The Melting Pot

I’m giving this place only 4 stars for a couple reasons.
We made reservations ahead of time since we figured it would be busy for restaurant week. We arrived about 15 minutes early and did not get seated till 15 past our reservation time. Once we were seated, we waited at least 5 minutes before our server came to our table. He was very thorough in explaining how the menu worked.
We ordered the 4 course dinner which included cheese fondue, salad, an entrée and dessert.
For appetizer, we had the beer bacon cheese fondue with veggies and sausage dippers (for an additional cost) which were to die for. The salad was very crisp and yummy. We tried the garlic and wine seasoning which we found so tasty, we ended up purchasing a bottle to take home.
For our entrée, we had the meat variety in the Mojo broth. The idea of specialty cut meats being «boiled» in seasoned broth was interesting. Sadly enough this was the most disappointing part of our dinner. We simply didn’t find out meat, chicken and shrimp cooked this way very appetizing. If we had to choose, we would only have had the shrimp and cocktail sauce.
Lastly, the highlight of the night was the dessert chocolate fondue. We picked the banana split chocolate which is best described as heaven on earth. The amount of chocolate fondue provided was enough to order a second round of dippers. So yummy! I could eat that everyday!
Overall our experience was good. I was bummed that at the end of our visit we were told they were out of chocolate covered strawberries, which we had a «get 6 free» coupon with check-​in. The manager was apologetic and kind enough to offer us a discount on our check for the inconvenience.
This place is cozy and dim, which makes it perfect for date night. The food quantity was enough to leave so full we could barely fit into our jeans. I think we will definitely return to Melting Pot, although next time we’ll skip the entrée and only have the cheese and chocolate.

Our 2^nd time here and was just as perfect as the 1^st time. Matt was our server and he did such an awesome job and the entire team at the restaurant are great. In addition to that, the food is awesome. Can’t wait to return.

The food and atmosphere is always awesome, but the service, and servers themselves always look and seem disheveled… not a good look :/​I find it odd that at such a «nice» restaurant, the service team would wear cotton tee shirts and jeans with an apron.

Firstly let me say that this place has been added to my «Specials» list.
It was my birthday and I was accompanied with a special someone. Being a novel to this place, did we enjoy being here? Hell yeah! We ordered all the classics (veg) cherishing every bite. What made the evening special was not just food, but the entire sui generis experience. Excellent service by Matt, from walking us through the entire 4 course meal, to surprising us with a bunch of complimentary gifts!
In the cold weather beside the warm melting pot, we enjoyed every bit of the 3 hours spent here. It was one special evening. I definitely recommend this place to all the couples out there planning a special date! Quality food and quality time!
#HappyPuppy

I went with my friends on a whim. Our server was great and patiently answered our many questions. The food, however, was lacking. We ordered the anniversary special which was $ 77 per two individuals. However, I expected more food to be provided. There was only 4 – 6 slices of varying meats, seafood, or vegetables to cook or dip. The cheese fondue paired with bread, apples slices, and vegetables was bland and tasteless. The six accompanying sauces to the meat entrees did not suit the meat or seafood at all — a hodgepodge of odd sauces (curry, sweet and sour, etc). The coq au vin and salads were okay. The only redeeming quality about this place is their chocolate fondue.
Also, the lighting in this place is horrible.

We visited the Melting Pot at Gaithersburg to celebrate my fiancée’s birthday. This was our first time visiting and we had our reservations. However, the experience turned out to be SPLENDID!
Matt, our server, was super courteous and sweet and explained us the 4-​course experience and ensured the best service possible. He also clicked a photo of us and gifted a printed copy of it. We went with all Vegetarian Options. The Chocolate Fondue was the best of all, and my fiancée‘ was pleasantly surprised when Matt brought her a strawberry cheesecake with a candle on it. Also, not to forget the box of the signature chocolate covered strawberries that they gifted us as a birthday present. Overall, we felt we made the best decision to spend this special evening at the Melting Pot. A must visit for a unique experience and ambience. You sort of cook your own food and it’s quite interesting. Plan to spend at least 2 – 3 hours for a nice time with the 4-​course experience…
I promise you’ll go back smiling :) :) :)

Love the food, ambiance and service here! We come to celebrate though sometimes just for fun! The food is great, fresh and delicious. Never rushed! Food is meant to be savored. Come to enjoy an eating experience!

