An Oktoberfest Melting Pot
St. Petersburg, Florida
Cuisine Style: Swiss
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined: October 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:
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 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. 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.
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
My wife started with a glass of Belle Ambiance Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, which according to the winemakers’ tasting notes has alluring aromas of cherry, plum, and cocoa before indulging in the soft, elegant flavors of sweet fruit and toasty oak as they dance across your palate. From the soft tannins to the balanced acidity and clean, fruit-filled finish, this enchanting wine expertly captures the essence of everything that makes Pinot Noir so irresistible.
I started with a local beer from Cigar City Brewery called the Florida Cracker, which unlike my neighbor, I am not. I have had the Jai Alai beer many times from this brewery and decided to branch out and try a few others as well. The original Cracker Cowboys of Florida were colonial-era settlers, often of Scots-Irish descent, who arrived in Florida when Spain traded their territory of La Florida to the English. The term Cracker in Florida usage relates to the whip these “cow hunters” used to herd cattle in Florida’s Palmetto Prairies. Today that term has skewed to refer to a Southern Redneck living further south than the South. Florida is diverse and has more of a Northerner population than a southern, so a Florida Cracker today is a term of endearment and nicer than the term redneck white trash. According to the beer makers' notes, it has citrus aromas of oranges and lime leaves mingled with bubblegum and dried flowers on the nose of this hazy and refreshing Belgian-style White Ale. High carbonation and herbaceous bitterness quench the thirst while lemon-lime esters and flavors of Valencia orange add a unique depth of flavor and complexity.
On our first visit and review for Wine Dine and Play we had the Hawaiian flatbread with herb-roasted chicken, savory satay skewers, and the Green goddess cheddar fondue entree with assorted sides and dippers. As it was October we had just come back from a visit to Cape Coral, Florida and missed the Oktoberfest celebration, one of the largest in the state, due to bad weather. So now that we were back home, we stopped into The Melting Pot and had the Oktoberfest cheddar fondue filled with aged cheddar, Emmenthaler, garlic, house-made Bavarian mustard, parmesan, Sam Adams Oktoberfest beer, shallots, and assorted spices.
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| The Melting Pot St Pete / Oktoberfest Fondue |
The dippers that came with the dish included a giant pretzel, traditional German-style bratwurst, sauerbraten, broccoli, Parisian carrots, cornichons, cauliflower, sauerkraut, and whole grain mustard. The cheese sauce had a strong aroma from the beer but sweet to the taste with notes fresh-cut hay. The flavor profile was very nutty and buttery, with a slightly fruity, acidic tone. Most of these notes came directly from the typical taste of a fine aged Emmentaler cows milk cheese and the shallot. The Bavarian mustard came through with hints of allspice and clove. With the entree, you could choose either an Oktoberfest beer flight from Sam Adams or a Schmitt Söhne Riesling tasting. I chose the beer which came with four varieties from dark bitter to a lighter Pilsner.
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| The Melting Pot St Pete / Oktoberfest Beer Flight |
Dessert:
The Melting Pot has many dip desserts, but for this meal, we chose the Black Forest cake fondue with cherry preserves and Kirschwasser brandy, topped with chocolate cake, cherry compote and whipped cream with apple strudel, pearl sugar waffles, strawberries, bananas, cream puffs and more.
Plus 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:
California:
3. Lodi AVA
Under or Sub-Lodi: AVA
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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Relaxed eatery and comfort foods at the Albert Whitted Airfield
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Modest South-Central Asian cuisine
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Local Diner With Town History
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
A Few Florida Favorites:
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Floribbean fair owned and named after fictional character by the author
Captiva Island, Florida, USA
|
Upscale Pan Asian Fare w/sushi
Orlando, Florida, USA
|
Multi-day festival and tasting
Key West, Florida, USA
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
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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. The first review score was 3 of 5 stars, so they have maintained the standards from my last visit.
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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11
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11
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0
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Food quality
|
10
|
8
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2
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Plate presentation
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10
|
8
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2
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Customer service
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13
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8
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5
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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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0.796296296296296
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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:
80% 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)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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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:
$20.00 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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Creatively presented high-energy Mediterranean Fare
Denver, Colorado, USA
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Farm-to-fork upscale local chain for Southwestern cuisine
Austin, Texas, USA
|
Upscale eatery with butchery at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
Other Melting Pot Pictures:
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| The Melting Pot St Pete / Oktoberfest Fondue Dippers |
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| The Melting Pot St Pete / Oktoberfest sausages |
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| The Melting Pot St Pete / Sauerbraten and Bratwurst |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
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