Had a great dinner! We did the 4 course meal special and it was well worth it! Started with excellent Ceasar salad then a cheese fondu with the New World cheese combo. Then the vegetable and the classic meats entrees which were cooked on a grill at the table by us. Then the dramatic grand finally of a flaming turtle dark chocolate fondu which was to die for!!!!!! Very nice ambiance and great service. If you can ask for Jeffrey as your server. He was exceptional!!!!
(5)
Betty C.
I have waited a long time to try this restaurant, since we live in Oregon, but finally, we made a trip to Colorado so my husband could share this gem of delightful food and ambiance with me. The building is from the 1870's and it has a storied past. If you like great historical architecture, you'll love the place. The staff is very friendly, from the moment you enter and are greeted as if you are a long lost friend, until your last drop of coffee, you're spoiled. The food is great. It begins with a lovely salad. We chose the offering of the day, which was wonderful. Then we had cheese fondue, which comes with vegetables and bread to dip. The waitress asks often if you want more items to dip, so you don't have to worry that you'll run out before the cheese does. Then the entrees--mine was the traditional, but I don't eat seafood, so they were happy to change out for beef and chicken. My husband had the game--he loved it. Unlike some fondue places where you boil the meat, Mona Lisa gives you a grill...you actually grill the items. MmmMmm. Suggested times are provided, so you don't have to worry. We had the turtle chocolate fondue...yummy, and finished it off with a lovely cup of coffee. We ate our on the porch...which is on the second story and has the most lovely view of the shops and mountains. Oh my.... The only suggestion I would have is if you send an email with a special and that special is listed on a board outside, that you don't charge the regular fee unless you REQUEST the special fee. That was a bit...unsettling. Other than that, it was amazing, and worth the time and money and nearly a flight just to eat there!
(4)
Katie H.
Every time my boyfriend and I are in Manitou we stroll past Mona Lisa and say "Someday we'll go there" and finally, Friday night was the night! We reserved online on a whim, showed up and were instantly seated. We were pleasantly surprised by the interior of this restaurant! So many fun rooms, turns and short stairs. It made for a fun and cozy atmosphere. We ended up going for the $40/person deal. Includes salad, cheese fondue, entree and chocolate fondue! Caesars salads were great (you have a few choices though). Cheese fondue - we went with the Greek Isle one. The kamalata olives were a surprisingly nice touch! Entrees - you each pick your own. I ordered the vegetarian, he went traditional. A fun assortment on both ends. Our server made sure to identify everything on our plates, explain ideal cooking times and tell us all about the condiments and which paired well with what. I think there were about 8, all phenomenal! That grill gets hot quick and stays hot, definitely unplug it once you're done or you'll be sweating. And of course, dessert. Milk chocolate with baileys and all kinds of goodies for you to dip. One last thing. After coming to this restaurant, we will neverrr go to Melting Pot again! What sets Mona Lisa apart from the rest? The service!!!! Stacy was our server and she was absolutely wonderful. She made sure we had the perfect evening, explained everything to us, made recommendations based on her favorites, timed each dish perfectly, and was friendly and attentive throughout our meal! I've always felt that dining out should be an experience (my boyfriend and I don't indulge too often). That being said, you can find good food in most places but service, not so much! We will absolutely be back!
(5)
Bunny G.
Chilly weather will bring you into dip into delights into this quaint little spot in Manitou Springs. The restaurant was not open when we stopped by so we walked downstairs to the wine cellar where they serve the same items just in a cozier room. We started off with a glass of their red house blend-and it was so smooth and a perfect start to our evening. The waitress was very friendly and helpful when we were trying to make our selections. We ordered two of cheese fondues and there was plenty of yumminess to dip. Vegetables, apples, bread...then came the chocolate fondue. OMG more yumminess and lots of sweet treats to dip into your choice of chocolate. Marshmallows, strawberries, cheesecake...oh my, too delicious-it's a MUST STOP if you're in Manitou! I can't wait to come back. BTW-I've been to the chain restaurant (MPot) and it's no comparison, this place is MUCH BETTER!! M Pot is a waste of money-and hardly any goodies on the plate. Don't miss!
(5)
Amber B.
This place is amazing. I liked being able to grill my own meat and their wine pairings were absolutely awesome. It's a bit pricy but it's soo worth it. The atmosphere alone makes it great for a special evening.
(5)
Athenna R.
Went to the Mona Lisa the other night to spend time with my spouse and we were eating our third course I found hair in my food. The waiter laughed and took it away. Didn't say sorry let me change out your food nothing. I have been going there for years. He even laughed about it with the other ladies that were there that night. I asked to speak with a manager and got nothing. I have never had problems with the Mona Lisa till now. I'm very disgusted and disappointed. I don't go there and spend a lot of money for that. I don't know if I'll be going back and that's sad to say seeing as its my favorite place. I even posted a good review on your Facebook page
(1)
Mariah O.
The first time I went here, it was for a long overdue date night. This experience was exquisite. We split the milk chocolate dessert fondue and it was delicious. The waiter brought us unlimited fruit and cake to dip in the fondue. I did not like the recommended wine, so the waiter comped it and brought me one I did like. The atmosphere was quiet, upscale, and romantic. The second time I went here, it was to celebrate a special event. We were sat in the back and it was quiet until a family with three kids was sat next to us. They were loud, obnoxious, and definitely not well versed in table manners (one of the children passed gas loudly and the entire family got the giggles). They ruined my night. This was not the restaurant's fault, but I feel that children should not be sat near adults who are obviously out for a quiet night out.
(3)
Doug S.
Overall, a great experience. Loved the smaller more intimate dining rooms, soft music playing and a very quaint personal experience. Our waiter did a great job of explaining "how to" for us a first-timers in a fondue restaurant. He definitely proved that he cared about us having a great experience - even offering to replace a "less than cold" beer served with a more expensive beer at the same price. My only complaint is that I still feel it's a bit pricey at full price. Fortunately, we had a nice $6 off coupon that made it closer to affordable. Not somewhere I can afford to go often, but for a special evening I will definitely return! A wonderful evening for our 30th anniversary!
(4)
Alison G.
Overrated. We loved the dessert fondue, but was very disappointed in the cheese fondue selections (we ordered greek) and the entree. Entree: The cooking grill was very....well....lack luster. Our meat was fine, it was just small pieces. The atmosphere and waiter were lovely. Plus, they had a nice wine selection. I would give 2.5 stars if I could.
(2)
Gregory F.
Been coming here for years. Food, service and ambiance excellent. Highly recommend!
(5)
Tara C.
This was the first fondue experience that my husband and I have had. Service was very nice and helpful to explain all the features and details of fondue, and we got to sit right on Manitou Ave. for the evening. Reservation process online worked well, and we received text message confirmation requests. Our wild game plate was great, and the vegetable plate entree made us feel guilt-free after eating a hot pot of cheese :) I definitely would recommend this place while in Manitou for a nice, interesting dinner. Also, sign up online for event features and coupons. Also, say hi to the friendly owner, Katie!
(5)
Joseph W.
Overall our experience at Mona Lisa's was a good experience. The food was very good quality and the atmosphere was very romantic, however it was definitely a onetime thing for us. You are paying for the experience and if you take strictly the food into consideration it's way overpriced. A $145 bill for two meals, 3 glasses of wine and two beers seemed steep considering relatively small portions of the self-cooked seafood accompanied with vegetables, bread, cheese and small pieces of fruit, cakes and brownies for dessert. The house selected wine pairing was very good until dessert, I'm a little confused with the choice, and it didn't seemed to compliment the dessert at all. Also the mozzarella cheese that came with the third course seemed a waste. It is a strange choice in cheese considering is doesn't remain runny and is very difficult to spread or dip with the small portions of food. The service was very good and the waitresses were very informative, but toward the end of our meal they were pulled aside to take care of something and service became very slow. Overall I don't regret the experience, but for that price I wouldn't return, there is plenty of romantic places in the area that offer way more in that price range.
(3)
Peggy B.
Had family visiting for the weekend and went here to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant came highly recommended from friends as the perfect spot for special occasions, and they were right! Made a reservation and four of us enjoyed al lovely evening. Our waiter was genuinely friendly and helpful and guided us with ease through the menu. We opted for the four-course meal and made different choices so everyone could try various cheeses and entrees. All courses arrived promptly and the dessert fondue was dreamy. The base four-course charge is $40 per person. You can also order a la carte if four courses are too much. All of the food was incredible, and we had fun with the fondue and grilling our meat at the table. Great night. The birthday girl loved it!
(4)
Craig B.
Celebrating our 29th anniversary we wanted to do something special. Tucked in cozy spaces in a historic building you enjoy a 4 course meal for $40 a head. Special adding and wine brought us to $127 after tip. Your meal goes slowly as you savor each bite. I was frequently asked if I needed more items but never really felt it necessary. My wife had the traditional meats and I had the wild game. I recommend following their wine pairings.
(5)
Diane B.
We went to this place while visiting earlier Colorado earlier this week. The ambiance is so cozy and romantic; there are many little nooks and neat old wall decorations. The food was pretty good. We tried the 4 course, $40 pp option. The seasonal salad was tasty (strawberry, poppyseed dressing, almonds, feta cheese). Next up was the cheese course, and this place lost a star for its cheese fondue. Really, it tasted just like melted cheese. There was not much additional flavoring from the beer base, and there were no additional spices/flavors added to make it interesting. I can and do make better cheese fondue at home. The meat course was pretty good (it was a grill yourself course) and the dark chocolate dessert fondue was also quite tasty. Fortunately, in the case of dark chocolate, it doesn't need any additional flavorings to be wonderful. As an aside, they have a sign asking you not to bring your children under 3. For some reason this rubbed me the wrong way -- maybe because I think parents should be able to determine if their children will behave at a place like this without a sign saying "no!".
(4)
Taylor J.
I love going to the Mona Lisa! It's a little on the pricey side but well worth it! This restaurant has such a cozy and romantic atmosphere that it's perfect for a date night. I've loved the food every time and the wait staff is so friendly and attentive. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone, especially those visiting Manitou. It is a must go!
(5)
Shannon F.
This is a very beautiful place! My husband and I went there for our anniversary and we were amazed! The service was fantastic and our waiter Ryan made sure we know everything about our meal. I had the wild game entree and my husband had the seafood entree, both had signature dipping sauces but our favorite was the avocado cilantro sauce, perfect with trout and tuna! Very romantic and at the same time casual!
(5)
Amanda J.
The Mona Lisa was a beautiful place. The staff were very nice and helpful, even offering to take pics for us. The new world cheese fondue was wonderful and the flaming turtle was delicious! The traditional meat course was average. After a full day of hiking this large and delicious meal hit the spot!
(4)
Mark A.
Very good fondue restaurant with four-course meal. Yummy cheese and chocolate courses. Nice options for the entree including interesting wild game options. Typical of good fondue places, be prepared as the meal will take a while.
(5)
Kevin S.
The food is good, basic fondue and light salads, the wine pairing suggestions in the menu are spot on so that's a huge positive. The only negative is that they add 20% gratuity to the check automatically which I find assumptive.
(3)
Aaron D.
I was pretty disappointed in this restaurant. We ordered a South of the Border cheese fondue pot, which we were told was meant for two people. What we got was a basket of rye bread (because when I think of "South of the Border" I think of rye bread, SMH), a tiny plate of broccoli florets and three red grapes (three grapes for two people only adds to the awkwardness), a basket of stale tortilla chips (clearly not made in-house. They were the awful red, black, and white chips you can buy at the supermarket), and a cheese pot that I assume they just melted one of those Laughing Cow babybel cheese wheels into based on the ridiculously small portion size. I'm not joking about the cheese amount. I could have dropped a penny into the pot and the cheese would not have covered it. Needless to say there was a lot of bread and stale tortilla chips left on the table when the cheese quickly ran out. Perhaps the Mona Lisa views the cheese fondue pot as nothing more than an appetizer. This is where they differ greatly from the Melting Pot, which provides a full cheese fondue that doubles as a meal. In fact, the Melting Pot has a policy of bringing more bread and fruit/veggies to your table if they run out before the cheese is finished because they don't rip customers off with their portion sizes. I'm confused by their policy of preparing the cheese fondue before bringing it to the table. That takes away from much of the experience. Probably because my guess about the Laughing Cow babybel is accurate. But what is more confusing is that if you order a wine flight, that too is poured behind closed doors. No one should leave a restaurant hungry. But we did. We were not going to be fooled into sticking around for more of their overpriced nonsense, and finished our anniversary dinner at another nearby restaurant instead. For the record, Christmas lights and dusty wine bottles for decoration are not romantic.
(1)
Meagan D.
We were LITERALLY the only people in the restaurant and they were incredibly rude to us. It took no less than 10 emails and 1 in person visit to get off their mailing list.
(1)
Matthew C.
We sat on the small outdoor balcony and had a wonderful meal. The service was exceptional, with a friendly and knowledgeable server. The food was good - there's only so much you can do with fondue. But all the items throughout two four-course meals were fresh and good quality. The fondue New World cheese and Dark Chocolate for dessert were really good. I really like how the meats are served with a grill plate, rather than an oil pot like some other fondue restaurants. All in all, it was a great date night out. The atmosphere and view, with impeccable service, made the night.
(5)
Heather S.
Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. Romantic but relaxed environment. New world fondue and wine flight is a must! They have a great happy hour daily from 4-6 in their cellar, 40% off all food, including dessert fondue.
I am sad to say my last experience at Mona Lisa was very disappointing. I have eaten here many times and referred multiple people due to the ambiance and great servers. However, the customer service this last visit changed my opinion of this local establishment. My mom and I each bought an online coupon last year which unfortunately expired before we could use them. When we went to use the paid value for them to help cover part of our meal, we were told we could only use one at a time. Being that we weren't getting a discount since they expired, (which the best restaurants with good customer service have still honored in my experience) we were shocked that they pushed back and told us no. Good customer service goes a long way and I'm sad to say I won't be referring anyone here in the future.
(1)
Tony S.
