The Melting Pot Reviews

4.0

106 of 3,361 Restaurants in Portland


Reviews

Just what you want it to be

By shakenbaked |

I have eaten here a few times and it is always solid. It is pretty hard to screw up a fondue and they have it down to a science. Service is always excellent and the food is exactly what you expect.

Go for happy hour

By Squishy K |

You can get a reasonable amount of food and drinks for $30 to $40. They make the fondue at your table and its gooood.

Bday dinner

By mgripp19 |

Slow service on a slow night and very very pricey!! We ordered just cheese and dessert for 4 and we only received FOUR pieces of apples and some bread with 3 cherry tomatoes and 4 pieces of celery!! Then the waiter made rude comment how we are ALL the bread - cheese fondue was very bland as well as the dessert fondue. They forgot our salad but still billed me for it then gave it to us in a box as we were leaving - ridiculous! And my bill was $160!!!!! Go to Urban Fondue for much better experience people, The Melting Pot is just another big company that doesn’t care about it customers! I have no intention of ever going back.

Ok for over priced cheeze

By redmanrh |

My kids like this place, I will not eat there again, and would not recommend . Service ok, food ok, restaurant ok,

This is hard to review

By Carl R |

First, the service was very good.. The fondue is prepared table side. There is a happy hour menu and a cocktail of the day. Happy hour wine is $6.00. Each big bowl of fondue is $14.00. Beer was $4.00. Stay away from the caviar cups, misnamed with a speck of roe on a mini cup of flavored cream cheese. The Room is downstairs and a very nice space. No real complaints, but nothing I'd return to. $77.00 for two rounds of drinks, two fondues, and the 'caviar' cups for the four of us.

Bday Dinner

By mbmoser |

Went for my birthday. Food was good and service was good. Course 1: the cheese fondue was good. We got the Alpine version. It was probably the least favorite thing on the night. Course 2: Salad was the spinach with blue cheese and bacon. DIVINE!!! Course 3: Meat and veggies with sauces. This was so delicious and we cooked in the Mojo flavor. All the meats were exceptional as were the sauces. Course 4: Dessert was a plate of different fruits, cakes and rice crispy treats to dip in chocolate. This was heaven on earth and the server asked if we wanted more of anything to dip which we got more. Overall a great experience but you pay for it which we expected. The one criticism is we tried to order a half bottle of wine which was on the menu. We were told they only had full bottles and could not provide thec1/2 bottle. Strange if you have a full bottle why not 1/2? It was early in the dinner hour so not sure what was up there. That was disappointing.

Yummy!!

By chris l |

I love cheese and chocolate fondue. The main course was a combo platter with steak, chicken and shrimp cooked in peanut oil----Yummy!!

Chocolate fondue

By Noah S |

I know that some people will make Frozen jokes about this review but this place is worth the wait. They literally make the food right in front of you and serve it to you fresh.

Awesome variety

By Dan Jackson |

Great fondue with many quality choices and very yummy. A must you will not be disappointed 🙌 Medium priced menu and great atmosphere and wait staff. Good drink options and nice location easy to get to.

If you love fondue...then this is the place!

By garyschoenberg |

We've never had a bad meal here. I mean if you love cheese, well, there it is melted and piping hot with a panoply of vegetables and breads to dip. (We're vegetarian, but there are opportunities for the carnivore). The chocolate fondue is a blast. I bring my own peanut butter cookies to dip. It's chutzpah, but they've never objected.

Disappointed

By Araboo |

The cheese fondue was very good and very good portion.the bourginon fondue was not bad but they could tell you that their portions are very small and the vegetables as well. The service is very poor. The place feels like a cafeteria. It’s definitely not a place that invites you to have a nice dinner at all. Very very disappointed, the waiter had a terrible attitude...Probably tired or definitely they don’t like their job

Loved it!

By Sharon F |

Met up with a group of friends here. Tried two different cheese fondues and then the "flaming turtle" for desert. All of them were wonderful! Mixed drinks were just ok but their coffee was fabulous! Fun place and I would go again!

Delish!

By Mayes503 |

Melted cheese, melted chocolate, boiled meat. Sooo good. Perfect for dates, family, company meals, girls night, etc. be prepared to spend some calories!

Great light occassion celebration

By Kristine K |

The food was fabulous. The staff was laid-back enough not to get worked up when my niece broke her glass. A little on the expensive side, but for a birthday celebration, it was worth it.

Wonderful for a special occasion

By ChinaGal_57 |

This place is pricey, but the service is great and the food is too. there is no view since you go underground and it does feel "close". That being said, I have done it and feel no need to go back again. There is always the next wonderful place to try!

Great food and service!

By thehighprincess |

We had no reservations and it was prom, so we sat at the bar and had lovely cheese and chocolate and cocktails. Bartender was crazy busy and always super attentive and we never had an empty plate or glass! Dropping in just for cheese is a fun treat!

You Have to go there.

By cj992651 |

If you love fondue, then you have to go to the Melting Pot. Their cheese fondues are so so good and they have a great verity to choose from. You have meats, potatoes and vegetables that you cook yourself at your table and your choice of what kind of cheese fondue you want to dip them in. It is so delicious. After your done with your main meal, then it's time for dessert. They have the most wonderful chocolate fondue. It is to die for. You get to choose from a list of fruits and other things you can dip in the chocolate. Oh my gosh it's great. You just have to go there.

My grandson's favorite restaurant -- "Nana, it's even better than Nostrana!"

By SheriWink |

If you like cheese and chocolate this may also become your favorite place. If fondue isn't your thing then definitely go somewhere else. This restaurant is good at what it does unless you try and go off the standard fondue menu. It is also not the best for handicapped folks as you have to order a special elevator from street level to take you down to the restaurant.

Love the food here!

By Terri R |

This place is always great for a special night out. I love the cheese fondue! The service was a bit slow but it was busy.

Yum

By Kati T |

I had never been to The Melting Pot before, and I really enjoyed my experience. The food was good and it was a real experience in and of itself.

Birthday Treat

By Stevey1612 |

We went to Melting Pot to celebrate our teenage daughter's birthday. The place ticked all the boxes for doing something different and giving the feeling of a special night out. The service was excellent from the time we arrived. Waitstaff was friendly and helpful with explaining the menu options. The food was wonderful and plentiful. The open format allowed even our pickiest eater to try new things without being obligated to have just that item for their entree. We ate until we were content and still had food to spare. All of this novelty comes at a price, for a family of four the evening out was around $300. To me this is a mid-range dining experience with a fine dining price tag. Fun to do or Fondue (haha) for a special occasion.

Melting Pot DISSAPOINTMENT

By Scott M |

We were Invited there to participate in a 40th birthday party.The greeters & floor Mgr were less than professional in appearance & attitudes. We were helping the guest that arrived first that was asked to decorate only to be met with resistance that we could not blow up helium balloons etc. The guest was only helping the husband of the birthday person & not aware of the many rules. We were told by the couple we sat with as well as a waiter that it would probably be faster to go to the bar for our mixed drinks..what service! For $26.00 per person plus forced gratuity of 20% to get a small bowl of fondue for table of four seemed really skimpy. But the waiters kindly offered extra bowls of bread! Gee wow! The chocolate portion of the meal was acceptable. The waiter that presented our bill per table was at least able to split the bill between us even though he stated that management requires one bill per table & the customer needs to compute & divide up bill. I will never go back to this establishment. By far the worst dining experience in 50+ years.

