Melting Pot in Orlando?

[aj2hall]

We're planning a day at Sea World during our trip and thought the restaurant might be fun & different for my boys (6&8) Just wondering if anyone's been and would you recommend it? Do they take reservations or how long would the wait be mid week in Dec?

 

[momz]

the melting pot is a chain, I have not been to the one in Orlando. But I have been to others. Just plan on spending a lot of time if you go there. If you have dinner including appetizers and dessert, plan on up to 2-3 hours! but if you are going just for dessert, 1-1 1/2 hours is more likely. Also plan on spending some $$$. But...I thought it was worth both the time and the money. Of course, I was there with my husband (no kids). My only concern for you would be the length of time and the age of your boys, if they are having a good time, then it shouldn't be a problem, but if they get bored, look out, cause you could be there a while. hope this helps

 

[Mickeys_n_me]

The melting pot is quite pricey to take children. Plus you need to cook all your food in the VERY HOT fondue pots (including entree) so I would reconsider your choice. I know it is something I would get aggrivated with if I had young children with me, it takes about 5 minutes to cook each peice of meat, so the dining experience can be quite long, add even longer if you have hungry kids who don't have the patience to relize why they need to wait for the fondue to cook their food.

 

[jeff968]

I went with my family in February (17, 14, 7). We all had a good time. It did take a while and was pricy but everyone was entertained and had fun. No one got bored and the staff there was very nice and walked us through the process.

 

[psharrock]

I think there are about 3 Melting Pot restaurants in the Orlando area, the closest one to Sea World is on Sand Lake Road (about 3 mins from the I4).

Yes they take reservations, and would suggest that you need them.
We went a few times in August by ourselves and wondered whether it would be something the kids would like. (DS 9, DD7)

We decided that the main course would be too much hassle, so on our last night we booked in for dessert only. We went to another restaurant for our entree, and then we went to the melting pot. We actually did the cheese course as well and as you can imagine the kids had a great time with the chocolate.

The hot pot was not an issue for our kids we showed them it was hot and what it would do if they touched it, and they kept their distance.

Hope this helps
Paul

 

[aj2hall]

Thanks for all of the info. A similar restaurant, Simply Fondue just opened here so dh and I are planning to try that (just the 2 of us - good excuse to go out!) as kind of a trial run for the melting pot. Thanks again!

 

[inkkognito]

We go to that Melting Pot all of the time. Weekends are always busy, but they do take reservations. With weekdays, it's hard to tell...sometimes crowded and sometimes dead. I have a mini-review in my Celebration blog, complete with description of a kid who did NOT want to be there...I really felt sorry for her. It's definitely a long meal for little ones. You'll have to judge as to whether yours have the tolerance for that. Here is the review: http://celebrationfl.blogspot.com/2005_12_22_archive.html

 

[tarheelmjfan]

You guys have inspired me to go to The Melting Pot here on Sunday. We've never been. Going out to eat, then cooking my own food never really appealed to me. Now, I'm thinking it sounds like something our 16 yr. old would enjoy. He's a serious foodie, so I don't worry about him getting bored at all.

Question..... what should we expect a meal to cost our family of 3, & what would having just the cheese & dessert courses cost? Will the cheese & chocolate course be enough on it's own? I did look up the menu on the website, but I'm not sure how it works. Does everyone at the table have to order every course, if anyone wants that particular course? (Does that make sense? ) For example, I eat very little meat. I just don't really care for it. Our DS loves trying new things, as I do. I'm sure we'd both enjoy the cheese & choc. courses, & possibly a salad. My DH is more of a carnivore. I'm not sure he's going to go for the "no main course" idea. Can each person order the courses they want, or do we all have to order the same? I also have another, probably dumb, question. I see prices for the chocolate fondue, for example. Do you order a pot of fondue, then order the dippers seperately? Does each dipper cost seperately?

Sorry for so many questions. I'd just like to know what to expect, when I get there. It's better to look like a doofus on the DIS, than at The Melting Pot.

 

[momz]

basically everyone at the table will be eating from the same pot. so if you are having the cheese course, you all have the same, cheese. the stuff to dip comes out on a big platter, so you are all sharing that as well. I think the pricing starts out as a meal for 2 people and you add a little bit for each additional person. (at least that's how i remember it). the price for each course includes the sauce and the food for dipping.

 

[psharrock]

As Momz has said you all need to have the same main pot, unless there are 6 of you and then you get 2 pots, however, on the cheese course we were asked for how many persons, and for the chocolate course there were two sizes.

There were individual main courses available so I would have thought that you could just purchase 1 main course.

As for prices, this will be difficult
I know the chocolate course was $28 for the larger portion, but I cannot remember the price of the cheese course.

All 3 courses + salad can be 'bundled' together in the 'Big Night Out' for between $80-$90 per couple depending upon meat/fish selected.

Paul

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks for the explanations. It's not as expensive as I thought, if the dippers come with the fondue. I saw the "Big Night Out" on the website. That looks like a lot of food for 2 people. Well, maybe not, if my DH & DS were the 2 people. It definitely looks like too much for me to eat 1/2. Especially, considering I'd be happy with just the chocolate. I'd hate to ruin my appetite for dessert, by eating too much of the cheese & main course.

BTW, while looking for more info, I happened upon info about Club Fondue. For anyone who's planning to go, you can sign up for Club Fondue on their website, & they send you an email with a coupon good for the chocolate course for 2. I don't know how that will work with 3 people, but it was a nice find. I signed up for our local Melting Pot, but I suppose you could sign up for one of the Orlando restaurants, if you'd rather.

 

[zalansky]

I was going to mention Club Fondue! We have one of these in Tampa and I signed up for the club to get the dessert coupon, but have not yet used it.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I was going to mention Club Fondue! We have one of these in Tampa and I signed up for the club to get the dessert coupon, but have not yet used it.

We decided to eat somewhere else yesterday, so I haven't used the coupon yet either. Let me know, if you have any problems using it. We'll be going to TMP on Dale Mabry too.

 

[luvsvacations]

The last time we had dinner there - we got the Big Night Out. We had 3 of us to split it and it was perfect. We were all plenty to eat. It was my husband, myself and 16 year old son. I think we also ordered an extra salad.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

The last time we had dinner there - we got the Big Night Out. We had 3 of us to split it and it was perfect. We were all plenty to eat. It was my husband, myself and 16 year old son. I think we also ordered an extra salad.

That's good to know. I didn't realize we could do that. That will work perfectly for us too. Thanks for the tip.

 

[suzannews]

sorry to hijack but....

Don't forget Colorado Fondue in Casselberry. Awesome! We've taken our then 10 yr old and she loved it.