Came here to grab a quick bite to eat before heading to a show, was seated quickly and our food orders came quickly.Absolutely enormous portion sizes, the food was fairly decent but nothing to shout home about.The decor was a bit cheap and nasty, but the food made up for it.
(5)
Rebecca H.
So much more unique and better quality/variety of meats and cheeses than The Melting Pot. Great staff and atmosphere...didn't rush us through any one course and made sure we had plenty of what we really liked. Fun night and incredible food. Romantic and fun!
(5)
Trina S.
What a elegant place to go for a romantic dinner. The most wonderful fondue I have ever had. The people who serve you are so kind and generous. The atmosphere is just like a 5 star restaurant. The wine is delicious and always served properly the way it should be served. It may be up there in price, but for what you receive it is nothing short of perfection.
(5)
Cassandra B.
Excellent service! Love the if you don't feel like doing the full 4 course meal you can just go down to the wine cellar. Have a drink, some cheese, and some chocolate! Perfect atmosphere. If you decide to do the 4 course meal, they do not do broth like the melting pot. They do a grill. Which I preferred much more than broth.
(5)
Chris F.
Mona Lisa is one of our perennial favorites. We always come early so we can spend time in the wine cellar before dinner. Great wines, great food, and the friendliest staff. Be sure and keep up with their specials and save some $$$ because this is fine dining, not quick server, so the prices can get expenses.
(4)
Erin R.
My first and probably last time here was not very impressive. We went for a late meal, so opted for just a cheese pot and al la carte entree along with wine for the two of us so we wouldn't be miserably full. It wasn't clear that the al la carte price was still going to be 'per person' as stated on the other menu sections. Considering it was only a little more to get the full 4 course experience, it was definitely disappointing to find that out when the bill came! Atmosphere-I just don't get why everywhere in this town the theme of hunter green, burgundy, Victorian, fake plants and Xmas lights gets called romantic!? Maybe in the 80's....just not my style. It's also not that romantic when you're 3 feet from the next table. Food-Expensive but good and pretty fresh. The recommendation to put all the meat on at once really isn't good advice we decided! You end up having to keep cooking things while you try to eat the stuff that cooks quick before it goes cold. The cheese pot was great with a nice assortment of accompaniments. I would personally prefer a cheese besides mozz (as the one you bake under the grill) since it becomes a blob after you remove it from the heat instead of being spreadable.
(3)
Connor J.
My girlfriend and I stopped in for a pre-dinner cheese fondue and wine on a Saturday evening. From 4:30-6:30 in the downstairs cellar they have 40% off cheese or dessert fondues and select $5 wine glasses. It was a really cute environment with low lighting and only 7 tables in a narrow room with a bar at the end. There were two waiters who were very attentive. We got the Greek isle fondue which was bold and delicious, with not too much blue cheese sharpness. It came with bread, vegetables, and some apple slices. The select wines were excellent, we had a Bordeaux and Pinot noir that typically sell for $10 a glass. It was a romantic little outing and we got out of there with 4 glasses of wine and a cheese fondue for around $30. Incredible deal, great environment, highly recommended!
(5)
Nadine G.
Creative and delicious twist on fondue. Excellent service.
(4)
Garrett C.
We came in for the chocolate fondue dessert and were not disappointed. Talk about delicious. We ordered two of the holiday specials, the peppermint bark and sea salt caramel and chocolate. I would get both again in a heartbeat. Not only was the food delicious, but the service exceptional and atmosphere charming. We had a wonderful evening as a family.
(5)
Cookie M.
Good fondue! This is my first time going here, and my only comparison is to the Melting Pot. I do have to say they are almost the same. However, the Melting Pot is more intimate. Salads are okay. Melting Pot is better. Cheese fondue is about the same. The two restaurants differ in the way you cook the entree. With Melting Pot, you cook the food in the broth. With Mona Lisa, you have to grill the food. Overall, I am not really a fan of cooking your own food. I would rather go for cheese and chocolate. If I had to pick out of the two, I would pick Melting Pot. But Mona Lisa is a solid fondue place
(4)
Christine J.
My boyfriend and I spent our Valentine's Day date here and it was definitely an experience. To celebrate the occasion, the owner took a picture of us at the table and printed it out for us in a little card to take home at the end of our meal, and they even gave me a rose when we left. My boyfriend and I have been to the Melting Pot too, but I'm honestly not sure which one I prefer... They are both good in different ways. The Mona Lisa is a romantic little hide away in Manitou which offers a 4 course fondue experience. I prefer the location and the ambiance of the Mona Lisa over the Melting Pot. While the private booths are nice at the Melting Pot, I find it to be dark and a bit loud where as the Mona Lisa can provide either a private date setting or a fun, social feel. Before we were seated at our table we went downstairs to the Wine Cellar and did some wine tasting which was a really nice option to pass the time. Once at our table we had a salad course, cheese, protein, and dessert course. The South of the Boarder cheese was good, but the texture was a little weird... Not very "cheesy" in the way you would expect, so I think that course goes to the Melting Pot for me. The protein course is where the Melting Pot and the Mona Lisa really differ. At the Melting Pot you cook your meat by submerging it in a broth of your choosing, but the Mona Lisa uses a tabletop grill. I think, however, that the Melting Pot actually gives you more meat. The chocolate course was pretty much the same at both places. The Mona Lisa, just like the Melting Pot, is extremely expensive, but you're paying for the experience... Not just the food. Great place for a romantic date with your sweetheart, but expect to spend a few hours there!
(4)
Tom M.
What a fantastic way to start New Year's Eve. As always, great service and great food! A wonderful, intimate way to end a wonderful year!
(5)
Joey M.
We've been here many, many times. When we heard about the March special giving married couples 2% off for each year they've been married, we went for it. Btw, we got nearly half off. As always, the service was fantastic; the food was fresh and delicious. (Except for the shrimp, which was thawed from frozen of course.) My wife gets the seasonal salad and I get the Caesar (always). This time, we chose Greek cheese fondue - YUMMY! We usually go with traditional entree, we prefer it. Again, very yummy and fun cooking at the table. We chose dark chocolate for dessert, but we're too full to eat much of it. For wine, I had one glass of the red that pairs with the entree, and the Mrs had a Riesling. We'll be back! We love Mona Lisa. It's our favorite romantic dinner for two as well as fun group dinner for out of town business guests or family guests. Be prepared to shell out up to $100 per person with wine, $50 per person without. This place is fun but expensive and darn well worth it. Our server told us they're considering starting an anniversary special for the patrons' anniversary month. If that's the case, we'll be back soon!
(5)
Georgia R.
Visited the Mona while visiting a friend in the Springs-this place beats the melting pot any day! With a wide array of unique fondues and wines I was very impressed with the menu. The blue cheese fondue was delicious, and Donovan the manager was extremely helpful in helping us explore and navigate the wine list.
(5)
Ashley R.
First time at Mona Lisa's yesterday evening for New Years Eve. What a disappointing experience. I would like to mention our waiter was a delight. He was very nice, had a lot of energy and seemed to know what he was doing. The kitchen however, was another story. The first course was a Cesar salad that was server warm with lettuce that was less than crunchy. Obviously made in mass quantities and left out of the fridge for too long. The dressing was more like a vinaigrette and not creamy like traditional Cesar dressing usually is. Ahhh, the cheese course...I was excited. Well, the cheese had a weird powdery texture to it and not a lot of flavor. It was also served on the table with a fine film of "skin" on top as it was luke warm. Had to wait for the heater beneath the bowl to warm it up. As a cheese lover, I was so sad this was my least favorite course. Next up, the meats. The portions of meat are an absolute joke! I paid $50 a person for 1 x 1 inch pieces of meat (5 pieces total). And it's served with precooked potatoes, a slice of bread and a pickle. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do with my pickle wedge. Dessert did redeem itself. I very much so enjoyed the white chocolate and will only return in the future for this dessert course. In the end, I left feeling hungry after paying $120 for two people. I don't know what my money paid for. Maybe the ambiance, definetly not the cheese or meat. I feel ripped off and will not be back anytime soon. I didn't say anything to anyone as I'm not that type of person. My advice, save your money and go elsewhere.
(2)
Todd S.
We snagged a balcony seat for our first dinner together as a wedding couple... probably the best seat in the house. You don't have to worry about getting a bad experience here: service, food and the prices are comprable to other fondue places. The raclette grill was a nice touch... especially the gooey mozzarella that it made. :-)
(5)
Jon R.
Has to be in my top 5 restaurants. Great for a getaway for two. In the heart of Manitou Springs so lots of art and culture on the way. Make an evening of enjoying the city and cap it off with a romantic four course fondue dinner. Don't forget the wine tour.
(4)
Pamela P.
The atmosphere is quant and quiet. The staff is amazingly kind and polite. I am PA and have been sure to dine here everytime I am in CO.
(5)
Danial J.
Fantastic local restaurant. Great experience. Expect, with tip, to spend a hundred to two hundred for dinner, depending on how much you drink. Couldn't ask for better food. I left full, but more importantly, every bite was awesome. We were late for our reservation, and the host staff was able to get us a table. Our server and everyone we spoke to at the restaurant were friendly and helpful. Go here. You'll love it.
(5)
Scott H.
PRICEY but Worth It! The last night out for dinner in Colorado with the family and they Loved It! Great atmosphere, Excellent service and unique and delicious food!!
(5)
Jess A.
If romantic candlelit dinner for two is what you're going for, Mona Lisa is your place. Set in the charming mountain's edge town of Manitou, this fondue restaurant sits in a converted house with twinkling lights, a french cafe theme and small dining rooms that allow guests the sense of a private dining experience for their evening. Thank you Living Social for the deal or - need for romantic candlelit dinner or not - we would not have chosen to swallow the prices (basic "Fondue for Two" with no upgrades sets you back $49 a person, not including tip.) That being said... During our four-course meal (salad, cheese and bread/veggie second course, protein third course and dessert fourth course) two things stood out on the menu. First, we opted for the adventurous Wild Game entree. It was unique and bold with Colorado elk, mallard duck, buffalo and rainbow trout displayed and paired with a tableside grill. And the second, the dessert - don't bother with the fancier options, the dark chocolate plate was absolutely amazing. The service was friendly and attentive. Why not the fifth star? First the non-Living Social price. I understand the unique dining experience but I cook my own food, that should count for something, no? Where's MY tip? And second although the decor was pleasant the little details of an older house - especially for the price (I'll stop ranting about it soon, I promise) should have been attended to for an upscale dining experience. As an example, just overhead from our table was some sort of rusting vent on a drop ceiling. At least string those twinkling soft lights above to camouflage those issues. That being said, let me leave you with this. Mona Lisa's offers a wonderful, unique dining experience and worth a try for a special occasion.
(4)
Scott L.
I am having a hard time rating this restaurant. We loved the atmosphere and experience. We ordered the wild game four course dinner for two at $49/person after wine, tax and tip we dropped $170 for the dinner. The salad was appropriately sized and very tasty. The appetizer cheese pot was just right in size and was very enjoyable. We asked for additional fruits which was perfect with the Greek Isle cheese we ordered. The main course was light on meats and very bland. I know why. It is just raw meat and sauces but it just didn't work. I think they need to marinade and offer larger meat portions. For the price, we were very disappointed in the meats. The desert was outstanding and somehow filled us to the brim. We ordered the almond joy and totally loved it. Again we asked for additional fruits. All in all we enjoyed the experience and will come again but next time we will get a coupon for the cheapest four course meal since the meats were so disappointing.
(4)
Greg R.
We just came from a delightful evening at the Mona Lisa. The ambiance is simple yet elegant, the food is of top quality, and the waiter, Leo, was absolutely wonderful. This was a very special meal for the special occasion of a birthday party for two daughters. While we have been several times before, the Living Social offers made this a very affordable special evening for four. We highly recommend the chocolate turtle fondue. My 32 year old daughter wanted to lick the bowl clean at the end.
(5)
Rich K.
We had a great night. We got seated right away and had a brand new waiter. It was his first day but we had no idea. He did a great job and took good care of us. We had the 4 course meal and it was very good. We got the specialty salad and it was very tasty. Nice mix of flavors and a nice portion size. The cheese fondue was very good as well. We ordered the the "regular" meat and a wild game plate. Both had smaller portions but in reality the portion sizes are more appropriate than you get at other places. The portion sizes were good, tasty and filling. With the desert we wanted to get a mix of the dark chocolate and the white chocolate. Our waiter said we had to pick 1 as they couldnt mix the chocolates. When he brought out the plate the chef said he wanted to surprise us and mixed the 2. White on 1 side dark on the other. The desert was more than we could finish and took half of the desert home. We enjoyed the evening and had a wonderful meal.
(4)
Ryan L.
This has been our favorite date spot in Colorado Springs for years. We live the ambiance, a great private setting with unique rooms to sit in and great customer service. We've never had any issues and no complaints. Order the fontina cheese and a any dessert and you can't go wrong Caine people complain about the prices and they are high, but you can't knock any stars for that. Expect to pay almost $75-$100 with drinks and tips. Maybe a bit more. We'll be back again for sure!
(5)
Vanessa J.
Skip dinner...if you're here I would recommend just doing a cheese course and dessert. The main course part of the meal really isn't anything special and I don't think it's worth the price tag that goes with it. The milk chocolate with chambord was...outstanding. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I was very happy I kept my spoon so that none of the decadent goodness went to waste. So share a bottle of wine and have some dessert. It will be the highlight of the evening.
(4)
Tim K.
I've walked past Mona Lisa too many times to count. Finally I got to go thanks to my wife's being mindful of the Living Social emails. Our server was excellent. He had this spiel down and it was nice to know all the options and what his favorite items on the menu were. Our table was located in a super romantic spot in the back of the restaurant. It was surrounded by lattice work and empty wine bottles without being too Frat-housey. Melted cheese, and assorted meats. Seriously, what more could you want? Oh, there's the roasted potatoes -I got seconds. Dinner for two without a groupon will easily set you back $90. So unless you're a high roller this isn't a first date kinda place. I'd love to take my wife again for a special occasion. Fondue was a first (but not a last) for me.
(4)
Lauren E.
