive and accommodating.
On to the food. The overall experience here (if you’re doing dinner) takes about two hours. It’s not really a quick in-​and-​out kind of place. It does get a bit pricey when you add items to the fondu lists and the quality of the meats and cheese is so-​so. Definitely not the best I’ve ever had. The deserts are tasty, but again not the best quality. The chocolate fondu (they have different selections of chocolate) is served with mini cheesecake bites, pound cake, brownies, rice crispies, and fruit. My favorite is the strawberries in the yin and yang chocolate. If you are a cookies and cream lover, you will love this! A mix of white and dark chocolate with a little twist.
Drinks that are a must try here are… the yin and yang (get this when you order desert, you will thank me later), pomegranate martini, and the sour patch. All deliciously made.
Finally…the inside has a really nice feel to it. It’s a bit dark in the restaurant and if you do reserve for dinner, ask for a corner seat. You can view the Pasadena strip while enjoying you’re cheese and chocolate fondu.

I never really cared about coming to The Melting Pot for a meal, since I heard it was fondue… and I wasn’t fond of fondue, haha. So after many days, weeks, and years, of holding back, my friend convinced me to try their dessert fondue.
It was about $ 10/​person for the s’mores plate. Included a small platter of sampler-​like treats to dip into the melted milk chocolate. Goodies such as, but not limited to (in case I’m leaving anything out) red velvet cubes, rice krispy pieces, marshmallows, graham crackers, cheesecake, brownie cubes, cut strawberries & sliced bananas.
I had a not too expensive glass or 8oz. glass of red wine. I don’t recall the name of it, but it was under $ 10, haha. I didn’t really care for it as it tasted watery… but for the price and then amount, I thought it was good… just didn’t taste that strong.
I would like to think that our waiter was kind of flustered when he was explaining things off the menu or bringing us our drinks. Almost like he was in a rush to get somewhere fast. He was nice nonetheless. The host/​ess were also in the front.
I’m not sure if I would ever want to actually eat here for lunch or dinner… just not a huge fondue fan if its something like dipping food into melted cheese. I really liked the brownie bites and rice krispies when dipped into the chocolate though, hah. Oh and the lighting inside is dim — semi-​romantic vibe I guess they got going on whether you’re seated at a booth, a table, or bar.

Came here because my little sister wanted to try this place so badly, they had a Dine LA special, 4 course for $ 35.00. Includes choice of cheese fondue, salad, main course and chocolate fondue.
Cheddar fondue, the mixed the ingredients at your table for you, provides you bread, veggies and apples to dip with your cheese. Veggies looked old because it was browning on the edges, the cheese itself didn’t have much flavor.
Salad, melting pot house salad, now this was good, the dressing was sweet and light, small portion, wish I had more!
Main course, not sure what base soup I had but it was had basil of some sort in it, we had steak, pork, shrimp and chicken that came with our meal to cook. I just can’t do it, the main course is just not good, the meat is over seasoned and the soup is just blah. I love my Asian style hot pots, even with plain water!
Chocolate fondue is probably the best of this whole dinner, choices of about 9 different chocolates, we had the smores, we had strawberry, banana, cheesecake, brownie, rice crispy treat, cake, marshmallow’s and graham cracker to dip into the chocolate.
Service was very nice and helpful
Didn’t like main course
I would only recommend doing cheese and chocolate fondue.
It’s an experience