I am one who uses Yelp a lot but am not always the best at posting. My meal at Urban Fondue just before the Christmas holidays caused me to make a New Year's Resolution to get out there and post, and I am finally making good on that pledge. We went without a reservation, but didn't mind being seated next door at Bartini. There was a birthday party of young adults next to us and it made for a fun ambience. We ordered the full fondue meal with cheese, meat sauce and dessert. I think it also came with a side of au gratin potatoes. I told the waitress straight-up that I have a nut and peanut allergy and that she needed to check what was off limits for me. We talked through everything (so I thought) in detail. She even went back and asked about which dessert fondue was safe for me. (We considered just getting the meat and cheese course if it were a problem.) Cheese course was excellent, we had the smoked local cheddar. The seasoned firepot broth was also very good, although we had a problem with getting the meat to cook. Double the times suggested on the card. The big problem was dessert. I went to pick up something from the dessert tray and my husband said--Stop! I see nuts in some of these items. So the manager is on the floor and he agrees that there are several items with nuts or peanut butter including some that are less obvious in the dim lighting. And he's annoyed at the server. Sure, so was I. But I do wonder, who trained the server? Who answered her question in the kitchen? So the solution is, that I can only have fruit. They apparently cut up all of their desserts and mix them in a big vat so I can't just have some cut up squares of sponge cake. Then, they had to get me a different bowl to put some chocolate in before my husband could dip his items in the fondue. I made the server get me another heater etc. too. Somehow, they made me feel like I was a Harry-Met-Sally customer for doing so. On the other hand, this was all due to their error. They were generous with the fruit and it was a good meal but close calls like that just aren't acceptable in any restaurant. This is a higher end restaurant where it costs $100 for two people, and yes, we paid the full bill although we barely tipped. A food handler's license does not address things like allergy or gluten; it is up to management to hire servers who are on the ball and train them well. It is also up to kitchen staff to go above and beyond when the waitress comes back to ask about ingredients in a dessert fondue--cooking staff should remind her that the whole dipping tray has problems.
(1)
Kim J.
The parking situation sucks. The seating was a bit cramped. The food was really tasty and our server was friendly and very helpful. I had read reviews that said the staff was snooty and rude but that was not our experience at all. I thought that maybe we just got lucky with our waiter but looking around everyone seemed to be friendly. The other customers seemed to be having as good a time as we were.
(4)
Cait C.
Smoked cheddar fondue is amazing. Dessert fondue is a must. Recommended: tiramisu, heath and peanut butter chocolate. Great ambiance for friends or a romantic night.
(5)
Gabby K.
YUMMY! We ordered the Fondue Experience for $31/person and it was great! We had the Cheddar Fondue, followed by the Lobster & Prawns and the Black Forrest Dessert Fondue. This is not the place to go if you want to eat in a hurry. It was a perfect meal . . . great food, service and atmosphere. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
N C.
You know, having been more than once stabbed with a fork by any number of dinner companions, it's rare that i choose a restaurant that arms them with extra long, very pointy versions, but I rolled the dice on urban Fondue, and came up a winner. My date and i arrived half an hour ahead of our reservation, (parking only took half the hour i expected) and were seated immediately, which at 5:30 on a Saturday was a feat on its own.. Going full boat on the 3-course "Fondue experience" seemed to be the only wise choice for a dinner, but i could very easily see having just drinks and a pot of the cheese for a late night or happy hour. Our waiter was keen to help us decide but not overly pushy, which was nice, and i can say he did NOT lead us astray.. We had the Brie and Gorgonzola fondue with roasted hazelnuts, which seemed like it could have been wrong in any number of ways, but turned out fantastic. The Gorgonzola was just present enough to be flavorful but not overpowering.. it was creamy and warm, and was more than enough for two bowls of excellent homemade bread. You can add some sausage or fruit as well, but we opted for just the bread and cheese.. I'm a traditionalist. Main course is a bit trickier... you choose an entree (steak and lobster, or chicken and pork, seafood of various types...) and then have to choose a style of broth to cook it in... YES. you cook your own dinner! its strange, but after all the reviews i see on here about meals not being fresh, this is as good as it gets! I had the steak and pork, which in the beef broth was AMAZING. The portions aren't big for the entrees, and i was a bit surprised, but it was a good meal, and i really have no regrets afterwards. She had pork and a mix of seafood; Scallops and Shrimp, and even with the heavier broth i chose, everything came out great. If its not enough to have the pot of delicious broth, they also bring out a tray, loaded down with home-made dipping sauces, from a lemon-caper butter, to Cream and peppercorn, to perhaps the best Thai peanut sauce I've ever had. Even with 5 different meats, and several veggies in the pot, there was something to compliment everything and more.. Dinner and a pot of cheese would have been a fine meal any day of the week, but still there came dessert.. Lordy yes. 10 or so chocolate variations, and several non-chocolate made dessert perhaps the biggest decision of the night, everything from straight semi-sweet, to butterscotch and dark, to caramel, to Marion Berry Cheesecake, it all looked amazing.. we opted for the black forest, which was the dark chocolate, fresh cherries, and a bit of whipped cream stirred in to lighten it up just a bit. The chocolate wasn't too sweet or overly rich, (OK, look.. so it's melted chocolate, its going to be rich, come to peace with it, like the man says, "I told you it was good, not god FOR you..") and worked well with the myriad of things we were given to dip in it. Banana, strawberries, pineapple, pound cake, cheesecake, TWO cookie doughs.. It was more than i expected, and we were both very happy. So dinner was great on all sides, as was the service. the whole 3-course meal, with drinks and a tip came out to just over $70, which while being more than I'd think to spend every night, wasn't crazy for the meal. We didn't go over to the Bartini, so i cant comment on that part, but from everyone I know whose been to UF, they say the bar is key to the experience.. Maybe my next trip will be even better. So YES, by all means go and give this place a try.. Find an eating companion that you are relatively sure wont attack you with an 18-inch long fork, and at least drop by for drinks and a pot of cheese.. Nothing about that statement sounds bad!
(4)
Mandy W.
Came here for Valentine's Day, hoping it would be a good experience. But meh, the food were not fresh. The salad was not fresh. The entree came and the fondue was not hot, it was barely warm. Also expensive for the given ingredients in the entree. The dessert were not fresh either, the strawberries were not picked out nicely. We had a specific chocolate that's on the dessert menu, but the dessert fondue came in just like normal chocolate inside, taste nothing like what we saw on the menu. Also it was NOT hot again. I don't know how the fondue is suppose to be hot when they just put a small candle on the bottom. After all, we thought it was a bad choice for Valentine's day. We should've went to the Melting Pot in downtown. Around the same price, but everything is fresh and nicely prepared, and they create the fondue in front of you. As well as a well organized place, where you have your own privacy with your significant other. Just so so much better... for about equal price. Food - 2 stars Service 4 stars
(2)
Chris S.
Um, I should start and say that I don't really understand the concept of fondue restaurants, as in that I don't wanna hafta cook my food. However, the food was good, but my favorite was definitely the cheese fondues (port wine!) and the tiramisu... so delicious! I would like to remind people that dietary preferences are just that... preferences. If you are a vegan/vegetarian by necessity or choice, you should not expect others to automatically be prepared to cater to your needs. I experienced fantastic service, a delicious spicy mango martini and their delightful cucumber water and some good (non-cooked) fondue... and great company, so any other distraction was overlooked. FONDUE (pro): delicious cheese & dessert fondues & martinis FONDON'T (con): parking is meh, reservations are recommended
(3)
Marie Y.
I wish we skipped the entrees. They were insultingly expensive for what they were (the meat comes raw and you cook it on little skewers yourself and dip it into various sauces..not really fondue at all). I would, however, recommend coming here for a nice cheese fondue appetizer and a dessert fondue. The cheese and chocolate fondues are great here and not too expensive, but I think the ridiculousness of the entrees tainted this place for me.If you do come here, MAKE RESERVATIONS.
(2)
Matt R.
I went here for my two-year anniversary. The setting is nice; classy and modern at the same time. Great decor! We went for the "ultimate fondue experience." A cheese fondue of our choice, two entree fondues of our choice, and a dessert fondue. Overall, it came to slightly over $60. Way cheaper than The Melting Pot and lots of choices for cheeses/entrees/desserts. The service was great (and was that cucumber water we had? Interesting flavor!) and not too overbearing. Do not pass this up if you are a fondue fanatic.
(5)
Lemonleen C.
This is a good place for a special occasion because cooking your own food on the table is, well, special. Earlier reviews complained about the service. On the contrary, our server was great. He was attentive, patient with my 80-year-old parents (my shrinking mother actually needed to sit on a booster pillow in the plush booth), and when he found out it was my birthday he brought a special dessert. The food, however, was wildly uneven and failed to live up to the price. And this place is pricy if you get all three courses plus drinks. (The bartender didn't skimp on the liquor, by the way. The cocktails were delicious.) Our Ruby Port fondue was about $12. It didn't have the cheesy strings you get with old-style fondue -- it seemed more like a cheese bechamel with a floury thickener. But the flavor more than made up for the texture. The bread, on other hand, was the first of many disappointing chef shortcuts. It seemed stale and soft, as if it had been stored in a plastic bag. The marinated meat entree was too expensive at $18, but very clever. Unlike the old days, where you'd plunge your skewered meat into a cauldron of boiling oil, this method uses flavored broths. You don't get the carmelized edges of fried meat, but you do get a surprisingly full-flavored bite, even before the dipping sauces. The chocolate fondue dessert featured wonderfully rich chocolate and stunningly hackish dippers. More shortcuts. The cream puffs were soggy, like the thawed variety you get in tubs at Costco. Maybe that's where they also got the bread. And I swear they served a cut-up, store-bought cake doughnut, which also tasted stale. However, my complimentary birthday dessert, a little ramekin of melted marionberry cheesecake, was awesomely good. With a little more quality assurance -- fresh, crusty bread; homemade chocolate dippers -- I'd probably be a repeat dinner customer. Until then, I'll just stop by for a cocktail and appetizer.
(3)
Briana S.
I enjoyed my experience at Urban the Ruby Port cheese fondue was great . I thought the entree course was a lot of fun but at the same time even with the sauces lacked a little flavor. The dessert course was my favorite. The service was attentive but at the same time pushy to order and kind of kicked us out by pushing the check, we weren't the only ones in the restaurant so that was strange. I like to take my time when eating at an establishment like this. I would return again for the cheese and the dessert fondue.
(3)
RW A.
Ok food, Ok service. Astoundingly slow on both times we have dined there. Exceedingly expensive for the service and quality. Atmosphere is nice.
(3)
N J.
Make reservations. They are really fussy about that. We went on a Monday and the place was practically empty. They couldn't find our reservation and actually hesitated to seat us because of that. After we sat down, everything went smoothly. They weren't pretentious and were actually very helpful. We went with "The Fondue Experience" for two people. Share a cheese, side, dessert, with one entree per person. If you go before 5 p.m. it's cheaper. Loved the brie and gorgonzola cheese, creamed spinach side was more like a soup but still delicious, you get hourglass timers to cook your meats, and the dessert fondue was the best part. You get cookie dough, bananas, cheese cake, pound cake, etc. to dip in different types of fondue.
(4)
CeeCee P.
I never thought I would give Urban Fondue a 4 star (but to be fair... it's really a 4.5...). During my first experience here, we ordered the tiramisu fondue, only to receive what tasted like a bitter, overburnt perhaps, puddle of chocolate, and a selection of dippers that wasn't more preferable than dipping your own finger in - but that'd just be gross.... Keep in mind that this is a 4 star review though... Recently, we called in at 11PM for a table at 11:15 and Urban Fondue was wonderful enough to let us in to enjoy a little late night snack AND a good conversation. To top that off, I had a much, much better fondue experience this time. Not only was the dipping selection better (strawberries, donuts, pound cake, bananas, cookie dough, peanut butter, apricots, etc), the tiramisu fondue was MUCH more pleasing to eat. We had also ordered the marionberry cheesecake fondue which was yummy, yes, and would probably be the prefered choice for someone who's not a huge chocolate fan... but I'm an open chocoholic and it was the tiramisu fondue that hit the spot for me. Let's just say that Urban Fondue's an awesome place, with a super accommodating crew, and a great way to enjoy and play with your food!
(4)
Jacob M.
Love this place! Great decor, great food and delicious cocktails!
(5)
Victoria J.
Tonight I took my parents here, the fondue (Brie and Gorgonzola cheese fondue topped with roasted hazelnuts which I got solely based on Erin O's review) was amazing! With fondue like this who cares about the bread?? I would have been mopping up that cheese with moldy bread if that was the only way to get it in me! We split one fondue 3 ways to be sure to leave room for dessert; it doesn't look like a lot at first but it was just right for us. Artichoke was good but nothing special, asparagus was flavored perfectly smokey mmm! Similar to an earlier critique of the chocolate-peanut butter fondue, we couldn't catch the butterscotch flavor that was supposed to be in ours. But know what? IT DIDN'T MATTER because IT WAS STILL SO GOOD!!! Plus they serve the dessert fondue with not one but ALL of the following: cookie dough, pound cake, dried apricots, strawberries, banana, creme puffs, donut pieces, cheese cake and a toffee seed crusted thing. So these crazy flavor dessert fondues (heath bar? rocky road? cheese cake?) could be overkill with the selection of these items for dipping. After we went to the flower shop next door where the shop-keep had a pot of her own which she was letting customers sample. It was the smoked cheddar which was really good but not as jammin as the gonzola/brie we had feasted on minutes before. The ambiance in here is not my style. It's all red with huge fluffy booths....super bourgeois-y t I'm a twenty-something with a rich daddy who only drinks 15$ cocktails (I'm not quoting the menu, I have no idea how much the drinks were there). But it was kinda fun and the service wasn't snooty or anything. Plus it is a fancy-schmancy neighborhood so I guess that's how you roll there. HINT: If you want to get the smoked cheddar go to their bar next door and get it for 4$ (It's about 12$ at the restaurant)
(5)
J B.
I've got to start by saying that I love fondue, and, afterall, who doesn't? It's gobs of lovely melty cheese followed, in the end, by pools of rich warm chocolate. Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh. That being said, this wasn't my favorite rendition of the aforementioned indulgence. As some other Yelpers have noted here, the decor needs an up-do. It's looking tired, and very much late nineties "hip" which, unfortunately, isn't any longer. In addition, it's connection to Bartini only throws a brick through your experience if you're anywhere near the restroom (which is pretty much the back half of the restaurant). My wife and I sat and watched an endless stream of torn up knuckleheads wobbling back and forth through the restaurant from the bar which tends to make you feel like you're fine dining at a frat party - kinda hard to imagine, I know, because it's not possible. As for the food, my wife ordered soup on the side and I ordered a salad which the server forgot to bring us had I not reminded him. Her soup, while good, was served in a flaming hot bowl that looked like it went through an aerial bombing in WWII - the edge of the bowl was completely chipped out (and by chipped, I mean freaking notched) in three different places. NOTE TO MANGEMENT: DO NOT SERVE FOOD IN BADLY CHIPPED OR BROKEN DINNER WARE - that's just poor form and lazy. My Spinach and Pear salad left me scratching my head....how in tarnation can you screw up salad? In this case, the answer is that you have flavorless Meyer lemon vinaigrette dressing and majorly underripe, crunchy pears. Other fondue joints offer up a wide variety of accoutrements that you can dip in the cheese other than just bread. Not that the bread-cheese thingy was bad, but it could have been more imaginative and fun, and that's what fondue IS, right? The entree was a real letdown. We had the one with lobster, salmon, scallops, shrimp, beef (which we substituted with more chicken), pork, sausage, and veggies. The portions were ridiculously small. I've never seen scallops that mini and the hot pots added little to no flavor. The dipping sauces were weak in that they lacked flavor (pesto was terrible, the garlic lemon butter was *meh*, the thai peanut was relatively bland, one dipping sauce that tasted vaguely like gross lumpy gravy *blech!* etc...) In addition, we had to ask for more skewers beyond the ONE they gave us - come on...we'd like to finish dinner within a week....one skewer...pffff. The timers they give you are a complete waste - don't bother. As a highlight of the evening, the Heath Bar chocolate fondue was, of course, fantastic. One other annoyance with fondue joints in general. Why are they so darn expensive? They aren't cooking anything and the stuff they do cook is generally mediocre. The patrons are doing most of the work so why the seemingly inordinate profit margins? At the end of the day, my advice would be to stay away. Either go for Happy Hour only when, let's face it, your bar is set pretty low, or spend a little more and go to The Melting Pot - it's a much safer bet.
(2)
Noor A.
The waiters were very nice and took the time to explain the menu and offer their opinions on the best dishes. The restaurant has a very nice ambiance. Great experience, everything was delicious.
(5)
sarah y.
came here for portland's dining month. the only other fondue place i've been to anywhere is the melting pot, and i have to say... i'd rather pay a little more and go back to the melting pot for the better selection, quality, and environment. our cheese fondue was lumpy and clearly not warm enough from the tiny tealight below. lumpy, unmelted cheese does not bode well for fondue... plus the only thing to dip into the cheese was bread (no apples, etc.). the lack of even a slight boil in the broth worried me a bit for the main course of the fondue which included chicken and seafood that i made sure to keep cooking a bit longer than i usually would. the dessert chocolate was melted well, thankfully, but the plate of items to dip in it were a bit cheap -- cut up cake donuts? seriously?!
(2)
Meghan B.
My husband and I LOOOOOOVE this place. When we get to make it downtown Portland, it's usually to come here. Their food is fantastic and if you are a newbie to fondue, the staff is great to help you pick and choose your foods and also help you figure out how to cook it! If you do the meals, you start off by choosing a cheese fondue for your bread, next you choose your meats, they bring it to you raw and you cook your meat in the broth. They also have a guide for how long each meat should stay in the broth, ect. With your meat, you also get some kind of side as your main course of the meal. Finally, make sure you save room for the desert portion, you get to choose your chocolate fondue and they bring to you a plate full of cookie dough, fruit, cheesecake, everything desert!l- This place is truly awesome if you want to experience the whole fondue meal without paying outrageous prices such as those at the melting pot. Worth the drive- make reservations!
(5)
Jesy B.
This place is *the* fondue place in my humble opinion, and a perfect night out if you're in a mood for fancier, albeit pricier meal. Both times I've been, I've gone for the Fondue experience which comes with a cheese fondue, entree of choice and a dessert fondue. The Tilamook White Cheddar is delicious as long as it's warm, but gets gritty as it cools down. The Brie and Gorgonzola fondue is, well, amazing! The bread cubes leave a bit to be desired so I'd recommend adding one of their sides - the fruits provides an excellent sweet compliment to the saltiness of the cheese. The sausage was good as well, but overwhelmed the fondue taste a bit. I think next time we'll go for the mushrooms. With a table of three (or four) you get two cooking styles so we went with roasted beef and the urban yosenable (chicken and clam broth with hints of ginger, lemongrass, soy and sweet chilies) - PERFECT for the seafood. I went for the lobster and prawns, which is perfectly paired with the Lime Chili and Lemon-Garlic Butter with Parsely and Caper dipping sauces (but they've got like 10 other ones too). I've had two of their dessert fondues - Heathbar and Peanut Butter and Chocolate. I'm more inclined towards the PB and Chocolate, but it was more chocolate than PB but oh well. The hunks of chocolate chip cookie dough were my favorite dipping bits. As for the service, quite good indeed. Our waitress was attentive but not disruptive at any point, but cheerfully answered all questions and provided helpful suggestions along the way. My only regret is not getting a booth either time - it does seems more conducive for the experience of sharing fondue.
(5)
Angel R.
Pleased with the experience. Admit I was a bit nervous after reading some of the other reviews. I will definitely go back again and will choose it over the Melting Pot when in Portland. And I love that place too! Staff was pleasant, decor nice and interesting, menu had a great variety! The brie & gorgonzola cheese was delicious, very creamy--not at all lumpy as stated in one review. Added the fruit and it was worth it! Had the lobster & steak entree, also good. Almost too many sauces to try! Dessert was ymmmm--tried the chocolate with peanut butter. I really liked the cream puffs and cookie dough dippers. The blackberry lemonade was yummy too. Negatives were the parking situation--not really their fault. Also the restaurant seemed small. Could get crowded.
(4)
Misty T.
Service was great. The food was decent. The place had a great vibe. It was perfect for a girl's night out.