Very good!! Much different than conventional American fondue places, such as melting pot. My boyfriend & I happened to drive by here & decided to try it, but were lucky to be seated as they seem consistently booked. They use the Swiss grill method, so you cook everything at the table. The 4 course meal included salad, cheese course, protein course, and dessert. Al a carte was also an option. Food was very fresh, lots of choices (they were cooperative with our food allergies also!) and good service. Very satisfied, would come here again!
(5)
Theresa B.
Four is a bit generous for the overall experience, but the things that Mona Lisa does well, they do very well indeed. We tried their signature four course model - salad starter, cheese fondue, tableside-self-grill meats, and a chocolate dessert fondue. The wine list was eclectic, and no, I won't pay $145 for a bottle of Veuve orange label that I just bought for $42 retail. Back to the weak-strong-weak-strong dinner model. The salad was utterly forgettable, the Brie fondue, wonderful. The self-grill meats ranged from ok (shrimp) to god-awful (filet that tastes like liver?), but again were sharply contrasted with the fabulous Chambord-chocolate dessert fondue. (Do not let them take your spoon after dinner. Trust me on this.) If we were to do this again, it would be in an a-la-carte model. Two contrasting cheese fondues, followed by a chocolate finisher. One more thing that was a little awkward - the acoustics of the place made it so that conversations are not particularly intimate. You can hear your fellow diners' discussions and they can hear you. Charming policy on having people sign their wine bottles, and using them as decor accents.
(4)
Brad L.
Highly recommend. Visited for my wife's birthday. Great food, and excellent service! Katy, our server, was so gracious and made our experience special. Perfect restaurant for a romantic dinner or to celebrate a special event.
(5)
Lyndsay B.
Went there for a girls night out. Definitely more of a date place. Our server must have been new (or not very good at his job). SLOW service, food was ok- overpriced, and you grill your meat, not boil it like other fondue places. Meat wasn't seasoned. Cheese fondue was good but the 4 course meal was NOT worth the money. Chocolate was fine(we did not want to pay the up charge for the specialty chocolate), nothing special. Melting Pot is way better in my opinion.
(1)
Linda E.
Romantic, each room is small and fits about 5 tables. Reservations needed, mine was still fine even though we were about 10 minutes late on a Saturday night. Seats are close, but far away to not hear entire conversations of other tables. I got the garden salad, cab wine, old cheese fondue, and traditional meat. The meat grill could be oiled more, burnt some food. Delicious filet and potatoes, loved the chutney sauce. Will return and try dessert when I'm not too full. Parking is on the street, lucked out and found a close spot.
Not sure how grilling your food on a plugged in electric grill makes it a full on fondu restaurant but you can get cheese and chocolate on a fondu pot similar to what you can get at the grocery store with the burning candle. In all fairness the cheese and chocolate were great although the portions were very small for the price. Don't bother with dinner. The sauces are flavorless and the meat is not great, especially the Teriyaki steak. We left half our food there and the portions were small. There was a BIG PRICETAG to go along with this. It way way over priced for the quality if food and small portions! I wouldn't be so disgruntled if it were half the price but really feel like we got ripped off! We eat at fondu restaurants on a regular basis as a family favorite and this was a real let down.
A favorite of ours for many years. The owner (Jeff Kiepke) is a good friend and a guy who knows how to create a fine dining experience like no other. You can't go wrong with any menu selection and the staff is as courteous and attentive as you will find anywhere. To top it off, the atmosphere is fantastic. The old home that is now The Mona simply adds that final piece to the puzzle of a very romantic evening. For those of you expecting "The Melting Pot", please open your minds and enjoy a totally different experience. This is not a chain restaurant!! It is a locally-owned establishment with a very unique take on the fondue theme. It's not inexpensive and, at first, you won't think it's a lot of food. However, take my word for it....... you will leave completely full and thoroughly satisfied!
(5)
Kim N.
Great place for a date night! Call ahead and make a reservation, and plan to take your time. Romantic, wonderful, and truly not for children.
(4)
amanda m.
The setting was very nice and romantic. Dimmly lit with Italian (?) music playing in the background. I ordered the garden salad which was very good. The dressing had a tangy flavor maybe a vinegrette. We ordered New World cheese. I thought it was somewhat plain, the bread you dipped it in wasn't outstanding either. We ordered the Traditional entree. We cooked the meat on our own grill which was fine but it took about 10 minutes. I didn't really care for the dipping sauces. My husband thought the meat was really good though. For dessert we had the Flaming Turtle. That was probably the best part of the meal. I dipped brownies, strawberries, cheesecake and marshmallows in it. All in all the food was okay but not really with the $80 some dollar charge. Next time we'll go back to the Melting Pot.
(2)
Laura K.
This was our second visit to Mona Lisa (the first one was last Fall for my b-day) and now again for Valentines Day. This visit was just as perfect as our first visit! We went downstairs to the wine cellar first and were the only ones there at 4:30, so talked to the server who has worked in the back of the kitchen (prepping) for over 1 1/2 years (that's a long time for back of the house) and now she's giving it a try in the wine cellar. I asked what has kept her there so long and she said the owner is wonderful to work for and she absolutely loves working there!! We were impressed (good way to start the evening). Our server Shon Loi was excellent as well! He gave us an overview of how everything worked and we did the meal for 2 as well as the wine pairing. We would skip the automatic wine pairing and just order what we like next time, it was $20.00 per person for that piece and would have rather spent the $$ on a bottle for a different wine selection that we liked! It's expensive, but we knew ahead of time it was going to be and with the romantic ambience and food - we think it's totally worth it! We are already looking forward to our next visit!
(5)
Paul A.
Loved it!!! Amazing food! Amazing service. The specialty cheese was the way to go!
(5)
Isibella A.
I like Fondue, I like it a lot. Mona Lisa is a good example of an original setting for Fondue with a unique twist. The venue certainly wins most romantic of manitou/the springs area. With little fairy lights inside you feel as if you are outside a french cafe at night despite being inside. It would be ideal for taking a date. They also offer a raclette which is quite delicious. The hungry kitten says: Go here when you're jonesing some fondue!
(4)
David R.
The restaurant was really romantic, as was the fondue for two. What I didn't really care for, was cooking our own meat at the table. There was a bit of novelty with this at first, but the food would have been better if it had been cooked in the kitchen. But, I suppose it made our anniversary dinner more romantic. Overall, the food was pretty good, and fondue was great. I'd probably go back, but maybe not for a while. BTW, the service was fantastic.
(3)
Mark W.
28 years of marriage bliss, and not a better way to spend it.
(5)
Emilie L.
The Mona Lisa is a fantastic place to go for a nice evening either with a date, or perhaps just a group of girls. Located on the main drag in Manitou in a converted old house, this place just screams mountain town charm. Our waitress was terrific and explained the meal with great detail to us. We enjoyed the four course fondue for two, along with the specially offered wine pairings. I am somewhat picky about my wine, but the pairings were great, and were they not, the waitress brought the bottle of wine to the table before each course to allow us to taste it, and were we to not like the wine, she would have found something else that would pair suitably. I prefer grilling the meat as opposed to cooking it in oil or broth, so that was a fun part of the meal, and my only regret was that I was too full to completely enjoy the chocolate dessert fondue!
(4)
My I.
Went with BF who came to visit from NY (so his standards for a good restaurant are very high). Both he and I loved the place. It was dark, but I didn't mind because I could still read the menu, and it added to the lovely ambiance. quiet, cute, and quaint. The food was great. The chocolate fondue was the perfect ending. The service was great. The server checked-up on us just the right amount without being overbearing. I recommend! We dressed up, but I'm sure casual attire is perfectly acceptable.
(5)
David S.
I prefer the cooking oil technique at Melting Pot. Overall, nice atmosphere and great staff. I also really like the 1/2 off wine.
(3)
Adrienn H.
Ok so here is the deal, fondue is just not my thing. This place is a great date night place if you are REALLY trying to impress someone. The food to be honest is just ok. They have a fun selection of proteins to choose from, but if I wanted to cook my own food I would have stayed home. The meat is just cut and given to you. It isn't seasoned or marinated and the sauces don't add much. So like I said avoid the super expensive dinner, unless you are trying to impress someone other than a chef. Not worth all of the hype.
(2)
Ben M.
I had dinner/ dessert with my wife, my brother and sister-in-law at the little "wine bar" under the main restaurant. Let me start by saying that the wait staff that interacted with us was perfect. I have never had a better waiter. It made the whole night great. The fondue is the same that they offer upstairs. It was very intimate, simple and fun. If you're not into a full night of fondue the wine bar might be what you are looking for.
(5)
Tim S.
We went here for a nice date and had a wonderful experience. The tables were tucked away to allow for a nice intimate dinner. There are menu options tuned for a dinner for two that helped us decide. The food doesn't seem like it's going to be enough to fill you up but between the dipping and the slower pace of eating, we were so full we couldn't finish our dessert! (highly recommend the flaming turtle BTW). A little pricey but worth it for a fun date experience. You can use the Entertainment Book coupon sold by kids school fundraisers for a discount of 50% on the second meal ( entertainment.com ).
(4)
L. J.
The Mona Lisa is a beautiful little fondue joint in Manitou Springs. The location couldn't be more perfect, nestled into a little mountain town. Ambiance and romance are key here. The building is an old house and you can tell when you walk in. Each room has about 3 little tables for 2 in each with dim lighting and sweet twinkle lights surrounding empty bottles of wine, each with little notes from the drinkers celebrating an anniversary or holiday or baby written on the labels. If you like a full meal you reserve a table upstairs. Do it in advance to guarantee a table. If you'd like just a wine tasting you can go down to the wine cellar with no reservation. They also will do the fondue dessert down there. Back upstairs, your first course consists of a delish salad with homemade dressings. The vinaigrette is to die for. Next you get a choice of three different cheeses for the appetizer. MMMM, I forget which one is beer based but it doesn't get much better than that. It's served with raw veggies/fruits and bread bits. The main course consists of 3 different meat plates you can choose from. They are served raw with a little grill placed it the middle of your table. You get to cook them yourself! Don't worry, they tell you how if you're lost. Also this course is served with a plate of rosemary potatoes (mmmm), cheese, an onion, a pickle, and a mushroom to season or grill AND then a little tray with 7 different sauces for each meat. Try the alligator sausage! Last and certainly not least, the dessert. Chocolate fondue, order any of them and you can expect an orgasm in your mouth. 'Nuff said. Dress well, spend well, eat well.
(5)
Sarah C.
My family had dinner here on New Year's Eve. We left overly full and a bit disappointed. A few observations. 1) It's expensive. The New Year's Eve menu was $50-60 per person. For a family of four, that adds up. Throw in a couple glasses of wine and you might as well dine at the Broadmoor. 2) The quality of the food was variable. Canned mandarin oranges in the salad, then sushi-grade salmon / tuna, then marshmellows with the dessert. 3) Probably because we had our kids with us, we were exiled to the upper floor where it was, frankly, Africa hot. We mentioned this to our waiter and he said..."yeah, it's hot..we've had grills going all evening." My guess is that's it's hot every single night so I don't know why they don't have a fan or the ability to crack a window. 4) Pretty uninspired wine-food pairing....Cavit Pinot Grigio, really? 5) And, finally, is "grilling" your own meat fondue? I think not. Raclette maybe--if only the cheese hadn't been mozzarella. I could go on but it seems mean spirited. I suppose there are people who like it and, maybe if you order carefully, i.e., a la carte, you could keep the price within reason and not end up like the thin mint dude in "The Meaning of Life." On the upside, our waiter was really enthusiastic and friendly.
(2)
Theresa L.
Love the wine cellar at Monas. It's romantic, fun to take out of town friends, and great for anniversaries. Our fave is the Old World. We appreciate that in the wine cellar you don't have to do the full 5 course shabang, you can go for just a glass of wine if you'd like!
(5)
Tisha B.
We found this place after trying to eat at Adam's Mountain Cafe (only to discover it was CLOSED at 3 p.m. on a Sunday! Closed to serve the customers better?! ODD). At any rate... this was an ok fondue experience. We sat outside. The cheese fondue was good. The meat/veg fondue was ... different. The meat was tasty, but cooking it on a big electric tray was different. The huge and rather unsafe looking electric cords were a bit disconcerting. We were both full after the meal and opted to skip the rather pricey chocolate fondue for dessert. With wine, the cheese and meat fondues, it was more than I'd expect to pay for an average dining experience. Though I have to say I think I like grilling my food better than frying it in grease like at some fondue places. It was a nice change and service was above average. Value for price: 3/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 (outside nice except for LOUD motorcycles up and down main drag) Will probably try it again just for the chocolate dessert fondue (sounded yummy).
(4)
Sibby S.
Ambiance: One of the best dining venues in El Paso County! This is a great place for a romantic or intimate dinner. Exquisitely renovated Victorian-era home. Anywhere from four to six tables in each of many small, cozy rooms. Perfect lighting (slightly dimmed for atmosphere). There is a wine cellar, which you enter separately from stairs on the street, which has a more a la carte menu. Service: We had a rather young server, but she was very professional and pleasant. We did have a rather long wait (almost an hour) between the time we finished our entree until our dessert course was served. Our Server was absent during most of this time. As I was enjoying my leisurely meal, it didn't really matter in the scheme of things, but I would not have appreciated the extraordinary long gap between courses if I had film or theatre tickets. Food: Very good. Salads were good, though nothing spectacular. I have now had both their traditional Swiss fondue and their cheddar and beer version, and I really enjoy both. Unlike the Melting Pot, they do not prepare and build the fondue in front of you. It arrived already slightly warm from the kitchen (I guess to speed up cooking time at your table.) Comes with varieties of breads, fruits and veggies for dipping. I do think they are a little skimpy in the portion size, as we had plenty of items left for dipping, but no cheese left in the pot. You basically have three entree choices, a meat selection, a fish and seafood selection, and a wild game selection. I have had both the meat and seafood selections, and was happy both times. Rather than spearing your raw meat/fish and plunging it into a broth like at Melting Pot, you grill your item. You are also given some par-cooked potatoes and onions to grill, as well as a tray of mozzarella that you place under the broiler, and it then makes a Delicious covering for your potatoes and veggies. The dipping sauces for your meats/fish are just ok . The chocolate course is very good, with the option of add-ins and other flavorings or liqueurs. Very good wine list by the way. Overall, one naturally is going to compare Mona Lisa to Melting Pot. I like both for different reasons. Mona Lisa is a little pricey for what you get, but the atmosphere is so relaxing. Our last visit took a total of 3 1/2 hours from start to finish, and I enjoyed every minute. I am on the fence to give this four or five stars, and am going with four. The cheese and chocolate course are five stars, with the entree a four star and the salad course a three star.