Too expensive for what it is

By HappyCouple38 |

At about $75 a person, this is too much money to spend dipping so-so food into hot cheese at a chain restaurant. That doesn't include drinks. Instead, use that money to go to a local restaurant.

A must-do in Portland!

By Johan |

Very creative menu, with lots of options to choose from. Very tasty and good quality food. The service is entertaining and surprising, which makes it even better. Very good server and friendly staff. Very good price -quality balance.

Birthday celebration

By gkerth |

Great food and fun too. Our waiter was very attentive and made birthday celebration memorable for our daughter.

best

By Melanie N Bob F |

What a great experience. the food and service were wonderful. Give yourself extra time and just enjoy

Cheese & Chocolate

By Bowlga |

I love coming to The Melting Pot with my daughter, especially for the cheese and the chocolate options. We tried the full services once, and it was good, but by far my favorites are the cheese and the chocolate fondue. It is pricey, but overall is worth the experience.

Place to remember

By Leslie W |

This was our second trip, only had the cheese fondue, which was excellent. Very nice servers, however, the bar needs to have someone there.

Fun and very tasty

By chiltonzoo |

We went here for a family celebration and were not disappointed. It had something for everyone, including our vegetarians. We will be going back.

great

By Gray S |

whent for happy hour and i loved it not to bad on price under $20 us cant wait to go again and enjoy some good food

Nice Experience

By newyorker1953 |

First, the restaurant is a little tricky to find. It is in the basement of the office building, down some scary looking stairs. There is an elevator available, but we were not able to find it. Bathrooms are a haul and not physically located in the restaurant, but in a vacant part of the basement. The ambiance is quite nice. Low level lighting and quiet for the most part. Service was good, with a good explanation on how the menu works and how to best cook the food. The food was tasty and we thought there was enough, even though at first it looked skimpy. We had the cheese fondue to start and then three entrees and a chocolate fondue for desert. 3 people. Probably too much food. With 2 drinks a piece, with tip, we averaged about $100 a person. Seems high for food that you have to cook yourself. Also, boiled meat just does not seem that appealing visually when you take it out of the broth. It tasted fine though.

Late Night Desert for Two

By C K Trevillyan |

If you are having a nice dinner downtown, skip the desert menu, and head over to The melting pot. Lots of choices on the chocolates, and tidbits to dip. If it’s crowded, and usually it is, not to worry. The melted chocolate fondue can be had sitting at the bar. Fair selection of night caps, as well as my wife’s favorite chocolate martini: The Ying and Yang.

An Experience

By Mary S |

We went there with another couple for an anniversary dinner. What we got was an experience to never forget. Each course is brought out separately for you to enjoy. First we had a cheese fondue which was delicious and you dipped bread into it. The next course was vegetables and meat that cooked in a tasty bouillon. The last course was a chocolate fondue which we devoured with strawberries, small pieces of cake and rice Krispy bars. The experience takes place while a pot is placed in the center of your table so that each course can be cooked on a hot plate. If you try it you will see what I mean. My review cannot do the experience justice.

Waiter did NOT deserve a tip..

By Plus |

We asked for gluten free bread, because 4 of 8 of us are gluten free. Waiter said he’d be right out with it, 20 minutes after everyone else got their bread, we went n found him to ask about our bread, he told us “oh you won’t like the gluten free bread, it’s not good here” . Our table got a little messy so we asked if he could wipe it before desert, and he told us” dirty table is part of the experience “ would go back if they had better servers… I believe in tipping, but man sometimes I feel like, can u try a little.

Old School Charm

By Kimberley42 |

I have walked by this treasure for decades and failed to enter nor even realize that it was below ground. Head down the stairs into a fabulous warren of rooms and choose your own style of ambiance, depending on size of table, level of privacy, and your fonduing pleasures. Really enjoyed the food and the Happy Hour is particularly grand. Well-priced, with a well-stocked bar and clever, classy food. I will definitely return!

So so

By birch_abedul |

It was expensive, $108 for a fondue for two, plus wine, plus tip (the server was actually very good), lots of food, but the quality of the cheeses, and meats is not very good. Nothing really was tasty. Disappointed.

Girls night our spoiled!!! Terrible Service!!!

By DayTrip86587 |

We were seated and asked if our table was ok. Immediately I said no actually we'd prefer a table not a booth. The resturant was nearly empty and there were no groups waiting to be seated. They refused to move us!!! The table was extremely tight for 5 woman plus it was right neat to the kitchen door. Took forever to recieve drinks, then one of the heating g elements on our table was not working it took more than 30 minutes to fix it while we were asked to stand in the common area to wait for it to be fixed!!! We stood there looking good at at least 20 empty tables that the manager Kelly still very rudely refused to seat us in. They ended up cooking our first course at another table and brought it out. It set the tone making it almost impossible to enjoy our meal. Plus our waiter seemed very impatient with any questions we had. He acted put out and as the ladies who'd never been to a fondue resturant before were just stupid. Not exactly celebration for an up coming wedding we expected.

AMAZING NOVELTY MEAL

By hapytigr |

DELICIOUS! Took our 12 year old son here on a visit to Portland as he had never had fondue (he's a little foodie! ;) The server was very patient with us and answered all of our silly questions...as the menu was a little overwhelming and somewhat confusing at first. They have a wonderful variety of fondue. We did the full-meal-deal with cheese fondue, meat fondue, and chocolate...SO WORTH IT. It was presented well, tasted delicious, and there was plenty of it. The price...well...that is prohibitive, it's not something we could afford to do other than a very special occasion. We spent over $200 for the three of us, I had one cocktail. Probably not appropriate for younger children, as the atmosphere is quiet and dark. Would recommend for a special occasion and delicious food!

Mouth wattering

By Ruth F |

The Melting Pot has wonderful foods and it's fun working with the pots. It's is a bit pricy so something we only do every few years.

amazing place to slow down and enjoy a meal with my wife

By Duane W |

This is a "must do" experience. its a chick joint but the food is so good and its a fun way to eat and visit. save room for dessert... you can thank me later.

A Miss not! This restaurant is wonderful!

By Cynthia F |

This is one of my favorite restaurant in Portland and send my guests often. The food is fanastic and the experience is just fun. If you have never been, make a night of this experience. Thanks I'll be back and soon.

In the frame of mind for fondue !

By EAZELIFF |

Damn! I can’t find fondue where I live in Flagstaff. In Portland tonight and came here. We know what restaurant prices are these days, which are depressing, but don’t think the owners are trying to be shysters. The fondue with bread, vegetables, and apples plus the charcuterie board hit the spot, and my server, Ollie, was friendly and efficient.

Good for the soul.

By Kathy T |

The Melting Pot is a very fulfilling restaurant, especially if you love cheese. There is such a variety of tastes and foods to try. And the desserts are decadent. It is the perfect date place or family/friends from out of town or just a group get together place. The prices are a little high but it is worth it for that special occasion. There is so much to eat that you will probably only want to eat dinner or dessert but it is difficult to do both. Making a date for dessert is a fun tasty date.

good food

By michael l |

the food here was really good first time going and by far exceeded my expectations me and my wife is definitely going back

Fun Change

By Wendy M |

I have enjoyed going to the Melting Pot for many special occasions and if not a specific celebration, the food always makes an ordinary meal special. The food is always prepared for eye appeal and each type of broth, cheese, or chocolate fondue has been extra scrumptious. It is a great date meal as it is always one to remember.