I just wanted to update my last review, Approximately 6 days after I posted my review i received a email from the melting pot management, they apologized for the bad experience we had and the behavior of their waiter that night, they also mentioned that they were actually working on a new menu that was less confusing and easier to understand which is great because nobody wants to leave a restraint feeling ripped off. The bad thing is in their email they requested my contact information because they wanted to discuss my review over the phone, I sent the information, they replied asking for a good time to contact me… I replied back but to this day I haven’t heard anything from them.
But to be fair it’s nice to know they read and care what people write.

My mother and I often visit this location for bonding time and it is hands down my absolute favorite Melting Pot in the Metropolitan area. Fantastic food and fabulous service. What more can you ask for?

I went to the Melting Pot on 9÷16÷15 with my family.
Although, at first we were slightly disappointed that the only reservation we could get was at 5:30 PM; it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Eating at the Melting Pot is an experience (and it takes up to 3 hours). I felt like when we left the restaurant it wasn’t super late because we started early.
Our server Isaac was very good. He was also very personable.
Our group of 7 had a good time and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
My favorite part of the evening was how the «younger» people that were not hitting the party scene in the 70s when the fondue craze was really big seemed to master the concept of cooking your own food quicker than the rest of the table.
The reasons I cannot bumped my experience up to a 5 star rating is 1) the seating arrangement. Our group of 7 could barely fit into our booth. I would have understood if this was the only space available. However, we had called ahead with the number of people for the reservation. I was surprised that they did not place at us at one of the long tables I saw. 2) I didn’t love the ambiance of the Melting Pot. It felt a little dated and was too dark for my liking.
In a nutshell, I wouldn’t hesitate suggesting the Melting Pot to celebrate a special occasion but would ask for a table (not a booth) for a group larger than 5 people.

I went to the melting pot in shady grove md. I had the best anniversary dinner ever my husband made reservation Set-​up with rose petals at the table and a chocolate box to end the night. Our waiter was Alex he knew the menu very well and most important he had a great personality. I had an awesome experience I will be visiting again.”

The melting pots living social deal is amazing my mom and I teamed up and made our own surf and turf she had steak and I had old bay shrimp both were great! Also the fiesta cheese was awesome! Our server was very attentive and helped us make good choices!

My fiancé and I got to experience TMP for the first time tonight. I was sent a living social voucher for $ 38 in my email so we decided since we’ve been wanting to try it now was the time! We just got engaged 4 days ago, so what better way to celebrate! I sent up our reservation over the phone and advised them that we did have a voucher. The receptionist just stated to talk to our waiter for more information.
We arrived and were promptly seated at 6pm. Our waitresses name was Sam. She was patient and extremely kind with us never being there before. I was afraid since we had a voucher we may be treated differently, but that was not the case. She explained every step of the process, every sauce, and every option possible. We ended up getting «hot brown» cheese fondue, which was tomatoes, bacon, Black Forest ham, and garlic. It seemed to be lacking a little in flavor, but overall was not bad. could’ve used more garlic. For our entrees, we decided to get the mojo broth, which smelled amazing and tasted the same (although we did leave there smelling like it and was an extra $ 4.95 up charge). Our meat we choose were BBQ pork medallions, teriyaki sirloin, pacific shrimp, filet mignon, chicken breast, and something like a mushroom ravioli.
Lastly, I decided we better go all out and get dessert. We choose the original, which is chocolate and peanut butter fondue. Also smelled delicious and was the perfect way to finish our meal. Definitely want to visit again! Great service and amazing food!