(4)
Elliot P.
A favorite treat, Mona Lisa always reminds me that (a) fondue is really yummy, and (b) Manitou Springs is one of the most wonderfully weird places in the world. Our most recent visit to Mona Lisa was a Bon Voyage dinner that featured heavenly morsels of seafood with a delicious assortment of inventive sauces. Terrific wine list. Funky and wickedly romantic at the same time, this is a dependable, "count on it" choice that never disappoints. The portions appear small when they arrive, but you soon fill up -- sadly, we've never had room after our meal to seriously consider the molten chocolate desserts. A bit pricey, but worth it. As with many places these days, the young waitstaff could use some coaching on the finer points of graciousness -- "no problem" is not the same as "my pleasure" or "you're welcome." But the food does the talking here, as do the aromas, which practically drag you in off the street. Reservations a must on Friday nights, weekends and holidays.
(4)
Michele R.
I've been wanting to go to Mona Lisa for years. I'm a huge fondue fanatic and I am a sucker for good ambiance. This place had great reviews and was always on "must do" lists, so my boyfriend and I finally broke down and planned a weekend trip to the Springs. We arrived at around 6:30pm on a Saturday night. The ambiance was, as promised, gorgeous. I love the wine bottles and lights everywhere---fantastic. The only downside to the feel was that while the restaurant was not very populated, we were placed at a table right next to another couple. We felt as if we were invading their conversation. I suppose I'll go through the courses so I can accurately explain why this only gets 2 stars: #1 Drinks. Wine was expensive, but I suppose that is to be expected in a restaurant like this. #2- Cheese. We ordered the cheddar/beer cheese, which was just okay. The fondue pots did not get very hot so the cheese was thick and goopy. The sides were not very good. We only got a small bowl of bread and veggies. I would have liked to see apples instead of grapes and strawberries to dip. The portion of cheese was tiny, but we figured that would be okay since there were many courses to come. #3 Salads. We both ordered Caesar salads, as we are major fans. The salads were dry and not flavorable. Neither of us could finish ours. #4 Meat. We got the most basic meat dish. The meats were delicious, as was the raclette cheese, potatoes, and veggies. However, we were saddened that we each only got one small slice of each meat. Altogether, this doesn't make a very substantial meal. #5 Chocolate. The chocolate was okay--a bit bitter and lacking in complexity. The portions were fine for a dessert. We enjoyed the marshmallows and angel food cake, but we would have loved to have more than one sliver of strawberry each. We spent over $100 for the night and we were let down. Other similarly priced fondue places give you much bigger portions and much tastier food!
(2)
Levi L.
All 3 stars are for atmosphere. Not very good fondu for EXTREMELY high prices. But....I'll go back for the cool atmosphere. Maybe something other than fondu next time though. Man I miss Gustav's!!!
(3)
Louie C.
A bit on the pricey side; my wife and I paid $140 together for the four-course meal and a bottle of white wine (after tip). My pet peeves were that they charged an additional 3 dollars for the seasonal salad...come on...we're already paying so much as it is...they shouldn't, in good conscience, charge us more to "upgrade" our salad. This took a bit of class out of the whole experience. Also, additional charges to upgrade the chocolate fondue proved to be a nuisance. Salad came first...typical Caesar salad, my wife had the seasonal salad...a house salad with additional strawberries and almonds? The cheese fondue was VERY tasty...and there was an abundance of cheese...we tried the "old world" cheese selection and it was truly delicious. We didn't run out of bread and veggies to dip. The main course was interesting. I was expecting a bowl of heated broth or oil to dip our meat in, but the waitress gave us an electric "grill" and we cooked our own meat...the beef was very tender, but the rest of the meat was not to our taste...no seasonings on the chicken breast...just lumps of chicken. It was more of a nuisance to cook our own food in this manner...constant monitoring of the doneness of the meat, etc. as opposed to being able to set the meat in a prong and let it sit in broth (like at The Melting Pot). The chocolate was out of this world...and we had a variety of things to dip into it including brownie bites and cheesecake. Service was average...we were turned off by our waitress when she snapped at my wife for using her fork instead of her prong to stir some veggies on the electric grill...not cool. We'll go back if we happen to be in the area and would just get the cheese and chocolate next time...I wouldn't make reservations to go there again for the four-course meal...the price isn't quite worth it.
(3)
Andrew E.
Based on the Yelp descriptions, I have to give a 2-star "Meh. I've expereienced better." Just about anything else was better than this place. It's been a couple years, but here's my memory: - Went for my birthday w/ reservations. Told them ahead of time we wanted a nice table. They stuck us in a dark corner in a horrible tiny table. Asked to be moved, and they said nothing else was available unless we wanted to wait another 30 minutes. This was WITH the reservation and the request for a good table. - Service sucked. Waitress didn't know much about anything when it came to the food or wine. That led us to make the meal choices we did. - Cheese fondue: made it better at home w/o any experience. Not bad, but not really good at all. - Meat course: had the "wild game" option. Their little grill sucked; I've had better in a tiny hole-in-the-wall place in Koreatown in LA (and I wasn't sure what meat I was eating there). All the meat was bland and tasteless. - Dessert: hard to screw up melted chocolate, but it was just "Meh." A little too sweet. At least the fruit was ripe. This is probably the only thing keeping them from being a 1-star. All in all -- a very pricey mistake of a meal. We made the most of it...I'm not going to let Mona Lisa ruin my birthday, after all. I think we went downtown for drinks and that made it all better. I don't think it was a "bad experience" or a one-time thing. This is the way it is...I've heard similar experiences from at least 3 other couples. They just don't Yelp, so I felt I needed to ensure a balanced review was on here. If you want to go...well, that's your choice. But I hear much better reviews from folks who went to the fondue place in downtown CSprings...
(2)
Laura C.
We've really enjoyed our experience both times we've been there - the fondue and service were both excellent. The atmosphere was romantic and cozy.
(4)
Dorian H.
This is my favorite fondue restaurant. This is the kind of place that you need to make reservations months in advance...for a reason! I highly recommend this place if you are looking for something with a romantic ambiance. It's very intimate with only a few tables in each room. They offer a wonderful and varied menu of cheese fondue, meats and chocolate fondues. It isn't a cheap dinner, but you are also paying for the experience and surroundings. I think it's all worth it.
(5)
Jav V.
The food is really good and also really expensive. It's about $50/person for a salad, fondue, entree, and dessert. The salad was one of the best I've ever had. It was just a simple spinach/tangerine/blue cheese with red wine dressing, but it was super good. We got the Greek fondue. It was excellent. We had the game entree which comes with was elk, buffalo, trout, and duck that you grill at your table. Everythign was tasty and came with a bunch of different dipping saues. The dark chocolate fondue at the end was soooo good and came with a bunch of different stuff to dip in it. My favorite was the pretzels.
(5)
Lauren R.
Perfect place to have an amazing romantic anniversary dinner with the hubby! Highly recommend.
(5)
Paige H.
Now, this is not exactly some sort of culinary masterpiece, but the experience was so awesome. We had so much fun cooking our own food, and the pace kept our tummies empty enough so we weren't stuffed until the dessert course came. There is no comparison to the Melting Pot, seriously. Boiling my food in something that smells funny is not nearly as good as the sizzling action we had going on here. Overall, it's expensive, but well worth it. The ambiance, as I said was great, but the decor was a little weird. We felt somewhat left out that we didn't get to sign a wine bottle and put it on one of the surfaces that were literally covered with cheap wine bottles. Overall, this was hands down the most romantic meal we had on our honeymoon, and I won't be able to deal with Melting Pot after this. A tip: a reservation is a big bonus, and they aren't open for lunch.
(4)
Gary and Sherry W.
My wife and I just celebrated our first anniversary with dinner at the Mona Lisa. It was our second visit, our first being Valentine's Day. We love the romantic atmosphere. The service is always great and we love the pacing of dinner, since we cook our own food.
(5)
Lani C.
I wanted to love Mona Lisa, I really did. I lived in Manitou for awhile and always walked past it thinking how romantic it seemed. I even had planned to take my now fiance there for his birthday, the first year we were together but since they are closed on mondays we went to the melting pot instead. A year later we finally made it there, but I was less than impressed. We were seated in the back room, with oil stains on the walls and water stains on the ceiling tiles. The fake plants did nothing for me, and contributed to the overall dingy ambience. I wanted romance, not dust! The tables in the other rooms (with the twinkle lights) looked much more appealing, but I don't know that I will be giving it a second shot.
(2)
Leah B.
The hubs and I got a babysitter for this paticular meal, boy, I'm glad we did... this is NOT a place that you want to go with small kids in-tow. I would wait until they were teenagers to take them. We got the four-course meal for two, with a cheese fondue appetizer, a salad each, out "traditional" main course and the dark chocolate dessert fondue. Everything was really tasty and fresh, the quality of the meats and veggies was superb. The dark chocolate fondue with the wide selection of goodies to dip was mouth watering. It was quite expensive (our bill was $94. and we didn't even get drinks) but it would be a great place for a rehearsal dinner or anniverary dinner, or any other special occasion.
(5)
Scott A.
I have eaten at this place many times and have enjoyed the food. Tonight was different though. They do not understand the concept of a gift card, even though they have no problem selling them. There was a coupon in a local paper and they told us that we could not combine that offer with the use of a gift card. HELLO?!?! McFly?!?!?! Do they not know that a gift card is as good as cash? Means someone paid for the value of that gift card and it is no different than using cash, check or credit card when paying a bill. Whoever the owner is needs to read up on the concept or stop selling gift cards. So, for $15 Mona Lisa chose to lose 2 repeat customers. Going to Melting Pot from now on for my fondue.
(1)
heather t.
I really wanted to like Mona Lisa. Really. I'm fond of a good local restaurant over a chain any day of the week, but this time... This time I have to say that The Melting Pot just does it better - I want to say they do it better for a little cheaper too. There were elements of Mona Lisa that I really liked. Grilling the meats was neat and the trout was very good. I also liked the wedge of Mozzarella they give you to heat up with your main course. The Melting Pot just does each piece perfectly. The salads at Mona Lisa were really boring and tasteless and the MP salads are so incredible you could order one as your meal alone and be quite happy. I also think the MP cheese course is a bit more upscale. And the dessert course. I'm glad I tried Mona Lisa, but the Melting Pot is definitely my go-to!
(2)
Beth S.
I ate at this restaurant for my birthday, and I have to say, we were really disappointed. The food was decent. The cheese fondue was actually terrific, although for as much as you pay for it, I certainly wished there was more. We ordered the wild game meat platter, and seafood, and although the meats were high quality, there was no where near enough, especially for the amount paid. I was also disappointed that they didn't give you many vegetables to cook (a slice of squash and a slice of pepper, and one piece of mushroom...it was bizarre). The grill also was very sticky, so we were scraping each piece of meat off of it. Although there were a lot of sauces to dip the cooked meat into, there was nothing to season the meat before you "grilled" it (it was more like a glorified frying pan). Another downside was the service. Although our server was friendly, the service was SLOW (it took him 15 mins to bring us our check after we asked for it), and the service seemed very impersonal when he was saying the exact same things to the table next to us. I'm not sure what would make us go here again....maybe a free meal, b/c for what we paid we could have had an amazing meal in Denver...and we didn't even get dessert!
(2)
mamminger z.
This is a cozy little cafe/restaurant nestled deep inside Colorado Springs... a nice, but pricey, romantic getaway that's filled with so much warm, gooey yumminess that you're guaranteed to fall asleep when you get home. Beautifully decorated, the tender and charming ambiance matches the romantic allure of its exquisite yet simple menu.
(4)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :733 Manitou Ave
Manitou Springs, CO, 80829
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : No Attire : Dressy Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Devon C.
Had a great dinner! We did the 4 course meal special and it was well worth it! Started with excellent Ceasar salad then a cheese fondu with the New World cheese combo. Then the vegetable and the classic meats entrees which were cooked on a grill at the table by us. Then the dramatic grand finally of a flaming turtle dark chocolate fondu which was to die for!!!!!! Very nice ambiance and great service. If you can ask for Jeffrey as your server. He was exceptional!!!!
(5)Betty C.
I have waited a long time to try this restaurant, since we live in Oregon, but finally, we made a trip to Colorado so my husband could share this gem of delightful food and ambiance with me. The building is from the 1870's and it has a storied past. If you like great historical architecture, you'll love the place. The staff is very friendly, from the moment you enter and are greeted as if you are a long lost friend, until your last drop of coffee, you're spoiled. The food is great. It begins with a lovely salad. We chose the offering of the day, which was wonderful. Then we had cheese fondue, which comes with vegetables and bread to dip. The waitress asks often if you want more items to dip, so you don't have to worry that you'll run out before the cheese does. Then the entrees--mine was the traditional, but I don't eat seafood, so they were happy to change out for beef and chicken. My husband had the game--he loved it. Unlike some fondue places where you boil the meat, Mona Lisa gives you a grill...you actually grill the items. MmmMmm. Suggested times are provided, so you don't have to worry. We had the turtle chocolate fondue...yummy, and finished it off with a lovely cup of coffee. We ate our on the porch...which is on the second story and has the most lovely view of the shops and mountains. Oh my.... The only suggestion I would have is if you send an email with a special and that special is listed on a board outside, that you don't charge the regular fee unless you REQUEST the special fee. That was a bit...unsettling. Other than that, it was amazing, and worth the time and money and nearly a flight just to eat there!
(4)Katie H.