Great Birthday Celebration!

By Debbie T |

Fantastic place! Food, atmosphere & friendliness of staff is all excellent. Four course meal with so many choices. You get a lot of food so we shared a meal & there was still plenty. My family & I will definitely be back to enjoy another meal here.

Fun or romantic or both!!

By momawras |

Excellent food. I'm allergic to chocolate and they cheerfully cater to my allergy. Hard to choose between all the wonderful meat and veggie choices. Dessert is terrific.

A unique restaraunt that makes dining not only deliscios but fun

By Leah L |

I went to my first melting pot in New Mexico did not know what to expect but figured I would give it a try. It is not all just fondue. Depending on what you choose you can have a full and very satisfying meal. Typically we start out with a tasty broth that is created right in front of you as they put savory broth and spices in a pot on a hot plate right on your table. Then there is an assortment of raw meats and veggies that you are able to dip'via your color coded fondue firm's into the broth to cook at your table. You also have veggies and a choice of savory and sweet sauces to dip your delicious and expertly cooked morsel in (after all you cooked it yourself). You also get fondue with cubed bread and Apple's to dip which is also created at your table. To top it off you get brownies marshmallows and other sweet treats to dip in your chocolate fondue. That is the full deal you can elect to just have any part of that but the full experience includes salad and beverages. Reservations are a must especially for more than a couple of people who might luck on a cancellation. If you have not done a cook at your table experience but love unique dining then you need to try this. Delicious food and great experience. Every melting pot I have been to has been consistently enjoyable.

Awful

By Rose |

Terrible. Don't bother. Food average. Over priced. Staff cleaning tables around us. Sweeping dirt towards us while we were eating, on and on awful.

Drinks and fondue

By troy f |

We were looking for a fun little bar and saw a sign that pointed downstairs so we walked down we thought hey this will be pretty cool had a couple drinks had some fondue. We didn’t think it was very good for us but people do like this we just didn’t like the taste everything with cheese on it doesn’t always make it better.

Very Filling

By MomR |

If you go home hungry you were not at this restaurant. The portions were more than adequate and the waiter was a great resource in making the best selections. My daughter is studying French and loved the opportunity to learn more about the French food culture. Very good!

Good Overall, But Go Right to Dessert

By TomOCUSA |

My wife, teenage daughter went here on a Sunday evening. We each ordered the 4 course dinner. The cheese fondue was excellent, as were the salads. It took forever (30 minutes) to have the main dish served. All of the meats and seafood were tasty and we enjoyed it. It was a bit heavy eating all of this meat. We then had the chocolate fondue with crunchy peanut butter. It was amazing! We left 2 hours and 15 minutes later uncomfortably full. Next time we will come for just dessert, and will be more than satisfied.

Such an interesting experience -- was so surprised how full I was at the end of the meal - great experience !

By Randall M |

The service was excellent -- our waiter, Jorge, he was from Peru -- attended to our every desire! So interesting to be so full afterwards when the items are seemingly so small -- the meats, etc! Was one of the highlights of my trip to Oregon!

Good old fashioned fondue.

By jameseT2167HI |

Took some friends here because I loved fondue in Switzerland..... They loved it too. We ate and drank enjoying the evening to our hearts content

Fondue at its finest

By joye w |

I have been here several times before Covid 19 hit and I plan on returning soon. It is a very different experience and great for anniversaries or birthdays.

We didn't care for the full meal but yummmmm

By TravelingTrioOregon |

We prefer the special where you can get salad, cheese and dessert. PERFECTION at a good price! You have to ASK for this as it isn't on the menu. They also have a very decent happy hour

Worth it for special occasions - and come hungry!

By Thea J |

This is my daughter's favorite restaurant for celebrations. It's quite costly, but there is SO MUCH FOOD we can never eat it all. Check out the special event menus (e.g., Mother's day) and seasonal menus for special prices or other goodies (e.g., have your photo taken, balloons, flowers, etc.). They have children's menus (with crayons!), but we generally just let the kids eat from our selections since the portions are very generous. You must leave time for parking downtown and locating the entrance (especially if you can't take the steep stairs). The restaurant is very dark and twisty, so take care if you have vision issues, too. Consider booking an early meal, as later reservations often have to wait well past the appointed time to be seated. It's a popular restaurant, so the staff just doesn't care if you walk out. Also, service is SLOW, so be prepared to wait to be seated, wait for your menus, wait to ask questions, wait to hear about the specials, wait to order your drinks, wait to receive your drinks, wait for the fondue pot to heat, wait for each course, etc. etc. etc. Don't come here if you're in a hurry or if your kids are tired or cranky.

Fun night out for dinning

By Robert L |

A bit spendy, but a nice way to enjoy the evening. Good cheese fondue, nice salad and good entrees. The final chocolate fondue is a must. Servers are kind. Nice to do with friends or as a couple.

Great food!

By Bob and Cristin K |

We ate here during our honeymoon. It was my first visit to any Melting Pot. I was surprised how easy it was to fondue! Our server explained the process very well, and it sounded genuine, not like a rehearsed script that she rushed through. And we learned from a neighboring table that you should cook everything if you want to take anything in a to-go box. Had a good time!

Great time dipping fondue!

By WLK_PDX |

Let's face it, melted cheese and chocolate? How can you go wrong? And at Melting Pot, you get that and a fun experience. Our waiter was fantastic! He was helpful, knowledgeable, engaging, and came by just the right amount of times. He just had a great personality and was a big part of why we would definitely go back. Good staff make a huge difference... As does dipping pound cake, brownies, and marshmallows in melted chocolate...

Website overly engineered

By Lawrence M |

I have never eaten here, but I wanted to buy a $100 gift certificate for a family member who lives in the area. Sadly, the hassle of navigating their website and having to leave the amount of personal data they required wasn't worth it. If I have to fit into their online slot so perfectly, then I can only imagine how they view you as a live customer. I wouldn't eat here for the above reasons, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and rate them five stars.

Meh

By hnodc |

The cheese fondue course at the beginning and the dessert course were both great. The main courses were bland. It's a fun novelty though.

Great for a Splurge

By CrozierEights |

We have been here several times for special occasions and we are never disappointed. We love the service and the food is amazing! We wouldn't take our kids, but I have seen others that do. It is a bit pricey, but great for those special celebrations.

Good experience - fun and a different way to enjoy a meal. Great for familes and business

By Hans K |

Have enjoyed this restaurant twice now for special occasions. A bit pricey for the amount of food - however a fun experience and great choices. Sauces are nice and the cheese and chocolate fondue are great. Make sure you make a reservation - hard to get in on same day.

Amazing for Date Night or Night Out with Friends or Family

By Amanda A |

Melting Pot is an amazing fondue experience that anyone, who is a fan of cheese or great broth, should try when they visit in Portland. Fair warning, it is expensive and has limited options in terms of alternative diets (vegan or gluten free), so be sure to ask the restaurant if applicable. Be sure to call ahead of time regardless of occasion, as they are reservation only. You can either eat dessert or other single course, or have a three course meal like my husband and I always get. Enjoy your meal!

An Anniversary Dinner

By Bill R |

We went to the Melting Pot for our anniversary. The service was good. The food was good. This is not a rush and go restaurant. We enjoyed their special menu and a bottle of wine. The dinner took 2 1/2 hours. It was worth it.

Spendy, but great experience

By softballmom72 |

The Melting Pot is not only great fondue, but a great dining experience. I personally can do without the main dish; I love the cheese fondue and the chocolate fondue! A little spendy, but worth it a couple times a year.

