The Melting Pot: When girls just wanna have fon(due)
Dinner with the girls often means a light menu.
No so at The Melting Pot. This national chain of fondue restaurants with three suburban locations (Oakbrook Terrace, Buffalo Grove and Schaumburg), recently started a Ladies Night Out special on Thursdays featuring diet-busting but delicious cheese, meat and chocolate, plus $6 martinis.
Wine is also a big part of The Melting Pot's allure - one manager is studying to be a master sommelier - and the servers will happily find a wine to match your preferences from the extensive wine list. If possible, they'll even bring out free taste-sized samples.
If you're not familiar with how fondue works, here's the deal: Bowls full of different goodies are brought out for you to stab with fondue sticks and dip in cheese and chocolate that's warmed on an in-table burner.
You also get to cook your own raw meat and vegetables using your choice of flavored oils or broths, served with a variety of dipping sauces.
The Ladies Night Out special is $32 per person for a four-course meal (cheese fondue, salad, a meat entree, and chocolate fondue) or $18 per person for just the cheese fondue, salad and chocolate fondue.
While some may consider that expensive, you get a lot of food for your money. And, as one diner noted, "Can you imagine all the prep work that goes into this?"
Our girlie group, which included a first-time fondue-er, met at the Buffalo Grove location, and we chatted and laughed our way through a three-hour dinner. The male waiter added to our fun, by being charming without flirting. And he didn't mind when we asked to take home the leftovers.
We left the restaurant smiling - and stuffed.
Kathy Crabtree, 45, Arlington Heights
The Ladies' Signature Special: the spinach artichoke cheese fondue, a spinach mushroom salad, the Signature Selection entree (filet mignon, shrimp, teriyaki-marinated sirloin, boneless chicken breast and salmon filet), and Pure Chocolate fondue.
I enjoyed everything I had. There was something for everyone. We chose a variety of cooking methods, including the Coq au Vin (cooking broth for the meat) with mushrooms and herbs. It had great flavor. Although the salad was good, I could have done without it because there was so much other food to eat.
The service was excellent. The waiter was knowledgeable and patient with all our questions. The booths are comfortable and cozy, but a little dark, maybe.
A long leisurely dinner with a significant other or a group of friends.
Beverlee Guerrucci, 77, Buffalo Grove
The Ladies Signature Special: the spinach artichoke cheese fondue, a spinach mushroom salad, the Signature Selection entree (filet mignon, shrimp, teriyaki-marinated sirloin, boneless chicken breast and salmon filet), and Pure Chocolate fondue.
They had a great variety of things to dip into the cheese fondue and the spinach artichoke cheese dip was very good. It was plenty of food, and as much as you wanted to eat. They brought refills. The chocolate fondue, it seemed like Hershey's sauce. I was looking for a thicker coating.
The booths by the windows are better. I couldn't even see in the other booths. I think the service was excellent. The waiter knew everything.
an anniversary dinner or a special occasion. You wouldn't just come here all the time.
Debora Whisler, 54, Arlington Heights
The Ladies Signature Special: the spinach artichoke cheese fondue, a spinach mushroom salad, the Signature Selection entree (filet mignon, shrimp, teriyaki-marinated sirloin, boneless chicken breast and salmon filet), and Pure Chocolate fondue.
The food's very appealing because it's so colorful on the white plates and you can just choose what you want. There was nothing I didn't like. The sauces really added to the flavor of the meats. I'd come back for another girlfriend's night out, but I'd definitely skip the meat. It was too much food.
With fondue, the conversation is as important as the food. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and a fun addition to the night.
a leisurely, different dinner.
The Melting Pot
Location: 1205 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove, (847) 342-6022, www.meltingpot.com.
Other suburban locations: 255 W. Golf Road in Schaumburg and 17 W. 633 Roosevelt Road in Oakbrook Terrace.
Price range: $16 to $56
Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.