Every time my boyfriend and I are in Manitou we stroll past Mona Lisa and say "Someday we'll go there" and finally, Friday night was the night! We reserved online on a whim, showed up and were instantly seated. We were pleasantly surprised by the interior of this restaurant! So many fun rooms, turns and short stairs. It made for a fun and cozy atmosphere. We ended up going for the $40/person deal. Includes salad, cheese fondue, entree and chocolate fondue! Caesars salads were great (you have a few choices though). Cheese fondue - we went with the Greek Isle one. The kamalata olives were a surprisingly nice touch! Entrees - you each pick your own. I ordered the vegetarian, he went traditional. A fun assortment on both ends. Our server made sure to identify everything on our plates, explain ideal cooking times and tell us all about the condiments and which paired well with what. I think there were about 8, all phenomenal! That grill gets hot quick and stays hot, definitely unplug it once you're done or you'll be sweating. And of course, dessert. Milk chocolate with baileys and all kinds of goodies for you to dip. One last thing. After coming to this restaurant, we will neverrr go to Melting Pot again! What sets Mona Lisa apart from the rest? The service!!!! Stacy was our server and she was absolutely wonderful. She made sure we had the perfect evening, explained everything to us, made recommendations based on her favorites, timed each dish perfectly, and was friendly and attentive throughout our meal! I've always felt that dining out should be an experience (my boyfriend and I don't indulge too often). That being said, you can find good food in most places but service, not so much! We will absolutely be back!
(5)Bunny G.
Chilly weather will bring you into dip into delights into this quaint little spot in Manitou Springs. The restaurant was not open when we stopped by so we walked downstairs to the wine cellar where they serve the same items just in a cozier room. We started off with a glass of their red house blend-and it was so smooth and a perfect start to our evening. The waitress was very friendly and helpful when we were trying to make our selections. We ordered two of cheese fondues and there was plenty of yumminess to dip. Vegetables, apples, bread...then came the chocolate fondue. OMG more yumminess and lots of sweet treats to dip into your choice of chocolate. Marshmallows, strawberries, cheesecake...oh my, too delicious-it's a MUST STOP if you're in Manitou! I can't wait to come back. BTW-I've been to the chain restaurant (MPot) and it's no comparison, this place is MUCH BETTER!! M Pot is a waste of money-and hardly any goodies on the plate. Don't miss!
(5)Amber B.
This place is amazing. I liked being able to grill my own meat and their wine pairings were absolutely awesome. It's a bit pricy but it's soo worth it. The atmosphere alone makes it great for a special evening.
(5)Athenna R.
Went to the Mona Lisa the other night to spend time with my spouse and we were eating our third course I found hair in my food. The waiter laughed and took it away. Didn't say sorry let me change out your food nothing. I have been going there for years. He even laughed about it with the other ladies that were there that night. I asked to speak with a manager and got nothing. I have never had problems with the Mona Lisa till now. I'm very disgusted and disappointed. I don't go there and spend a lot of money for that. I don't know if I'll be going back and that's sad to say seeing as its my favorite place. I even posted a good review on your Facebook page
(1)Mariah O.
The first time I went here, it was for a long overdue date night. This experience was exquisite. We split the milk chocolate dessert fondue and it was delicious. The waiter brought us unlimited fruit and cake to dip in the fondue. I did not like the recommended wine, so the waiter comped it and brought me one I did like. The atmosphere was quiet, upscale, and romantic. The second time I went here, it was to celebrate a special event. We were sat in the back and it was quiet until a family with three kids was sat next to us. They were loud, obnoxious, and definitely not well versed in table manners (one of the children passed gas loudly and the entire family got the giggles). They ruined my night. This was not the restaurant's fault, but I feel that children should not be sat near adults who are obviously out for a quiet night out.
(3)Doug S.
Overall, a great experience. Loved the smaller more intimate dining rooms, soft music playing and a very quaint personal experience. Our waiter did a great job of explaining "how to" for us a first-timers in a fondue restaurant. He definitely proved that he cared about us having a great experience - even offering to replace a "less than cold" beer served with a more expensive beer at the same price. My only complaint is that I still feel it's a bit pricey at full price. Fortunately, we had a nice $6 off coupon that made it closer to affordable. Not somewhere I can afford to go often, but for a special evening I will definitely return! A wonderful evening for our 30th anniversary!
(4)Alison G.
Overrated. We loved the dessert fondue, but was very disappointed in the cheese fondue selections (we ordered greek) and the entree. Entree: The cooking grill was very....well....lack luster. Our meat was fine, it was just small pieces. The atmosphere and waiter were lovely. Plus, they had a nice wine selection. I would give 2.5 stars if I could.
(2)Gregory F.
Been coming here for years. Food, service and ambiance excellent. Highly recommend!
(5)Tara C.
This was the first fondue experience that my husband and I have had. Service was very nice and helpful to explain all the features and details of fondue, and we got to sit right on Manitou Ave. for the evening. Reservation process online worked well, and we received text message confirmation requests. Our wild game plate was great, and the vegetable plate entree made us feel guilt-free after eating a hot pot of cheese :) I definitely would recommend this place while in Manitou for a nice, interesting dinner. Also, sign up online for event features and coupons. Also, say hi to the friendly owner, Katie!
(5)Joseph W.
Overall our experience at Mona Lisa's was a good experience. The food was very good quality and the atmosphere was very romantic, however it was definitely a onetime thing for us. You are paying for the experience and if you take strictly the food into consideration it's way overpriced. A $145 bill for two meals, 3 glasses of wine and two beers seemed steep considering relatively small portions of the self-cooked seafood accompanied with vegetables, bread, cheese and small pieces of fruit, cakes and brownies for dessert. The house selected wine pairing was very good until dessert, I'm a little confused with the choice, and it didn't seemed to compliment the dessert at all. Also the mozzarella cheese that came with the third course seemed a waste. It is a strange choice in cheese considering is doesn't remain runny and is very difficult to spread or dip with the small portions of food. The service was very good and the waitresses were very informative, but toward the end of our meal they were pulled aside to take care of something and service became very slow. Overall I don't regret the experience, but for that price I wouldn't return, there is plenty of romantic places in the area that offer way more in that price range.
(3)Peggy B.
Had family visiting for the weekend and went here to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant came highly recommended from friends as the perfect spot for special occasions, and they were right! Made a reservation and four of us enjoyed al lovely evening. Our waiter was genuinely friendly and helpful and guided us with ease through the menu. We opted for the four-course meal and made different choices so everyone could try various cheeses and entrees. All courses arrived promptly and the dessert fondue was dreamy. The base four-course charge is $40 per person. You can also order a la carte if four courses are too much. All of the food was incredible, and we had fun with the fondue and grilling our meat at the table. Great night. The birthday girl loved it!
(4)Craig B.
Celebrating our 29th anniversary we wanted to do something special. Tucked in cozy spaces in a historic building you enjoy a 4 course meal for $40 a head. Special adding and wine brought us to $127 after tip. Your meal goes slowly as you savor each bite. I was frequently asked if I needed more items but never really felt it necessary. My wife had the traditional meats and I had the wild game. I recommend following their wine pairings.
(5)Diane B.
We went to this place while visiting earlier Colorado earlier this week. The ambiance is so cozy and romantic; there are many little nooks and neat old wall decorations. The food was pretty good. We tried the 4 course, $40 pp option. The seasonal salad was tasty (strawberry, poppyseed dressing, almonds, feta cheese). Next up was the cheese course, and this place lost a star for its cheese fondue. Really, it tasted just like melted cheese. There was not much additional flavoring from the beer base, and there were no additional spices/flavors added to make it interesting. I can and do make better cheese fondue at home. The meat course was pretty good (it was a grill yourself course) and the dark chocolate dessert fondue was also quite tasty. Fortunately, in the case of dark chocolate, it doesn't need any additional flavorings to be wonderful. As an aside, they have a sign asking you not to bring your children under 3. For some reason this rubbed me the wrong way -- maybe because I think parents should be able to determine if their children will behave at a place like this without a sign saying "no!".
(4)Taylor J.
I love going to the Mona Lisa! It's a little on the pricey side but well worth it! This restaurant has such a cozy and romantic atmosphere that it's perfect for a date night. I've loved the food every time and the wait staff is so friendly and attentive. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone, especially those visiting Manitou. It is a must go!
(5)Shannon F.
This is a very beautiful place! My husband and I went there for our anniversary and we were amazed! The service was fantastic and our waiter Ryan made sure we know everything about our meal. I had the wild game entree and my husband had the seafood entree, both had signature dipping sauces but our favorite was the avocado cilantro sauce, perfect with trout and tuna! Very romantic and at the same time casual!
(5)Amanda J.
The Mona Lisa was a beautiful place. The staff were very nice and helpful, even offering to take pics for us. The new world cheese fondue was wonderful and the flaming turtle was delicious! The traditional meat course was average. After a full day of hiking this large and delicious meal hit the spot!
(4)Mark A.
Very good fondue restaurant with four-course meal. Yummy cheese and chocolate courses. Nice options for the entree including interesting wild game options. Typical of good fondue places, be prepared as the meal will take a while.
(5)Kevin S.
The food is good, basic fondue and light salads, the wine pairing suggestions in the menu are spot on so that's a huge positive. The only negative is that they add 20% gratuity to the check automatically which I find assumptive.
(3)Aaron D.
I was pretty disappointed in this restaurant. We ordered a South of the Border cheese fondue pot, which we were told was meant for two people. What we got was a basket of rye bread (because when I think of "South of the Border" I think of rye bread, SMH), a tiny plate of broccoli florets and three red grapes (three grapes for two people only adds to the awkwardness), a basket of stale tortilla chips (clearly not made in-house. They were the awful red, black, and white chips you can buy at the supermarket), and a cheese pot that I assume they just melted one of those Laughing Cow babybel cheese wheels into based on the ridiculously small portion size. I'm not joking about the cheese amount. I could have dropped a penny into the pot and the cheese would not have covered it. Needless to say there was a lot of bread and stale tortilla chips left on the table when the cheese quickly ran out. Perhaps the Mona Lisa views the cheese fondue pot as nothing more than an appetizer. This is where they differ greatly from the Melting Pot, which provides a full cheese fondue that doubles as a meal. In fact, the Melting Pot has a policy of bringing more bread and fruit/veggies to your table if they run out before the cheese is finished because they don't rip customers off with their portion sizes. I'm confused by their policy of preparing the cheese fondue before bringing it to the table. That takes away from much of the experience. Probably because my guess about the Laughing Cow babybel is accurate. But what is more confusing is that if you order a wine flight, that too is poured behind closed doors. No one should leave a restaurant hungry. But we did. We were not going to be fooled into sticking around for more of their overpriced nonsense, and finished our anniversary dinner at another nearby restaurant instead. For the record, Christmas lights and dusty wine bottles for decoration are not romantic.
(1)Meagan D.
We were LITERALLY the only people in the restaurant and they were incredibly rude to us. It took no less than 10 emails and 1 in person visit to get off their mailing list.
(1)Matthew C.
We sat on the small outdoor balcony and had a wonderful meal. The service was exceptional, with a friendly and knowledgeable server. The food was good - there's only so much you can do with fondue. But all the items throughout two four-course meals were fresh and good quality. The fondue New World cheese and Dark Chocolate for dessert were really good. I really like how the meats are served with a grill plate, rather than an oil pot like some other fondue restaurants. All in all, it was a great date night out. The atmosphere and view, with impeccable service, made the night.
(5)Heather S.
Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. Romantic but relaxed environment. New world fondue and wine flight is a must! They have a great happy hour daily from 4-6 in their cellar, 40% off all food, including dessert fondue.
(5)Whitney T.
Oh boy. Where do I begin? I promise, I loved this place just by looking at pictures online and seeing these awesome reviews. So I booked a reservation to celebrate our anniversary at Mona Lisa. I'm not sure if 2 stars is the right amount of stars, but I'm really trying to be generous here. I will say this: IF YOU ARE WANTING THE MELTING POT, GO TO THE MELTING POT, BECAUSE THIS IS FAR FROM IT. I'll start from the beginning. Our seating area was not what I was hoping for. We were seated about 4 feet away from a table of 4, who were loud, annoying, taking pictures of everything. I know, this is the time of Instagram and Facebook but come on people, have some respect for other diners! I thought that leaving in the remarks section that we were there for our anniversary would give them a hint to seat us somewhere more quiet, romantic. Not so much. I had the garden salad, my husband had the Caesar salad. Both were delicious, perfect portions. Of course we chose the 4 course meal for two. RIP OFF ALERT. The cheese fondue was delicious, but there was very little that we could very easily scrape the bottom of the metal bowl. The bread was decent. Some pieces were stale. There were 4 pieces of broccoli ... Just four. The weird thing about this place is they fix all of the fondue behind closed doors, bring it to your table already mixed, and place it over one of those little cans with a wick. Moving on to the rip off entrée. I thought we'd get a nice spread like at the Melting Pot. NOT. AT. ALL. The meat they list, you get one small piece of each. My "breast of chicken" was slightly bigger than a quarter. Oh, and did I mention that you have to cook it on a portable grill? No cooking them in delicious broth. No, none of that. Instead we were burnt with popping oil. A small two seat table can make things very intimate, dangerous and hot. My husband bought the "local game" meal. The meat was tough, small, and not tasty. I bought the regular meat/seafood entrée, which was decent. Nothing to brag about really. The dessert was the best part. We bought the flaming turtle. Again, not a lot of fondue but it worked enough for us. Nothing special, but it was delicious. We paid just over $100 for this "meal" and I'm not sure where that all went. I really wanted to love this place, but I want people to know the truth. I can't believe people are giving this place 5 stars. I wish I was there when it was 5 star worthy! Save your money and go somewhere else, or if you want fondue, spend the same amount and get a much better experience out of the Melting Pot! Oh, and our waiter Jeffrey was very kind and a great guy!
(2)Julie H.
Came here while staying in Manitou. Food was very good, my fiancé is just not a huge fan of fondue, we both LOVED dessert. It is a really nice touch that you can ask for more things to dip in cheese and dessert. Come hungry! The best part was the service, I cannot remember is name but a young southern guy who served us upstairs. Made sure our experience was perfect from start to finish, customer service alone was a reason to come back!