First time at MP — we had dinner here last night with a group of 6 for Teacher Appreciation Night ($ 29 per person plus tax — an unbelievable deal for the quality and quantity of food we received), which included:
— Cheese fondue (choice of two) — we got the cheddar and spinach artichoke, and included veggie dippers, bread, and tortilla chips
— Individual salad (I got the house salad with peppercorn dressing — excellent)
— Meat/​protein dippers — filet mignon, teryiaki beef, chicken, shrimp, and mushroom sachetti (think mushroom-​filled ravioli) with two cooking styles — the broth and hot oil (for frying)
— Chocolate fondue (s’mores and a dark chocolate/​dulce de leche combo)
— and 79 (maybe it was less) different types of accompanying sauces (my favorite was the horseradish-​type one)
Everything was extremely delicious and filling — our only troubles were figuring out how to control the heat for the oil so that our meat didn’t come out crispy on the outside and undercooked on the inside (I may have accidentally eaten raw chicken on the first attempt — so far, I’m still alive!). Eventually, we got the hang of it.
The booths were a bit cramped for 6 people — not sure if they have non-​booth tables for larger groups but everyone was able to have access to each of the hot pots. Our server was excellent with a great sense of humor and very patient.
We came in at 8:00pm and left at 11:00pm — this is certainly a meal to be enjoyed slowly and with good friends and family!

Second visit here. Food was decent just as it was on my first visit. The biggest game changer and what got them 4 vs. 2 stars… our server Alex. He was EXTREMELY polite, attentive, very accommodating and had great recommendations. He was not at all affected by the fact that we had a Living Social voucher.
As a semi-​frequent living social user, (as many of you might be able to relate) you get a certain vibe/​look when you present a voucher than when you don’t. Yes, the voucher is a deal however, if I want additional items not included I have no issues paying extra and do not restrict myself.

It’s been a tradition for me to go with my family to The Melting Pot every Mothers’ Day. We all enjoy the food prep and the fun that we have whilst doing it. Specially the chocolate fondue.
This year we were a little disappointed by the tuna but part from that everything was delicious and fabulous and a great time was had by all.
Our server Megan was a delight and really hustled to get things to us. Totally loved her.

We purchased a living social deal for a three course dinner. As instructed on the deAl, we could not use it on a Saturday and needed to let our server know at the beginning of the meal. We made a reservation for Friday and requested a private booth for 2. We arrived for our reservation and were told it would be a few minutes for our table. I have no issue with this as I will grab a drink in the bar. The bartender was super friendly. We waited about 10 minutes for a table and we were sat at a booth for 6 people with two burners. It was a more private booth but it was huge. I really would have preferred a booth for just two since it was awkward sitting in a huge booth.
Our waitress was very attentive and provided an amazing level of service. She was able to hold a conversation and I enjoyed talking with her.
The only issue was a piece of cork in my wine glass from our bottle. (I get it, it happens). The manager offered us a discount on the wine– that’s always nice!
Our living social deal came with cheese, salad, and meat entrees. We decided to order two cheese fondues and skip the chocolate. The alpine cheese fondue is delicious!
Overall, it was a very enjoyable evening.

Solid 4 Star and the primary reason was our excellent waitress Patty! The food was the usual fresh and delicious «Melting Pot» but despite the busy dinner hour, we felt very well attended/​serviced.
I’m a healthy eater, but find the Mojo Style cooking with the fresh chicken breast doesn’t leave me devoid of flavor! Bring on the «jerk».

