Fondue - Why Else Go To A Melting Pot
St. Petersburg, Florida
Cuisine Style: Swiss
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined: December 2016
Article Updated: December 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
The Melting Pot St Pete Zomato rating:
Fondue originated in Switzerland and has not changed much since the 1930s. Originally it was melted Swiss cheese served with bread for dipping using long-stemmed forks. The word fondue is a French verb first used in1735, in Vincent la Chapelle's Cuisinier moderne, but the word cheese fondue traces its earliest roots back to a 1699 book published in Zurich, under the name "Käss mit Wein zu kochen,"or ‘to cook cheese with wine.’ Fondue became popular in the United States in the 1950s, and in 1975 The Melting Pot Restaurant was founded. Since the founding over 40 years ago outside Orlando in Maitland, Florida, they have franchised all over the USA, Canada, and Mexico with over 160 locations. This review is of the visit my wife and I had to The Melting Pot in St. Petersburg.
The Melting Pot St Pete Menu:
- The Best of Saint Petersburg
- Cheese Fondue
- Fresh Salads and Soups
- Entrees
- Fondue Entrees: Create Your Own
- Fondue Entrees: Four-Course
- Cooking Styles
- Shareable Sides
- Desserts
I may have been living under a rock for most of my adult life, but this was the first time I had been to a Melting Pot restaurant. Defiantly not the first time I had fondue, but I do have to say that I was impressed with my visit. My wife and I sat at the bar as we do in most restaurants we come to, and since we came during happy hour the normal price which was $84 USD was now $52, saving us $33 which is always nice.
We began with a few glasses of wine while looking over the many fondue selections as well as other starters. My wife had a glass of Charles & Charles rosé, part of the K Vintners Winery group based in Columbia Valley, Washington. The winemakers tasting notes called it sunshine in a glass. Pleasant with aromas of rose petals, camellias, tangerine, marjoram, wet stone and cut hay. One sip and you can feel the summer sun on your face. For me, I went with a Malbec from El Portillo, part of the Bodegas Salentein Winery, in Alto Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina. Portillo in English means portal or gateway. The winemaker describes the Malbec as a deep ruby red with a rich bouquet of fruit, reminiscent of plums and blackberries. Fresh flavors of redcurrant and black cherry supported by sweet, round tannins ending in a long finish with notes of cinnamon and cloves.
We decided to share two starter plates and one fondue for our happy hour meal, watching as the crowd began to come in. The first starter was a Hawaiian flatbread, with herb-crusted chicken, fresh pineapple, and a combination of Butterkäse and Fontina cheeses baked atop a clove of roasted garlic and herb flatbread then drizzled with teriyaki glaze. From what I remember as I’m writing this review nearly two months after the experience, the flatbread was fantastic. Butterkäse pronounced “booter-keh-zuh,” is a Wisconsin cheddar called “butter cheese” which originated on the Swiss-German border.
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| The Melting Pot / Hawaiian Flatbread |
Our second dish was the savory satay skewers, garnished on half an orange cut. There were three skewers to the order with nicely marinated cuts of your choice of beef, chicken or seafood accompanied by a seasonal dipping sauce. We chose the beef for our selection that evening.
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| The Melting Pot / Satay Skewers |
Finally came the highlight of the evening and the namesake for the restaurant, fondue. They had over twenty to choose from classical to chocolate and special fondues. We decided on the Green goddess cheddar fondue. The featured cheeses were an Aged cheddar, and a Swiss Emmenthaler, melted with a lager beer, roasted garlic, homemade Green Goddess dressing, black pepper, and a gluten-free Redbridge beer by Anheuser-Busch. Redbridge is a rich, hearty and full-bodied gluten-free lager brewed from sorghum with a distinctively fruity hop aroma, a sweet toasted grain flavor and a well-balanced, moderately hopped finish.
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| The Melting Pot / Fondue |
Dessert:
We did not have dessert during this visit, but some items of interest on the menu include the black forest chocolate fondue with assorted fruits and dips.
Check out some of these wonderful selections from Wine Dine and Play:
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
Washington State:
South America:
Argentina INV:
San Rafael DOC - Mendoza
Other noteworthy Swiss and German cuisine articles and restaurants similar to The Melting Pot:
Swiss cuisine bears witness to many regional influences, including from French, German and Italian cuisines. Switzerland was historically a country of farmers, so traditional Swiss dishes tend to be plain and made from simple ingredients, such as potatoes and cheese.
The cuisine of Germany has evolved as a national cuisine with some regions like Bavaria and neighboring Swabia, sharing dishes with Austrian and Swiss cuisine. German restaurants have become the world's second-most decorated after France.
A Taste of Berlin Relaxed hangout serving German Grub in Brandon, Florida
Hausmann’s A Mixed German Bistro And Brasserie At Frankfort Airport, Frankfurt, Germany
Hofbräuhaus This classic chain German beer-hall and brewery makes its way to St. Petersburg, Florida
Josty Bistro Eatery serving German regional cuisine at the Potsdamer Platz Sony Center in Berlin, Germany
Old Castle Restaurant German specialties at a world-style tavern in Ruskin, Florida
Restaurant Mark Brandenburg Sustainable and regional German cuisine at the Hilton in Berlin, Germany
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other St Petersburg restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Artistry with exceptional flavor
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Organic & Non-GMO California themed cuisine
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A Few Florida Favorites:
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Steakhouse restaurant on inlet offering Gulf views
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Old-school & modern genial Italian eatery
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambience, food quality, and wow factor.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give The Melting Pot a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for The Melting Pot St Pete
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambience
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10
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10
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0
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Food quality
|
10
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9
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1
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Plate presentation
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10
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7
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3
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Customer service
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13
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7
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6
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Alcohol and other beverages
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10
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8
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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54
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43
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11
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.796296296296296
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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0
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.78127596294491
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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- 0 - 5
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3
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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3 of 5 Stars:
78% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded My Expectations in a Dining Experience
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Wine List:
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Corkage fees:
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The Melting Pot does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant-style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at The Melting Pot:
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Swiss
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Low Carb Choices, Gluten-Free Choices, Organic Options, Pescatarian, Vegetarian and Vegan Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wears flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Melting Pot Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Contemporary, Modern, Lounge, Business parties, Romantic, Good for special occasions, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Melting Pot has a private lot
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Wifi:
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium
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Smoking:
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The Melting Pot is a non-smoking restaurant, with a non-smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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Alcohol prices:
$25.00 USD
The Melting Pot:
2221 4th St North
St. Petersburg, Florida
33704
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 727-895-6358
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Online reservations
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Website Contact:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Sun - Thur
5:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri - Sat
4:00 pm - 11:30 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Melting Pot:
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****
The world’s best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Eclectic & innovative gastropub using molecular gastronomy
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
Seasonally inspired continental European fare
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
|
High-end bistro with modern New Zealand cuisine
Christchurch, New Zealand
|
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