(4)Brandi T.
I am sad to say my last experience at Mona Lisa was very disappointing. I have eaten here many times and referred multiple people due to the ambiance and great servers. However, the customer service this last visit changed my opinion of this local establishment. My mom and I each bought an online coupon last year which unfortunately expired before we could use them. When we went to use the paid value for them to help cover part of our meal, we were told we could only use one at a time. Being that we weren't getting a discount since they expired, (which the best restaurants with good customer service have still honored in my experience) we were shocked that they pushed back and told us no. Good customer service goes a long way and I'm sad to say I won't be referring anyone here in the future.
(1)Tony S.
Came here to grab a quick bite to eat before heading to a show, was seated quickly and our food orders came quickly.Absolutely enormous portion sizes, the food was fairly decent but nothing to shout home about.The decor was a bit cheap and nasty, but the food made up for it.
(5)Rebecca H.
So much more unique and better quality/variety of meats and cheeses than The Melting Pot. Great staff and atmosphere...didn't rush us through any one course and made sure we had plenty of what we really liked. Fun night and incredible food. Romantic and fun!
(5)Trina S.
What a elegant place to go for a romantic dinner. The most wonderful fondue I have ever had. The people who serve you are so kind and generous. The atmosphere is just like a 5 star restaurant. The wine is delicious and always served properly the way it should be served. It may be up there in price, but for what you receive it is nothing short of perfection.
(5)Cassandra B.
Excellent service! Love the if you don't feel like doing the full 4 course meal you can just go down to the wine cellar. Have a drink, some cheese, and some chocolate! Perfect atmosphere. If you decide to do the 4 course meal, they do not do broth like the melting pot. They do a grill. Which I preferred much more than broth.
(5)Chris F.
Mona Lisa is one of our perennial favorites. We always come early so we can spend time in the wine cellar before dinner. Great wines, great food, and the friendliest staff. Be sure and keep up with their specials and save some $$$ because this is fine dining, not quick server, so the prices can get expenses.
(4)Erin R.
My first and probably last time here was not very impressive. We went for a late meal, so opted for just a cheese pot and al la carte entree along with wine for the two of us so we wouldn't be miserably full. It wasn't clear that the al la carte price was still going to be 'per person' as stated on the other menu sections. Considering it was only a little more to get the full 4 course experience, it was definitely disappointing to find that out when the bill came! Atmosphere-I just don't get why everywhere in this town the theme of hunter green, burgundy, Victorian, fake plants and Xmas lights gets called romantic!? Maybe in the 80's....just not my style. It's also not that romantic when you're 3 feet from the next table. Food-Expensive but good and pretty fresh. The recommendation to put all the meat on at once really isn't good advice we decided! You end up having to keep cooking things while you try to eat the stuff that cooks quick before it goes cold. The cheese pot was great with a nice assortment of accompaniments. I would personally prefer a cheese besides mozz (as the one you bake under the grill) since it becomes a blob after you remove it from the heat instead of being spreadable.
(3)Connor J.
My girlfriend and I stopped in for a pre-dinner cheese fondue and wine on a Saturday evening. From 4:30-6:30 in the downstairs cellar they have 40% off cheese or dessert fondues and select $5 wine glasses. It was a really cute environment with low lighting and only 7 tables in a narrow room with a bar at the end. There were two waiters who were very attentive. We got the Greek isle fondue which was bold and delicious, with not too much blue cheese sharpness. It came with bread, vegetables, and some apple slices. The select wines were excellent, we had a Bordeaux and Pinot noir that typically sell for $10 a glass. It was a romantic little outing and we got out of there with 4 glasses of wine and a cheese fondue for around $30. Incredible deal, great environment, highly recommended!
(5)Nadine G.
Creative and delicious twist on fondue. Excellent service.
(4)Garrett C.
We came in for the chocolate fondue dessert and were not disappointed. Talk about delicious. We ordered two of the holiday specials, the peppermint bark and sea salt caramel and chocolate. I would get both again in a heartbeat. Not only was the food delicious, but the service exceptional and atmosphere charming. We had a wonderful evening as a family.
(5)Cookie M.
Good fondue! This is my first time going here, and my only comparison is to the Melting Pot. I do have to say they are almost the same. However, the Melting Pot is more intimate. Salads are okay. Melting Pot is better. Cheese fondue is about the same. The two restaurants differ in the way you cook the entree. With Melting Pot, you cook the food in the broth. With Mona Lisa, you have to grill the food. Overall, I am not really a fan of cooking your own food. I would rather go for cheese and chocolate. If I had to pick out of the two, I would pick Melting Pot. But Mona Lisa is a solid fondue place
(4)Christine J.
My boyfriend and I spent our Valentine's Day date here and it was definitely an experience. To celebrate the occasion, the owner took a picture of us at the table and printed it out for us in a little card to take home at the end of our meal, and they even gave me a rose when we left. My boyfriend and I have been to the Melting Pot too, but I'm honestly not sure which one I prefer... They are both good in different ways. The Mona Lisa is a romantic little hide away in Manitou which offers a 4 course fondue experience. I prefer the location and the ambiance of the Mona Lisa over the Melting Pot. While the private booths are nice at the Melting Pot, I find it to be dark and a bit loud where as the Mona Lisa can provide either a private date setting or a fun, social feel. Before we were seated at our table we went downstairs to the Wine Cellar and did some wine tasting which was a really nice option to pass the time. Once at our table we had a salad course, cheese, protein, and dessert course. The South of the Boarder cheese was good, but the texture was a little weird... Not very "cheesy" in the way you would expect, so I think that course goes to the Melting Pot for me. The protein course is where the Melting Pot and the Mona Lisa really differ. At the Melting Pot you cook your meat by submerging it in a broth of your choosing, but the Mona Lisa uses a tabletop grill. I think, however, that the Melting Pot actually gives you more meat. The chocolate course was pretty much the same at both places. The Mona Lisa, just like the Melting Pot, is extremely expensive, but you're paying for the experience... Not just the food. Great place for a romantic date with your sweetheart, but expect to spend a few hours there!
(4)Tom M.
What a fantastic way to start New Year's Eve. As always, great service and great food! A wonderful, intimate way to end a wonderful year!
(5)Joey M.
We've been here many, many times. When we heard about the March special giving married couples 2% off for each year they've been married, we went for it. Btw, we got nearly half off. As always, the service was fantastic; the food was fresh and delicious. (Except for the shrimp, which was thawed from frozen of course.) My wife gets the seasonal salad and I get the Caesar (always). This time, we chose Greek cheese fondue - YUMMY! We usually go with traditional entree, we prefer it. Again, very yummy and fun cooking at the table. We chose dark chocolate for dessert, but we're too full to eat much of it. For wine, I had one glass of the red that pairs with the entree, and the Mrs had a Riesling. We'll be back! We love Mona Lisa. It's our favorite romantic dinner for two as well as fun group dinner for out of town business guests or family guests. Be prepared to shell out up to $100 per person with wine, $50 per person without. This place is fun but expensive and darn well worth it. Our server told us they're considering starting an anniversary special for the patrons' anniversary month. If that's the case, we'll be back soon!
(5)Georgia R.
Visited the Mona while visiting a friend in the Springs-this place beats the melting pot any day! With a wide array of unique fondues and wines I was very impressed with the menu. The blue cheese fondue was delicious, and Donovan the manager was extremely helpful in helping us explore and navigate the wine list.
(5)Ashley R.
First time at Mona Lisa's yesterday evening for New Years Eve. What a disappointing experience. I would like to mention our waiter was a delight. He was very nice, had a lot of energy and seemed to know what he was doing. The kitchen however, was another story. The first course was a Cesar salad that was server warm with lettuce that was less than crunchy. Obviously made in mass quantities and left out of the fridge for too long. The dressing was more like a vinaigrette and not creamy like traditional Cesar dressing usually is. Ahhh, the cheese course...I was excited. Well, the cheese had a weird powdery texture to it and not a lot of flavor. It was also served on the table with a fine film of "skin" on top as it was luke warm. Had to wait for the heater beneath the bowl to warm it up. As a cheese lover, I was so sad this was my least favorite course. Next up, the meats. The portions of meat are an absolute joke! I paid $50 a person for 1 x 1 inch pieces of meat (5 pieces total). And it's served with precooked potatoes, a slice of bread and a pickle. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do with my pickle wedge. Dessert did redeem itself. I very much so enjoyed the white chocolate and will only return in the future for this dessert course. In the end, I left feeling hungry after paying $120 for two people. I don't know what my money paid for. Maybe the ambiance, definetly not the cheese or meat. I feel ripped off and will not be back anytime soon. I didn't say anything to anyone as I'm not that type of person. My advice, save your money and go elsewhere.
(2)Todd S.
We snagged a balcony seat for our first dinner together as a wedding couple... probably the best seat in the house. You don't have to worry about getting a bad experience here: service, food and the prices are comprable to other fondue places. The raclette grill was a nice touch... especially the gooey mozzarella that it made. :-)
(5)Jon R.
Has to be in my top 5 restaurants. Great for a getaway for two. In the heart of Manitou Springs so lots of art and culture on the way. Make an evening of enjoying the city and cap it off with a romantic four course fondue dinner. Don't forget the wine tour.
(4)Pamela P.
The atmosphere is quant and quiet. The staff is amazingly kind and polite. I am PA and have been sure to dine here everytime I am in CO.
(5)Danial J.
Fantastic local restaurant. Great experience. Expect, with tip, to spend a hundred to two hundred for dinner, depending on how much you drink. Couldn't ask for better food. I left full, but more importantly, every bite was awesome. We were late for our reservation, and the host staff was able to get us a table. Our server and everyone we spoke to at the restaurant were friendly and helpful. Go here. You'll love it.
(5)Scott H.
PRICEY but Worth It! The last night out for dinner in Colorado with the family and they Loved It! Great atmosphere, Excellent service and unique and delicious food!!
(5)Jess A.
If romantic candlelit dinner for two is what you're going for, Mona Lisa is your place. Set in the charming mountain's edge town of Manitou, this fondue restaurant sits in a converted house with twinkling lights, a french cafe theme and small dining rooms that allow guests the sense of a private dining experience for their evening. Thank you Living Social for the deal or - need for romantic candlelit dinner or not - we would not have chosen to swallow the prices (basic "Fondue for Two" with no upgrades sets you back $49 a person, not including tip.) That being said... During our four-course meal (salad, cheese and bread/veggie second course, protein third course and dessert fourth course) two things stood out on the menu. First, we opted for the adventurous Wild Game entree. It was unique and bold with Colorado elk, mallard duck, buffalo and rainbow trout displayed and paired with a tableside grill. And the second, the dessert - don't bother with the fancier options, the dark chocolate plate was absolutely amazing. The service was friendly and attentive. Why not the fifth star? First the non-Living Social price. I understand the unique dining experience but I cook my own food, that should count for something, no? Where's MY tip? And second although the decor was pleasant the little details of an older house - especially for the price (I'll stop ranting about it soon, I promise) should have been attended to for an upscale dining experience. As an example, just overhead from our table was some sort of rusting vent on a drop ceiling. At least string those twinkling soft lights above to camouflage those issues. That being said, let me leave you with this. Mona Lisa's offers a wonderful, unique dining experience and worth a try for a special occasion.
(4)Scott L.
I am having a hard time rating this restaurant. We loved the atmosphere and experience. We ordered the wild game four course dinner for two at $49/person after wine, tax and tip we dropped $170 for the dinner. The salad was appropriately sized and very tasty. The appetizer cheese pot was just right in size and was very enjoyable. We asked for additional fruits which was perfect with the Greek Isle cheese we ordered. The main course was light on meats and very bland. I know why. It is just raw meat and sauces but it just didn't work. I think they need to marinade and offer larger meat portions. For the price, we were very disappointed in the meats. The desert was outstanding and somehow filled us to the brim. We ordered the almond joy and totally loved it. Again we asked for additional fruits. All in all we enjoyed the experience and will come again but next time we will get a coupon for the cheapest four course meal since the meats were so disappointing.
(4)Greg R.
We just came from a delightful evening at the Mona Lisa. The ambiance is simple yet elegant, the food is of top quality, and the waiter, Leo, was absolutely wonderful. This was a very special meal for the special occasion of a birthday party for two daughters. While we have been several times before, the Living Social offers made this a very affordable special evening for four. We highly recommend the chocolate turtle fondue. My 32 year old daughter wanted to lick the bowl clean at the end.
(5)Rich K.
We had a great night. We got seated right away and had a brand new waiter. It was his first day but we had no idea. He did a great job and took good care of us. We had the 4 course meal and it was very good. We got the specialty salad and it was very tasty. Nice mix of flavors and a nice portion size. The cheese fondue was very good as well. We ordered the the "regular" meat and a wild game plate. Both had smaller portions but in reality the portion sizes are more appropriate than you get at other places. The portion sizes were good, tasty and filling. With the desert we wanted to get a mix of the dark chocolate and the white chocolate. Our waiter said we had to pick 1 as they couldnt mix the chocolates. When he brought out the plate the chef said he wanted to surprise us and mixed the 2. White on 1 side dark on the other. The desert was more than we could finish and took half of the desert home. We enjoyed the evening and had a wonderful meal.
(4)Ryan L.
This has been our favorite date spot in Colorado Springs for years. We live the ambiance, a great private setting with unique rooms to sit in and great customer service. We've never had any issues and no complaints. Order the fontina cheese and a any dessert and you can't go wrong Caine people complain about the prices and they are high, but you can't knock any stars for that. Expect to pay almost $75-$100 with drinks and tips. Maybe a bit more. We'll be back again for sure!
(5)Vanessa J.
Skip dinner...if you're here I would recommend just doing a cheese course and dessert. The main course part of the meal really isn't anything special and I don't think it's worth the price tag that goes with it. The milk chocolate with chambord was...outstanding. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I was very happy I kept my spoon so that none of the decadent goodness went to waste. So share a bottle of wine and have some dessert. It will be the highlight of the evening.
(4)Tim K.