A great place to show off to impress others

By JOHN W |

Dark, cozy atmosphere, the food selection is great, something for everyone. very expensive menu. Need reservations as popular place. Great service and wonderful staff. Parking can be a issue due to location.

Meh, ok

By Julie S |

SO expensive and it was...ok. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about this place. The cheese fondue was good but hey, it's cheese. And we had the chocolate- again, it was good but the dipping pieces were not so good. I'd not return.

What you'd expect

By Courtneyc01 |

If you're looking for typical chain restaurant food, you'd like this place. It's an interesting experience, but poor quality food.

UNBELIEVABLY BAD

By Larry-Lyuba |

Unbelievably bad. I do not understand the positive reviews. What is wrong with you people???? If it’s bad say it is bad. Be honest. I get the concept but the food was terrible. Our waiter told us that the girl that started to serve us either had the flu or female problems!!!! REALLY!!! That ruined what was already horrible food. This place should be shut down.

Great food but the Cost $$$ Youch

By P in Portland |

I absolutely loved the food but not for a low budget. This is long term dining for beaucoup $$$ Dollars or leave hungry.

Interesting concept. Not for often visit

By Orkhan H |

We visited this restaurant last Friday. It was our first visit but waiters was helpful and explained how to cook and it presented dishes. Consent is interesting. This place is good for spesial events not for just dinner.

Exceeded expectations

By Drake972 |

This business model is really working well, efficient staff, good selection of sandwich options, prepared to order. Nice welcoming environment and very friendly staff. We had the heated sandwiches and both were excellent and much better than the offerings of the other sub-sandwich place. Fresh bread that had real flavor, meat that was generous and full of flavor; a nice change for the better. Next time I will try the soup too, it looked wonderful.

There has been lots of interesting things we experienced during all our stays and one of the most important are the staf

By 43hiral |

All the employees are very friendly and help ful at all times and in all the departments we had dealt with during our stay. We have always enjoyed the food in the restaurant especially the breakfast.

Not impressed

By Showustheway |

To one who eats fondue frequently, this place didn't impress. Slow service and the food wasn't that great or eye appealing. We had a food allergy person with us and they didn't separate food even after asking. Over all just meh.

It's just OK

By eugnie05 |

In a dingy basement, this restaurant feels pretentious and overpriced in this city filled with much better eating options

cheesy good

By Annie S |

enjoyed my first fondue at 50% during Happy Hours. It is also fun and delicious - choices of meats, fruits, veggies, and bread.

Interesting.

By Lina |

This was an interesting experience for me. The restaurant is nice with an ambient atmosphere. The food is well prepared and appetizing.

How ... is this place still in business

By 23buglight23 |

The interior is, at best, a Marriot bar from the 80s and the food is just ridiculous. The bread for the fondue is best described as sponge and the chocolate fondue us really just a bunch of liquid that never hardens as it cools. Unless normcore is your grind for food, avoid. Portland has, like, 9,000 other, better restaurants. For the same money, trot down to Little Bird.

Happy Hour Happiness

By 03Val48 |

This place has always seemed a little expensive for something so easy to make, but we wandered in for happy hour and were pleasantly surprised. There was a nice array of appetizers on offer, along with cheese fondue for two for $12. And a nice selection of drink specials. So - enjoy fondue and the cellar style ambiance and come away without feeling fleeced.

Great Fondue evening in Portland, OR

By Twinkletraveller |

When we entered the restaurant, it seemed empty, so we had our doubts… but once we were seated and looked at the menu, we were amazed. Our waitress, Stephanie, was wonderful and cheerful… she explained the me us to us and finally we chose the diner me u consisting of 4 items: cheese fondue (chose Alpine) - it was superb, then 2 kind of salads then fondue bourguignon (chose sea and land and meat lover). The dessert dark chocolate fondue- we just asked Stephanie to pack as we were full. Accompanying these course, we had sauvignon blanc and cabernet from clos du bois… the food quality was excellent. We left full and satisfied, big thanks to Stephanie! An experience to repeat!

Very slow service

By Terry A |

The menu was a bit confusing. It took a while to get our food and then we had to cook it. I do like fondue but it just took up more time that I planned for to eat a meal.

Go for the Happy hour

By MikeG7199 |

We had the melting pot on the list to end of our spring break trip. We made a reservation but were in the area earlier so we checked to see if we could have an earlier supper. Their happy hour started at 4 pm. Glad we did. all we wanted was the cheese and chocolate fondue. Excellent service and a fun time for our kids.

Tasty and filling

By Steve S |

Great location on the bus lines and near the light rail, tasty and filling, good service, satisfying experience

Average At Best

By Doggie style |

My wife and I had wanted to come here for a long time. We had heard such good things about it. We shouldn't feel bad we waited so long. The cheddar fondue was tasteless. The Rheinlander/Gustav's has much better fondue. Our main course didn't have much flavor either. The lobster and shrimp were good but the rest of it tasted very bland. We skipped dessert. Everyone was very friendly and attentive but our meal just wasn't very good. We were very disappointed. It was our first and last visit here.

I think the idea of the Melting Pot is great

By traceyhF5993MQ |

There were a lot of great choices for everyone at the table for dinner and desert. The only issue I have with the setup at the Melting Pot is that I do not eat or drink after anyone so the idea of everyone repeatedly dipping utensils in the same pot disgusted me. I feel that they should allow the option for multiple pots at one table even if there are only 2 guests. Outside of the fact I did not really eat because of this setup the restaurant had a great look at feel to it and everyone else really enjoyed their food.

Always a great experience

By goofball101 |

My fiancé and I usually go to Melting pot for our anniversary! This year my fiancé took me for my birthday! The staff is always super. Ice! It's awesome because you get to cook your food on your own table! You can have your meat cooked as long as you like it to be cooked! The cheese fondue is always amazing, the chocolate fondue is delicious and the salad always tastes fresh! This is a great place for a date, family get together or just for a good meal! I highly suggest trying it out if you haven't!

A wonderful with great food and variety.

By Robert C |

It takes two plus hours to really enjoy the entire experience and it is well worth it. The meal is designed to allow individuals the opportunity to select their personal favorites and mix and match various types of foods. The final desert course is also a special treat. It is well worth the time and expense, and it it a real pleasure to share with others.

Good if you want melted cheese

By James P |

This place is cool in that its under ground. Otherwise its the only place to get melted cheese on a stick in town. The bar is nothing special, nor is the service. Go if your looking for something different.

Nice people but terrible food.