(4)
S W.
YUMMY.... The food was so amazing and the service outstanding. My boyfriend and I stuffed ourselves and then went home and fell into a food coma! Great selection of various cocktails and wine which were reasonably priced. The cheese fondue was tasty (we added the fruit along with the bread offering) for dipping. We also upgraded our main course to include Steak and Lobster...and then topped off the night with the Chocolate and Bananas Fosters Fondue....YUM!. We love this place and will go back again....it is a little cramped but if you request a booth you do feel a little more cozy..(if that is the mood you are going for). The vibe is hip and cool...and not so institutional as the Melting Pot....
(4)
A E.
I'll never go to the Melting Pot again after going here! Yes, the Melting Pot is good but it's way over priced. Urban Fondue has, great food, great atmosphere & great prices. LOVE IT!
(5)
Allie R.
I've been here twice, and both times for special occasions. They have a wonderful semi-private space that you can reserve for larger parties, and it's so much fun. I'm a big fondue fan, and I don't balk at the prices; from having fondue parties at my house, I know first-hand how expensive high-quality cheeses and chocolates are, and the experience makes the extra cost worth it, to me.
(4)
Katie H.
I know most people enjoy their experience and the food...sorry not me. Service was TERRIBLE.....the place was slow when we got there and it still took forever to get a table, place our order, and get our food. To top it off when she gave me a taste of wine the waitress walked away with the wine for over 10 minutes before asking if I wanted it. The fondue was pretty good....however the bread that you dip was stale, asparagus app. was burned, and the ahi tuna terrible as well. With the terrible service we got we were afraid to complain.
(1)
Dave R.
Had a great meal, great service, and a cute little joint. For what it is, not sure exactly what I would change to be different. Thanks team Fondue!
(5)
D T.
Service was exceptional. Fast, informative and nice. We ordered two different cheese combinations and both were sooooo good. Brie with gorgonzola and the Ruby port. Just writing about it is making me hungry! They are very busy and it small so (especially weekends ) you will want to make reservations. They have a nice selection of things to dip - veggies-bread and a few meats. Only complaint is they had no broccoli. The best was desert! so many varieties and chocolate combinations! I can't wait to go back! They also had the BEST drink menu in Portland!
(5)
julie g.
Went here last Sat. night.. Not impressed. We were part of a large group and seemed to be on the Slow..track. Dinner took about 2.5 hours and we left hungry. I'm a small woman and I was hungry. Food was not bad, just a very long and frustrating experience waiting for pieces to cook between bites. I was shocked that our bill was $146. for 2 people. That was absolutely extreme since I was sober and hungry. There are lots of good places to eat in this area, this just isn't one of them.
(2)
Lauren L.
We bought the Groupon for Urban Fondue and originally made reservations for Saturday night but luckily someone called from the restaurant to confirm the reservation and let us know that the Groupon was only valid M-Th. That was a bummer but we made reservations for Monday and everything went great. We were seated right away and our waiter was very helpful with the menu. Pros: Ruby Port Cheese, tomato basil, and Banana Foster fondues were delicious. Great atmosphere and very nice staff. Cons: The main courses are small and steak is chewy. The lobster is the same size as the shrimp but it states in the menu that they are "mini" lobster tails. Also, the items you get for the dessert fondues are mostly store bought frozen desserts from Costco. Ex. Costco cream puffs, Sarah Lee's pound cake, and Costco Cheesecake. It would be nice if they had some homemade stuff. In the end, it was a great experience. The service was quick and very helpful. We were seated at 6 and done with a 3-course dinner by 7:30.
(3)
Bethany J.
This place was one of my favorites but then I couldn't do wheat so I wrote the place off. I shouldn't have! I went for a birthday dinner and figured I'd be relegated to side dishes. Glad I asked! All their cheeses are gluten free and they carry gluten free bread!!!
(5)
Sarah N.
We came with a Groupon and our server asked us about it right away and explained what it covered/offered and the how to's of at the Urban Fondue. Pros: they didn't treat us any different just because we had a Groupon. Server was great, enthusiastic and involved. Cons: it was busy - so our server didn't come around to fill up our drinks as often as I'd like but it wasn't terrible. We had made reservations for eight we got there a about 5-10mins early and we didn't get seated till about 8:30 because they said they were running behind. All in all it was a wonderful experience and everything everybody said it would be! It's a lot fun and breaks the typical dinning out mold. Enjoyed my evening!
(4)
Stina L.
This is a great date night spot. As long as you get a reservation. once someone took me here and they had flowers in the table, great 3 course meal, and then they took a momento photo. Super cute set up and intimate seating.
(4)
Taylor W.
I was so excited to finally get a reservation to this place! Even though I had to wait a few weeks... They just opened up patio seating outside, but my reservation unfortunately was inside. It was very cold and dark. However, if you are on a date, it is a very romantic setting with lots of candles. My date and I shared the fondue experience - I recommend this as it is a cheaper option and you get all 3 courses plus a side. Sadly I could not try any of their AMAZING alcoholic beverages as I am a week away from being 21 - I was devastated, because they looked absolutely amazing! I chose the Havarti cheese fondue with a mango salsa on the bottom along with a side of gourmet sausage. Let me tell you, it was the BEST cheese fondue I have ever experienced. The mango salsa was inadequately named because it was simply cut-up mangoes, but nonetheless tasted great. I had to tear up the bread into smaller pieces because they were in huge chunks that I would not have been able to eat in one bite. The entree course was a different experience for me. I chose the chef's plate - steak and pork, while my date chose a lobster and steak plate. Every plate comes with raw veggies and your raw choose of protein. The broth you choose is what YOU cook it in. I choose an asian-style broth looking for bold flavor, but I tasted water, hinted with the flavor of nothing. You have to cook tiny strips of whatever you choose for various amounts of time - sounds fun right? Not exactly, it took so long to cook and I didn't get to enjoy conversation with my lovely date because I was so focused on timing my steak. I wish they would have cooked our food - as chefs often do - and gave us an option of a wonderful dipping sauce instead. The desert course we ate in about 2 minutes flat! There is a lovely sample platter of dessert foods and fruits and you choose the fondue - I choose a black cherry chocolate fondue which was delicious. I do wish that the chocolate was more dense though. Overall, good experience. I would just change a few small details.
(4)
Kaylee N.
I decided to take my boyfriend to Urban Fondue for his birthday because I heard through word of mouth that it was a great atmosphere and a great value for the price. Unfortunately I don't think that was the case. The restaurant was SO HOT. It was hot outside and they were using a fan on the ground to cool the restaurant. That doesn't mix well with diners cooking their and keeping fondues warm at the table. We loved the cheese fondue starter. The entree left a whole lot to be desired. Unfortunately the broth was really bland. The sauces were a nice idea, but kind of bland as well. We were told that the peanut sauce was the spiciest and it delivered quite a kick. My boyfriend does not do spicy and I do. There was no kick to that sauce. It was good, but a little disappointing. The dessert fondue was very good. We had the tiramisu fondue. I think that the assortment of desserts to dip could have been changed a little. The pineapple with that was weird. If you go you should definitely get a martini from next door! Service was excellent. I would recommend going for a starter with Martinis and dessert.
(3)
Matt P.
We tried to go in tonight and use our groupon. The restaurant was nearly empty but the host said "we can get you a table at 7pm" (nearly 2 hours from our inquiry). He was monotone, unapologetic and made no mention of reservations coming in. We declined, left and went next door to Bartini (they serve Urban Fondue food there). The kicker...while sitting outside at Bartini, two people went into Urban Fondue, asked for a table and were denied. They sat next to us at Bartini. Moments later, the host came out to tell them he could seat them (a table of 2) at Urban Fondue now. He looked at us and quickly looked away. I want my groupon money back. Oh, and the food isn't great, though it's cheap (if you get it from the Bartini happy hour, and their happy hour drinks are cheap and fun, so that's better anyway).
(1)
Amy E.
My husband and I went there on a Groupon and we're not disappointed. The waiter was very helpful in explaining how everything worked as I had never been to a fondue restaurant before. The brie and gorganzola cheese was great very smooth. Portion size was generous. We then got the sampler and we're very pleased the hardest part was remembering which dipping sauce when with what. But we had fun experimenting and it gave us insight for next time.For dessert we opted for house chocolate and we're full but happy at the end I would recommend this place for sure and look forward to going back
(5)
Lindsey M.
Seriously one of my favorite places in Portland! The food is great, prices way better than melting pot and the drinks are to die for! Their happy hour is the best in Portland! I got chatty with the bartender who ended up giving me free drinks and desert-what's not to like! It fills up quick so get there early.
(5)
Pamela S.
Went here as part of Portland Dining Month. This place participated with gusto. No "you can only have this or that" nit picking. The entire menu was fair game. Major points for generosity! This restaurant is connected to Bartini next door. The martini list was extensive, impressive, and delicious. Their Moscow Madness was the best non Moscow mule I've tasted. That's impressive, since I've consumed many a mule. The dessert martinis were fantastic. Someone had a good time creating that bar menu! The food was great. Started with the brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue with bread and asparagus as dippers. We were sad when it was gone. Cheese was followed by prawn and lobster tail fondue for me and steak and lobster tail for my fiancee. I wasn't kidding when I said they participated with no strings attached. Since we had never been fondue-ing before, our server took the time to explain to us how to cook our food in the broth. Most importantly, when I told him I'm pescatarian (I eat fish, but no other meats) he told me, before I started eating, that I needed a different broth (which he promptly brought) and the two sauces that I couldn't eat. His knowledge of the ingredients in their menu items was impressive. After dinner came dessert. OMG dessert. Marionberry cheesecake fondue with cheesecake, fruit, cookie dough, doughnuts, and who knows what other deliciousness as dippers. We were completely full partway through, but we're not quitters, so we soldiered on until it was gone. This was a fun place and we'll be back.
(4)
Ryan A.
There was only one good thing about this place and the ONLY reason this isn't a one star review - the ruby port cheese fondue and the accompanying bread. I don't know where they got the bread from, but I'd like to know - it was pretty amazing. The cheese fondue matched the bread and was some of the best fondue I have ever had. The only complaint I have about the cheese course was that there was way too little of it (seriously, like half an inch of cheese in the bottom of that big crock). Here is what was bad: The restaurant itself. The place wasn't clean, the chairs were broken (to the point of being unintentional recliners) and the fondue pot stands were all broken. The water. I appreciate trying to set yourself apart, but making the assumption that everyone would want cucumber-infused water is not a safe assumption. I requested plain water and was granted that the first time. They even brought a glass that was different than the others that seemed to symbolize the fact that I had plain water. I stopped the full-of-himself manager from filling my glass with cucumber water once, but I missed stopping the next one and ended up having cucumber water for the rest of the night. The staff. Our waiter was fine-ish, but he talked down to us the whole night. He kind of treated us like children, as if we weren't good enough to be in his bad restaurant. The food. Aside from the cheese fondue mentioned above, the food was only okay at best. The meat course was plain meat, not seasoned or marinaded at all. The cooking liquids added little to no flavor, but the sauces helped some. The waiter even pointed out that the tomato-based cooking liquid would be the only one that added any flavor and that we would need the sauce to add any flavor. Why bother? I can boil pieces of chicken at home. In addition, they showed no skill in the preparation of the meats. My lobster was hacked to sad shreds. The options were sad, too. If you wanted chicken, you were pretty much stuck with a plate of just chicken. I got steak and lobster, but that was about as good as you could do with variety. We were served "complimentary" potato au gratin. This was actually pretty good, but in that sad "I feel like Kraft Macaroni & Cheese instead of real homemade macaroni & cheese" kind of way. I don't know what they used, but it tasted like processed American cheese, not any kind of real cheese. To top it all off, they served us frozen dessert items to dip in the chocolate course. The "cream puff" was just an ice ball, even after letting it sit in the fondue for several minutes. The cheesecake was frozen. It was just bad and showed a lack of care. The last thing I can remember was the price. The menu said that the full experience (or whatever it was called) was $5 less each on Saturdays from 4-6pm. We arrived at 4:30pm and left at 6:30pm (more due to the restaurant's speed than our speed) and we didn't receive the discounted price. I don't know if this was an oversight or not; I didn't ask because we were there with friends and I just wanted to let it go. It was already a bad experience and getting the advertised price wasn't going to make the difference. I won't be back. Sure, the other fondue place is more expensive, but for good reason.
(2)
Magen M.
I came here with a group of my friends for a girls night out! We made a reservation a day or so in advance but upon arrival, they claimed the reservation was nowhere in their system. We waited more than an hour to be seated & we were all starving and quite frustrated. However, our waitress was an absolute goddess. She empathized with our situation and offered us free drinks and cheese fondue. Originally, we were only going to order the chocolate fondue, but I'm glad we got a chance to try both. The cheese was delicious but unfortunately, the only choice for dipping was bread. I very much enjoyed the chocolate fondue as well, there were a variety of dipping options (from brownies to raw cookie dough to strawberries) & the chocolate was a dream. Urban Fondue would have received a much lower review had it not been for their wait staff. I will definitely be returning to try more things on the menu when I'm not so desperate for food.
(4)
Melissa R.
The fondue was ok. Nothing to rave home about. The thing that urked me most, however, was the experience. We arrived at the restaurant 3 hours before close and the place was empty. We went to the hostess for a table, she asked us if we had a reservation, which we didn't. She told us she would have to find a place to squeeze us in, and that it would take 20 minutes minimum. We looked around again, there was no one there! She didn't give us an explanation, just that we needed a reservation. I am not sure why, but we stayed anyway. We were seated, and they made sure to take us all the way to the back of the restaurant, I guess so that no one saw us? Then we had our OK meal. We stayed for a while, 20 minutes until closing time and within that entire time NO ONE ELSE CAME IN. It was the oddest thing. 3 hours, and we were their only table.... Why open the place if it is by reservation only? It made no sense!!! Anyway, not worth returning.
(1)
Su R.
Loved loved loved it! had a girl's night out and was one of the best 5 hours in company I spent! the food was delish & the variety was amaxing when compared to Melting pot, not to mention the price was WAY less than the other fondue place. Definitely will return!
(5)
Robert F.
My family and I had a wonderful experience. Our waiter was very helpful and took great care of us. The cheese fondue was amazing. We tried both the brie one and the swiss but decided the classic swiss one was the best. We added apples and pears for dipping and was nice to take it easy on the bread. All of the seafood and meats were fresh and yummy. We finished the meal with the plain chocolate fondue and really enjoyed what they brought to dip it in. Pound cake, cream puffs, dried fruit, cookie dough, cheesecake, etc. The four stars is for the mixed cocktails....ordered a martini and it was way too sweet. Maybe stick to beer and wine here. SO much better then the Melting Pot. The atmosphere was very cozy and comfortable. Their prices are better and you don't leave hungry like at Melting Pot. If you are trying to decide between the two pick Urban Fondue! We will be back :)
(4)
Ang L.
One of the worst dining experiences I've ever had! We went there on a Thursday night and the place was packed. It was 90 degrees outside and probably 10 degrees hotter in the dining room. We were promptly seated at 6:15 which was our reservation time. The first course the ruby port cheese fondue was fantastic. We ordered a side of the sausage as well and it was delicious. Unfortunately after the cheese the whole service was terrible. Our first course arrived and my friend got the wrong entrees. Our waiter was no where to be found so we found the assistant server Austin to correct it. I had a refill on my regular coke and received diet. Again our waiter was no where to be found so we had Austin correct that. The broth that we ordered (some tomatey broth) was not good. It came highly recommended by our waiter but I wish we had gone with something else. The pieces of meat are too big to fork and continually fall off in the broth. The broth sits so high and the seats are sunken that we had to stand up for half of the meal to fish out our food. Once the entrees were cooked they weren't that great. In the middle of me trying to cook and eat, the waiter came over and asked for my groupon. I pulled out my phone but couldn't pull it up right away. I asked if he could come back in a bit and he said he needed it right now. Meanwhile I have food cooking and food on my plate getting cold. He just stood there for a good 2 minutes waiting. I finally pulled it up and he snapped a picture of it and left. He didn't ask how our food was or anything. We finally had enough so we pushed our plates to the side. The waiter came back to pick everything up and he spilled the sauces all over me. I was never offered a towel or napkin. They were so focused on getting the sauce off the cloth booth and the table. Finally my friend gave me her napkin to clean up. We then received the dessert course and half of the food was frozen. Again they don't cut the food properly for it to stay on the fork while you're dipping the fondue. We had a groupon and ordered an additional $10 worth of sides. Worst $40 I've ever spent in my life. We complained and the manager just sat there and stared at us and didn't really say anything. I wish I had brought cash for a tip for the server assistant Austin though because the only bright spot of the whole experience was him and unfortunately he was the one who had to keep correcting our waiter's mistakes. I beg you please don't waste your time or money!
(1)
Brittany B.
Urban fondue is the greatest.The setting here is wonderful. This place is really relaxing and intimate with the couch style seating, red walls, and dimmed lighting. It is so comfortable just to sit back with a date or group of friends, good drinks, and excellent food. The fondue is THE BEST. I wouldn't compare it to melting pot at all. Although I find melting pot good, this fondue is much better! larger selection of cheeses, better tasting, I feel their options are better. I love love love this restaurant, and I go anytime I can. YES it is more expensive than your average applebees, and YES you should expect to be there around 2 hours. This is fondue! you are there for a dining experience! You get lost in good conversation, good drinks, food, and the service is excellent and are very attentive. Recommend: reservations are a must! this place is popular. Also, groupon has a deal right now for $39 for a 3 course meal for two, which is usually $32 a person. (4/3/14) Jump on this deal! you will be glad you went here!
(5)
Steve E.
These guys are awesome, friendly and attentive. The food is A-1! I love going here. Plan to park and walk a few blocks to get there.
(5)
Mary Ann M.
Credit Card Fraud Waiting to Happen I was really excited to go here for Valentine's Day with my boyfriend and made reservations via Open Table (online) at the beginning of January. A week or more later someone called from the restaurant to tell me the menu and demand my credit card number to hold the reservation. I am not about to give my credit card info over the phone to hold a reservation, who asks for that? When I said that I wasn't comfortable with that, he said "that's what we do" and very snottily asked if I wanted to cancel my reservation. Of course I did. If they really need a credit card to hold the reservation, it should be asked for when making the reservation online, and should be encrypted over the website so you're not just handing it to whomever happens to answer the phone that night. We'll be going back to Swagat, in the same neighborhood, always delicious food with pleasant service and no shady requirements to eat there.
(1)
Deborah W.
This fondue gem right off 23rd is, hands down, vastly superior to the chain competition, and by far the best fondue place we've tried. The brie/gorgonzola fondue is a toothsome delight, not to be missed! The array of enticing "dippers" and cooking broths is seriously impressive, and the numerous yummy sauces were outstanding and made for a fun, scrumptious adventure. And did I mention the martini menu? Yowza! So many reasonably priced, outstanding options. Our group had 8 different types in total, all excellent. The service was also outstanding. Shawn, or primary server, was super knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, and enthusiastic. The ambiance was warm and inviting and just made the experience that much better. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Mychelle S.
Take the servers recommendations! They are always spot on. Took the kids & husband here Thursday evening for their 1st time. Make sure you make reservations. They were turning people away all night. We had a blast. At first the kids were not excited about the menu (they don't have a kids menu) but they let them order off the HH bar menu! Awesome! Make sure you allow for at least 1.5-2 hrs for dinner. It's a dining experience. We will be back
(4)
Katrina W.
Urban Fondue is a great late night dining experience if your looking for an affordable and fun fondue spot. Sean is the best server they have there. He is extremely helpful and knowledgeable of menu items. He provides great service and is genuinely interested in his diners. Urban Fondue's cocktail menu is fantastic and full of variety. I love the raspberry cosmo and blackberry lemon drop. We had the smokey sundried tomato cheese fondue and it is to die for. For non-chocolate lovers, they offer other options for the desert fondue. Great place to go for fondue with friends and groups and very affordable!
(5)
Lori F.