Holy Mackerel, I LOVE THIS PLACE!
Main take aways:
1) YES, it is worth any hype surrounding it
2) WEAR BLACK because you WILL spill something on your clothes!
3) If meat is ordered, it will come out raw! You’ll cook it at your table
4) The bases of both the broth of the meat entrée and the chocolate of the dessert entrée contain a bit of alcohol. Remember to ask your waiter to skip these parts, if you cannot consume alcohol
5) If interested in saving a bit of money ($~7), ask for only one portion of the fondue (cheese or chocolate) to share
On to the review: I bought a Living Social deal for a two course meal to celebrate my anniversary to BP. Unfortunately, we could not wait to use it so we ended up using it the same day it was purchased!
The Melting Pot was the best dining experience I have had in a long time. We ended up actually paying extra to experience the cheese fondue as well as the chocolate fondue courses. If this deal is offered again on Living Social, purchase it! Just FYI, I paid $ 32 for the two course deal: This included getting $ 6 salads each (BP chose the house and I had the California) and choosing an entrée (meat) each.
The staff was well aware of the deal and other patrons around us also were using the deal. The Manager himself came to us to ask about our experience :) Our waiter, Jeff, was amazing. He was so kind, patient, and understanding of our dietary needs (no alcohol or pork products) I was pleseantly surprised by how well we were treated, just because I’ve never had such an amazing and relaxing (as well as exciting) dining experience before.
So for the meat entrée, Jeff said we could do a Fondue By You: Ordering a combination of three meats rather then just one. We went for the priciest items: Fillet Mignon, Beef Sirloin (2) Teriyaki, Salmon, chicken, and the Shrimp. In my opinion, BP’s Teriyaki was the best!
The entrées included vegetables (potatoes, broccoli and mushroom) and signature dipping sauces (Green Goddess for the potatoes was our fave and we also loved the Plum sauce so much we asked for refills).
We asked Jeff for re-​fills on just about everything we could: more veggies, more sauces, and more dippers for dessert; I would encourage you to do the same :) Just be sure to tip well! Although I am certain he could not give us more of the fondue (chocolate or cheese) or extra meat.
This review is out of control, I keep forgetting things… Um… For the Cheese fondue we ordered the basic Cheddar. The dippers were veggies and green apples. This was the first fondue ordered so we asked for a portion each. I did not think we could have shared the portions, but we did end up sharing one when it came to the Chocolate course.
The Chocolate course was so good! BP ordered the Chocolate Truffle one (it came with sweet pecans). The dippers were delectable brownies, blondies, fruits (pineapples, bananas and strawberries). We asked for extras of everything else since we could not eat the marshmallows.
*Sigh* I cannot wait to go back!!!

My first time here after hearing about it for several years. My partner and I found a Livingsocial deal and decided to try it out. I will say even with the deal, everything is really overpriced.
The restaurant is dimmed lighted and quiet. Has a calming romantic type of feel. I could see this being a good date spot. The booths are kind of intimate and very private.
We walked in to a not so warm and friendly hostess asking if we had a reservation. I let her know that we did not and she seated us immediately. Our server was nice but really all over the place. I couldn’t tell if he was new or just overwhelmed. The side of the restaurant that we were sitting in wasn’t busy for the majority of the time we were there so I don’t know why he was so stressed. But he forgot our refills and didn’t check in with us as much as he should. We were sitting for a good 30 minutes waiting to order our entrée. Also overhearing him with the patrons next to us, he didn’t describe the entrees like he did with the others and definitely checked on them much more than us which irked me.
This is essentially the American version of Asian hot pot. For an appetizer you can select from their four cheese fondue options, and they bring you cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes and stale bread to dip. We picked the classic alpine cheese fondue, it had a bitter after taste and really just tasted of pure wine.
We each got a salad, my partner got the house salad which is just iceberg and romaine lettuce with cheese, croutons and sliced egg drenched in ranch dressing. I ordered the spinach with portobello mushroom, bacon bits and red onion in a balsamic vinagrette. My salad did not have portobello mushrooms, it was raw sliced white cap mushrooms. The dressing was overly sweet. This was probably hands down the worst salad I have ever had in my life — and I LOVE salads. It’s a favorite food of mine.
For our entrees, we ordered the Pacific white shrimp and wild mushroom sacchetti and the complimentary stock which really was just a vegetable broth. I recognized the smell of the broth as a boullion broth that I have purchased in the store and made at home. They brought out different dipping sauces, all pretty heavy cream or sugar based. You cook the entrée items in the broth for the time directed by your server and then dip it in the sauce for final eating. They then also bring out veggies to eat with your entrée, broccoli, mushroom caps and diced potatoes.
The food was good. But was it REALLY good? No. The ingredients are not high quality, and just for what we ordered, it would had been over $ 80 without the Livingsocial coupon which I think is horrendous. This place is extremely overpriced for the quality of ingredients they serve, and the boullion cubed broth. If everything was of higher quality I could understand why this restaurant is so popular but to me, it was everything you could do at home for much cheaper. I understand the whole concept being appealing and romantic or fun to do with a group, but when you are charging as much as they charge, you need to be able to use high quality or at least higher quality items then what they are using. The broth should be made in house, and the dressings and dips shouldn’t be all sugar and from a bottle.
We were turned off by this point that we didn’t care to do dessert. And maybe that is the best part, but our experience was disappointing. I would never return and never suggest this place to someone. While the concept is great, I’d love to see a restaurant do the same thing but 100 times better.