By Marc D |

We reserved a table at Portland’s The Melting Pot a couple of nights ago: it was freezing cold outside, the restaurant is just 5 or 6 blocks away from us, so it was a perfect opportunity to have a cheese fondue, alpine style. My wife and I love cheese fondues. She spent all her childhood winters in Jura, I spent all my childhood winters in Switzerland, so we love Alpine style fondue, the ones made with kirsch, local white wine and a touch of baking soda for lightness. The Melting Pot’s personnel are pleasant people and the restaurant is quiet, which is nice. The wine list is respectable, with the unfortunately typical high gross margin of x4 or more on the wines. The price charged for an Alpine Fondue and a platter of Italian charcuterie is very attractive, $30 total. Unfortunately the charcuterie platter looks like it is made from the cheapest bulk “Italian” Soppressata, ham and other stuff not really worth mentioning, which is a shame as there are some pretty decent Portlanders suppliers of fine Italian style charcuterie. Another disappointment was the “Artisan” bread. Unless the bread maker’s last name is Artisan, there is absolutely nothing “Artisan” in the mushy bits The Melting Pot serves as Artisan Bread. I was at an Army trade show recently, and one company exposed a mobile field-bakery unit whose mass produced bread for the grunts was vastly superior to what The Melting Pot was so proud to offer. It is very surprising as Portland as at least two (that I know of) real artisan bread makers, Philippe and Ken, that make delicious crusty bread that would have been perfect for a fondue. That is if the fondue was any good, which it was not. It was way too heavy, way too dense. Sorry The Melting Pot, I mostly post good reviews for restaurant that we liked, and typically refrain to post any critics of restaurant we did not really like, because we might have visited on a bad day (it happens from time to time at our favorite restaurants) but this one time I have to say that unless I learned that there have been some radical changes in the right direction at the Melting Pot, there is no way I will ever return.

I didn't believe the reviews but yes, dinner takes 3 hours

By Karl A |

We went here for a family birthday event for someone who really like fondue. The restaurant is on the ground level of a downtown office building. It is a nice setting but a little dark. The staff was very nice and helpful, especially for 2 people in our group who had several allergies. To get the cheese fondue and chocolate fondue, the easiest way is to order the 4 course dinner which is very, very expensive. Even the 3 course meal, or ordering a la carte, is still rather expensive. Not a place to go very often, unless you are independently wealthy. The chocolate fondue and the treats they provided to dip in it were truly delicious, so I can't complain about that. If you go here for dessert, you will be happy. The cheese fondue was good and fun, but not so good that I felt I was getting my money's worth. The hot broth fondue course is used to cook various meats and vegetables. Depending on what you order, you get a pre-set platter of meats, or you can pick and choose what you want. The meats were mostly very tasty, but cooking your own meat in hot broth or oil takes time, and when you're sharing the broth or oil with several people, the fondue pot can get a little crowded and confusing. (The salad course was very good, too, but you don't go here for the salad.) Overall, the 4 course meal was way too much food for me, and you can't really take any leftovers home. The food was very good, but I don't feel like it was worth what we paid. And considering the time and effort it takes just to order, and then to cook your own food, I can't recommend it, unless you really have 3 hours to spare, and you really want the full fondue experience.

Nice

By AMARRALE |

Went for Valentines day, Cute atmosphere. A little pricey but a great experience. Food was good, but the drinks were weak and unimpressive.

Fun Date Night Experience

By Michael F |

This was a fun date night experience. I took my girlfriend here for her birthday. It was both our first time. We had fun. A little different than what we were expecting. You only get the cheese fondue in the first course. Not throughout. The staff was super friendly. It was a nice slow paced experience that took us 2 hours to complete the experience. It was well paced and nice not to be rushed. The cheese fondue was amazing. Just not enough of it. The serving size for 2 seemed a little light. Both salads were amazing. And the entrees of meat and seafood were good overall but out of the 10 different things we both tried only 3-4 were outstanding. Worth the experience, but not for regular repeat attendance.

Great Fondue

By Karyn B |

A nice bar and very quiet dining experience. The staff were friendly and efficient. Will definitely return again.

Anniversary Dinner

By Sarah K |

We enjoyed the four-course meal. We shared the alpine fondue. It was a little sweeter than the French fondue I’ve had in France. Maybe there needed to be more white wine or a different type of cheese. Crustier bread would have been better, too! The Caesar and spinach salads were delicious. I had chicken, steak, duck and tried my husband’s dry-rub pork, teriyaki steak and sausage. We cooked it in the coq au vin sauce. Delicious! It was stressful to know if we had cooked the meat long enough, but we had our phone timer running to make sure it was done enough. The dark chocolate fondue was amazing!!! I ate way too much! My headband had two different Oregon beers. I had a good wine from Walla Walla. Glad we tried the restaurant!

Great atmosphere,, service and personalized

By Nancy G |

Very romantic place to go. Lights are dim, and each table has it's own separate atmosphere. It feels like you're the only ones there. For special occasions, they go out of their way to make it special . The dining experience is unique and quite fun! From meat- to Vegetarian, they have a cuisine for you. Everyone should try it , at least once, It is worth the money.

Disappointing

By phyl64 |

My daughter and I went to celebrate my birtday. We got a cheese pot and a chocolate pot. The cheese was so disappointing! There was no real flavor and the selection of dipping foods was limited. There was celery and cherry tomatoes, granny smith apples and sliced bread. Celery? Yuck! I suggest that there be an assortment of items the customer can choose from. Maybe diced fried potatoes, some small sausages, maybe broccoli steamed? I'm sure there are many foods that would be more flavorful than what was offered. The chocolate was delicious but again some of the dipping items were dismal. Where was the angelfood cake? Dried apricots are not my idea of a great dipping item. Also I ordered a bloody mary. The only garnish was a wedge of lime. I know some places go nuts with the garnish not here. Needless to say I will not be back. Our waiter was great and the service was excellent but the wait between pots was kind of long. Not worth the price we paid.

Fondue in downtown Portland

By Margaret V |

A bit expensive but the experience can be worth it, if you want something a little different. Dark space. Friendly staff. A good place for teens who want to celebrate a birthday or end of school.

Great Restaurant

By Ernie C |

You'll probably need a reservation to get into the Melting Pot because it has great service and excellent foor.

Love love love

By goofball101 |

We have been to this melting pot multiple times and haven't been disappointed! Food is great, waiters are super friendly and atmosphere is comforting! Everyone we have went there one of the managers go around introducing themself and make sure you are enjoying your visit! I recommend this melting pot!

I have always enjoyed

By Daniel L |

I have gone to this restaurant a few times over the years. It has always been good and is always worthy of consideration when going to someplace a bit different than normal.

Darius is amazing!

By Kirstin |

Our server was named Darius and he was AMAZING! Took the time to explain how to order he was friendly and funny! We had an amazing experience. I will say the table next to us didn’t have such a great experience because their server did not explain things to them at all and if you have never been here it takes a minute to understand how to order. So if you go ask for Darius! We will return just to have him as our server!

It's a Chain... But a Good One

By 503EC |

Location location location. While it's somewhat a strange location in the heart of Downtown Portland's business district, the restaurant in located underground and has a great vibe to it. The food is what you'd expect but our service has always been friendly and fun. Not bad for a place that makes you cook your own food.

Their happy hour is a great deal.

By CJRM |

Happy Hour, from 4-6:30pm, and there are a couple offerings at this 'premier fondue restaurant' to take advantage of including the Cheese Fondue. Prices are not listed on the website, instead you can watch pretty people eating beautiful foods. Pairing the table-cooked delicacies and wine (or beer) is fun, and provides conversation during the long self-prepared meal. Nice experience, yet overpriced. Cheese fondue starts about $8, Entrees about $15-$25.

Delish

By growninoregon |

Im addicted to the bloody Mary Martini. I went twice during my 3 day stay just to have it. So refreshing and the food is great.

Great service!

By BMeghanG |

Pricey, depending on if you get the four course or individual servings. The food and cocktails were really good. I recommend the Wisconsin for the app, steak lovers for the entree and milk chocolate for dessert. Expect to spend at least an hour and a half here. You might not even be able to finish your food because there's so much! We had to take the stairs to get down to the restaurant, but there is a sign that there's an elevator accessible via the building next door.