Ooh, wasn't pleased. I've wanted to try Urban Fondue for years, and finally made it happen only to find it, "meh". The exterior is strange- pink plastic coating over the doors and windows, which makes it look like you're not sure you really want to go in.The interior feels old and dark and, just not a place you'd want to take someone for a special occasion. Dark, with old and broken down foam in the private booths caused me to ask if the pillows were for sitting on. I was told they were for decor. So beware, we sat on them anyway, or we would have sunk down into the seats. My beer was warm with a greasy glass. I wasn't assertive enough to ask for a new one, so I just didn't drink it. The server was patient in explaining how the menu works, but for a first timer, it's sort of hard to figure out how it works. I had the cheese fondue, which was good, but cheese fondue is good anywhere, even at home. For about $14.00, there wasn't enough for two, which is how it's advertised. Just not a good experience in milieu, or food quality. And priced a bit high, in my opinion.
(2)
Jami Q.
Great first experience. Super service even though.busy. The port cheese fondue is excellent.
(5)
Magicka M.
We came last Wednesday night and the temperature was nice granted it wasn't the hottest day of the summer and it was just the right temp outside. So not sure if they finally installed an AC or that we were just lucky the weather was cooperating with us. Booths were super comfy and I definitely enjoyed the decor. The cheese fondue was great! Had Brie and Gorgonzola and Ruby port and they were both delicious. I'm honestly not a fan of blue cheese or Gorgonzola, but the fondue was actually good, however if I have to have my preference the Ruby port is my fave. Comes with unlimited bread and we also ordered mushrooms to go with it. It didn't quite come till 2/3rd of the way in and for $5 more, it was just okay. Bread and cheese is just great by itself. The entree felt like hot pot without the boiling hot water. It was definitely fun since we did throw lots of stuff in at one time and had to fish for our food. We even left some cooking on the skewer and when my friend was fishing for some stuff he may have just taken a piece off my skewer rather than the bottom of the pot! haha Broth was good and the 9 different dipping sauces added to the fun. We liked one particular sauce and requested more of it and was given to us without hassle. Also the lobster my friend got smelled like it was going bad and the staff was kind enough to replace it with more steak instead. They also gave us bread upon our request free of charge also. As for dessert we had the raspberry swirl and the marionberry cheesecake. Both were good, but the dippers were okay. Favorite dippers were banana, strawberry pound cake, cream puff and cheesecake. The rest I would have liked to traded, dried apricot, cookie dough, doughnut, pineapple. Also it didn't come with unlimited dippers and it was pretty much one to two pieces (of each item) per person. Some of the pieces were exceptionally small, like the strawberry, I think they cut them into fourths! and only gave one half the strawberry so each person gets one piece of strawberry. The pineapple was also the same size and also only two pieces to share between the two. So although the dessert fondue was great, we really didn't get to enjoy it to the full extent. Chocolate is versatile so any of the dippers would go well with it, but still wish we can at least choose our assortment or have some sort of options. I'd gladly trade two pieces of cookie dough for a fourth piece of strawberry lol. Anyway the cheesecake fondue was good, but because of the dippers I recommend sticking to the chocolate fondue for dessert! Overall the best part was the cheese fondue and for $11.95 with unlimited bread.. yes!!. Entree is great if you wanna kill time and have some fun with friends, but from $15- $20 each I'd probably rather go to an unlimited hot pot. Dessert is $13.95 and if it wasn't for the random assortment of limited dippers I would have said it was well worth it,however it's your preference. I felt like the random assortment let you try every combo till you found one you like, but once you did you can't go for round two ;) Normally the fondue experience is only $31.95 per person but if you do the math you are not really saving anything and may even save more if you go a la cart. In fact, if you choose an entree at 18.95 each and do the experience a la cart it actually comes out to 31.90 each!! Save a whole 10 cents from the bill, lol With that said pick a cheaper entree and the experience price is more than what you should pay. There is only one entree at 19.95 and if you get lobster they require you to pay the difference anyway. You'll save a dollar each if you order the $20 entree during the fondue experience But come when its $5 off each person for happy hour and you may actually start saving something. PS parking is hard to find so I recommend leaving a bit earlier than scheduled to allot for time spending circling the streets. I barely got in there in time for reservation.
(4)
Rachelle I.
I hated that you could only use the Groupon Monday-Thursday and that it says that only under the fine print. They never mentioned that when I called to make the reservations. Then when they called two hours before my Saturday night reservation, they told me. I asked them if they could make an exception because I didn't see that and they never said anything when I made the reservation so I could change the day I was coming in. The General manager was the one on the phone with me and he didn't seem to care at all. He sounded like a robot continually saying "Sorry for your frustration." Even when i simply asked that in the future, when people make reservations, they remind people of the Groupon restrictions then. Again, all I got was "Sorry for your frustration." As though he had learned that in a class somewhere about how to deal with unhappy customers. I felt like not reminding people until two hours before their reservation was a way to get people to spend the extra money by only getting to use the money value of their Groupon. I absolutely love fondue and was so excited about finding a new place to go to instead of paying the higher price at The Melting Pot. Plus I like to support local, but if that is how the manager treats customers, i don't want to give them my business. I still gave three stars because my food was good and the wait staff was very nice.
(3)
Allison R.
All of the cheese fondue's are good here. My favorite being the Ruby Port. Damn, it's so good. I have never actually had any of the entree's here, we usually just go for some bread, sausage, mushrooms and cheese. I could seriously just eat the bread and cheese, for shame! The drinks are good, get a Lemon Drop, a specialty cocktail, or even a flavored lemonade if you're not feelin' the alcohol. I'm not sure if Urban Fondue is reservation only, but the few times I have been here we have made reservations and normally get seated promptly after arriving. When i'm craving fondue, I come here. Nowhere else.
(5)
Chris C.
The fondue was awesome. The cheese fondue was absolutely amazing. Our server was very nice and very helpful! We were there for about 2 1/2 hours, which is normal for fondue. We went on Friday at 4 PM and got a great deal on the fondue experience. As far as fondue quality goes, I only have melting pot to compare it to. This place was as good if not better than melting pot.
(5)
C M.
Lobster tasted fishy. Slow service ... I'm from out of town. I expect better ... I will stick with Melting Pot from now on... Thanks but no thanks ...
(1)
Chloe V.
I just celebrated my birthday here with my boyfriend. It was an amazing experience. My boyfriend made a reservation at 6 a few days in advance, and we got seated right away today. We did the birthday event and got to do the 3-course meal. Our waiter was great and very attentive! Great service and food! I would highly recommend for special events :D
(4)
Karen R.
This is one of my favorite places to eat, the food is fresh and amazing as well as the staff is always friendly and always ready to help with any request you may have, they have a wide variety of choices as well as healthy broths to cook your food in. The 3 course meal is a great price especially compared to the melting pot. I will always choose Urban over melting pot.
(5)
Lindsey M.
Is it possible to give a place less stars than 1? This place was a big disappointment. It started with the patronizing way the server talked down to us, followed by slow service (when there was 2 tables in the restaurant), a watered down old fashion, a slab of Canadian bacon (that's not pancetta, btw) thrown on a Caesar salad that was far from edible and cut-able(I asked for a knife and it was never brought), followed by lukewarm tomato soup, and mediocre fondue. Yes, I am a server and yes, I did give you a 10 percent tip. Awful service, won't be returning again. In other news, this was the 2nd time I had been there. First time being my birthday where we had to wait 45 minutes, for a "reserved table." A party of 5. Guess I should have listened to my gut after the first time. Papa Haydyn's was great afterwards- should have went there instead!
(1)
Kristen M.
After going to Happy Hour at Urban Fondue's sister bar, Bartini, we decided to go for dinner to try the full experience. We chose the 'fondue experience' which has a price of $26.95 per person all day on Sunday (vs. $30.95 regularly). With this dinner you get a cheese appetizer to share, an entree, and dessert to share. We have tried both the smoked cheddar and tomato-basil cheddar starters and while both were very good, the tomato-basil had that extra pop of flavor. My husband chose steak and lobster for his entree and I chose prawns and lobster. The seafood was very tasty but the steak was a little tough despite adjustments to the cooking time and the portion size was smaller. And lastly dessert... aww, my favorite part! The dipping items were extensive with everything from pound cake, to fruit, to cookie dough. Both the rocky road and carmel dips were excellent. Overall, a fun and different kind of dining experience. We liked it so much we brought our families on our return trip. As a tip, get reservations... it makes things much easier!
(4)
Michelle D.
After spending extended periods of time in German speaking countries, I;ll admit I was skeptic when it came to eating fondue here...I was of course concerned about the authenticity of the meal. I can conclude that it is GOOD, but the endless options were a little be tiring. Our waiter, Shiloh (sp??) was great! He guided us through no prob! OUr bus boy on the other hand was TERRIBLE! I was sat in front of a dirty napkin and asked for a clean one-so he ripped the dirty one from my fingers and threw a clean one at me! He didn't say anything! In fact he NEVER said anything! He started to clear our plate while we were still eating! He never even asked! He was RUDE RUDE RUDE. At least SPEAK!!!
(3)
Diane F.
We went to Urban Fondue last week for our anniversary. Our first trip there, but not to fondue. We loved the fact that it is in NW Portland, we love this area a lot for all the great shops, people and wonderful atmosphere that is there. Parking is a bit tight, but if you don't mind walking a block or two in the fresh air then you'll be fine. We have reservations and were greeted promptly on arrival and a large booth was waiting for us. We loved the friendlieness if all the staff that worked there and they seemed to work together and help each other. We started with a smokey cheddar fondue. The crusty bread that was served with it was fresh and really good. Dipping the chunks of bread into this warm smokey cheddar was close to nervana! It was delicious! We also ordered some cocktails and they were really smooth and good as well. Our main entree arrived (we each ordered two different ones for more variety) with our stockpot of boiling liquid. We chose the "URBAN YOSENABE - chicken and clam broth with hints of ginger, lemongrass, soy and sweet chilies. It was perfect to go with out selections of chicken, pork, scallops, beef, and huge shirmps! We also had the cheesy aug gratin potatoes with our main course and they were really good as well. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better it was time to pick our dessert fondue... we chose butterscotch chocolate and it came with an assortment of dipping items, strawberries, cut up donutes, cream puffs, banana, dried apricots, pineabble, cheesecake bites. As a special they also brought us a small marionberry fondue with a candle to celebrate our anniversary. Very nice touch! We had a wonderful expierence and plan to go back and take friends next time! Who want's to go?
(5)
Leah G.
Went with a friend for her birthday. The service was not good. Our server tried pushing us into ordering the "Fondue Experience," as soon as we were seated, which, before reading the menu, I had no idea what she was referring to. Both being vegetarian, we ordered the veg fondue with tomato fennel broth and various dipping sauces. It was not explained to us that we do not choose the sauces. When I made inquiries about the the "recommended," vs. other kinds, our server became impatient and claimed they just bring out about 9 sauces of their choosing. When the food arrived with 6 different sauces--2 of them completely flavorless--and small plates of pre-roasted vegetables & tofu, we got right to work. Here in lies the problem with fondue: Be prepared to lose it off the end of your skewer, and have to go fishing. Surprisingly, this turned out to be quite fun. We opted for no dessert because of the already pricey menu. When we arrived home, I felt fine, but my friend felt ill. She speculates it may have had something to do with the food.
(2)
Allison C.
My best friend and I had such a fun Friday night here! The wait staff was extremely helpful. They made great suggestions! The Brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue was absolutely TO DIE FOR. I definitely recommend coming here for a fun, interactive dinner. One tip - make reservations. They filled up pretty fast.
(5)
kelly s.
I'm torn, The menu is good, the drinks are good, prices are over the top, which would be acceptable if the place wasn't always dirty and seemingly designed on a dime. Have been a few times, and each time my impression get's marred. Last time it's because I waited for my friends in the bar, and it was so filthy, it sort of grossed me out to think my food was being prepared near by. -In conclusion, lobster is fresh, steak is fresh, sauces are good, not the most unique meal of my life despite my expectation otherwise, reinforced by the deliciously suggestive prices.
(3)
Holly B.
My boyfriend and I went to Urban Fondue as a celebratory dinner. We ordered the experience that included a cheese fondue, side, and dessert to split and a meat fondue for each. The port cheese fondue was incredible. While I was expecting a more traditional fondue, I was blown away by their interpretation. I would absolutely order that again. The meat fondue was good. I would say that the lobster was not worth the extra money. The pork and steak were both delicious. One of the reasons I give this place a 4 star rating rather than a 5 star rating is that they have you cook the fondue in broth rather than oil. It takes much longer, and is much less tasty. It was still good though! The dessert fondue was also incredible. We had the tiramisu fondue. Just thinking about it now makes me want it again! It came with plenty of fun things to dip into it, and it itself was fantastic. I loved the atmosphere of this place. We went on a Tuesday night and it was busy but not crowded. We had a cozy booth that was very private and fun. Everything in the restaurant was pink/red/purple. This is a good restaurant if you're looking for something fun. The meal took a very long time (over two hours), so we really got to enjoy ourselves and enjoy our celebration. I've definitely had better fondue, especially better meat fondue, but the chocolate fondue was unbeatable and the atmosphere was perfect for the occasion.
(4)
Rosy D.
I'm a little biased towards Urban as its the only Fondue I've ever had, but I keep coming back because I love it! I love all the different choices I love the red and deep pink interior of the restaurant, and I love the service. I usually come here for birthdays and special occasions because its a little pricey. Only reason it isn't getting 5 stars.
(4)
Marcos W.
My wife & I visited Urbane Fondue on a balmy, summer Wednesday evening. It was a definitely a good choice for my first fondue restaurant. We skipped the "fondue experience" to mix & match our own cheese, entree and dessert fondues. Being vegetarians, there was a total of one entree we could try which was... eh. Next time we're definitely going pure cheese fondue and salad, both of which were delicious! Considering the quality of the food, the reason I'm sticking with my middle-of-the-road rating was the rest of the experience. Granted, it wasn't an extremely busy night, but there was one waiter and one bus boy. So although they were both friendly, the service was slower than we would have liked. The atmosphere was also unique, and nice, but considering the price we paid, wasn't spectacular. All in all, I'd visit the place again, even bring friends, but not a five star experience.
(3)
Elois A.
Fondue sucks. Or at least this particular fondue restaurant in Portland. HOW CAN I FEEL SO DAMN FULL FROM THOSE TINY MORSELS OF FOOD? DARN FRENCH WITH THEIR PORTIONS THAT I AM FORCED TO COOK MYSELF AND MAGICALLY EXPAND WHEN THEY REACH A STOMACH. ALSO HOW THE HELL DOES A BILL FOR FOUR PEOPLE GET TO BE $120?! BOB SAGET. *goes to beat up innocent puppies*
(2)
Mikhail H.
I recently brought two girlfriends here for a ladies night out and was far from embarrassed as to my restaurant selection. The price is just amazing for a huge pile of food which is VERY filling and the price difference when compared to the Melting Pot is so cheap plus the restaurant is way nicer looking in my opinion. I have had several people argue that with me but quite frankly the Melting Pot does not impress me - their food does not taste as good, I feel like I am eating in an underground bunker, the service was horrid and dear God I nearly lost it when I saw the bill! So, please...continue thinking the Melting Pot is better to keep it so I can continue to get a reservation at Urban Fondue and enjoy better food at a much more reasonable price! Though I will say my girlfriends ordered five too many cocktails from Bartini during dinner since I was the designated driver so their bills were...well, NOT CHEAP. I was amazed though having a three course amazing meal cost me seriously $40 with tip on a Friday night no less! Urban Fondue also has their fondue experience for even cheaper certain times and nights!
(5)
Heather E.
This place is a great place for a romantic evening! The booths are awesome with pillows and go really far back so that you can sit in the far back and barely be seen. The food is awesome and pretty well priced for what you get. My one issue would be is that the portions for the entree fondues are barely large enough for 2 people, but the cheese and chocolate ones are very plentiful. The dipping sauces are amazing and each have their own meat they go best with, try them all.
(4)
DandA T.
Took my wife here to celebrate her birthday. Took us about 20 mins of driving around but we finally found a spot. We had reservations and were promptly seated. We liked the big comfy booths and the decor of the place. We arrived before 7pm and we ordered the Fondue Experience. My wife's Blackberry Lemon martinis were excellent...nice and strong. The waitress was very helpful explaining everything and recommending entrees. The service our waitress gave was exceptional. When I made my reservation online I mentioned it was my wife's birthday. After the entree our waitress brought out a little dessert tray with chocolate fondue and a birthday candle for my wife. The main desesert fondue was amazing. We had the caramel cognac fondue with pieces of cheesecake, cookie dough, pound cake, strawberries and apricots. Cookie dough covered in caramel was the best dessert in a long time I have tasted. We will definitely go back!
(5)
Andrea B.
Way cheaper than melting pot! Intimate atmosphere, yummy food, and fun part of Portland to walk around it. Its especially awesome at Christmas time!
(4)
Lisa H.
I went for the Fondue Experience with six friends last night, and had a great time. Lingering over the three courses and trying such a variety of items made the evening enjoyable. I was especially fond of the Brie and Gorgonzola cheese fondue, and was heard to say "if this wasn't so hot I would want to take a bath in this". I will definitely return.
(4)
Ashley C.
Lots of fun with a large group of friends. The chef came out and help us with our selections, and she make some ad hoc food for us. It was lot of fun cooking, timing, and skewing the various meat into different cheese pot. Highly recommend for a fun time.
(3)
S B.
The cheese is great. Ruby Port- OMG! But portions small, space small, service snobby. Great for a date or for a casual dinner party.
(3)
Stacie H.
I have been patronizing this restaurant for a number of years and the prices keep climbing as the portion sizes continue to get smaller and smaller. The waitstaff also makes a practice of rushing you through your courses and then asking you to move to the bar or leave the restaurant as soon as you pay the bill... Whether you're finished eating or not. This has now happened to us twice. Will not be going back.
(2)
Karin H.
In a nutshell, the food was good, but portions were a bit on the small side for the price. Service was a tad slow, especially considering the low volume of customers. Wait staff was very nice and friendly, though. It didn't leave an overtly negative impression on me, but I think I'll probably stick to The Melting Pot for future fondue forays. The food is just a little better and you get more for your money.
(3)
R Z.
The perfect romantic night. Great food, great booze and very dark. Don't go here if you're looking for a cheap night out but if you want to splurge on your sweetie you can't go wrong here. The seafood and steak are fresh and the fondue is amazing. I love the Thai peanut dipping sauce with the main courses and the brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue to start. Go, take your time, have fun, and spoil your special girl.
(5)
Ben F.
Was here with a group of friends for a birthday party and got the "semi-private" table in the back. I really enjoyed the three courses they brought out (dessert was my favorite) and the staff was quick on their feet and attentive. As far as fondue places go, this one is my new favorite. My advice to anyone who makes it to dessert, horde the frozen peanut butter dipped in chocolate for yourself!
(5)
Erin O.
Listen to Auntie Erin and go for cheese fondue and cocktails. There's some good stuff on the menu, but in case you hadn't heard, fondue is pricey. And it's just too much bloody work. And lets face it, vegetarian fondue bites (in the style of Mike Tyson.) The Brie & Gorgonzola cheese fondue (topped with roasted hazelnuts?!?!), however, should not be missed. Neither should the drinks. Last time I enjoyed some sort of fruity, herby, muddley thing that was obviously poured straight from heaven. So I repeat, cheese fondue, cocktails. do ittt.
(4)
Cassandra H.
I could have eaten just the goat cheese polenta cake side and been very happy. I enjoyed the desserts and the cheese fondue. Not much of a place for a toddler. The server was wonderful. I would go again. :)
(4)
Sherry J.
I joined my girlfriends for dinner here last night. On the thumbs up side - It was a great place for a girls night out. It was quiet - so easy to talk and hear each other, we had a great window seat (great for watching passersby) and the dessert fondue was yummy (try the dark chocolate hazelnut). On the thumbs down side I thought the entree and service were just ok. I would describe the entrees as "boring". The wait staff is friendly but inexperienced or so they seem. I hate having my wine glass taken away without asking me if I want another and then having to ask for wine twice before I get it. Oh yeah, and it's a bit pricey. We got the fixed course for $31. I would say "no" to a return trip but I would keep my expectations low to medium.
(3)
Robin S.
This place was pretty pertentious and loud. My boyfriend and I are vegitaitians and it was our first time going to a fondue reseraunt in Portland. The watress treated us like we were in the wrong place at the wong time, but the cheese fondue was terriffic! Then we orderd the veggie plate with the veggie tomato-basil sause. The tomato basil sause over-powered the the flavor of the veggies and the other 6 sauses that they gave us. But things were still yummy! We are going to give it another go for desert!
