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When planning a special night out, you want everything to be exceptional down to the last detail. Whether it's Valentine's Day, an anniversary, a promotion, or merely an occasion to show someone how dear they are to you, creating a flawless evening might be your goal, but the big dilemma is "where"? Where in the Triangle can you trust the staff and the restaurant to provide the powerful, unique, and engaging experience that will create a cherished memory? I can tell you with great certainty that The Melting Pot is your answer. Yes, I'm talking about a chain restaurant and the world's largest fondue franchise. Surprised? As unlikely a choice as a chain might be, in the case of The Melting Pot romance, sophistication, excellent service and carefully prepared items are all part of the high standard upheld over time and as the franchise has spread throughout the country. At The Melting Pot, they believe it's a night, not just a meal. It's a unique dining experience every single time – one you interact with, connect with, and nurture. You make it your own. For those of you who are not familiar with fondue, prepare for an intimate, decadent, and leisurely dining experience. You choose your cocktails or wine, your courses, your cooking styles, the ingredients for your cheese, broths and cooking oils, and the items you'll cook, dip and eat. Every detail of your indulgent meal is adeptly prepared to your specifications at your table, and experimentation is encouraged. Most places claim it's all about the customer, but here they prove at every opportunity that they really mean it. "In great romance, each person plays a part the other really likes." Elizabeth Ashley Sharing is an integral part of your meal, which is why the menu is constructed into courses by party size, not into individual entrees and dishes. Also keep in mind that special occasions are a time to indulge and make the experience last. We were eager to enjoy the best experience possible, diets and schedules be damned, so we were relieved when our waiter Justin offered to lead us through our evening. He suggested the Lobster Indulgence menu, accompanied by a gorgeous bottle of Aida Zinfandel. We sat back and took in the wonder of it all. Following our wine was the first course, which was a vat of creamy cheese fondue, with bite-sized bread and vegetables to dip. We fought not to fill up on the warm gooey bites, and when our salads arrived we were glad we did. Fresh greens and incredible dressings gave us a whole new focus. It became evident early that we were definitely going to overeat, and not regret a bite of it! After allowing everything to settle, our waiter brought our main course, and explained with caring detail the best way for us to handle all the carefully trimmed meats and fish, the vegetables and the exciting variety of sauces. We had a pot of oil and a pot of fragrant broth, and were encouraged to experiment with each. Adding tempura batter and a green goddess dressing to a simple stalk of broccoli seemed easy, but turned out to be such a delicious creation. Lobster in the drawn butter sauce was heaven as well. It took almost 45 minutes as we cooked, ate and chatted through this course, but we agreed it was the most satisfying and intimate meal we'd had in years. "Infinitely more important than sharing one's material wealth is sharing the wealth of ourselves – our time and energy, our passion and commitment, and, above all, our love." William E. Simon For dessert, we might have decided we were too full had we not been intrigued by the idea of the Special Event: choice of chocolate, choice of liqueur, flambéd! Once our carefully concocted chocolate was fired up, we had Oreo-rolled marshmallows, nut-rolled marshmallows, and an assortment of bite-sized fruits to dip. Then to top it all off, we were also convinced we needed to try the Yin Yang martini. It was a true work of art -- white chocolate, milk choc shavings, not overly sweet, breathtakingly beautiful, and a grand accent to our final fondue of the night. The next time you're looking for a unique spot to share with a loved one or simply to satisfy your sweet tooth, I hope you'll look to The Melting Pot. With all the options available in the simplest of their meals, you are guaranteed to taste something different with every bite and enjoy a unique experience every time. I predict you'll become a special event regular in no time. |
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The Melting Pot Note: This review is written by ZSpotlight.com editorial staff. Viewer reviews may also be submitted. However, all viewer reviews are posted within the profile page of that particular establishment. Viewers may post a review for this establishment either by clicking the above link or visiting this particular establishments profile page and clicking "Testimonials". |