Exceeds Expectations!

By Kathe H |

My husband surprised me last week with a wonderful anniversary dinner at the Melting Pot. He had ordered the Lover's Package and the most beautiful bouquet of Roses with one very special rose was sitting on our table when we were seated. A HUGE thank you to Travis for making that happen. You exceeded my husband's expectations!!! They took a picture of us and presented it in a cute silver frame. There also a very cute card signed by staff wishing us Happy Anniversary. April was our waitress and she kept us entertained, and gave us excellent service!! Our dinner was delicious!! I loved all of the courses and the pace of serving was perfect. The entire night was amazing, the staff at Melting Pot know how to make you feel extra special!! Thank you for an amazing time!

A fun alternative to traditional dinner

By Keenielou |

My daughter and I were looking for an interesting place to eat dinner in Portland - and we found it! We got a reservation for a Saturday night, which wasn't easy as this is a popular spot. The restaurant was busy when we arrived at 5:45, filled with families, couples, and parties! Balloons! Rose petals! It was lovely. We shared three courses and had a great time choosing the items as well as watching the pots fill with our cheeses and broths. Our waitress, Jessica, was attentive and informative. We were stuffed and had no room for chocolate dessert, so will have to return to try this separately. We recommend this spot for a cosy evening of celebration!

Expensive night, Unforgettable memories

By CJJ |

Always one of my favorite restaurants to splurge on when I get the opportunity! I will go just for the yin and yang dessert!!!

This expensive "special occasion" restaurant has hit-or-miss service.

By KTinPDX |

We've been to the Melting Pot many times for special occasions. With great service its fun and worth the cost. The last two times service has been almost surly and without the type of explanations for new diners that used to be part of the experience (even though we asked for it for our novice friends). We had that experience on both a busy night and a very slow night.

A Family Favorite! The warmth and flavor are unmatched!

By Light_Headed1 |

Nothing ads an element of foodie fun then cooking your own food at the table. The taste and full flavor of the meal make this my families number one place to go before or after a show Downtown. Obviously the kids love the chocolate desert fondue but my wife and I love it all... except for maybe the price. The price put this on par for a top end restaurant in Portland and I'm not sure the food would compare to some of the major restaurants as the menu rarely changes and the chefs have little to do with the meal.. Love it all the same.

A Very Social and Enjoyable Meal

By Ulwazi |

My wife and I had dinner at the Melting Pot while on business in Portland. We had heard about different Melting Pot’s in other cities, but never had the opportunity to visit. This was our first visit to The Melting Pot. We had the 4 course full-blown meal for $55 each and it included a lobster tail. The pace of the meal is such that one has lots of time to enjoy each other’s company and have a great meal.

A lovely Melting Pot

By Fleur S |

A perfect Melting Pot experience. The restaurant itself was super clean and well maintained although the overhead lighting was a little too much on the 'spot light' side to be considered 'romantic'. :) Our switched-on waiter had lots of ideas and was eager to let us know the aspects of this Melting Pot dining experience that differentiated it from others in the chain. The local wines he suggested were delicious. Great night.

Melting pot

By gail j |

Awesome food and service. We had so much fun and they always add great little perks if they know the occasion ahead of time.

Good Food, Great Service

By V S |

We go here about once a quarter with friends. The service is always good, we usually have Ben or Dana as our waiter. My friend does not like this place because you cook your own food, but we like that and they have several types of food to cook up each time we go, not just one cut of meat. We like that we choose the pace we eat at and the food will always be hot this way. The cheese is to die for, the cuts of meat are always top notch and if you have enough room for dessert, there are several chocolate fondue options. This restaurant is spendy, but worth it. I do recommend going for a long romantic dinner or with friends. For a casual dinner out, you might not enjoy.

Good food at fair price

By Majorguts |

Dinner for two was very nice and service was pleasant. Food was good and plentiful. Would recommend.

Everyone should experience it at least once or more...

By Mobilecitizen |

Nice downtown location, in the basement, but the restaurant and foods provided was great fun. You get to cook your own foods in various dishes using the cooktop and hot pot at the table. Wait staff also did a demonstration for a dessert course. The restaurant air circulation was a bit stuffy because of lots of cooking and it's in the basement otherwise everything is great. Not that cheap

THIS IS A "TAKE YOUR TIME" PLACE!

By Melanie C |

The place is in the heart of down town and a romantic destination. You relax through many courses of fondue like you've never even thought about at home. Meats,seafood, breads and too many other things to mention. Then there's the chocolate fondue choices ..It is worth the luxury if you have the luxury of time !!

So disappointing...

By mojo9009 |

This fondue restaurant has been around for ages, the go-to place for special occasions. I've been before, but it's been quite a long time. I have to say, I was really disappointed. We arrived promptly for our Tuesday 7:30 pm reservations but waited over 15 minutes to be seated. The seat in our booth was broken, and very low to the ground. Our waiter was friendly, but his English wasn't great - I had a lot of trouble understanding him. There were 3 of us, but we all had to order the same thing. The bread was stale & the veggies were actually kind of frozen - I guess they stored them too close to the back of the fridge. Our main course took nearly a half hour to come out, the waiter had to re-fill our pot because it boiled away while we were waiting for the food. My dining companion went outside to take a call - was rudely told by the girl at the front desk that they wanted to close up because it was 10:00 - then he was locked out! He had to call the restaurant to be let in. For a $300 meal - I just wasn't impressed.

Seating.....

By Juliann E |

Great food and great service. We had to sit at the bar because we did not know we needed to make reservations and there was not an available table............ There were actually a ton of empty tables! Did not really understand why we had to sit at the bar in a room with 8 tables and only one was occupied..... Probably should explain the reason for this..... Although we did have to go somewhere else for dinner we did enjoy our drinks and the bar tender was very helpful in suggesting new drinks.

Daughter's 18th. A delicious celebration

By Lamoreauxs |

Made reservations under the name of Abe Frohman for my daughter's 18th. Kennedy, our wait staff was excellent, making for a perfect birthday dinner. Everything. I mean everything was perfect. Thank you Melting Pot.

Birthday

By richduncanc0 |

When booking our reservation, they asked if we had a special event, I told them we would be bringing our daughter for her birthday and it would be the first time. they offered Balloons and a photo, but it didn't stop there, the server took extra time and attention making this a very special birthday, he even wrote her name in chocolate on her plate

Service slow, Cheese fondue so-so; dessert was outstanding

By mo_ruch |

We spent 1 hour 50 minutes - about 40 minutes too many At every point we had to wait exceptionally long wait; the server himself was polite, nice and made some good suggestions. It was a busy nite, but not an excuse for the extra time waiting. Cheese fondue itself was good. I wish the veggie selection was more varied. The dessert selection was outstanding and that was the highlight of the night..If we return it will be for the dessert

The fun is in the experience of sharing

By Sandra Petrich |

I wouldn't rate this place very high for food quality, because that's not really what your buying here, and you are paying a lot. Its more about the experience, and its a little bit of a Disneyland approach. We've been there now about 4 times, seems to be a favorite for one of our kids, and we always have a great time when we go. For me its more about getting the time together with them doing something they enjoy, If I were choosing just for the food its a pass altogether.

Nice Anniversary Dinner

By Scott M |

Great place for a special dinner. They are, of course, a fondue restaraunt. You get four courses: cheese, salad, entree and chocolate. I bought their anniversary gift pack for $20. It included rose petals on the table, a picture of the two of us, an anniversary card and a box of chocolate wafers. The service was good. The table felt private. The fondue made it an out of the ordinary experience. It was a nice change.