(3)
Jeremy G.
The food is fantastic, best fondue in Portland! If that wasn't enough the staff is GREAT!
(5)
Joe P.
Urban Fondue was a good overall experience. The wait staff were very pleasant and prompt. The food was delish, I definitely recommend the Smoke cheddar fondue. The only knock I would give UF would be their prices are very high.
(4)
Benjamin P.
Nothing special about this restaurant. The service was way too spotty for fondue. The food was pretty good, but the deal with fondue restaurants is that they are all the same. That is why the service component is such a deal breaker. If I were to want fondue anytime again I would go somewhere else not because it was bad, it just wasn't the atmosphere I was looking for.
(3)
willow t.
Love this place! Went for a friends birthday and had a wonderful dinner. Went with the Fondue Experience and really enjoyed everything, though the cheese was my least favorite. We had the Port and Brie and both were just a bit too salty and lacked in bread selection. The seafood entree was wonderful and we had a great time cooking our own scallops, shrimp, oysters and salmon. Dessert was the best part, they offer all kinds of items to dip, from cream puffs to dried apricots. Yum! Will go again for sure.
(4)
Lorina P.
Although we were a little leary after reading the reviews, I have to say I'm happy we decided to try this place. It was late, on Tuesday night, but we were still treated decently, and not rushed to finish. The cheese fondue was delicious, the mushrooms even better [amazing!], and the wait staff were kind enough to bring us extra bread. The dessert fondue was also quite tasty [caramel cognac]. Try the Lemon Basil Martini for a drink, but I'd pass on the Cherry Manhattan. Overall, a very pleasant experience, especially for a late-night dinner without reservations.
(4)
Maddy R.
I had an amazing time here. I went for girls night with a group of friends. The service was amazing, the waiter help with all our questions and made some amazing recommendations. He was even able to point out the best dishes for the vegetarian in our little group. When the food arrived it was amazing. The ruby port was my favorite. The entree was a lot of fun and allowed us to fool around with all the different dipping sauces. Over all it was an amazing night topped off with an amazing meal. I will definitely be returning.
(5)
Jen Z.
I used to be OBSESSED with this place. So delicious. I've been coming for years and its become a cult classic in my cousin's group of friends. (I'm here visiting her.) The service isn't exactly to die for (usually) but the cheese and dessert fondues are delicious. I MUST recommend the Tomato Basil and Ruby Port cheeses. Most of the dessert fondues are way too sweet for me but still yummy. The cocktails (tiramisu martini!!) are delicious as well.
(4)
Marc H.
To be fair, it probably wasn't a good idea to take three generations of in-laws to a fondue restaurant. That said, this place needs some work. Let's start with the good - the CHEESE fondue. To me, fondue is about cheese with chocolate being a fun variant. Fondue (to me) is not about cooking meats and veggies in hot oil. So, when the waitress snobbily said that cheese fondue can ONLY be an appetizer and that everybody MUST order entrees I immediately was put off. The cheese fondue was good however. 3 varieties were ordered by my group of 7 and I tried all of them. I particularly liked the Brie/Gorgonzola but the Smoked Chedder and the White Chedder/Caraway seed were also good. Entrees: Despite the waitresses insistence that everybody order an entree my wife and had the cheese appetizers plus salad so I did not directly experience the entrees. For 5 people our party ordered two of the Urban Fondue for Twos (should have served 4) and had far too much food, both in quantity as well as what was realistic to cook 1-2 pieces at a time for 1-3 minutes. Other Food: Tomato Basil soup really doesn't need a chicken stock base and unfortunately theirs has one. Too bad for this vegetarian. They have only about 5 beers on the menu and were out of the first two that one family member ordered. Salads were fine but nothing remotely special. Desert: Melted chocolate with hunks of fatty sugary goodness. Can't go too wrong here and we'll they didn't. (Except for messing up the order but that's really a service issue) Service: Snobbiest service I've had in Portland. Waitress way oversold our party, was curt about everything and screwed up our orders. Worse, when she screwed up our order and we had the other server who brought it take it back she then came by and made us feel guilty when she was clearly in the wrong. The bottom line: If you go I suggest the following: - Stick with cheese and chocolate - Fight off the upselling - Hope for better service My future with Urban Fondue: Dim at best but if I was nearby and wanted a leisurely desert I would think about it.
(2)
Jasmine L.
Can I give this restaurant a sixth star? I went with a few friends and we ordered the set dinners, which allows us to choose one appetizer fondue, one main course fondue, and a dessert fondue for a mere $20. For the appetizer, we ordered the sundried tomato fondue. We went for the lobster tails and scallops for our entree (they have really exotic sauces to go with them), and ordered their white chocolate and lavender fondue, which I must say, is to die for. And I'm not much of a dessert eater myself. Their interior is dim with dark, tall suede sofas - pefect for a date dinner. And you have to check out their martini menu!!!
(5)
Tracy K.
This place earned an extra star for me based on the fact that I dropped my phone in the restaurant, and the server actually remembered which bar we were going to, and brought it back to me!! It was incredibly sweet. The food, fondue, drinks, and especially dessert were stellar. We had like 10 ppl in our party, and they did a great job. Dear Fancies...stop being so fussy.
(5)
Lorri E.
"Ch-e-e-e-e-ese, Gromit!" Indeed! Anything dipped in cheese sauce tastes good to me. Or chocolate sauce, for that matter. Fondue makes for a wonderful, romantic, and fun eating adventure. I agree with Krista T. that the menu is a bit confusing--so just ask your server for some tips--truth is you will just be dipping things into sauces, and if meat--allowing it to cook in the broth for a bit, and then eating it...rather simple. Wallace might be sad to see they don't serve Wensleydale, but the cheddar cheese fondue was tasty, and my personal fave. Although you won't have any room for dessert after all the bread and cheese expands in your belly--if you DO have room or just can't stand ending a meal without a sweet finish, try some--fruit dipped in chocolate is a nice finish. I think they have a full bar--all I remember is drinking too much wine and laughing and having a great time. Overpriced for sure--I mean, how much does cheese sauce, bread, and mediocre sausage cost anyway (for really good sausage with cheese fondue, head over to Gustav's)? I give them 3 stars for food, 4 stars for fun fondue dining and their great location in NW, 3.5 stars for atmosphere (dark+cozy=good), and a 2+ for service--they really could be nicer, they put off an attitude that just doesn't fit, although my last server was a friendly improvement. I will round that all up to a 4 (I never was any good at math).
(4)
MISTY L.
Really like the Fondue, the cheese is great I think the best, the chocolate fondue is really good, I have read lots of reviews about bad service, but our server was great, he explained which sauce went best with each meat, check on us often, was ready with the next selection a little before we finished the one before, we left very full and with drinks left at around $32 a person so I think the price was great for a meal with three courses. Everyone was full so portion size was great, with not a lot of waste.
(5)
Hiro R.
Decent fondue place. We didn't like the entree fondue so much... but we LOVED the Cheese fondue "appetizer". Would definitely come back here just for that.
(4)
Angela R.
Very cozy, but cramped. Dark, but soothing. Urban Fondue is a mixture of pros and cons. Pro: GREAT fondue. Con: way over-priced. I went here with some friends from work this past summer. We went for dessert fondue. The environment in this place is very retro/urban (duh?). The chairs are stuffed and classy and the assortment of items for dipping is fantastic. Something about cookie dough and chocolate peanut butter fondue...or peanut brittle, or cheesecake, or coconut cookies, or cherries...ohhhhh, it's to die for. There is a group room that's blocked off with a curtain, though I think my claustrophobia would be way too much for that place. I don't know how anyone could move around in there, but there was a big group in the middle of the seating area that seemed comfortable enough. They're bench seating looks great. I was a bit jealous of those that were sitting there. The table is completely circled with one big cushioned wrap-around bench. But I can't get past the over-pricing. I glanced at the dinner menu...wow. I know fondue in general is spendy, but this was just a little crazy. Hence the missing star. Though I would have to say that I'll probably go back sometime. It might be a while, but...well, fondue is yummy. Especially Urban Fondue.
(4)
Aaron F.
A fun experience certainly for first dates. The fondue experience is an ice-breaker, and in our case led to some comical moments trying to fish items out of the broth. Lacking in entree alternatives for vegetarians, the Urban Fondue makes up for this in a wealth of dessert selections. Dessert was the highlight of the evening, so save room! We have settled on a 3 star rating due mainly to the poor seating. Our cushiony booth seats nearly swallowed us whole, which make the reach across the table and into the fondue pot quite difficult. By the end my back was killing me. The service is friendly, attentive and informal. The music is generic and overplayed lounge-type stuff, which unfortunately gives the location a somewhat sterile feeling.
(3)
Stacy F.
We went with another couple for birthday celebrations on a Thursday evening, although the parking was terrible, the food and drinks totally made up for it! The cheese fondue (we had the Ruby Port & Brie Gorgonzola) was so amazing!! We had been to another fondue restaurant in town and it was grainy and weird; but this fondue was out of this world! The variety of dipping sauces that come with the entrees are fantastic. There is something for every pallet. They were also very accommodating to food allergies. I also have to comment on the martinis: excellent variety, and very refreshing. :)
(5)
Christine S.
This is a sexy restaurant for sexy people. I don't actually know if that's true or not. But, it IS a sexy restaurant...all clad in red leather and dim light. I look forward to coming back for more fondue, especially the chocolate one. I'm really lazy so if I'm willing to pay and cook my own food, then you know it has to be good.
(4)
Christie N.
Amazing. A-MAZE-ING. I am in love. I went to this place for the first time last week. On our way out, my sweetie commented on the fact that we have a new good place to go. From him, that is a big compliment. We had the 3 course combo (appetizer, meat, dessert) and arrived before 6 for the $24.95 per person dealio. Each course was even more amazing than the last, and that says a LOT with the fact that we started out with the classic swiss cheese fondue which blew us away. Please allow at least 2 hours for the experience. We were cut short due to theater tix, and wished we could have stayed much longer. We left totally stuffed and so happy. And the blackberry lemon drop rocked, too. GO! GO NOW!
(5)
Jamee T.
The worst meal of my life!! We waited an hour and a half for 1 order of shrimp and a bowl of soup. Our drinks were forgotten numerous times. No explanation of how to order or anyone there to give our table service at all. We were told they were short staffed and they would take care if us on our bill. After we finally tracked down our waitress to get our bill. She had discounted it $5.00. The lobster was old and made my husband sick, the service was terrible, the food was bland, you literally get $2.00 worth of food for $30.00!! Splurge and go to the Melting Pot if you want fondue! We will never go to Urban Fondue again.
(1)
Brian P.
Dessert fondues were fantastic! We had peanut butter chocolate and marionberry cheesecake. Both were excellent. Service was as good as we needed it to be.
(4)
Krista T.
I wish I could give it five stars, but I don't think a restaurant that allows you to sit at a table for 10 minutes before even acknowleding your presence is worthy of that fifth star. The menu is strange and (call me dumb!) confusing. You oder something for up to four people and then one of each of that and then two of each of those.....ummm, how bout ya bring me some hot cheese please? Can we call that good? Thanks. Very high prices for drinks and small portions. The dessert menu looks decent, I might go back for that.
(3)
Courtney D.
Dipping into heaven Now you don't have to wait to eat some yummy fondue at a party! Urban Fondue is a fantastic place that offers just about everything you could imagine to dip and cook in a tasty broth. That's the best part --- you don't cook your food in oil, so it's actually pretty healthy. Well, at least one of the courses. We ordered a three-course dinner set priced at $20 each, which included an appetizer, main and a dessert. We started with dipping bread into a cheese fondue, with such fancy names that I can't remember! Let's just say it rocked. Then we chose the scallops and chicken. The broths were seasoned so incredibly that I couldn't stop dipping! But the best part was the dessert. The plate was full of cookie dough, cheese cake and fruit to dip in chocolate. Need I say more? Our meals weren't only incredibly delicious, but they were also fun to cook. What a creative and fun dinner! Tip: It's billed as a romantic spot with its dim lighting, but I think it's a fun place to bring friends.
(5)
deven s.
We went here as a party of 12 and hoped our experience would be worthy of giving a good review. Unfortunately coolness of the loft room setting did not make up for the nasty service by our waitress. She rolled her eyes as we talked and laughed making it apparent her irritation and distain for the party. When she spilled a dipping sauce on my friend and then blamed my friend. She was not polite or friendly which can make or break an evening. I myself thought the portions where tiny and the drinks were too fruity, but then again i like my drinks straight up and for 8$ should have a little kick. Sorry guys my friends and I wont be back.
(1)
R T.
Enjoyed a romantic evening out and enjoyed cheese and chocolate fondue, unfortunately the wine list wasn't up to date nor was there anyone there who knew the answers.
(3)
Lynne P.
My daughters took me here for my birthday. It was way better than what I thought it would be. The food was outstanding and the decor very modern rich.
(4)
Emily G.
I have been meaning to write this review for quite a while, seeing as my experience was in April of 2011. I planned my best friend's bachelorette party from a distance, as I live in Chicago and she lives (and was getting married in) Portland. I did quite a bit of research and finally decided to make dinner reservations here. I called, explained the situation, and they were very helpful in making the plans. I mentioned their bachelorette package, and whether we could reserve the separate area for our party of 10. The woman on the phone said of course, and that was that! When we got there, they took us right to our table. To be honest, the "separate area" isn't so separate - it's just a larger table that's up a few steps from the rest of the dining room. But it was nice just the same. They knew that we were a bachelorette party and congratulated the bride, which I thought was nice. The server was incredibly helpful figuring out the drink and dinner menu, suggesting what portion sizes would work best for our group and giving us tips on what drinks were good. The owner brought us a few shots on the house, which was a very nice touch. They also took our picture, claiming that they wanted it for their wall or something - but it turns out they took it so that they could include it in a card they gave to the bride! I thought that was such a sweet thing to do! Everyone that interacted with our table was incredibly nice, fun, and helpful, and really made the experience there a great one. The food was also delicious, we left completely satisfied and stuffed. I can't remember the specific fondues that we ordered because it's been so long, but suffice it to say that I didn't dislike a single one. Overall, we had a really positive experience, which I was doubly glad for since I didn't know the area and was kind of doing this blind!
(4)
Abby W.
I love Portland, OR and I love Urban Fondue! Husband and I are supposed to be living in Portland right now, but our plans fell through. I am still bummed about it and particularly bummed that there is nothing like Urban Fondue anywhere in SF! It's a unique, cozy little place in a great neighborhood with comfortable seating and perfectly intimate dim lighting. This place is fantastic. The fondue is not oil-based...they offer various kinds of broth to cook your food in. We went for the vegetarian tomato fennel broth and it was delicious with big chunks of tomatoes, peppers, and parsnips. Yum! I was also tempted by the different cheese fondue options, but I would have eaten it all since husband is cursed with lactose-intolerance. The dessert fondue was amazing! We dipped our cookie dough, cheese cake bits, fruit, and other goodies in a delicious black forest chocolate fondue (they have lots of other options, too). This is a great place for either a romantic, leisurely dinner (you are cooking your own food, so you're in it for the long haul), or a fun night out with a group of friends.
(5)
Julia L.
No impressed at all. Pay the extra money and go to the Melting Pot so much more worth it.
(2)
Erika B.
My husband and I recently ate here to celebrate his birthday. We were so disappointed. Everything was mediocre at best. We had the "fondue experience" which consisted of a cheese fondue, an entree and a dessert fondue. We chose the Tillamook White Cheddar with Caraway as our cheese fondue course. It literally came with a bowl of bread cubes and nothing more. We added grilled asparagus to dip for some variety. The entree we chose had baby lobster tails, steak and prawns and came with a few vegetables. The dipping sauces were ok, I especially like the wild mushroom and the pesto. Lastly, we ordered the chocolate peanut butter as our dessert fondue. Obviously anything with chocolate can't be all that bad, but I really didn't taste the peanut butter at all. It was served with cookie dough *yum*, pound cake, apricots, bananas and strawberries. We also had two glasses of wine which were just "eh"....their wine list is not all that good. Now, I have to admit, I am a big fan of Melting Pot and Urban Fondue does not even come close....I really wanted it too....I SWEAR... but truly, Melting Pot offers a much richer fondue experience. MP's cheese fondue was to die for...blended at the table by our *fantastic" server....and get this, not only did it come with bread, but we also got different varieties of bread.... unlimited apple slices and veggies to dip as well. The main course was of better quality overall, and the dessert (again, blended at the table...with a bit of an education on ingredients & prep method by our server) was MINDBLOWING and that is not even generous enough in my opinion.....I was literally spooning it into my mouth like soup....it was served with cocoa dusted marshmallow, cheesecake, brownies, apples, bananas...and more that I can't remember I am sure. The waiter came by twice and asked if we wanted additional goodies to be brought out. We left there s-t-u-f-f-e-d.....and broke....it was expensive, but so was Urban Fondue. So as I am finishing up this review, I have now realized that I have simultaneously written a great review for the Melting Pot.
(2)
Emily E.
I continue to be amazed at how bad the service can be at Urban Fondue/Bartini. I was dragged there with friends on a Friday night around 9:30, and waited around 10 minutes for a hostess to acknowledge our group. We were then told to go next door to Bartini if we wanted seats. The dessert fondue was fine, but cam out before our appetizers. The drinks are expensive, and portions small.
(2)
Coni R.
Went last Friday. Decent food but felt quality of food is higher at Melting Pot. Chairs were comfy. Drinks were great.
(3)
Sylvia S.
I went to Urban Fondue hoping to order a delicious cheese fondue appetizer, good drinks and a chocolate fondue dessert. I was VERY disappointed when I ordered a regular Swiss-cheese fondue ($14) and found out it is only about 1 cup of melted cheese and it comes with bread as the only dipper. If you want fruit or veggies to dip, you'll have to pay an extra $5 for the plate. Comparing this directly to The MeltingPot, you're being ripped off; over there you pay $16 for an entire POTof fondue that already comes with the bread, veggies and apples for dipping. The chocolate fondue was good, not spectacular; I think I would return to U.F only for dessert. Drinks were not as good as some people mentioned, The Vault or Andina have a great selection and I was hoping I could get something similar over here. Needless to say, I was still hungry after we left.
(2)
Lindsay D.
A large enough menu to fulfill even the hardest crowd! I love that there is a happy hour special from 5-6pm. This is a great place for a group who enjoys food and drinks since there are many specialized drinks on the menu! My waitress was fantastic but there were a few servers wandering the floor that looked like walking zombies!
(3)
Jason R.
Urban Fondue was my first fondue experience, and I couldn't be happier that I decided to pop in here and give it a try! The waitress was very patient with my group in explaining how the whole process works. I had the Baby Lobster Tails, white cheddar fondue, and Urban Fondue for Two with the Urban Yosenabe broth, then washed it all down in the most DELICIOUS Rose cocktail, I can't remember the name off the top of my head. The peanut butter & chocolate dessert came with banana, strawberries, cheesecake, cream puffs, angel food cake, and cookie dough, which was the epitome of decadence, and perfect way to end a perfect meal! Definitely check this place out!!
(5)
Amy A.
My Husband and I love Urban Fondue. Its our default date night hangout, with eclectic menu choices, relaxed dim atmosphere, and reasonable prices. You won't leave stuffed, but compared to other fondue joints I've been to, the prices are much more reasonable. We usually share a cheese fondue (I love all but the one with caraway seeds...not a fan) with bread, aparagus, and mushrooms to start. Our last visit we had the chicken cooked ummm, "urban style" I think?? We had three dipping sauces with it, our fave being a lemon cream with capers-so GOOD!!! I'd go back just for that, seriously folks. I'm only giving it four stars because I felt the service was a little "stiff." They could be much friendlier considering the enviornment, but otherwise they have a great thing going. On a side note, I noticed a few people with kids there, but I would only bring well behaved kids, 10 and up...personally. We have a 9 month old and leave him at home!
(4)
Claire S.
My boyfriend and I were really excited about this restaurant. We love cheese, and we're vegetarians. They have a decent vegetarian option which is all we ask for. When we got there the place was booked, which was fine; we were happy to take a seat in the bar. Once we got to that side of the restaurant, the service was awful! Our server barely talked to us. She never offered to get us more drinks (in a bar, mind you); she came over and cleared half the plates, left the rest and never came back for them. Additionally, the food was incredible mediocre. Nothing was terrible, but nothing was worth the price either. I can melt Tillamook cheddar and put it in a pot at home better than they do. It was lumpy and not nearly warm enough. If you're willing to pay for people to ignore you and make you half-assed food then enjoy!