I've walked past Mona Lisa too many times to count. Finally I got to go thanks to my wife's being mindful of the Living Social emails. Our server was excellent. He had this spiel down and it was nice to know all the options and what his favorite items on the menu were. Our table was located in a super romantic spot in the back of the restaurant. It was surrounded by lattice work and empty wine bottles without being too Frat-housey. Melted cheese, and assorted meats. Seriously, what more could you want? Oh, there's the roasted potatoes -I got seconds. Dinner for two without a groupon will easily set you back $90. So unless you're a high roller this isn't a first date kinda place. I'd love to take my wife again for a special occasion. Fondue was a first (but not a last) for me.
(4)Lauren E.
Very good!! Much different than conventional American fondue places, such as melting pot. My boyfriend & I happened to drive by here & decided to try it, but were lucky to be seated as they seem consistently booked. They use the Swiss grill method, so you cook everything at the table. The 4 course meal included salad, cheese course, protein course, and dessert. Al a carte was also an option. Food was very fresh, lots of choices (they were cooperative with our food allergies also!) and good service. Very satisfied, would come here again!
(5)Theresa B.
Four is a bit generous for the overall experience, but the things that Mona Lisa does well, they do very well indeed. We tried their signature four course model - salad starter, cheese fondue, tableside-self-grill meats, and a chocolate dessert fondue. The wine list was eclectic, and no, I won't pay $145 for a bottle of Veuve orange label that I just bought for $42 retail. Back to the weak-strong-weak-strong dinner model. The salad was utterly forgettable, the Brie fondue, wonderful. The self-grill meats ranged from ok (shrimp) to god-awful (filet that tastes like liver?), but again were sharply contrasted with the fabulous Chambord-chocolate dessert fondue. (Do not let them take your spoon after dinner. Trust me on this.) If we were to do this again, it would be in an a-la-carte model. Two contrasting cheese fondues, followed by a chocolate finisher. One more thing that was a little awkward - the acoustics of the place made it so that conversations are not particularly intimate. You can hear your fellow diners' discussions and they can hear you. Charming policy on having people sign their wine bottles, and using them as decor accents.
(4)Brad L.
Highly recommend. Visited for my wife's birthday. Great food, and excellent service! Katy, our server, was so gracious and made our experience special. Perfect restaurant for a romantic dinner or to celebrate a special event.
(5)Lyndsay B.
Went there for a girls night out. Definitely more of a date place. Our server must have been new (or not very good at his job). SLOW service, food was ok- overpriced, and you grill your meat, not boil it like other fondue places. Meat wasn't seasoned. Cheese fondue was good but the 4 course meal was NOT worth the money. Chocolate was fine(we did not want to pay the up charge for the specialty chocolate), nothing special. Melting Pot is way better in my opinion.
(1)Linda E.
Romantic, each room is small and fits about 5 tables. Reservations needed, mine was still fine even though we were about 10 minutes late on a Saturday night. Seats are close, but far away to not hear entire conversations of other tables. I got the garden salad, cab wine, old cheese fondue, and traditional meat. The meat grill could be oiled more, burnt some food. Delicious filet and potatoes, loved the chutney sauce. Will return and try dessert when I'm not too full. Parking is on the street, lucked out and found a close spot.
(4)Nick H.
Do not go if you're hungry. This would be good for a first date, it has good atmosphere and intimate seating. If you want some dinner this is not the place though. We got the wild game "entrée" which was literally an ounce of each meat. so I paid 30 for 3 ounces of meat. 10 dollars an ounce for unseasoned meat I had to cook myself on an electric grill. Really, each piece of meat was the size of a book of matches. Now I will say the chocolate fondue is great, but of course it is, it's a bowl of chocolate. So go if you want to impress a date, but not If you're hungry.
(2)Crystal Girl S.
Not sure how grilling your food on a plugged in electric grill makes it a full on fondu restaurant but you can get cheese and chocolate on a fondu pot similar to what you can get at the grocery store with the burning candle. In all fairness the cheese and chocolate were great although the portions were very small for the price. Don't bother with dinner. The sauces are flavorless and the meat is not great, especially the Teriyaki steak. We left half our food there and the portions were small. There was a BIG PRICETAG to go along with this. It way way over priced for the quality if food and small portions! I wouldn't be so disgruntled if it were half the price but really feel like we got ripped off! We eat at fondu restaurants on a regular basis as a family favorite and this was a real let down.
(2)Jae C.
The only other fondue place I've been to besides Mona Lisa is the notorious "The melting pot." And may I just say,.... Mona Lisa takes the cake for amazing fondue. Upon entering, I was greeted by a kind lady that took the time to explain the entire menu. As the main course, I ordered the seafood platter, but I entrusted the rest of my order with the waitress. The meal was a full four-course starting off with the salad, then the appetizer, the main entrée, then the dessert. I was forewarned of how filling the entire meal could be, but being mindful of how not-so-filling my meal at The melting pot was, I brushed off the warning and filled up on the appetizer. To my demise, I was extremely full by the time I got to my dessert. The meal was on the pricier end but I would say that you definitely get what you pay for. Mona Lisa, I believe, is a tiny business owned by a family. It has its own unique style and everything is very personable. The quality of the food and the level of service was all very exceptional. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone that wants give their date an amazing restaurant experience.
(5)Steve C.
A favorite of ours for many years. The owner (Jeff Kiepke) is a good friend and a guy who knows how to create a fine dining experience like no other. You can't go wrong with any menu selection and the staff is as courteous and attentive as you will find anywhere. To top it off, the atmosphere is fantastic. The old home that is now The Mona simply adds that final piece to the puzzle of a very romantic evening. For those of you expecting "The Melting Pot", please open your minds and enjoy a totally different experience. This is not a chain restaurant!! It is a locally-owned establishment with a very unique take on the fondue theme. It's not inexpensive and, at first, you won't think it's a lot of food. However, take my word for it....... you will leave completely full and thoroughly satisfied!
(5)Kim N.
Great place for a date night! Call ahead and make a reservation, and plan to take your time. Romantic, wonderful, and truly not for children.
(4)amanda m.
The setting was very nice and romantic. Dimmly lit with Italian (?) music playing in the background. I ordered the garden salad which was very good. The dressing had a tangy flavor maybe a vinegrette. We ordered New World cheese. I thought it was somewhat plain, the bread you dipped it in wasn't outstanding either. We ordered the Traditional entree. We cooked the meat on our own grill which was fine but it took about 10 minutes. I didn't really care for the dipping sauces. My husband thought the meat was really good though. For dessert we had the Flaming Turtle. That was probably the best part of the meal. I dipped brownies, strawberries, cheesecake and marshmallows in it. All in all the food was okay but not really with the $80 some dollar charge. Next time we'll go back to the Melting Pot.
(2)Laura K.
This was our second visit to Mona Lisa (the first one was last Fall for my b-day) and now again for Valentines Day. This visit was just as perfect as our first visit! We went downstairs to the wine cellar first and were the only ones there at 4:30, so talked to the server who has worked in the back of the kitchen (prepping) for over 1 1/2 years (that's a long time for back of the house) and now she's giving it a try in the wine cellar. I asked what has kept her there so long and she said the owner is wonderful to work for and she absolutely loves working there!! We were impressed (good way to start the evening). Our server Shon Loi was excellent as well! He gave us an overview of how everything worked and we did the meal for 2 as well as the wine pairing. We would skip the automatic wine pairing and just order what we like next time, it was $20.00 per person for that piece and would have rather spent the $$ on a bottle for a different wine selection that we liked! It's expensive, but we knew ahead of time it was going to be and with the romantic ambience and food - we think it's totally worth it! We are already looking forward to our next visit!
(5)Paul A.
Loved it!!! Amazing food! Amazing service. The specialty cheese was the way to go!
(5)Isibella A.
I like Fondue, I like it a lot. Mona Lisa is a good example of an original setting for Fondue with a unique twist. The venue certainly wins most romantic of manitou/the springs area. With little fairy lights inside you feel as if you are outside a french cafe at night despite being inside. It would be ideal for taking a date. They also offer a raclette which is quite delicious. The hungry kitten says: Go here when you're jonesing some fondue!
(4)David R.
The restaurant was really romantic, as was the fondue for two. What I didn't really care for, was cooking our own meat at the table. There was a bit of novelty with this at first, but the food would have been better if it had been cooked in the kitchen. But, I suppose it made our anniversary dinner more romantic. Overall, the food was pretty good, and fondue was great. I'd probably go back, but maybe not for a while. BTW, the service was fantastic.
(3)Mark W.
28 years of marriage bliss, and not a better way to spend it.
(5)Emilie L.
The Mona Lisa is a fantastic place to go for a nice evening either with a date, or perhaps just a group of girls. Located on the main drag in Manitou in a converted old house, this place just screams mountain town charm. Our waitress was terrific and explained the meal with great detail to us. We enjoyed the four course fondue for two, along with the specially offered wine pairings. I am somewhat picky about my wine, but the pairings were great, and were they not, the waitress brought the bottle of wine to the table before each course to allow us to taste it, and were we to not like the wine, she would have found something else that would pair suitably. I prefer grilling the meat as opposed to cooking it in oil or broth, so that was a fun part of the meal, and my only regret was that I was too full to completely enjoy the chocolate dessert fondue!
(4)My I.
Went with BF who came to visit from NY (so his standards for a good restaurant are very high). Both he and I loved the place. It was dark, but I didn't mind because I could still read the menu, and it added to the lovely ambiance. quiet, cute, and quaint. The food was great. The chocolate fondue was the perfect ending. The service was great. The server checked-up on us just the right amount without being overbearing. I recommend! We dressed up, but I'm sure casual attire is perfectly acceptable.
(5)David S.
I prefer the cooking oil technique at Melting Pot. Overall, nice atmosphere and great staff. I also really like the 1/2 off wine.
(3)Adrienn H.
Ok so here is the deal, fondue is just not my thing. This place is a great date night place if you are REALLY trying to impress someone. The food to be honest is just ok. They have a fun selection of proteins to choose from, but if I wanted to cook my own food I would have stayed home. The meat is just cut and given to you. It isn't seasoned or marinated and the sauces don't add much. So like I said avoid the super expensive dinner, unless you are trying to impress someone other than a chef. Not worth all of the hype.
(2)Ben M.
I had dinner/ dessert with my wife, my brother and sister-in-law at the little "wine bar" under the main restaurant. Let me start by saying that the wait staff that interacted with us was perfect. I have never had a better waiter. It made the whole night great. The fondue is the same that they offer upstairs. It was very intimate, simple and fun. If you're not into a full night of fondue the wine bar might be what you are looking for.
(5)Tim S.
We went here for a nice date and had a wonderful experience. The tables were tucked away to allow for a nice intimate dinner. There are menu options tuned for a dinner for two that helped us decide. The food doesn't seem like it's going to be enough to fill you up but between the dipping and the slower pace of eating, we were so full we couldn't finish our dessert! (highly recommend the flaming turtle BTW). A little pricey but worth it for a fun date experience. You can use the Entertainment Book coupon sold by kids school fundraisers for a discount of 50% on the second meal ( entertainment.com ).
(4)L. J.
The Mona Lisa is a beautiful little fondue joint in Manitou Springs. The location couldn't be more perfect, nestled into a little mountain town. Ambiance and romance are key here. The building is an old house and you can tell when you walk in. Each room has about 3 little tables for 2 in each with dim lighting and sweet twinkle lights surrounding empty bottles of wine, each with little notes from the drinkers celebrating an anniversary or holiday or baby written on the labels. If you like a full meal you reserve a table upstairs. Do it in advance to guarantee a table. If you'd like just a wine tasting you can go down to the wine cellar with no reservation. They also will do the fondue dessert down there. Back upstairs, your first course consists of a delish salad with homemade dressings. The vinaigrette is to die for. Next you get a choice of three different cheeses for the appetizer. MMMM, I forget which one is beer based but it doesn't get much better than that. It's served with raw veggies/fruits and bread bits. The main course consists of 3 different meat plates you can choose from. They are served raw with a little grill placed it the middle of your table. You get to cook them yourself! Don't worry, they tell you how if you're lost. Also this course is served with a plate of rosemary potatoes (mmmm), cheese, an onion, a pickle, and a mushroom to season or grill AND then a little tray with 7 different sauces for each meat. Try the alligator sausage! Last and certainly not least, the dessert. Chocolate fondue, order any of them and you can expect an orgasm in your mouth. 'Nuff said. Dress well, spend well, eat well.
(5)Sarah C.
My family had dinner here on New Year's Eve. We left overly full and a bit disappointed. A few observations. 1) It's expensive. The New Year's Eve menu was $50-60 per person. For a family of four, that adds up. Throw in a couple glasses of wine and you might as well dine at the Broadmoor. 2) The quality of the food was variable. Canned mandarin oranges in the salad, then sushi-grade salmon / tuna, then marshmellows with the dessert. 3) Probably because we had our kids with us, we were exiled to the upper floor where it was, frankly, Africa hot. We mentioned this to our waiter and he said..."yeah, it's hot..we've had grills going all evening." My guess is that's it's hot every single night so I don't know why they don't have a fan or the ability to crack a window. 4) Pretty uninspired wine-food pairing....Cavit Pinot Grigio, really? 5) And, finally, is "grilling" your own meat fondue? I think not. Raclette maybe--if only the cheese hadn't been mozzarella. I could go on but it seems mean spirited. I suppose there are people who like it and, maybe if you order carefully, i.e., a la carte, you could keep the price within reason and not end up like the thin mint dude in "The Meaning of Life." On the upside, our waiter was really enthusiastic and friendly.
(2)Theresa L.
Love the wine cellar at Monas. It's romantic, fun to take out of town friends, and great for anniversaries. Our fave is the Old World. We appreciate that in the wine cellar you don't have to do the full 5 course shabang, you can go for just a glass of wine if you'd like!
(5)Tisha B.