Dirty dishes and inattentive waiters

By Simonsays97204 |

The concept was pretty cool: order fondue made at your table and dip whatever you wish. But the pot they brought out was dirty, and they didn't notice before adding the ingredients! Couldn't get the staff's attention later for more food/beverage. Plus, there is essentially no decore. Definitely not worth the price!

Fun, filling, fancy food

By Mike W |

It's not cheap, but you're sort of paying for the novelty of it, and it is delicious. If you get the full compliment, it is a ton of food, so pace yourself, all those little bites add up. And really, semi pricey or not, it's nice to have chocolate fondue going off right in front of you. Delicious and a bit spendy but worth it.

Fun for kids

By eahcoleman |

Our 3 boys loved the experience and variety, but I was disappointed with the lack of ventilation, and left smelling like deep fried food. Also felt that we were rushed through our dinner.

Delightful and Memorable

By RodneyR2 |

For years I had heard of The Melting Pot, and finally got chance to dine there before attending a musical. Plan to spend big money, and give yourself plenty of time (at least 2-hours) for an enjoyable experience. There's no room for fast meals. The atmosphere, ambiance, and decor is amazing. The service is outstanding. The menu is a bit complicated, so ask lots of questions while the servers explain. We had a delicious cheese fondue made at our table. Wine, garlic, cheeses, and nutmeg. The breads, fruits and vegetables for dipping were perfect. We followed with salad, and then a tri-selection of duck, shrimp and filet mignon; which was dipped in a cooking sauce until done. I will cherish the memory of my experience for years.

Nice special occasion

By paws6126 |

This place is agreement t special occasion spot. The food is interesting and tasty. The idea of a do it yourself makes it fun. The choices of entrees varies but is good.

In desperate need of an upgrade

By Attolia |

The food is just meh, it is overpriced and the decor is very dated. Could be a good special occasion place even with the ok food and high price if it had a more upscale, destination feel; or could be fun just for the fondue experience if it were cheaper; or worth the high cost and blah interior if the food was phenomenal. But it is just average in all areas.

This place is great. Fresh and fun excellent for a group. I was there for work and everyone liked the food.

By beetlebop26 |

Great for a group. My work party crew were chatting constently about the choices and flavors. If you want something different than the same old thing this is the place

interesting experience in fondue fine dining

By Charlie 3 2 |

I had dinner at the melting pot. It is a fondue everything dinner. There was plenty to eat, and the food was very good. The value is where they ended up with a more average score. While it was a good dining experience, it was very overpriced in my opinion

A truly special experience - takes fondue to levels I didn't know existed!

By Joshua R |

Lots of reviews of the food here, so I'll focus on the help! Jeff was our bartender (we got to the restaurant a bit early and hung out in the bar). He was laid back, very informative, and chatty without being invasive or hovering. Very friendly and helpful, and a great staff member with whom to kick off our evening. Jessica was our server, and she was excellent. She was attentive and helpful, cheerful and friendly. She was there when we needed something, and invisible when we were doing fine, which is quite a feat! Our courses were timed perfectly, and she was able to lend assistance and explanation when we needed it, while also letting us steer our own course and make our own decisions. I would describe Jessica's performance as flawless - really incredible.

Depressing location

By Restless_Explorer |

The underground location is depressing and not at all suitable for a nice dinner or dessert. Also the ventilation process can be improved. The desserts are okay but nothing special. But mainly, the locations fails on the ambiance.

What a fun concept

By Wayne H |

we had a great time creating our meal and desert would go back in a heartbeat . Staff was great food was great who would've thought that fondue could be so fun

Great meal and great service!

By Seattlemarathoner |

During our meal with friends we interacted with the bartender, sommelier, assistant manager and our server, Jerry. The staff is top notch and the fondue is wonderful. Don't hesitate to visit! (Jerry is fantastic, I'd request to be seated in his area)

Cool little underground eatery. Fondue is excellent.

By Wolfgang D |

Stairs lead down to this Literally underground eatery. Very nice atmosphere, followed by excellent fondue and a relaxed but tasty menu.

Never going here again

By Nancy B |

We had a family celebration dinner last night at Melting Pot. We did have a large group, but it took over 30 minutes to get a waiter to take our orders. They did do a nice job of decorating the table, but they have a very hard to understand menu. The courses were all delivered very slowly, and for $54.00 per person, It was very overpriced. We had 8 adults and 1 child and the bill was $600.00. The dinner took 2 hours and 45 minutes and we finally decided to skip desert, because it would have been another 30 minutes or more. A fondue restaurant should at least be able to make a killer cheese fondue, but it was marginal. I am sorry, but overall it was very poor.

Cool place with a fun story

By Mimi G |

I can't tell the story like the staff can but this place was fun, good food, and a cool vibe. I would go here next time in town.

Is It Worth it?

By PDX2HKG |

There is a YouTube series called "Worth It". Basically, they go to three places with three very different price points to see if similar foods (cake, steak, ramen, coffee, fried chicken, etc.) are worth it. Is a $300 steak really 20x better than a $15 steak for example. Of course, it is all subjective, and sometimes, you’re really paying for the experience or ambiance. I haven't been to the Melting Pot in over a decade. After a Christmas concert at the Newmark Theater downtown in late November, I decided to take my family there for the experience. I know it is a $$$$ place, but my wife and kids have never been. It’s the holidays, why not. So, this review is more for the perceived value than the food itself. You basically go downstairs from street level on 6th Ave into the basement. Be careful doing down especially if raining. It's fairly dim with no windows. With other higher-end places such as the Portland City Grill or Salty’s, at least you get a view as well. Even the waiter asked us what’s going on outside. I told him it was wet like usual. The waiter proceeded to offer us the four course dinner at around $55 per person. I just wanted to try the cheese and chocolate fondue. We ordered the Classic Alpine, but noticed that it had white wine. The waiter said that it would cook off so it was ok for the kids. It was $12 person and we just ordered three for the four of us. When the breads and veggies came out, I was shocked at how little there were. You can scroll through the photo gallery to find a picture. My nine year old boy could finish all three servings. However, the kids didn’t like it because the cheese fondue still had a very strong alcohol taste. They ended up just eating the breads plain. I don’t know what exactly is “artisan” but the bread seemed a bit stale and something you can get from any grocery store. For the chocolate fondue ($12/person x 2 orders), the kids decided on the cookies & cream with dark chocolate. They did enjoy that but again, a couple squares of chocolate cake, some cake with Oreos, a little fruit, and Rice Krispies Treats. So, that was a $60 (before tips) experience, and the waiter never even refilled our waters. Was it “Work It”? For us, definitely not. Again, nothing against The Melting Pot. This is simply based on value for the price and what you get. Going in, we knew it was pricey, but for basically $15 - 20 per person, there are a lot of good buffets in town at that price point. If you want fondue or hot pot, there are other places in town as well. If I were to spend over $200 for dinner with my family for an “experience”, I believe there are better places in a foodie town like Portland.

Waste of time to downtown.

By Tong1500 |

The stairs descend below street level and the heavy odor of human waste was enough to turn my stomach. Once we quickly got inside, the rude hostess told us it was would be a 15 min wait, as we were 3 minutes late for our reservation because we stood in line to be seen for 5 min. I walked out and took my companion to different restaurant to eat.