(2)
Taylor H.
great food and fondue for a GREAT price. The only thing I would warn against is not to get the banana foster dessert fondue....way too much alcohol in the fondue, couldn't really taste the caramel. But with that said, the rest of our meal was fantastic! will definitely come back when i'm back in Portland!
(4)
Eisha C.
What to say, what to say...Well First of all I love the booking system that this establishment offers, I have eaten in a lot of places and never have I had reservations that were always convenient to make and confirmed so graciously by this establishment. We started with some refreshing cucumber lemon water that was great. The atmosphere and the mood set by the dining room is so laid back yet energetic it makes it difficult to not enjoy your self here! We started off with a few appetizers before moving to a fondue. I must say besides the quick services, helpful staff and amazing flavors! The prices just can't be beat. Melting pot eat your heart out! I can have a great drink, great food, and great friends for only $80, you must be joking....but I am not. I have left similar Restaurants spending $200 and still leaving hungry. Here you leave fully happy and full of food. Now I recommend the smoked cheddar fondue because it's just that good and adding the home made sausage would only enhance your meal. I have been to Bartini numerous times and sadly last nights bartender wasn't as good as the usual gentleman serving me up. The sugared rim was all over the place and I was missing my nice layer of ice crystals that usually comes from a cold martini. But! I still am giving 5 stars because without the best server in the Pearl District this night would have been totally in-complete. So I personally recommend that if you dine here ask for Juanita! She is not only fun, energetic and helpful. But goes above and beyond to personally enhance your experience and make knowledgeable recommendations. I will not only be back but I will be recommending her and Urban Fondue to my family, friends and clients.
(5)
Jav V.
When we arrived, about 3 different employees looked at us and said hello, but then walked away. We were finally seated. 2 days later, I got an email from Open Table saying I didn't show up for my reservation. We thought the front corner table looked cozy, but it turned out to be uncomfortable because it forces you to sit straight up in an awkwardly good posture kind of way. Our cheese fondue was great. We had the ruby port. The bread they give you was just OK, but I guess it doesn't really matter when you're covering it in cheese. The $5 side of fruit we ordered seemed to consist off less than an entire apple and about 4 grapes. It was also covered in something that we didn't like the taste of. For a side, we had the gratin. It was not very good. The entrees are a complete waste of money. You basically boil the meat or fish or whatever in whatever broth you choose. Boiled meat is not fondue in my mind and I don't need it nor do I want to pay $20+ for it. I would go back, but only for cheese fondue.
(2)
Eric H.
We did the fondue experience and absolutely loved it. The staff was friendly and extremely helpful. The food was very fresh and tasted delicious. For the price I don't think you would ever find a better meal. Most other places I have done fondue (read The Melting Pot) have been higher priced and lower quality meats and veggies. We will be going back for sure!
(5)
Rhandi M.
This place is AMAZING! I came here for a random night out without a reservation and they were more than happy to seat my boyfriend and I. First of all, the service is outstanding! The servers are very friendly and are helpful when it comes to choosing what you want. I will definitely come here again and again :)
(5)
Maggie Y.
For cheese fondue, you can't beat the selection and the flavour here. They have several cheese fondues including a Tillamook cheddar and one with Bleu Cheese that's incredible. Given the above, the cheese fondue is the best part of the meal here. The rest of the meal w/ food you can cook in various broths and the many dipping sauces are lack luster. The broths include a Yosenabe Japanese style broth, and a tomato basil. The standout was the tomato basil, but still, not enough flavor in the broth. The dipping sauces including pesto, thai peanut, etc aeren't all that good. The service is very very slow even with an empty restaurant, although our waiter was very attentive, the rest of the staff wasn't. Our yosenabe broth came without our candle lit and it took 10 minutes before we could find someone else to come back and lite our broth, by then it had cooled quite a bit..shouldn't the first person who brought the broth notice and lite it? Dessert w/ the various chocolate flavored and cheesecake dips were very good..it just took too long to get there, we were all figeting to leave by then. Overall, I'm not sure I'd pay for the whole fondue experience of everything, I'd come back and just get the cheese fondue so I can enjoy the best part and get out of there at a decent hour. We were there over 3 hrs..that's fine for some, but not everyone.
(3)
Sheila J.
You cant really beat their happy hour selection and prices on cocktails and small plates. Its tasty and drinks are half price during happy hour
(4)
B B.
I love FONDUE! I can't find too many places to have fondue in CA and then expect to pay no tax on it - WOW!!! My girlfriend was on location, so I figured free room & board - what better excuse to visit Portland. She suggested we try Urban Fondue and we had a blast. Like me, she is a fondue fan and our experience was just divine. We had the Fondue Experience and started w/ the Brie & Gorgonzola Fondue - YUMMY YUMMY in my TUMMY! We had the Bavarian Balsamic Grain Mustard (good), Lemon-Garlic Butter with Parsely and Caper (good), Thai Peanut (good) and Au Poivre Peppercorn (great) dipping sauces. We topped it with the bittersweet chocolate hazelnut fondue, which was fairly tasty considering I am not a big fan of hazelnut. The service wasn't so fantastic; when I inquired about a drink that looked pretty tasty our waitress had no clue and gave us the wrong suggestions. Anyhow, the ambiance was fun and the company I was with was even better. We had to be rolled back to her hotel!
(4)
Jaben C.
This place is super fun. I went most recently for my daughter's 15th birthday dinner. The appetizer of cheese fondue had to be the standout. I mean the one with the toasted caraway seeds is to die for. I would take all the appetizers without hesitation, but when I get to pick, that's the one that I prefer. The main courses of meat, seafood, chicken, and veggies are all tasty and clearly fresh. The broths are all flavorful and interesting. If I can't have more of the caraway appetizer, then I will take some of these. I prefer the beef and the meats that cook quicker. Honestly, the biggest problem for me is that I don't want to wait 3 minutes for the seafood or veggies. It's hard to wait when they're sitting in front of you and looking so yummy. The dessert is quite fun with bits of fruit and cakes and stuff to dip into chocolate. I think next time I go I will just order one of each cheese fondue appetizer and a dessert. No waiting involved, just dip and eat.
(5)
Sarah W.
The positive: They sat me early, even before all my party arrived. The waiter let us order for the person that was late in order to receive the discount price. The cheese fondue was spectacular. The best I've ever had. The waiter was amazing, he explained everything so clearly, he was funny and charming. He didn't rush us and let is take our time. I wish I remembered his name. He cared very much who was vegetarian or had food allergies. The negative: It was kinda messy, the dipping sauces are very thin and kinda gets everywhere. The main dishes are just ok. I had the veggie one and loved the variety of veggies. The dessert was just ok. Not bad but just not very good. Overall had a great experience and will be back!
(4)
Steve H.
Yesterday was our second experience at Urban Fondue. The service is among the most attentive we have experienced anywhere. His recommendations were perfect. (Try the local smoked cheddar.... Amazing!) The "Fondue Experience" is plenty of delicious choices, the broth choices still have my mouth watering, and the fact that they are attached to "Bar Tini" is a definite plus. We plan to have a long happy relationship with this place!
Fabulous place. Service was excellent. Our server explained everything and was very patient with us. We had the white cheddar with caraway for a starter. It was so good. I almost said "Forget the entree and give us another one of these." We then had the vegetables with a tomato based cooking medium. That was good by itself, but the dipping sauces made it even better. We especially recommend the aioli. For dessert there was a variety of fruit and sweet with a chocolate raspberry fondue. Yum.
(5)
Vidushi B.
I have been coming to Urban Fondue for about 4 years now, and I'm a fan. In the United States, it seems that fondue is synonymous with The Melting Pot, but Urban Fondue is much better. Usually, when I come here, we just stick to cheese and dessert, and kind of skip the actual fondue. However, this time, I came with my family, and since my mom is vegetarian, we decided to get the Vegetarian entree fondue as well. So I'll start with the cheese -- it's really good. My favorite is the Ruby Port, which is classic but also with a nice flavor twist. The classic cheddar is also good, and if you're only doing cheese or have a large group, it's nice to get a few different types. It comes with bread pieces, but I we usually also order some sides like asparagus spears as well. The one time we got the vegetarian entree, it was pretty disappointing. I just don't think fondue is really meant for vegetables, it's more for meat. It's served with mushrooms, tofu, onions, carrots, and other vegetables, but the result is just kind of average. I suppose the concept is good in theory, but the broth doesn't add that much flavor (we got the Tomato Basil broth). The sauces are a nice touch but don't actually add that much either. And of course, the desserts -- they are excellent. I have tried many of them, and to be honest, they're all pretty similar. But I do enjoy the classic bittersweet chocolate, the tiramisu, and the chocolate raspberry. They are served with a variety of yummy dipping options; my favorites are the cheesecake and cookie dough. If you don't want something on the plate, they will substitute with other things! Oh -- and how can I forget the cocktails. They are excellent as well. My favorite is the 'spicy martini' section of the menu, which includes fruity martinis with a spicy kick. I've tried all of them and they are excellent! Ambiance is trendy but a little dark. Works for me though! Definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Tricia W.
Loved, loved, loved the fondue!! We went with a group and tried lots of different kinds and there was not a dud in the bunch! The cocktails were pretty good (a bit weaker than I would have preferred) and not too pricey~ as cocktails go. The only thing I did not care for about this place was the crowd. I suppose that is part of the allure, but it gets kind of awkward when you are relaxing and enjoying the vibe at the table and you look up and see a V E R Y long line of folks waiting to get in. Also, very noisy~ a fun place to go with a group but you might want to go somewhere else if you are looking for intimacy.
(4)
Steve B.
If you like great fondue and great martinis, this is the place for you! If you dislike both, you probably shouldn't bother. It is really unfair to criticize a place based on how much an individual likes a certain menu item, as everyone has very different tastes, but the staff is fantastic and always willing to accommodate your tastes. Considering the quality of food, the price, especially for the Fondue Experience, can't really be beat. Also, half price martinis during happy hour that are absolutely wonderful!
(5)
Martin B.
Pretty dam good stuff!! The staff was quite helpful. Much better than the Melting Pot, that's for sure. Order the Ruby Port Cheese, it was outstanding!!
(4)
Alayna S.
Had an awesome meal. We did the fondue experience and shared the ruby port then we each had lobster and chicken or steak and shared the potatoes augratin and for dessert we had the peanut butter and chocolate fondue. We can't wait to come back and try the Brie and Gorgonzola fondue as well as the Heath bar fondue!
(5)
Leah H.
I am struggling a bit with this review. I have been to Urban Fondue twice now, last night being the second. The first time I went was with a friend and we shared the Brie & Gorgonzola fondue, it was out of this world good. We had also had the Peanut Butter & Chocolate fondue and that was really good, too. Since this place has a date like ambiance, I thought I would bring my husband. So, we decided to do the fondue experience. A very good price for a three-course meal. Service both times were 5 stars. This time we ordered the Ruby Port Fondue, not even close to as good as the other. Not horrible, but too thin for any bread to stick and not much flavor. For the entree I ordered the Lobster & Prawns and my husband had the Steak & Lobster. What really threw us off on this part was there was no seasoning at all. Nothing on the raw portions, and no salt & pepper to be found. As we started cooking the lobster in the broth and using the timer to make it was cooked, when it came out there was an awful smell to it and I really couldn't tell if it was all the way cooked. I started to feel really sick as I was trying to power through the meal. I thought things would get better when I got to the dessert portion (Banana's Foster), which was tasty but way to rich and heavy. I should have listened to myself a little more because I threw up as soon as I got home and 3 more times all through the night. Not good! I would go back, but if I did I will never order the entree portion again. Sticking with the fondue I liked best and maybe a cocktail. Go somewhere else for the main food. Service, however was definitely 5 stars.
(3)
Jessica C.
Such a good place to go if you're wanting good food, a calm ambiance, but willing to spend a little money. The cheese fondue is TOO. DIE. FOR. 100% no complaints. The bread + garlic sausage makes the cheese taste even better. By far the best part of Urban Fondue. The dessert fondue, however, is good, but not great. The fondue itself is very yummy, but the desserts they bring with it are not so good. You get half a strawberry, half a banana, 3 tiny slices of pineapple, and then waaaayyy to many pastries and cookie dough clumps. I can barley eat anything on the plate. Next to Urban Fondue is the Bartini, which gives the customers great drink choices and another favorite of mine. This and the cheese is the reason for the 4 stars. But, if you are wanting someplace to enjoy the full 3 course experience, go to The Melting Pot. A little more expensive, but much more worth the cost.
(4)
Ken T.
Good food and a fun experience, but expensive for the amount you receive. I came hungry and remained hungry after dinner and desert. The atmosphere is nice.
(3)
Winnie F.
Used a Groupon here and experienced their 3 course meal. Delicious from start to finish. Some reviewers here complained about the M-Th restriction. It's the number 1 rule of Groupon to read the fine print. Nothing on the Groupon was miscommunicated. Space is small so make a reservation at least 2 days earlier. I was waiting on a friend for a whole hour before she finally shows up. Staff was still friendly and didn't kick me out, though I did feel bad and order a few extra drinks. Most of the martinis are around $7, not strong, but delicious. Highly suggest the brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue. $11 for all cheese fondue, which comes with locally baked bread. $13 for all dessert fondue, which comes with cheesecakes, pound cakes, cookie doughs, cream puff, pineapple, strawberries etc. Great staff and romantic/modern decor. Great location for dates!
(4)
Scott H.
Cheese and chocolate and call it good. Urban Fondue is a favorite of my wife and I. One of the best features is their drink selection is amazing. Bartini next door has an incredible happy hour, but it's not really the same restaurant so it's not fair to lump the two together. The entrees are very pricey and I still can't really get on board with the cooking fondiues. The reason I'm coming to the restaurant is so that you can cook it for me. With the exception of Bulgogi, I am no where willing to pay full price if I am doing the work. Start off with the grilled artichoke. I will never understand why more places don't have artichokes on their menu. They are so delicious and fun. The cheese fondues are great and very reasonable. I recommend the sides too such as the mushrooms. I have only had the cheddar and the ruby port. Both were awesome. I never thought to ask for more bread, but I'm told you can. For dessert they get a little more expensive, but I guess chocolate is expensive. I agree with other yelpers that the marionberry is a little weird. It's like a pot of melted cheesecake which I guess suits some people. My one complaint about the dessert is that the dippers come in odd numbers. There are three of lots of them. Why not do four of them, or two and a bigger variety. Usually these will be shared by a couple and you don't want to start a riot. Also I feel the amount of chocolate is way more than the dippers. Maybe drop the chocolate and the price, or put in more dippers. The room is a little dark, I guess thats good since you are usually dripping stuff all over the table and yourself. They've had issues with temperature in the past too, sometimes the room gets unbearably hot. Overall, it's a nice date spot for some cheese and chocolate. I'll skip the entree though.
(4)
Derek S.
Great food and pretty good atmosphere. All-n-All ... B+. The cheese was awesome and the prices are WAY more fair than the POT.
(4)
Jamie D.
Service was average, though they were busy. Everything was overpriced so I would only go for happy hour or a Groupon. Don't get any entrees, so expensive and barely any food. I would come back for the cheese fondues or dessert.
(3)
Russ P.
We came for Valentines Day and we got there an hour before our reservation. We walked into Bartini and was offered a comfy spot to settle before our table was ready. The martinis are amazing. We had a Bird of Paradise and some Pear thingy. Both were fantastic. Service was excellent and our server Vince was over the top amazing. Made our special occasion great and food was so good. I can't imagine how any negative reviews are submitted but I guess anything can happen. Will certainly try it again! Very refreshing change from the melting pot.
(5)
Trisha L.
We went to Urban Fondue for a girls' night out, celebrating my daughter's birthday. We made our reservation for 5pm on a Friday night. We arrived a bit early - and good thing - as the parking situation in this area is horrible! Drove around and around for 20 minutes. Ended up parking 5 blocks away. That is my one and only real complaint about this restaurant. First impressions of the restaurant itself: very small, intimate and bordering on dark dining room. I think I counted 13 tables total. I loved the ambience though. The booths are awesome! Now, on to our dining experience. We got the "so you say it's your birthday" package. $41.99/person. Included cheese course, main course, cocktail (or mock tail) and dessert course, as well as a group photo. Since there were 5 of us, we were able to choose 3 cheeses, 3 cooking broths and 2 dessert fondues for our table. For cheese course, we chose ruby port fondue, by far my favorite! Also white cheddar with caraway and tomato basil. All were delicious! When we ran out of bread, our server brought us more without us even having asked for it. The main course: our server recommended cooking broths based on our dinner selections. We had steak, chicken and seafood at our table. We also got to choose 2 sides. Which were very small but very good. Au Gratin potatoes are excellent! They also bring an insane amount of dipping sauces. It was a lot of fun trying those out with our meat. For dessert - we had peanut butter chocolate fondue and Heath bar fondue. Both were excellent. Didn't give enough "dippers" to use up all the chocolate though. Some marshmallows on the dipper plate would have been a great addition. The cocktail menu is huge and varied. The service is excellent. I can't wait for another "occasion" so I have an excuse to go back!! If only the parking situation wasn't so horrible.....
(4)
Jill M.
Had an awful experience. I came to this restaurant recently with a friend for dessert with a reservation at 9:15pm. When we arrived, there were no customers seated, and absolutely no staff in sight. All of the waiters and hosts were in the back and we could hear them chit chatting. After waiting for about ten minutes and no one came to seat us, we finally decided to leave. Even though it was fairly close to closing, we did have a reservation, and it was absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable for a business to be ran this way. I found this especially disappointing because I normally love their food. I expected more from Urban Fondue!
(1)
Ronald A.
A group of us stopped in for dinner last night. We had a great time. However, I am betwixt and between about our evening. We ordered the full meal deal. It was probably too much food, even though we worked hard to finish our meals. We started with a cheese course. The special of the evening was lemon Stilton and it was very good. The ruby port was good. However, the caraway based cheese was very ordinary. We had two broths for the meat and seafood, one was chicken based and good, while the other was tomato based and at odds with the meat and seafood. They do a nice set of sauces. We ended the evening with dessert sauces. The caramel and bittersweet chocolate were good, but the Marionberry cheesecake was odd. I liked the wine list and their prices were very fair. The staff was very friendly and overall, they did a good job. I have had a hard time finishing this review. While a couple of the sauces were good, overall, the sauces were ordinary, so we left with a Ho hum feeling about the meal.
(3)
Jeff S.
Urban Fondue is slightly different than the bigger chain fondue restaurants. Instead of having a stove in the middle everyone gets a mini heater. You can only put so much food in it or else it will lower the temp of the pot and it will take you forever. I loved the fact that you can order as many soup base as you wanted, and they give you literally 8 separate dipping sauces. Not much to write about the food, as everything was fine. Fondue really isn't about the quality as much as the experience. However the dessert (melted carmel) was pretty freaking amazing.
(4)
Mia D.
Since the only other fondue place is the Melting Pot, the only comparisons I can make is in the case of the entrees. The entree selection at the Melting Pot is better than Urban Fondue. The cooking styles are better at the MP as well because if you are a vegetarian or you do not eat beef or chicken, the only selection is a tomato broth and that does not compliment all selections well. I also feel that UF leaves something to be desired in the way of presentation as well. Simply putting a plate of items to be dipped on a plate without some sort of attention to detail may be fine elsewhere but for the price they charge, I think they can do better. I would say go for the first and dessert course and enjoy it becuase they are fabulous. Skip the entree. The service is good and the waitstaff is attentive. The drink prices are fair and I think it would be a great place to take a date for dessert and a cocktail.
(3)
Kim P.
Did the whole meal for the first time - including cool our own meat. Not a fan. While the red broth is tasty, it is difficult to know for sure if your chicken is fully cooked. The chocolate was tasty, but the dippers were not super enjoyable. Dried apricots in chocolate? Hmm... All the baked items (donuts, pound cake, etc.) were frozen. It was a great experience, but just that - an experience. I will return to Melting Pot with the stainless pots over the real burner!
(2)
Ben K.
