Finding a Fondue Fix in New York City

Hidden behind a very unassuming storefront on West 48th Street lies the only restaurant I know of in New York City that offers Swiss cuisine.

I was introduced to Mont Blanc by chance. While reading the menu outside, the manager stepped out and promised my fiancée and me that we'd love anything we ordered. He added that if we didn't, the meal was on him. In the visits I've made since, I've had to pay each time. Stepping down through the entryway, the first thing that's noticeable is the very "old-world" look and feel the interior of Mont Blanc has to it.

The beef fondue (for two+) is worth the trip and price alone. We were presented with a (bottomless) plate of latkes (potato pancakes), four dipping sauces (hollandaise, béarnaise, a tart brown sauce, and an additional, milder brown sauce). This is immediately followed by a plate of the leanest beef and a fondue pot of heated oil.

For dessert, the chocolate fondue (for two+) is a must. The fondue comes out encircled by fresh fruit and various pastries for dipping and is a perfect way of tastefully closing the entire dining experience at Mont Blanc. On this most recent trip, we tried the chocolate mousse, apple streudel, and the apple tart (the tart was especially good).

While a bit on the pricey side, the portions, quality, and the first-class service are well worth the indulgence. The beef fondue for two people ran about $45, and the chocolate fondue was about $25 (give or take a few bucks). The staff has always been very attentive (almost psychic), regardless of how busy the restaurant is.

From the first step through the double entryway into Artisanal, the scent of fondue and gougeres (French cheese puffs) is all around you. The interior reminded my fiancée and me of a bank that was taken out of a Western film, with high ceilings and pillars.

To date, I have been here twice, and both times, I have opened with the blue cheese and walnut crisp appetizer—it's just that good. The flavors that combine to form the overall taste in this dish are very well-matched to each other, and the end result is a salad that melts in your mouth.

The fondue here is fantastic! The small fondue ($24) serving with one to two dipping sides is a good size for two people, but after an appetizer, it certainly rules out room for dessert. Ordering fondue happens in two steps: first, choose the type of fondue (traditional Swiss, artisanal blend, Stilton, and Sauternes, or the fondue of the day). The second choice you have to make is what you want to dip into your fondue: air-dried beef, fingerling potatoes, kielbasa, crudites, beef tips, or apples. Thusfar, the "artisanal blend" fondue with the beef tips and apples has been our favorite.

Reservations are a must; at least, we were very happy to have made them in advance both times we've dined here (both times after 9pm). By the time we checked our coats, our table was ready and stocked with a basket of warm sourdough slices. Overall, my experiences here have been very good both in the food quality and service areas—well worth the trip.

Overall, it wasn't the worst of experiences. After initially stopping in to see if they carried "sixlets", we decided to stay for some chocolate fondue to get out of the cold for a bit.

After ordering and spending a minute finding the table with the least amount of sticky areas on it, the fondue was brought out. We were told that it would take a few minutes before the chocolate was ready for dipping. Ten minutes later, we were still waiting for the chocolate to melt. Twenty minutes later and two requests to the counter, and we were still waiting for the chocolate to melt. Finally, one of the employees came over and replaced the base, and at that point we started cooking. For the price ($25), the chocolate tasted great once melted, but the dipping stuff was okay at best.

This is more of a great place to drop off kids while shopping across the street at Bloomingdales.