We found this place after trying to eat at Adam's Mountain Cafe (only to discover it was CLOSED at 3 p.m. on a Sunday! Closed to serve the customers better?! ODD). At any rate... this was an ok fondue experience. We sat outside. The cheese fondue was good. The meat/veg fondue was ... different. The meat was tasty, but cooking it on a big electric tray was different. The huge and rather unsafe looking electric cords were a bit disconcerting. We were both full after the meal and opted to skip the rather pricey chocolate fondue for dessert. With wine, the cheese and meat fondues, it was more than I'd expect to pay for an average dining experience. Though I have to say I think I like grilling my food better than frying it in grease like at some fondue places. It was a nice change and service was above average. Value for price: 3/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 (outside nice except for LOUD motorcycles up and down main drag) Will probably try it again just for the chocolate dessert fondue (sounded yummy).
(4)Sibby S.
Ambiance: One of the best dining venues in El Paso County! This is a great place for a romantic or intimate dinner. Exquisitely renovated Victorian-era home. Anywhere from four to six tables in each of many small, cozy rooms. Perfect lighting (slightly dimmed for atmosphere). There is a wine cellar, which you enter separately from stairs on the street, which has a more a la carte menu. Service: We had a rather young server, but she was very professional and pleasant. We did have a rather long wait (almost an hour) between the time we finished our entree until our dessert course was served. Our Server was absent during most of this time. As I was enjoying my leisurely meal, it didn't really matter in the scheme of things, but I would not have appreciated the extraordinary long gap between courses if I had film or theatre tickets. Food: Very good. Salads were good, though nothing spectacular. I have now had both their traditional Swiss fondue and their cheddar and beer version, and I really enjoy both. Unlike the Melting Pot, they do not prepare and build the fondue in front of you. It arrived already slightly warm from the kitchen (I guess to speed up cooking time at your table.) Comes with varieties of breads, fruits and veggies for dipping. I do think they are a little skimpy in the portion size, as we had plenty of items left for dipping, but no cheese left in the pot. You basically have three entree choices, a meat selection, a fish and seafood selection, and a wild game selection. I have had both the meat and seafood selections, and was happy both times. Rather than spearing your raw meat/fish and plunging it into a broth like at Melting Pot, you grill your item. You are also given some par-cooked potatoes and onions to grill, as well as a tray of mozzarella that you place under the broiler, and it then makes a Delicious covering for your potatoes and veggies. The dipping sauces for your meats/fish are just ok . The chocolate course is very good, with the option of add-ins and other flavorings or liqueurs. Very good wine list by the way. Overall, one naturally is going to compare Mona Lisa to Melting Pot. I like both for different reasons. Mona Lisa is a little pricey for what you get, but the atmosphere is so relaxing. Our last visit took a total of 3 1/2 hours from start to finish, and I enjoyed every minute. I am on the fence to give this four or five stars, and am going with four. The cheese and chocolate course are five stars, with the entree a four star and the salad course a three star.
(4)Elliot P.
A favorite treat, Mona Lisa always reminds me that (a) fondue is really yummy, and (b) Manitou Springs is one of the most wonderfully weird places in the world. Our most recent visit to Mona Lisa was a Bon Voyage dinner that featured heavenly morsels of seafood with a delicious assortment of inventive sauces. Terrific wine list. Funky and wickedly romantic at the same time, this is a dependable, "count on it" choice that never disappoints. The portions appear small when they arrive, but you soon fill up -- sadly, we've never had room after our meal to seriously consider the molten chocolate desserts. A bit pricey, but worth it. As with many places these days, the young waitstaff could use some coaching on the finer points of graciousness -- "no problem" is not the same as "my pleasure" or "you're welcome." But the food does the talking here, as do the aromas, which practically drag you in off the street. Reservations a must on Friday nights, weekends and holidays.
(4)Michele R.
I've been wanting to go to Mona Lisa for years. I'm a huge fondue fanatic and I am a sucker for good ambiance. This place had great reviews and was always on "must do" lists, so my boyfriend and I finally broke down and planned a weekend trip to the Springs. We arrived at around 6:30pm on a Saturday night. The ambiance was, as promised, gorgeous. I love the wine bottles and lights everywhere---fantastic. The only downside to the feel was that while the restaurant was not very populated, we were placed at a table right next to another couple. We felt as if we were invading their conversation. I suppose I'll go through the courses so I can accurately explain why this only gets 2 stars: #1 Drinks. Wine was expensive, but I suppose that is to be expected in a restaurant like this. #2- Cheese. We ordered the cheddar/beer cheese, which was just okay. The fondue pots did not get very hot so the cheese was thick and goopy. The sides were not very good. We only got a small bowl of bread and veggies. I would have liked to see apples instead of grapes and strawberries to dip. The portion of cheese was tiny, but we figured that would be okay since there were many courses to come. #3 Salads. We both ordered Caesar salads, as we are major fans. The salads were dry and not flavorable. Neither of us could finish ours. #4 Meat. We got the most basic meat dish. The meats were delicious, as was the raclette cheese, potatoes, and veggies. However, we were saddened that we each only got one small slice of each meat. Altogether, this doesn't make a very substantial meal. #5 Chocolate. The chocolate was okay--a bit bitter and lacking in complexity. The portions were fine for a dessert. We enjoyed the marshmallows and angel food cake, but we would have loved to have more than one sliver of strawberry each. We spent over $100 for the night and we were let down. Other similarly priced fondue places give you much bigger portions and much tastier food!
(2)Levi L.
All 3 stars are for atmosphere. Not very good fondu for EXTREMELY high prices. But....I'll go back for the cool atmosphere. Maybe something other than fondu next time though. Man I miss Gustav's!!!
(3)Louie C.
A bit on the pricey side; my wife and I paid $140 together for the four-course meal and a bottle of white wine (after tip). My pet peeves were that they charged an additional 3 dollars for the seasonal salad...come on...we're already paying so much as it is...they shouldn't, in good conscience, charge us more to "upgrade" our salad. This took a bit of class out of the whole experience. Also, additional charges to upgrade the chocolate fondue proved to be a nuisance. Salad came first...typical Caesar salad, my wife had the seasonal salad...a house salad with additional strawberries and almonds? The cheese fondue was VERY tasty...and there was an abundance of cheese...we tried the "old world" cheese selection and it was truly delicious. We didn't run out of bread and veggies to dip. The main course was interesting. I was expecting a bowl of heated broth or oil to dip our meat in, but the waitress gave us an electric "grill" and we cooked our own meat...the beef was very tender, but the rest of the meat was not to our taste...no seasonings on the chicken breast...just lumps of chicken. It was more of a nuisance to cook our own food in this manner...constant monitoring of the doneness of the meat, etc. as opposed to being able to set the meat in a prong and let it sit in broth (like at The Melting Pot). The chocolate was out of this world...and we had a variety of things to dip into it including brownie bites and cheesecake. Service was average...we were turned off by our waitress when she snapped at my wife for using her fork instead of her prong to stir some veggies on the electric grill...not cool. We'll go back if we happen to be in the area and would just get the cheese and chocolate next time...I wouldn't make reservations to go there again for the four-course meal...the price isn't quite worth it.
(3)Andrew E.
Based on the Yelp descriptions, I have to give a 2-star "Meh. I've expereienced better." Just about anything else was better than this place. It's been a couple years, but here's my memory: - Went for my birthday w/ reservations. Told them ahead of time we wanted a nice table. They stuck us in a dark corner in a horrible tiny table. Asked to be moved, and they said nothing else was available unless we wanted to wait another 30 minutes. This was WITH the reservation and the request for a good table. - Service sucked. Waitress didn't know much about anything when it came to the food or wine. That led us to make the meal choices we did. - Cheese fondue: made it better at home w/o any experience. Not bad, but not really good at all. - Meat course: had the "wild game" option. Their little grill sucked; I've had better in a tiny hole-in-the-wall place in Koreatown in LA (and I wasn't sure what meat I was eating there). All the meat was bland and tasteless. - Dessert: hard to screw up melted chocolate, but it was just "Meh." A little too sweet. At least the fruit was ripe. This is probably the only thing keeping them from being a 1-star. All in all -- a very pricey mistake of a meal. We made the most of it...I'm not going to let Mona Lisa ruin my birthday, after all. I think we went downtown for drinks and that made it all better. I don't think it was a "bad experience" or a one-time thing. This is the way it is...I've heard similar experiences from at least 3 other couples. They just don't Yelp, so I felt I needed to ensure a balanced review was on here. If you want to go...well, that's your choice. But I hear much better reviews from folks who went to the fondue place in downtown CSprings...
(2)Laura C.
We've really enjoyed our experience both times we've been there - the fondue and service were both excellent. The atmosphere was romantic and cozy.
(4)Dorian H.
This is my favorite fondue restaurant. This is the kind of place that you need to make reservations months in advance...for a reason! I highly recommend this place if you are looking for something with a romantic ambiance. It's very intimate with only a few tables in each room. They offer a wonderful and varied menu of cheese fondue, meats and chocolate fondues. It isn't a cheap dinner, but you are also paying for the experience and surroundings. I think it's all worth it.
(5)Jav V.
The food is really good and also really expensive. It's about $50/person for a salad, fondue, entree, and dessert. The salad was one of the best I've ever had. It was just a simple spinach/tangerine/blue cheese with red wine dressing, but it was super good. We got the Greek fondue. It was excellent. We had the game entree which comes with was elk, buffalo, trout, and duck that you grill at your table. Everythign was tasty and came with a bunch of different dipping saues. The dark chocolate fondue at the end was soooo good and came with a bunch of different stuff to dip in it. My favorite was the pretzels.
(5)Lauren R.
Perfect place to have an amazing romantic anniversary dinner with the hubby! Highly recommend.
(5)Paige H.
Now, this is not exactly some sort of culinary masterpiece, but the experience was so awesome. We had so much fun cooking our own food, and the pace kept our tummies empty enough so we weren't stuffed until the dessert course came. There is no comparison to the Melting Pot, seriously. Boiling my food in something that smells funny is not nearly as good as the sizzling action we had going on here. Overall, it's expensive, but well worth it. The ambiance, as I said was great, but the decor was a little weird. We felt somewhat left out that we didn't get to sign a wine bottle and put it on one of the surfaces that were literally covered with cheap wine bottles. Overall, this was hands down the most romantic meal we had on our honeymoon, and I won't be able to deal with Melting Pot after this. A tip: a reservation is a big bonus, and they aren't open for lunch.
(4)Gary and Sherry W.
My wife and I just celebrated our first anniversary with dinner at the Mona Lisa. It was our second visit, our first being Valentine's Day. We love the romantic atmosphere. The service is always great and we love the pacing of dinner, since we cook our own food.
(5)Lani C.
I wanted to love Mona Lisa, I really did. I lived in Manitou for awhile and always walked past it thinking how romantic it seemed. I even had planned to take my now fiance there for his birthday, the first year we were together but since they are closed on mondays we went to the melting pot instead. A year later we finally made it there, but I was less than impressed. We were seated in the back room, with oil stains on the walls and water stains on the ceiling tiles. The fake plants did nothing for me, and contributed to the overall dingy ambience. I wanted romance, not dust! The tables in the other rooms (with the twinkle lights) looked much more appealing, but I don't know that I will be giving it a second shot.
(2)Leah B.
The hubs and I got a babysitter for this paticular meal, boy, I'm glad we did... this is NOT a place that you want to go with small kids in-tow. I would wait until they were teenagers to take them. We got the four-course meal for two, with a cheese fondue appetizer, a salad each, out "traditional" main course and the dark chocolate dessert fondue. Everything was really tasty and fresh, the quality of the meats and veggies was superb. The dark chocolate fondue with the wide selection of goodies to dip was mouth watering. It was quite expensive (our bill was $94. and we didn't even get drinks) but it would be a great place for a rehearsal dinner or anniverary dinner, or any other special occasion.
(5)Scott A.
I have eaten at this place many times and have enjoyed the food. Tonight was different though. They do not understand the concept of a gift card, even though they have no problem selling them. There was a coupon in a local paper and they told us that we could not combine that offer with the use of a gift card. HELLO?!?! McFly?!?!?! Do they not know that a gift card is as good as cash? Means someone paid for the value of that gift card and it is no different than using cash, check or credit card when paying a bill. Whoever the owner is needs to read up on the concept or stop selling gift cards. So, for $15 Mona Lisa chose to lose 2 repeat customers. Going to Melting Pot from now on for my fondue.
(1)heather t.
I really wanted to like Mona Lisa. Really. I'm fond of a good local restaurant over a chain any day of the week, but this time... This time I have to say that The Melting Pot just does it better - I want to say they do it better for a little cheaper too. There were elements of Mona Lisa that I really liked. Grilling the meats was neat and the trout was very good. I also liked the wedge of Mozzarella they give you to heat up with your main course. The Melting Pot just does each piece perfectly. The salads at Mona Lisa were really boring and tasteless and the MP salads are so incredible you could order one as your meal alone and be quite happy. I also think the MP cheese course is a bit more upscale. And the dessert course. I'm glad I tried Mona Lisa, but the Melting Pot is definitely my go-to!
(2)Beth S.
I ate at this restaurant for my birthday, and I have to say, we were really disappointed. The food was decent. The cheese fondue was actually terrific, although for as much as you pay for it, I certainly wished there was more. We ordered the wild game meat platter, and seafood, and although the meats were high quality, there was no where near enough, especially for the amount paid. I was also disappointed that they didn't give you many vegetables to cook (a slice of squash and a slice of pepper, and one piece of mushroom...it was bizarre). The grill also was very sticky, so we were scraping each piece of meat off of it. Although there were a lot of sauces to dip the cooked meat into, there was nothing to season the meat before you "grilled" it (it was more like a glorified frying pan). Another downside was the service. Although our server was friendly, the service was SLOW (it took him 15 mins to bring us our check after we asked for it), and the service seemed very impersonal when he was saying the exact same things to the table next to us. I'm not sure what would make us go here again....maybe a free meal, b/c for what we paid we could have had an amazing meal in Denver...and we didn't even get dessert!
(2)mamminger z.
This is a cozy little cafe/restaurant nestled deep inside Colorado Springs... a nice, but pricey, romantic getaway that's filled with so much warm, gooey yumminess that you're guaranteed to fall asleep when you get home. Beautifully decorated, the tender and charming ambiance matches the romantic allure of its exquisite yet simple menu.
(4)