Pros: Delicious fondue entrees, cool atmosphere Cons: Slow, slow service, fruit flies We went here the other night for a company dinner with our Alaska office. I wanted to take them somewhere local and somewhere fun. I thought Urban Fondue would fit both of those traits. I left the place a tad disappointed, if not full. First off, the place is cool. It has a neat atmosphere that is hip, but not too hip. Comfortable but chic. The food was wonderful. The cheese fondus were fantastic, the meat entrees were delicious, and the desserts were terrific (except they didn't have marshmallows to dip, which was a tad sad). The server was nice and friendly, but she was slow. Frustratingly slow. The cheese and meat parts were done at a fine pace (fondue is an experience that takes time, I get that). However, the lag between the meats and the dessert was unbelievably slow. We were about ready to just pay and leave, but by then the dessert arrived. The dessert was great, so I'm glad we ate it, but the super long wait was just inexcusable. Also, little fruit flies were flying around, which were both annoying and kind of gross. 3 to 3.5. I'd be willing to go again and overall it was fun, but the slowness and the fruit flies were a bit of a turnoff.
(3)
Pearl W.
Made reservations here a week in advance. When I got near the establishment my group and I had a terrible time finding parking. I called them to let them know I was running late and they assured me that it was ok. Once we got there 30 minutes late, we had to wait because our table still wasn't set up yet. We stood in front for another 15 minutes and didn't even have any where to sit while we waited. When I called and made the reservation, I let them know that it was for a birthday and they didn't even acknowledge that... Had the Ruby Port Cheese Fondue and it was amazing! Tried my friend's Marionberry Cheesecake Fondue and that was great too!!! I'd love to go here again, but it is far for me. Hoping that the service will be better next time!
Food was amazing! Did the fondue experience with steak and lobster. Dipping sauces are amazing! Only reason I'm giving a 3 star is because it was god awful hot in the restaurant, to the point that my boyfriend and I were actually sweating =\ other than that, this place was great. For people that don't know where to park there's a parking garage about 2 blocks up :)
(3)
Vanessa M.
I came here for my going away dinner with colleagues before moving back home from Portland to NYC. We had a wonderful time here and every fondue we ordered were delicious. We had about 15 people so we pretty much had all of the ones they have on the menu to share. Of course the various chocolate and dessert ones ended up being the stars of the meal for everyone, I actually enjoyed the savory ones just as much. Great decently quick service especially for a large group.
(4)
Joe V.
Came here for the first time last night for our anniversary. Never been to a fondue restaurant so we went in not knowing what to expect. Shawn was our server and knowing it was our first time was gracious enough to go through pretty much the whole menu with us and how everything works. Im sure it was a pain but he didnt let it show. We decided on easing our way in and decided to do a cheese fondue and a dessert fondue. For the cheese we chose the Ruby Port. It came out with a plate of bread cubes and they even included apples and grapes extra im assuming since it was our first time, nice touch. The Ruby Port was AMAZING, to die for. We then had the Black Forest chocolate fondue which came with all sorts of fruits and pastries for dipping. It was good as well but we both agreed next time we may just do two cheese fondues cause well, we're addicted. Cant comment on the main entrees cause we were a little intimidated about cooking our food at the table but next time! Overall I give Urban Fondue high marks and recommend it for a special evening or to hangout with friends. Mostly Shawns hospitality put it all over the top. Will be back soon!
(5)
Mat S.
I'm a nine year old girl and we went here for my dad's B day. Service: If you are looking for some AMAZING service, here would not be the place to go. Our guy seemed to be rushed and stressed, he was generally a good guy but he kept trying to talk us into the "fondue experience." Maybe 2 and a half stars on that. The service was OK. Food: really, very pricey. We got 2 cheese fondues and they were OK. Not great.2 stars. Main course was good, but you pay for more than you get. Small plates. 4 stars. Dessert was yummy, but we got chocolate butterscotch fondue and it did not taste like butterscotch one bit. Nope. 3 stars overall. Might return once or twice, but probably not that often.
(3)
Alejandro S.
The website lets you leave comments for a message or special request. I asked for outdoor seating for my anniversary and asked for them to call me if it was unavailable. They did not call, and did not have outdoor seating when I arrived. Terrible place, I'll never return. Terrible anniversary dinner. The staff did not care about their error or lack of response.
(1)
Jason T.
This would be the second time I have come to Urban Fondue. The first time was amazing, service was spot on and the atmosphere and food was great. The 2nd trip was much less enjoyable. There was a lovely group of clearly drunk bachelorettes in the middle of the room "yay". A chair at the table was clearly broken and more of a recliner and the food was just ok. The holders for the broth were broken and missing whole chunks. The server didn't seem to have a vested interest in the table. For the price, I'd rather skip it and go elsewhere.
(2)
Ric L.
I take my wife to the Melting Pot every year for her birthday. Never again! The food at Urban Fondue is twice as good at half the price. We were seated within one minute of our reservation, and our server greeted us immediately even though the place was packed. The menu is uncomplicated, and the staff balances service and tasks with a sense of grace and calm. I watched every staff member, and all of them were attentive and friendly. Our sever Brett was amazing and clearly has a passion for his work! Cocktails come from Bartini next door, so be prepared for your mouth to orgasm as you sip your way through some fabulously sexy and creative cocktails that perfectly compliment the menu! There are downsides: 1) it's on 21st and Glisan, so take a cab because parking is non-existent, 2) the booths are a bit uncomfortable, so ask for some pillows, a booster chair, or hip replacement surgery, 3) the decor is a bit blah, and 4) it crazy noisy in there, but that's okay because it comes from happy customers enjoying themselves. We had the Urban Fondue Experience and--while quite delicious--took 2-1/2 hours from start to finish, which seemed a tad excessive. But, when you get great service and great food, it's very easy to overlook small annoyances. We strongly recommend Urban Fondue for fun dates and special occasions. We can't wait to go back!
(4)
Dan N.
Brother N and family friend were up here from LA and the four of us (including Wife N) decided to take in the fondue scene. We started with the bread and Brie/Gorgonzola cheese fondue appetizer. This was positively heavenly. Creamy, gooey, cheese with that hint of Gorgonzola and topped with hazelnut crumbs...and....ran out of bread...just....oh come on----you KNOW you want to just stick your finger in there and lick it clean! Hygiene be damned. We did. To their credit, they were right on it with more bread cubes but the fingers proved equally tasty (and lower in carbs!). While they had several specials each couple settled in on the plate that has a little bit of everything on it (called the "Urban Fondue for Two"): beef, pork, chicken, a couple lobster bites, scallops and a variety of veggies. For the cooking broths we went with a beef stock and the other with a tomato-fennel broth. The tomato worked well on the veggies and seafood, and the beef worked better for the meats. When the plates were delivered, we kind of got that "is that it?" feeling. But believe me, each pair was hard-pressed to finish everything on the plate. It was easily enough food for two. We didn't have room for dessert, though in prior visits we have tried their chocolate fondue (fruit, doughnut and cheesecake bites for dipping) and it was really amazing. After dinner, we hopped next door to Bartini, which is Urban Fondue's bar area and a storefront in its own right (the two are connected via passageway in the rear). Excellent drinks there, which can be ordered with the meals as well. I have a separate Bartini review so I won't go into any further detail here. We've had fondue here at least a couple times over the past 2-3 years and, while it can be expensive, the meal has always been excellent. The Fondue side is a great intimate couples place as well (not so much on the Bartini side which can get loud with couples hollering "What!?!" over blaring dubstep); Urban Fondue is a definite keeper on the "date night" tour.
(4)
Christina R.
Came on a Sunday evening and got happy hour prices. Everything was delicious. Suggestion: during cold weather try joy to sit at the table by the window. It gets chilly. We were aware that a full meal would take about 2 hours. At just before 2 hours we started to get rushed by staff. We were still eating, for d on the plates, when they brought his the bill. A few minutes later he returned and asked if the money was ready. Well, it wasn't. We did not think it a good practice to ask us to pay while we were still eating. We also had to ask several times for a refill on the water.
(4)
linda a.
We had dinner for eight and it was outstanding!!! Everyone enjoyed the different fondues but what really made it great was the service. The waiter, Vince, was fantastic, and the maître d' Garret who seated us was very helpful!!! The only thing that we had a problem with Was they were a little late setting us for our reservation but they were very accommodating by offering us all a free drink to make up for it!!! I diffinitely recommend Urban Fondue!!!!!
(5)
Mellissa B.
Located on NW 21st and Glisan, Urban Fondue is a part of Bartini, which is an attached (casual trendy) martini lounge. Since there were no seats left yesterday at Bartini for my 5 girlfriends and I, we happily sat next door at Urban Fondue since they honor the happy hour on that side. Get there before 6 if you want a spot. "Holy drink specials!" I shouted with a smile upon viewing the happy hour menu. On pages 3-6, find martinis at half off during happy hour - my two were both only $3.50 a piece (and had a good amount of booze to boot)! Happy hour food prices start at $4 an item, which is not as cheap as other spots, but there is a large selection here. I had two large martinis, two shrimp tacos and a (tiny) plate of seared ahi tuna all for $14 not including tip. While that may seem pricey my little Yelpits, we must remember this is a semi-trendy spot and not a traditional bar with deep fried foods. I think it was a good deal! My creme brulee martini was delish. I tasted my friends Bird Of Paradise martini and literally cried out with delight (it was like a tropical vacation in my mouth plus a suprising and fun sprinkle of cinnamon). Fondue: Although I didn't have any, three of my gal pals shared the chocolate-peanut butter desert fondue ($12.95) complete with a large plate of dippers including donuts, cookie dough, bananas, and strawberries. It looked fabulous, they said it was, and finished every last bit. Our server, Vince, was funny, a good sport, and very professional. He even split our bill up for us! We will be back!
(4)
Kelly M.
Oh my god, this place, is out of this world! The ambience is fantastic, the interior is tastefully decorated. The staff is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about all things fondue, not to mention you wont have to wait around for the waiter to take your order or refill your beverage. I find that the "Fondue Experience" is definitely the best bang for your buck: one entree per person, one cheese fondue one dessert selection and one side are all shared by two. If you come in before 6 this i only $27, talk about a bargain! I have been here countless times for birthdays and nights on the town, and I have never been disappointed, however I do feel as though I gained 10 pounds after I leave, but it is well worth it!
The fondue here is to die for! My favorite here (so far) is the Gorgonzola Brie. It is wonderful with bread but is great with fruit as well. The service was good. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. Try a dessert fondue after dinner. Overall, great place! It is a little on the pricey side but cheaper than Melting Pot and so worth it. Bottom line: if you are a fan of fondue, go to Urban Fondue. You won't be disappointed! :)
(5)
Malcolm S.
I have been here a few times now and I have had similar experiences each time. I initially tried this place based off of a friends recommendation and honestly I was not very impressed the best part of this place seemed to be the atmosphere and service not to the food. However since my girlfriend seemed to enjoy it I would make semi frequent reservations for date nights. Every single time I would request a booth and I am still yet to get one without having to wait for an extra 30-45 minutes. After a few times I gave up and did not mention that we requested a booth and the seating still took 20 minutes from our scheduled reservation time. My most recent trip was yesterday for valentines day (girlfriends request once again.) And not only did they fail to give us a booth(which we expected) we were not seated for over 35 minutes. Since it was Valentines day we understood and waited we we were finally seated only to find out they have a special valentines day menu which was not viewable online. Now obviously this was on purpose because it was the exact same menu as always but LITERALLY double the price. At that point I was very tempted to leave but since we had waited for so long and was reassured this was a "Special" Valentines day menu we waited and ordered. Only to be extremely disappointed. The food was in fact exactly the same food except the included one grilled scallop to the appetizer and a "complementary" glass of champagne. We also had a later dinner so it was not nearly as busy but all the food took forever which can be understandable if they weren't bringing us raw food that we cook ourselves and the wait staff seemed more interested in talking to each other then the customers on supposedly the biggest day of the year for most restaurants. I understand Valentines day is a big day and many restaurants have a special menu for that day but this was ridiculous. The only reason to come here is the atmosphere the food is rather average and seems a bit overpriced on a normal day let alone my last experience here. Even my girlfriend who was the reason we returned so many times was disappointed. Unfortunately we will have to cross this place off of our date night list.
(2)
Holly D.
Birthday dinner for two of my daughters. Got the Fondue Experience...cheese..mmmmm....main course..mmmm...free dessert for two birthdays on the same day....grrrreat! BUT it never occurred to us that it would take three hours to cook our own food and we missed our reservations for a nearby sport club! Now I understand why it is so expensive....the tables do not turn over! But we had a great time...martini's were good too...just don't make plans for after..Urban Fondue IS the main event.
(4)
Susan C.
Love this place! To me, it's all about ambience and quality. I particularly enjoy the intimacy and swanky red booths. The seafood and vegetable options are great, and smaller portions help to enjoy the food more. We have also reserved the loft on occasion, which is an awesome curtained area seating about 12. Many friends who we have recommended to this place prefer a chain fondue place in town, mostly citing the larger quantity of food and wider variety. While I agree, I really do prefer the local feel, the environment, the quality, and prices at urban fondue. Oh, and the martini selection from next door at Bartini really help as well!
(5)
Lexie W.
Urban Fondue was amazing! Ryan, our server was so kind and very helpful with his recommendations. The atmosphere was great, the booths were comfortable, and the food was delicious! I was there for my eighteenth birthday with three other people. We ordered the fondue experience which included cheese fondue with bread, two entrees, and a dessert fondue! The northwest chicken was delicious, the smoked cheddar fondue was amazing, and the house made chocolate fondue WAS SO GOOD. I will definitely visit Urban Fondue again!
(5)
Carla B.
The full course menu is wonderful. The price and especially the service is far superior to the melting pot. The smoked cheddar fondue, lobster and shrimp main, and Heath bar chocolate fondue were delicious. Highly recommend the martinis as well-excellent selection for all tastes.
(5)
Erick I.
Fondue ... Is like no other .... It is great or not so great.... Urban fondue was great great great! Rachel (our waitress) was excellent ... She gave us suggestions and was very attentive to our needs! This is a great place to go and experience the fondue "experience "
Made reservations here for my girlfriend's birthday dinner. She had been wanting to go to fondue. We had a great time. Excellent service from our server Ryan as well as the other staff whom all wished my girlfriend a happy birthday. The price is a bit high but the atmosphere and experience was worth it for a special occasion. I haven't been to melting pot but I like that this place isn't a national chain.
(5)
Warren C.
My girlfriend loves cheese. Rather than doing the usual restaurants we go to I wanted to give her something to remember our first Valentines Day together. I made reservations in advance and left a message on their voicemail. I was immediately called back and told their representative that I was interested in a reservation on Valentines day. He was nice enough to explain to me what the whole evening consisted of but one thing I found rather rude was the double checking if I was ok spending 40-45 dollars per person. Look, If I had to ask then price may be an issue. I never once asked you how much it was going to cost me nor did I even make any hesitations on this reservations. I just wanted it done. I blew off the comment and took it with a grain of salt. The evening of Valentines Day, our reservation was for 8pm We showed up right on time and had to wait an additional 45 minutes for our seating in the bar. I understand if you guys are busy but at least apologize for our wait and don't come off like you're too good to even help us. Never once did I complain. I let it go because I know this is a busy evening for you guys. The dinner experience itself is very lacking The only memorable part of this evening was the beginning course of Port Wine Cheese fondue. I will say that is really good. The dinner entree and dessert is hugely lacking. The portions are really small and the broth choices did not appeal to me or my girlfriend at all. What was shared between both of us was definitely not enough for both of us. The food itself lacked any spices or seasoning and virtually had no taste that really stood out. I will say that because I'm asian. We do hot pot which is the asian version of fondue and first off our portions are on the opposite end of the spectrum. Our food is properly seasoned and when you go out to eat it is all you can eat not preportioned. I am not looking for the same comparison but for what you charge and the profit margin you make from it I would think you would be a little more generous. The dessert was another huge disappointment. The server suggested we try the tiramisu fondue so we took her advice. Other than the lady fingers nothing in this fondue makes it similarly close to tiramisu. The accompaniments were also sprawled all over the serving plate clumsily. Overall I was not pleased with this dinner experience. On top of it all the pots used this evening for the fondue were very dirty as well. You would figure most establishment would understand that the first impression is very important. Something simple as dirty pots is just inexcusable. The time came to pay for the meal this evening. I really just wanted it to be over. I recollected when I first checked in this evening on foursquare there was a coupon for $5 off your meal here so I decided to show the employee online coupon from yelp and the management would not honor it. Not that spending a $115 is a lot for dinner for two I wouldn't think that $5 would not break the bank either. Your excuse you asked? Well, management said that the coupon was offered with the last manager that worked here before and they would not honor it because he is no longer here. The server was tipped accordingly and we went on our way. If you are going to let $5 come between a customer then congratulations, I will never come back here again nor will I ever recommend this place to any of my friends. From the point I made the initial reservation til the time I paid, never once was this a pleasurable experience. I hope you will take this review and learn from it so other customers may have a better experience than I had. UPDATE: I received an email from Vince Thekkedom whom responded to an email I sent them with the link to my review. Thank you for your help in bringing this problem with our yelp account to our attention. We regret that you experienced any negative impact on your visit. We have finally gotten control of the yelp promotions and since removed the offer. Regards, Vince Thekkedom Urban Fondue~Bartini Urban 503.242.1400 Bartini 503.224.7919 I appreciate the fact that he did respond promptly but this really doesn't soften the sting much at all. As I mentioned, I hope this review will serve its purpose to their future customers.
(1)
Amy L.
I went several times for dessert fondue. The wait isn't too long, most of the time I don't even have to wait. Drinks were ok. Went for happy hour and they served us the saltiest chips ever..... I recommend coming here for drinks or dessert. The dessert fondue is ok. The fondue itself is pretty good my gripe is with the dipping things. Fruits are fresh. The cheesecake was still frozen. Pound cake was Sara Lee, Cookie dough by the end was a pile of sugary goo..... I prefer going to Melting pot.....for dessert fondue I'll try more of the savory fondue for my next visit Cons: Salty black pepper chips
(3)
Matt S.
In theory, the meal my wife and I shared was fantastic. We used the Groupon so many people have mentioned, and would have felt like we got a great deal if not for the unfortunate execution we experienced. First course: the brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue was exceptional--warm, rich, and velvety goodness. We ordered the side of fruit, but it wasn't brought out until well after the bread and cheese--the staff had forgotten it, and ended up taking the fruit off our bill. Main course: we ordered the steak, pork, lobster, and shrimp. Nine different dipping sauces were all delicious, and at first, the meat was wonderful. However, not long into the course, our broth was no longer steaming and we were more than doubling the recommended cook times only to find the meat undercooked. I finally put my finger into the broth (gross, I know), and it was scarcely warmer than an hour-old cup of coffee. We let the waiter know, and he took the broth back to re-heat it and replaced our burner. We waited quite a while to resume our dinner, which was fine with me--my stomach was a little uneasy at the thought of the undercooked pork and lobster I had just eaten, not being able to see the color of the meat because of the orange and pink hanging light bulbs overhead. Finally the server brought our re-heated broth back and we resumed the meal (yeah, I pushed through the nausea--I'm a trooper). Dessert course: we opted for the bittersweet chocolate and hazelnut fondue. Lots of different treats for dipping, but many of them were half-frozen, and the chocolate was on the thin side and not very warm. That was pretty disappointing. Other notes: we ate on a day when it was around 90 degrees outside, and we were hoping for an air-conditioned dining experience. No such luck. Whether from the heat or the prospect of having eaten undercooked shellfish, I was sweating at our table for most of the meal. In fact, the lemon cucumber water in my glass just might have been warmer than our fondue broth at one point. On the plus side, our server was attentive and helpful, and the cheese fondue was to die for. But all the negatives were too much for me--I won't be going back.
(2)
Cecily H.
I have literally nothing bad to say about this place except that it's super expensive. But it's WELL worth it. This the best dining experience I've ever had. The food was terrific, the service was excellent. They even gave us free stuff because it was our first time. And because we couldn't eat a single bite more, they gave us a gift card to come back for dessert! They're mocktails are amazing and fairly cheap!
(5)
Marissa T.
