Fondue originated in Switzerland as a way of using up hardened cheese. Fondue is derived from the French verb fonder, meaning "to melt." Today, all kind of foods are eaten using the fondue method.

The first Melting Pot restaurant was started in Maitland, Florida in 1975. Currently, there are 70 restaurants in locations all across the nation. This was my first experience with the chain and I was sadly disappointed.

I had never tried fondue. When I heard about the Melting Pot in Myrtle Beach, I thought this would be a great opportunity. I made a reservation for myself, my mother, my husband and our two young sons early one evening.

The restaurant is located in a shopping plaza and is a little dark inside with no windows. Each table has its own gas burner for the pot. The menu offers a four-course dining experience. You can select from a choice of four fondue cooking styles and a variety of entrees, including beef, chicken, duck, lobster, shrimp, scallops, and salmon. Cheese fondues can be ordered separately and are included with the purchase of any combination dinner. Along with every entrée, you’ll get breads, vegetables, and a choice of three different salads. You also get your choice of mouthwatering chocolate fondue desserts.

The waiter suggested we go with the special of the day (some kind of Thai sauce with all kinds of meat and fish). This didn’t sound too appetizing. We asked for the deep-fried fondue where we could batter the meats and deep-fry them in hot oil. The waiter said this isn’t suggested, that it was dangerous, and that no one gets this type of fondue. So, he sold us on a beef stock combination dinner and dipping sauces.

The cheese fondue was OK, but the bread wasn’t very good! Then, when the dinner arrived, we couldn’t believe how little was on the plate. My mother and I ended up giving all of our meat to my sons, as there wasn’t enough. In addition, we didn’t enjoy the taste of boiled meat and fish (in the same pot). In the end, we were sorry we let him talk us out of what we wanted to try. The experience was fun, but the food was not tasty.

The highlight of the meal was the dessert…delicious chocolate with dipping fruits, cheesecake, crackers, marshmallows, etc. This is the only thing I can recommend.

For starters, we chose the cheddar cheese fondue. Our waiter made it right in front of us. It was excellent - served with a basket of bread, veggies, and sliced apples. Then, our main course was a variety of meats which we cooked in a tasty broth. They had several sauces for dipping the cooked meat. The grande finale was a fabulous chocate fondue. We dunked strawberries, pineapple, bananas, brownie chunks, cheesecake, and more.

Although it was a bit pricey, this restaurant was well worth the splurge. The service was very good, and it was a unique dining experience.