Amazing Place

By Kathe H |

We celebrated our wedding anniversary here and it was an amazing experience. The staff were extremely tentative, the roses were beautiful and the dessert was a nice surprise! I love coming here!

Anniversary dinnwr

By treat1616 |

We loved this restaurant for our anniversary dinner! We've never been to a fondue restaurant. Call ahead for reservations! We had the option of beautiful roses for our table. They took our picture and framed it for us. Our waiter Jerry helped answer all of our questions and made the experience memorable. The best part was the dessert! We also were seated at a private table and could not hear much noise from other guests. Highly recommend!!

Fun

By Carey B |

This was a fun group experience. Food was average. Service was average. Space is dark. I would only go back if its someones planned event.

Glad we did it once, will not go again.

By Dani H |

We have been talking about going to the melting pot for years. We finally decided to go and I left feeling underwhelmed. We went for a date night and we were there rather early. The service was good. The atmosphere left a LOT to be desired. We were across from the bar area next to some large groups which was fine but made it more difficult to feel like it was a date. We ordered the uncorked wine pairing special menu. The wine selections were good and the food was good we left very full just feeling like the quality was not worth what we paid. This is a novelty dining option. But for the price you could enjoy a much better quality meal elsewhere.

Fun night with friends

By LTM1317 |

This is a fun thing to experience if you've never been, or if you are with a group wanting a different kind of night out. We actually went for New Years and had a great time - our waiter was great and we all enjoyed ourselves.

A Unique and Memorable Experience

By Billy Bob |

In Portland on a short business trip so left our downtown hotel for a walk about when we saw signs for The Melting Pot. It was late afternoon so thought we would drop in for a pre-dinner appetizer/munchie and we are so glad we did. The experience was rewarding and fun from the time we walked in until the time we walked out. We had no reservations, yet the receptionist was warm and welcoming. We explained our reason for dropping in and she walked us through the menu and made some great suggestions and were then sat a nice quiet booth. That's when we met our waiter Tristen. He was FANTASTIC!! A very nice and personable young man who immediately set the tone for the rest of our night. He was attentive and informative without being overbearing. OH!! And the Alpine Cheese Fondu appetizer we had was outstanding!! Pieces of broccoli, cauliflower, carrot and apple along with an assortment of bread for dunking, twirling and devouring. Thank you Melting Pot and thank you Tristen for making our day. We will definitely be back!!

Not accommodating to vegan who was in a large party

By sschmidt |

The way the table is set up the vegan in our party would have had to sit at his own table away from the group because they only have 1 pot per table. He choose to just eat a salad. The price was overly expensive and we had 2 children age 11 and the waiter did not provide many options for them other than the full experience dinner which was such a waste because they didnt even eat half of the portion. Waiter should have recommended sharing for the kids so we didn't have to waste all that food.

may birthday at xmas time

By Darner10 |

great time a good food. I have been several times over the years and would go back many more. The dessert it the best but it is all good!

Delicious, but spendy

By saucimonki |

After paying $50, I felt obligated to eat until I was sick. Mission accomplished. Salad bar is included.

Great happy hour

By Jason N |

The Melting Pot offers a great happy hour for several reasons: 1) Happy hour goes until 6:30pm, which is later than a lot of places 2) The food selection and prices are a great deal (normal $22 fondue for two is $14, wine and cocktails $6, draft beers $5) 3) Service is excellent. Some restaurants offer a happy hour, but can seem irritated at patrons who come just for happy hour prices. The Melting Pot is not that way--the service was excellent in every way. Our server explained all of the food and drink specials and checked back often to be sure everything was to our liking. The fondue is prepared at the table, which is fun to watch. Food was very good, drinks were good, atmosphere was pleasant. We had a very good experience overall.

Wonderful Valentine's Dinner

By Sarah M |

Wonderful Valentine's dinner experience! Great food, wine and service. Definitely did not feel rushed.

Fabulous Experience

By Wendy D |

Travis and Jessica guided our family on an amazing dining experience. The food was great, our kids enjoyed every bit of the meal and never complained once...and we ate the four course dinner. We ordered the wine flights that matched our meal and it was fabulous, they were paired perfectly. I would recommend this restaurant for any special occasion, we had such a great night.

It' an event

By April S |

So fun to eat here. Love having all the different courses. Nice private dining room. Always good food. Spendy but worth it...

Anniversary dinner

By Ashley P |

We want here for our one year wedding anniversary dinner. We had a lot of fun and our waiter was amazing. Next time we go we will only do the chews and chocolate though the four course meal was a lot for two people.

Fun date, but not a staple...

By Jesse C |

The melting pot is fun place to go for a date night, or for a small get together with friends for a special occasion. However, don't get your hopes up for a top quality experience. The wait staff is fairly good, but due to the nature of this restaurant you can expect fairly long delays between check-ups; sometimes up to 30minutes. On that note, plan lots of time for your meal. While broth and chocolate fondue is prepared in the kitchen, cheese fondue is made at your table, which means waiting for water to boil and the wait staff to come and melt cheese. The food portions are small, and while taste and presentation are good, the overall quality is below what you would expect for a $50/person price point. I would visit the restaurant again, but it is not a must go experience.

Special Occasion Setting

By Rebecca A |

You will feel special, and you should with the array of ingredients to saturate in scrumptious cheese and other sauces.

Fun for special occasion

By Alan B |

Spendy but fun for two or a group. Theatrical. You certainly can find better food for the price but this is more about the event.

Family get together

By orbuck |

Six of us went to The Melting Pot last night. Haven't been there in a long time. We had a great waiter that said he had been there for 15 years! He explained everything for us and we ended up ordering for of their Chef Special meals. We started out with two different cheese fondues hes prepared at our table. Both wonderful! Then we had the meat and shrimp fondue in two different cooking oils. Again, both wonderful! Then to top it off we had two Chocolate Fondues! Also fixed at tableside! They were to Coup de gras! Wonder...wonderful!! Great food and great service. The one draw back was it was quite pricey. But i guess you get what you pay for!

Excellent Family and Food Experience

By Murrow S |

We celebrated my niece’s 16th birthday here and it was just a blast cooking up the food and chatting. Our server, Darrius, was excellent ensuring we were well informed on the menu and well taken care of. Darrius was also friendly and good humored, providing outstanding customer service.

Perfect for a celebration!

By Jenice P |

Once again the Portland, Oregon Melting Pot has provided a great venue and experience for our family celebrations! Recently our daughter received a promotion at work and a celebration was in order. She requested the Melting Pot and we were not let down. Upon arrival, the hostess seated a surprise guest and ensured that our daughter would not be able to see her until arriving at the table. The restaurant staff had a hand written and decorated card on the table for the special guest. She was touched by this small token. We ordered dinner for three knowing it would be plenty for the four us and staff happily (their suggestion actually) split our salad so each of us would have one. The food was tasty and delicious, a great interactive dining experience. Over the years we have celebrated special events here and the experience has always been top notch! Thank you to the management team for maintaining the quality, the unique personal touches and to the staff for making our night memorable!

Lousy

By Parliament_7 |

Had a 6:15 reservation. Arrived at 6:20, since the entrance is on Main, not 5th. At 6:35, despite many, many empty tables, still had not been seated. Decided to leave. No apology from desk. Pitiful.

Great, but expensive

By 943geraldm |

The food was excellent and the service as very attentive and helpful. Great atmosphere, wonderful for a romantic dinner. The only negative was the high price for dinner. Overall was a great dinner