Yummy yummy in my tummy!!! Love the NW 21st location. Who doesn't like bread and cheese??? I mean , come on!!!!!! The drinks menu is extensive. I came for a co-worker, dear friend's birthday dinner. We got our dip on. Lots of cheesy dipping combinations. Loved 'em all. Lots of meats and fruits and veggies to dip into the yummy cheese too. Busy fun place.
(4)
Stephanie K.
My very most favorite restaurant in all of Portland. I actually don't know why I haven't reviewed it sooner! I love everything about this place (this might be because my favorite things in life happen to be cheese, bread, and potatoes). I consider this my go to special occasion restaurant. And also my "because I want my belly happy" restaurant. My favorites are: ruby port fondue, Brie and Gorgonzola fondue (with a side of the fruit!!!!), the bird of paradise martini, au gratin potatoes, east meats west (and a majority of the yummy house made sauces), and the Heath bar fondue to finish everything off. The downside: when all is said and done you're walking out approximately $100 poorer (but 100% happier, in my opinion) for 2 people, it's a slow process-expect 2 hours for the big shabang, parking-if you can help it don't drive or give yourself PLENTY of time to find a spot in this highly sought after street parking only residential area. The upside: they are so accommodating, they ALWAYS give you service with a smile, they've recently revamped their restaurant with a few small things that have really made a difference (groupon deal, a larger selection of items to dip with dessert, etc.), they treat you like family, if you don't know anything about fondue they'll show/teach you everything, the fondue...if you love cheese this place is infinitely better than melting pot, they have a special fondue of the month every month that rotates and so far they've all been pretty delicious, Bartini is their sister restaurant and they have a great happy hour, and so much more. I could go on and on about how much I love Urban Fondue for their food, service, and the ambiance. They're fantastic.
(5)
Katrina J.
We have been to Urban Fondue 4 or 5 times now...always love it. On our most recent visit, 6/17, we had a 7:15 reservation. We arrived about 10 minutes early and sat over at Bartini after checking it. About 35 minutes after our reservation time the manager came over to apologize for the delay and bought us a round of drinks...how about that Bird Of Paradise, my new fave. An HOUR after our reservation time we were finally seated. The manager apologized and comped our entire meal. We will be back, we love this place and it is obvious they care about their customers too. I'm sure another couple would have been a lot more cranky than we were, but sh!t happens....and we have 4 kids, an hour delay in our night off was no biggie :)
(5)
Tiara E.
My girlfriend and I went for our anniversary. Vince took great care of us. He was so helpful, this was our first fondue experience. We had the tomato basil cheese, amazing. ... For dessert we went with the cheesecake Marion berry, omg! Thank you vince for making our date so enjoyable. Never felt rushed and always felt taken care of.
(5)
Allegra P.
Awesomely Amazing! Did the Fondue Experience which is a special deal on Sundays for $26.95 pp. The Ruby Port Cheese is UNREAL! Added a side of pears, apples & grapes in addition to the bread for dipping. Worth it! Followed it up with a plate of Steak & Lobster Tail and dipping broths recommended by our helpful waiter. Dessert? Chocolate Peanut Butter dip -- i could have just used a plate of cookie dough (peanut butter & chocolate chip!) but it was fun to try the cheese cake, pound cake, doughnuts, strawberries, bananas.... REALLY fun experience! DEFINITELY make a reservation. Small, cozy place and absolutely worth going.
(4)
Andrew S.
Initially, our service was not terribly inviting. We booked a reservation the day before but that didn't stop us from waiting 20 minutes for a table. I forgot that almost immediately, however, as the rest of the evening went so smoothly. As someone who hasn't experience true fondue before, I think our waiter did a phenomenal job walking us through the process, giving recommendations, and thoroughly explaining what we were eating. After cheese fondue appetizers with bread and sausage we had the broth fondue, sharing chicken, steak, lobster, and vegetables among the party. At the end we went for dessert, something I thoroughly recommend saving room for. The wait staff checked in frequently and kept us topped on beverages and food. Everything I ate was beyond delicious. Definitely recommend grabbing one of their martinis as well
(5)
Cara U.
Extremely unsanitary. Not a lot of ways to mix things up. Not worth the price. Service was very under par. I would not recommend this to anyone.
(2)
Phong D.
The wifey and I wanted to celebrate our wedding anniversary with fondue so we decided to try Urban Fondue (UF). Reservations were easily made on Open Table and I called 1 day in advance to secure a booth after reading Lysa D's review. Overall it was a great experience. UF had great ambiance with its reddish walls and plush seats. Our waiter was informative, friendly, and perfectly attentive. We saved $5 per person on the Fondue Experience because we were eating on a weeknight between 5-6pm! The brie and gorgonzola appetizer fondue alone would make me come back. It was creamy, clean, not heavy, and smooth. Fast forward to dessert. The heath bar chocolate fondue took monk-like restraint to not LICK the pot clean. The chocolate paired well with anything I could get my hands on (cheese cake, pound cake, fish sticks, my left shoe). I couldn't help but compare UF to the Melting Pot. UF has great ambiance, typical Portland flavor, better cheese fondue, and smaller portions creating satisfaction instead of self-hatred. Melting Pot is better for larger portions if you happen to be wearing stretchy pants.
(4)
Genevieve F.
How can food this bad be fully booked on a Friday night in Portland? I don't get it. Cheese fondue was only enough for one as a main course. Fruit sides were thrown on a plate and not so fresh. Bread was cut far too long before it was served. Stale! Chocolate fondue was a bit more generous, but again, sides were a variety of low quality, unrecognizable items just thrown on a plate. My four year old could have done better presentation. Fruit flies abound. Very disappointing. Won't be dragged back.
(1)
Stace K.
This is only my second time going to a fondue restaurant. Decided to try here since it is Portland dining month. Let me tell you I was quite pleased! I am not a huge cheese person but the tomato basil cheese fondue was delicious! The portions were also a decent size! My husband who came in hungry could barely finish his entree! $29 for cheese, an entree, a side, AND dessert?!? Money well spent I think! But don't expect super fast service...just enjoy the experience!
(5)
David T.
My girlfriend and I ate here with a couple and their 2 year old daughter. We came here after the gentleman on the phone said that kids are welcome and it wouldn't be a problem to have a child in the restaurant. First off the service was great. Unfortunately, I don't recall our servers name but he was very knowledgeable and guided us through the whole dinner. We (both couples) took advantage of the experience package which included 1 cheese appetizer, 2 entrees, and 1 dessert. The appetizers were very good! I had the Ruby Port Fondue which was phenomenal. Our friends got the Tomato Basil which was also good. For our entree, we got the platter for two which included all the meats and seafood. We decided to go with the chicken broth to cook our food in. I must say, as with most fondue spots, the entree was just so so. Cooking food in broth just leaves it sort of bland. They did provide us with sauces to dress it up a bit which helped. For dessert, we ordered the Rocky Road. It turned out to be hit and our friends seemed to like it more than their cheesecake dessert. Overall it was a good fondue experience and I only give it 3 stars because the entree left something to be desired. I would definitely stop here another time for an appetizer of dessert but would probably pass for the whole dinner experience.
(3)
Renee O.
Great fondue! Second time returning and the service was great and the smoked cheddar fondue with sausage was the perfect late evening delight. Also enjoyable was the coconut mojitini - a summer must! I think the portions are rather small for what you pay, but I don't want to get greedy. Right next to trader joes, makes for a perfect happy hour spot during the week.
(4)
Taylor W.
If you love Fondue, this is the place for you! I feel like I have been here a million times and it never disappoints. The dining room is very swanky with red light big cushy booth sort of feel. I love that they do unique cheese combinations. Not just your typical "beer cheddar" fondue that Meliting Pot does. They have a white cheddar with caraway or gorgonzola/brie, all delicious. I have don ethe Fondue experience and I loved doing the broth ones for the entree. The give you dipping sauces too which are all very good. For dessert I would recommend the Banana's Foster one. I like chocolate but I LOVE caramel. All in all, I love fondue and I love this place.
(5)
A. F.
Melted cheese and chocolate are hard to mess up and overall the food was ok. The service ok and the whole experience was underwhelming. The decor felt like a high end 90's strip club with the lights turned on.
(2)
Emily B.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Portland. This is the local Melting Pot that doesn't charge you your first born child and has a much cozier atmosphere. I can't speak highly enough about this place. Their waitstaff is excellent and knowledgable, usually pretty personable too. Great great date place!
(5)
Yekta A.
Super awesome place to have dinner! Total date spot! We were served by the lovely Courtney who was so nice! She gave us great recommendations and really took good care of us! We started with the BRIE AND GORGONZOLA FONDUE ----OMG heavenly! Then we ordered the THE URBAN FONDUE FOR TWO which was perfect for 2, way enough food! Then came dessert, the BEST part....BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT FONDUE which I am still craving, it really was the best part! All in all, a great experience for us out of towners, just a note: good luck with parking, although it's SO worth it!
(5)
Jessica C.
I made a reservation for 7 people through Open Table about a week and a half ahead of time. The night before my reservation, I received a call from one of the hosts saying my reservation was cancelled because they were having an employee party that night. I protested because it was the night before and it's hard to find a reservation for 7 people with less than a day of notice. He was very unsympathetic and dismissed my concern and basically said "too bad." I will never go to this restaurant if they treat their customers this way.
(1)
Christina B.
Went here with a few girlfriends for a late snack and dessert. Atmosphere: Small space and darkly lit. The booths had tall cushions all around- perfect for an intimate dinner. Service: Good service! Our server was spot on with recommendations and suggestions. Dishes were cleared away immediately and we always had a new cocktail in hand. Food: Great place for fondue (of course) and if you're a fan of hot pot you'll enjoy UF. We had the Brie and Gorgonzola Fondue, the Carmel Fondue, the Rocky Road chocolate fondue, and a steak and pork fondue (with more dipping sauces than actual food on the plate???). All was delish! Drinks: Cocktails were good- if you like Bartini (next door/same place) you'll love UFs cocktail menu. I'm not sure how filling UF would be for people looking for a full meal, but we had a great time trying out as many fondues as we could as a table (family style). Parking is a nightmare, especially on the weekends so be prepared and drive there early.
(4)
Megan M.
This place is awesome!!!
(5)
Chelsea J.
We tried Urban Fondue for our first fondue experience. While my husband was not excited to go (he doesn't much like cheese), he told me the next morning that he'd dreamt about the smoked cheddar fondue we had. It was excellent, as were the quality of our entrees and side dish (he had steak and chicken, I had pork and steak). We really liked trying all of the dipping sauces our server brought to our table with our entrees. We tried the bittersweet chocolate and hazelnut fondue for dessert, which was good, but not excellent. The staff were attentive and explained every step of the dinner to us. We were also pleased that we'd gone during their happy hour, so the Fondue Experience was discounted. The only negative remarks I have are that the parking there is terrible, and that the process of getting our fondue, then getting and cooking our entrees and THEN getting our dessert took longer than we'd have liked. We were expecting it to take a while, as we'd heard from friends and family that they've gone to different places for fondue and it took them 3 hours for the entire meal, but it did take longer than we are used to in a restaurant and we are quite impatient!
(4)
Nicole L.
Service was good. Drinks ok. Food horrible. The cheese fondue tasted like someone had poured in a chunk of Velveeta and called it good, the lobster was salty, the steak was want of flavor, the salad was small and flavorless (not to mention the wrong order for both of us) the veggies looked like someone else's leftovers. We finally gave up eating bc something started smoking off of our pot and was quite smelly and the sterno went out way before we even got half way done with our entree. We were very disappointed and will venture somewhere else next time.
(1)
Maddy S.
I wish I could give this place 4 stars but I can't after my last visit. They were out of lobster AND steak!!!! Those were actually the two meats that I went for. But all of the other meat and seafood was excellent despite the lack of selection. This place has a great atmosphere and everyone should give it a try!
(3)
Jennifer H.
I agree 100% with other reviews, come for the cheese fondue, AMAZING... Skip the main course... got straight to dessert! Boiled Chicken/steak/seafood is just that boiled.... but melted flavored cheeses and chocolates TO DIE FOR. HAVE THE BANANAS FOSTER, sounds strange but everyone (even the die hard chocolate people in the group) agreed it was one of the best ones on the table.
(3)
Emily P.
Delicious! Had the Ruby Port Fondue with mushrooms and sausage. We debated on whether to order an entree or not but we figured this would be just right for our first experience at Urban Fondue. I had a basil lemonade which was amazing. Our waiter, Sean, was attentive and kind, walking us through the menu, offering extra bread and refills. We had the Rocky Road dessert fondue which was just melted chocolate with marshmallows on top and peanuts on the bottom. Delicious, but we'll get something more fun next time. Overall, a fantastic treat and a different type of date night. For two with one pot of fondue, two sides, a drink, and dessert it ended up at forty dollars, which didn't sting too bad at all.
(5)
Josiah M.
Excellent array of dishes and our server was especially good and attentive to our table. We will be back.
(5)
Chris C.
Attended for dining month, had the East Meets West with Smoked Cheddar and the Tiramisu desert option. Ultimately the desert option was the best part. The dinner option just sort of left me feeling like I was boiling my food in a pot on the table, it was nothing special. The bread and the cheese portion were definitely A+ though.
(4)
Jennifer L.
I have been here twice and the fondue is super good :) It is a great place to share with your friends. I recommend going in a group of 4-6 so that everyone can choose different cheese, broth, and dessert fondue. The portions aren't really big so I wouldn't recommend sharing one portion with two people. Each person should get a portion and share with each other so you can get a variety of taste. It is a little bit more expensive than a normal dinner price, but it's worth the experience. Our waiter was great. The only thing I would say about the wait service is that the food took too long to come out to us. I know it was a busy time of day so I didn't mind as much as my friends did. Overall great place.
(4)
jackie l.
The first time I came to urban fondue I was disappointed with the service. The guy at the front ignored me when I came in for my reservation, told me me quite rudely they don't have a space for me yet I will have to wait probably half an hour. I waited an hour. Then he just directed me to their open seating next door. I just left. I gave it another try when my boyfriend made plans for our dinner here for my birthday. This time there was a different host that sat us down for our reservation no waiting. Wish I remembered our server. He was outstanding and fun, made our night truly enjoyable. Recommended all the right things which by the way we started with the brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue then the urban fondue for two. I honestly like the cheese and dinner portion of the fondue experience however the chocolate fondue was too dark for my liking.Knocked off one star for my first visit. But I will definitely be coming back. I will make sure to catch the name of our server if I see him again.
(4)
Angelica R.
Are there for our anniversary and it was awesome. Atmosphere was great food was great and the staff was awesome! We will definitely be back!
(5)
Tyler W.
If you're looking for some ridiculously delicious food and amazing service, go to Urban Fondue. We have gone here a number of times, and my wife and I have gone here for our anniversary for the last three years. The Fondue Experience is the way to go, but come hungry! With the two of us, we leave painfully, yet blissfully full. The meats, veggies, bread, and deserts all seem to be top quality, especially the meats for the main course. You get about 10 or so sauces for dipping as well, all great. The staff are also really great. They are attentive, very pleasant, and are more than willing to give you suggestions on not only what to order, but what to do when the food comes. They have always given great pairings with the dipping sauces and which meats go best with which sauces. Having Bartini next door (which they collaborate with) is also half the experience. I'm not much of a martini guy, but the concoctions they bring out are as delicious as the food. We LOVE snagging one of the booths, and request it every time we go. The seats and back of the booths are extremely squishy, and the three walls surrounding the booth are high to keep things private. We recommend Urban Fondue to all our friends, and let them know to go here instead of the "other" local competition fondue restaurant, as it's a bit more casual, less money, and all around better food.
(5)
Jana G.
This SUCKS!! We are here now and I feel so strongly I am writing this while we eat. Chicken has no seasoning on it. The 10 sauces they brought us to drown our disgusting meat are terrible too. Cook time was recommended at 3 minutes but is really more like 8. The velveeta cheese came with bread alone. Can't wait to see what the dessert course brings. Thank goodness for wine!
(1)
Patty T.
Food was excellent. So many courses I ate enough for two days worth. Every course had a few special choices. Pricing on drinks was very reasonable. Excellent cosmos for $7. But the absolute best thing that made our bachelorette party of 11 women with varied tastes was our waiter Vince. Excellent experience. A server can ruin even a perfect meal. No chance of that here.
(5)
Rick H.
With my limited experience (Melting Pot and Rheinlander,) I have to say this is the best fondue I've ever had. It's become a standard in our date night rotation, having long ago easily displacing Melting Pot. When you go, be sure to ask for the drink menu "from next door." They share buildings with Bartini, and you can even walk in between the two. The drinks on this menu are awesome, and overwhelming - as long as you like martini derivates. The drinks range from traditional, to sweet, to herbal, and several choices in between so even picky drinkers will most likely find something new to enjoy. My biggest gripe is the seating. The big red booths are nice and private, but just not that comfortable as they have rigid flat backs. They try to spruce them up with pillows sometimes which helps, but pillows are not always available. The food though is well worth it. There are three types of fondues, the first a "cheese" selection with four different options. All are excellent choices, with the Smoked Farmhouse Cheddar coming out slightly ahead in my opinion. You can add sausages or bits of fruit (for extra cost unfortunately,) to any cheese fondue. The second fondue type is the broth you want to cook your meat in. Unfortunately only the Tomato Fennel is vegetarian, but all of the broths are good, with the Urban Yosenabe just barely eking out first place. Each person gets to choose an entree, a combination of meats and vegetables to dip into the broth. The entrees would be my second and minor gripe, I wish I could mix and match the meats more to my liking. There tends to be a bit of horse trading at my table. Depending on what entrees are ordered, the wait staff also brings out a selection of dips. All of these dips are excellent, some of them so much so that you'll find yourself wanting to lick the little bowls. They also have several sides you can add on. The Cream Spinach is so good that we've never tried any of the others. If you are somehow still hungry, the last is desert fondue. The Raspberry, the Butterscotch, and the Caramel Cognac are all excellent choices. The desert tray is loaded down with decadent goodies which by itself blows away the Melting Pot. Be sure to save a bit of money and get "The Fondue Experience" it is well worth it. You will also need reservations here, and arrive hungry. When it arrives at your table, it doesn't look like much food is there, but you will walk out stuffed.
(4)
Beth C.
First time there and very disappointing. Go to the Melting Pot instead for a great fondue experience. Our service was mediocre. The waiter only described the expensive 'meal experience' and when it came time to take our order he assumed that is what we all were going to have without asking what our preference was. I repeatedly had to clarify what OUR preference was. It was apparent that he knew he was going to automatically get the mandatory 18% gratuity for a party of 6 or more. For the price you pay the meat portions are miniscule, hors de oeuvres size. Very bland taste. Nothing to be memorable. The tiny pieces were very difficult to keep on the skewers when in the broth and fell off several times. It is a bit unnerving to make sure that the meat/fish is thoroughly cooked as the meal progresses and really distracted from the conversation. The tortelini and raw vegetables were difficult to skewer and keep on the skewers as well. It would be helpful to have the sauces on labeled saucers as the descriptions of the 9 sauces were offered quickly. Some thought and revamping into the menu needs to take place. Won't be back.
(1)
Ashley W.
Went on a nice date night with my boyfriend here and we had a great time!! He researched it before and read all the Yelp reviews which helped out a lot!! Great food!! We skipped on the meat, instead we got 2 cheese plates, added a couple of things to them and then got dessert. sooooo good!!
(5)
Joseph M.
Went here for my Girlfriends birthday the price was great and the service was excellent
(4)
Chris S.
I wish there was something between ok & I'm a fan. The place had a very good energy, but a tad crampt. Dress was too casual to dressy. Vince the server was outstanding. He didn't lead us astray on portion sizes, he wasn't pushy and was very attentive. I highly recommend the Port Fondue as an app. I enjoyed the dipping sauces, but the different broths are overhyped in my opinion. This could be my traditionalist tastes of what Fondue should be coming through. Wines were supprisly well priced, yet a bit limited. We didn't have dessert, but would probably come back just for that some other time.
(4)
Kristen M.
The thought of having fondue sounds amazing. But you pretty much pay for the experience. I've learned from other fondue joints that the entrees are not worth a pretty penny and have only resorted to eating dessert and appetizers at these locations. The ambiance of Urban Fondue is full of red velvet, shades or red and black, and dim lighting. Huge velvet chairs, small candle lights on the tables and a couple booths available to fit 4-6 people. There were also 4 top tables too. I don't know if the place was supposed to be romantic and seductive or I was just time-warped into the 70's from all the darkness, red, black and velvet. So my review is only for dessert: (all priced at $13.95 which is good for two people) We were craving something sweet and opted for the HEATHBAR FONDUE. This pretty much was a hot pot of chocolate with crushed up pieces of heath bar candy. A side plate of cut strawberries, bananas, pineapple, donut, pound cake, cheesecake bites, cream puff, chocolate chip cookie dough and peanut butter cookie dough were available to dip into the fondue. I think my favorite was the banana and cream puff. The others were meh..... Although their prices are cheaper than the Melting Pot. I think I would only come back here to try out their appetizer fondue's since they're the craze. I probably wouldn't go here for dessert, it was disappointing and frankly, I can make this stuff at home if I wanted to.
(2)
Beth C.
I met my good friends in NW after kicking butt at bowling. We had walked around and the boy part of our group DEMANDED we go here. When we walked in there were about 7 open tables. We were not greeted with warmth or disdain. Just ambivalence. Our waitress was rude and curt. Did not explain anything. We did enjoy the cheese fondue. The dinner we chose was sufficient but I personally will not make a trip to go back. Service is key to me.
(2)
Ronald B.
The wife and I went on a "date night", staying in downtown PDX and had Saturday night reservations to UF. We arrived a bit early but were seated immediately, and even got the front booth facing Glisan St. which proved great for people watching. Let's just say that although the restaurant is a bit quirky, the service is top notch and the food was really good too. Although this was our first trip to UF, we have been to several other fondue-style restaurants and understood the basic concept. We chose the Fondue Experience which consists of a cheese fondue, an entree, followed by a dessert fondue. In addition we ordered salads and a side dish that was served with the entree. The cheese fondue we chose was the Ruby Port Fondue which is white cheddar, Swiss and Gruyere cheeses finished with caramelized sweet onions and port wine. Can you say food orgasm??? Like others have posted, I would have picked up the serving vessel if I thought it wouldn't have been bad form and scorched my tongue to boot. Next came our salads. The wife had the UF House salad, a delightful mix of greens in a citrus vinaigrette, dried cranberries, spiced hazelnuts, goat cheese and sunflower seeds. She said it was THE BEST salad she has ever eaten. I had the romaine and pancetta salad which is a grilled heart of romaine and a strip of pancetta, all tossed in a creamy garlic aioli with lots of shredded Parmesan cheese, all placed on a balsamic-glaze drizzled plate. It was a tremendous balance of sweet, salty, tangy and everything-wonderful on a plate. The side dish of gratin Yukon gold potatoes with Parmesan, black pepper and Gruyere cheese was really tasty and was served with our main course/entree that was the Urban Fondue for Two, consisting of all the various protein options, baby lobster tails, bay scallops, tiger prawns, rib eye steak, Carlton pork, house made sausage, chicken breast and local Chinook salmon, which we opted to trade out for more steak since the wife doesn't like salmon. AT ALL. She didn't even want me cooking it in our Urban Yosenabe cooking broth. There were also a few obligatory veggies on the plate. There were nine different dipping sauces to accompany all the tasty cooked morsels. Our favorites were the lemon-garlic butter, thai peanut and the spicy sun-dried tomato aioli. The others weren't to our liking for the most part, although I'm sure others would love them. We were so stuffed that we chose to fore-go dessert, (I know, how could we fore-go dessert) but our server cheerfully offered a rain check for dessert. An offer I'm certain we will return quickly to redeem. In fact, I'm thinking that next visit we'll start with the Ruby Port Fondue, have the same salads, skip the entree and go right for the dessert fondue. Oh, so many choices. Lots to ponder before returning...... Don't miss out on this place and be sure to get reservations, especially on a weekend.
(5)
CJ C.
Got seated at 6:50... Waiter ignored us most of the time... Still waiting for the check at 10:08 now. Decent food. Terrible service.
(1)
Carl B.
Bottom Line at the Top: Best fondue I have had in the city so far. Fun for a larger group to share two or three pots so everyone can sample the different flavors. I came to Urban Fondue with a large group that took over the slightly raised back bench of the establishment. They do accept reservations and even on this Sunday night were full with no extra seating inside. Bartini is connected next door so you can sometimes wait there plus when seated get almost any drink you wish. The dark interior is not conductive to reading the menu but when going here the majority of the time I am only looking at the fondue anyway. They do have some full dinner options but they are not the reason I show up. Our party ordered the Tillamook white cheddar and caraway, Brie and Gorgonzola, and the Smoked local farm house cheddar fondues. With them we had the normal bread plates and one sausage plate. The fondues were presented well and had the correct texture to make it easy to dip into and get a good coating for tasting. The flavors were rich and pronounced within each pot. Our end of the table had 6 people all sharing the 3 pots and our appetites waned before the cheese was gone which is always a good sign. My personal favorite was the Brie and Gorgonzola, but everything that came out of the kitchen was terrific. The wait staff was excellent, but the wait for drinks did cause some people of this large party of 14 to fidget a bit. Bartini and Urban Spoon were both completely full with people waiting for any table to open up, and the wait staff did keep us appraised to the timing of the drink order at the bar. Next time I hope to try some of the dessert fondues, so I shall make my way back.
(4)
Mike S.
The service was terrific, food was pretty good! The cheese course was 5 star as was the chocolate course! The main meat course was just ok you know ok but nothing special. It was a fun experience for the family, we all had a great time dipping and yacking! It's fairly expensive so it's not the kind of place we would go to often!
(4)
Karen A.
We took our daughters (ages 9 & 12) last night for a special, celebration dinner. We eat out frequently but this is a bit more than we normally spend, but it was worth it. The waiter was very helpful, answered all of our questions. We ended up getting the "fondue experience" which ended up to be too much food. Next time we will do it for 3 instead of 4. The girls loved the comfy plush booths, pillows and fun drinks. They had an amazing coconut/mango fizzy drink and a lavender lemonade, way better than your average shirley temple! A great fun family fun night and I'm sure the girls will be begging to go back in the near future!
(5)
Rebecca R.
If you do not like dipping stuff in cheese and/or chocolate, don't bother going here. Stay home and let the rest of us enjoy the experience. I'm considering divorcing my husband and marrying the Ruby Port fondue. It was that good. Our server was helpful in helping us decide what and how much to order. For dessert we had the toffee chocolate and caramel cognac. So good. We had some left over and our server boxed it up. He suggested warming it up and serving it over ice cream. I can't wait to try that.
(5)
Steph W.
My husband and I decided to try and go to Urban Fondue on a whim around 5ish. So glad we did! They have a deal where its 27 bucks per person for a three course meal! Vince was our waiter and he was so incredibly helpful and nice! Can't say enough good things about the service! Fantastic service and wonderful food. We will definitely go back again. For our starter we had the Ruby Port Fondue with the seasonal fruit as our side. (they also have amazing bread) The entree we had the Urban Yosenabe broth and the East meets West and the Chef cuts. (seafood, pork chicken and then pork and Ny steak) You cook your food at the table and it allows for a nice leisurely meal. For dessert we decided on the raspberry chocolate. Holy moly. They definitely don't skimp on the raspberry! It was marvelous! The assortment of items for you to dip in the dessert fondue were epic. All in all, worth the money and worth the time. It might be more challenging to go as a group but I will definitely come back.
(5)
Amanda K.
In an effort to correct their horrible service, UF has undergone some hefty changes to the restaurant and last night was my first visit back since then. And I have to say, it was a really enjoyable dinner! I was very pleasantly surprised. We picked a cozy, dimly-lit booth and had a no-holds-barred, very filling fondue experience. Started with the Ruby Port fondue, which was delicious but lacked the promised caramelized onions on top and was a bit skimpy on the portion to begin with. This doesn't bother me so much actually, but it's worth nothing. My date commented on the skimpy portion and they came rushing out with a new, fully-loaded pot of bubbling cheese haha. Much appreciated, UF. The entree portion of the meal was surprisingly delicious. I say "surprisingly" because i'm generally not a fan of the broth/oil fondue-cooking method, but they presented us with every single dipping sauce they had so we had about 12 different flavor combinations, if not more. And they were so kind to bring an extra pot of broth since my date eats seafood and I do not. So accomodating! Finished the meal with the chocolate peanut butter fondue. Our cake bites and fruit were not frozen, instead nicely chilled and ready for dipping. THAT'S how you're supposed to serve fondue dippables. Cocktails were still hit-or-miss, my specialty martini (a Tuscan lemondrop, which included rosemary-infused vodka) was severely lacking in booze but my top-shelf margarita had enough liquor in it to turn me into an easy date......lol. Positive changes are being made up in this place. Thank goodness they've switched management; I think that's what needed to happen. I'm finally feeling the whole "great place for a date/romantic vibe-type restaurant" that everyone else has spoken of. Nice job, UF.
(4)
Christina G.
Had such an incredible experience at Urban Fondue! This isn't an everyday restaurant, absolutely special occasion, so was a wonderful choice for our last night in Portland. All 3 of our fondue selections were fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the addition of fruit to our cheese pot alongside of the bread, and the variety of dipping sauces that accompanied our main course was not only tasty, but fun. Ordering a 2 person special was more than enough for our group of 3 individuals. With bartini next door we had great drinks available to accompany dinner as well. While we didn't have to many special requests, our server was full of great suggestions and tips on how to best enjoy our evening at the restaurant. Sean (our server) also happens to be the GM here, so we took his advice to heart on everything from cheese to chocolate. We left here happy, stuffed, and tipsy, and he happily called us a cab to get us back to our side of town. While we were in town there was a very unusual heatwave hitting Portland at the time, so the only thing that I would have changed was cranking up that a/c. However, I would imagine that this isn't an issue for 99% of the year! In summary - great place for groups, kids, familys, intimate dates, or any special occasion. Go, eat everything, and leave content!
(4)
Mark C.
Had been hearing about Urban Fondue & Bartini - finally gave it a try with another couple. We won't be back. Service was good - and fondue was pretty good - but not great. The turn off came with the bill. At the waiter's suggestion we got the Fondue Experience for two. Menu gave one price (did not say per person). Shocked when our bill came. Thought the food was good for what we thought we were going to pay - but for what we had to pay - NOT worth it. Complained to the waiter and he was surprised that we didn't realize that the price was per person - even though menu did not say that. I think this was likely a trendy place a few years ago - no so much now. I may go again just for cheese fondue and/or a dessert fondue - not dinner.
(1)
Fernando A.
Share. So many options. All the side sauces, meats, and vegetables were very tasty. Go here for a nice relaxing time. An added bonus about having to "cook" your own food is it forces you to eat slower. The slower you eat the more you can enjoy and savor each bite.
(5)
Lisa T.
Just celebrated my nephew's birthday dinner at Urban Fondue last night. Brie and Gorgonzola Fondue was my favorite..Delish! The Smoked Cheddar was also very good but smoked cheese wouldn't be my first choice in a fondue. Nephew had the Chef's cut and it was accompanied by 9 different dipping sauces. - Yum! We had two different chocolate fondues - both excellent. Definitely FAR better than the Melting Pot. Our server was Joshua and he couldn't have been more attentive. Can't wait to go back and try more fondues.
(5)
Kevan Q.
My favorite new restaurant. The tomato basil fondue was amazing. Everything we tried was delicious and the service was great as well. Even though we were there just before closing, we did not feel rushed and the server was very helpful and answered all of our questions and then some. I have not had food or service like this in a long time. Definitely going back!
(5)
Elle H.
The family decided to do Fondue to celebrate a high school graduation, so we were a large group. We were seated on a slightly elevated platform in the back, that was most likely a stage at the venue;s previous incarnation as a bar. We were crowded but it was fun. Service was disorganized..the waitress ran thru the Fondue Experience quite fast..,I'm sure she has said the whole thing many times, but it was our first time so we didn't really know what was going on. we had some latecomers who were without setups for quite a while then 2 people both brought a handful of knives and forks so we had a plethora of silverware, but insufficient skewers for the fondue. We had to wait for water after asking several times. Basically I rate the service as poor. The food was excellent-first course of cheese fondue with fruit and bread. Had several types of cheeses and LOTS of bread but very skimpy servings of fruit. The cheeses were wonderful however, especially the Tomato/Basil and Bree. I thought my eldest son was going to lick the bowl the Tomato/Basil came in. Next came the meat course. We had steak, pork, sausage, chicken, shrimp,scallops and lobster. Again these portions were pretty skimpy and all of us came away hungry from it. The meat was cooked in flavored oils that were tasty and nothing took more than 3 minutes. However, some of us had just 1 skewer so cooking a piece of chicken that was basically one bite for 3 minutes, then waiting another 3 minutes for the next bite was a pain. Those that had 2 skewers could cook a piece of meat and eat their mouthful of meat while the next one cooked. There was a vegetarian option-for the same price as those who choose the meat option. Finally was dessert, a selection of fruits and dessert bites dipped in Boysenberry Cheesecake, Raspberry Swirl, Chocolate something etc was quite nice and went over well. So I gave 3 stars because the food (what there was of it) was good but the service and portions were poor. Our meal was expensive for what we got. $32.00 each person, including the 5 year old who ate bread with cheese and a couple of strawberries. Our two graduates, teens, wanted to stop at McDonalds on the way home because they came away hungry. Combined with poor service, it wasn't worth the money, though the idea is nice. Something different but considering we could have taken everyone to a steakhouse for less and gone home full, the evening was perhaps not the best choice.
(3)
Breanna E.
I celebrated my 18th birthday here back in 2012 and Urban Fondue helped make it a memorable experience for sure! I made reservations for me and my closest 5 friends weeks prior but when the night finally arrived we got there and had to wait over 45 minutes to get a table. Because of the long wait they gave us an extra plate of desserts to dip in our chocolate fondue for free, which I thought was very kind of them and definitely made up for the wait. Overall the fondue was delicious and I will be returning back for more soon!
(4)
Emilee G.
Absolutely delicious! We took our son's girlfriend here for her birthday, along with our whole family and had a fantastic time. The food was wonderful, and fun to cook! Our server Shawn, who we request each time we come here or Bartini, is very knowledgeable about the entire menu and for fondue-beginners, is a great server to recommend the perfect meal no matter the size of your table. Ambiance: Rich red wells, plush booths (comfy enough that our five year old decided to pass out before our meal even started), and cool multi-colored lighting. Drinks: I orderer the Bird of Paradise Martini and felt like I was drinking Hawaii. YUM. The cinnamon on top was the perfect "quirk" to the tropical mixture and mango, coconut and pineapple in the glass. Appetizers: We ordered the Brie and Gorgonzola and the Cheddar cheeses. The B&G definately pushed the cheddar down and stole it's lunch money. Not that the cheddar wasn't good, but the B&G was to-die-for. I could eat it all day, every day, every damn day (if extreme caloric intake had no negative side effects...). Entrees: We orderd the steak and lobster, lobster and prawns and the "Fondue for Two" so that we had a little bit of everything on the menu. The lobster in the chicken/clam broth was my favorite, especuially combined with the lemon hollandaise and the garlic caper butter. The steak in the roast beef broth, topped with blackberry ketchup was a close second. There were five of us eating and there was SO much food that out sterno flames went out before we could finish (a positive thing, when you think about it. Great value!). Shawn offered to replinish our flames, but we were all about to succumb to food comas before dessert so we decided to bring out the last course. Dessert: Two giant plates full of cheesecake, cookie dough, bananas, strawberries and dried apricots were delivered to the table with a chocolate-peanut butter fondue and a marionberry cheesecake fondue. I tried every combination possible and I'd have to say strawberries in cheesecake fondue was the winner. Perfect end to a perfect meal. Can't wait to come back again! Side note: Bartini (connected to UF with a back hallway) has an amazing Happy Hour that we frequent. Huge menu, great prices, great service.
(5)
Tsering S.
Came here for a birthday party and ended up being a pretty expensive one. lol. If you are looking for a fun fondue experience this would be your place, but if your craving for something really delicious this isn't really the place. I admit it was fun, had really good martini and delicious cheese fondue and that was it. The entree is well not for my taste, and also the desert was over sweet and lacked some flavor balance. I would definitely go back but on a sunday over at bartini for their happy hour.
(3)
Winema W.
When a server asks if you wanna take the warm caramel home, then yes it's a5 star place..bowchickawowow Sam is amazing!
(5)
Ashley M.
I purchased the Groupon deal for Urban Fondue and I'm very happy that I did. The only downside was my boyfriend and I went early on a Monday evening, it was also a nice sunny day outside so the restaurant was packed. I made reservations online ahead of time to ensure we would have a table ready to go. When we arrived we were told it would be about five minutes, if we wanted to walk around the block a for a few he'd call us when our table was ready and since it was a nice day that's what we did. We walked around for a good 15 minutes before we decided to head back in that direction since we'd received no phone call. Once we arrived back we were told it would be another moment before being seated. That would be my only complaint about the evening. The deal we purchased included cheese fondue as an appetizer, followed by any two entries and any one dessert we decided on. We ordered the white cheddar fondue, we included the sausage (you can order on the side for a small additional price) as well it came with their free bread. The cheese fondue was very tasty, we were both very satisfied and excited to try the entry dishes. I ordered the steak and lobster entry, my boyfriend ordered the seafood/ fish so we could share both meals together. The sizes of the meals were generous, there was a little of everything on both plates and all the sauces really added to the different flavors each piece of meat offered. By the time we were done with our entries, we were so full we decided to ask if we could just have the dessert dipping fruit and cheese cake to go, in which the waiter advised that was no problem, we could do our entire dessert fondue to go. We ordered the tiramisu fondue, which came with cream puff's, cheese cake bites and lots of fresh fruit. I tried a couple pieces when I came home and was very satisfied with the dessert as well. Our waiter was very accommodating, he was great with walking us through how to cook the food along with which each sauce flavor was, also the food came out quickly and our waters were filled at all times. I was extremely happy with the service and the food overall and will absolutely be coming back, with a deal or no deal.
(5)
Jeremy D.
I don't know if I'm rating this unfairly because it's been my first and only fondue experience and I have no other basis of comparison. All I can do is take you through our evening there. First the good: The appetizer cheese fondues were tasty. We had the brie/gorgonzola and the ruby port. No problem there. Also some of their cocktails were well crafted and we enjoyed a couple off their drink menu. About 8 bucks a pop, but that's normal for this kind of establishment. The disappointment comes from the entree(s) and the pricing. Our main courses were $32 a person and in the end, I only had 4-5 little pieces of meat and lobster. The broth we were given to cook our raw food was not that hot (pretty disconcerting). They gave us timers with cooking times on them and these little tools served useless, as I was needing extra time on everything I put in there (not to mention about halfway through our 'meal' the fire had gone out on our pot, so no wonder it wasn't cooking our food properly). The waiter failed to inform us of this possibility and that we'd need to be policing it ourselves. The cuts of meat and lobster were only bite sized and in the end I left the restaurant hungry with a $120 dollar bill to settle for my wife and I. If you're dead set on trying this place, I suggest sticking with appetizers/desserts and skipping the entrees entirely. Unfortunately I won't be returning, but maybe paying extra to cook your own food is a novelty lost on me entirely.
(2)
KC E.
The cheese fondue is great. It's hard not to enjoy a big pot of melted savory goodness, and the bread, veggie and fruit sides for dipping were all enjoyable. My issue is with the dessert fondue. Crazy, I know. The chocolate is good (we had the Black Forest version this time with cherries and whipped cream), but the dippers that come with the chocolate are low-quality. I am not in the habit of eating Pepperidge Farms pound cake or Sarah Lee cheesecake or Entenmann's donuts, but that's the quality of the desserts that came out of the kitchen. Don't get me wrong, the last thing you think about when presented with a big bowl of melted chocolate is the hydrogenated fat content or GMO corn syrup in the accompaniments. But ugh do I feel it the day after. Next time my husband wants fondue, we will go out for cheese only and skip the unhealthy and low-quality dessert.
(3)
Jen E.
wow.... after trying to figure out where to go for my b-day a few years back a friend suggested this place. When I called and made the reservation the woman on the phone was lovely. We arrived and I had actually gotten the huge table on the platform and they were so lovely to all of my guests. I got to try a lot of different combos there were so many of us. I never heard a complaint and the staff was willing and helpful at every turn. The desert time was fun since there were so many of us we all got to try a little of everything. We ended up being the last ones in the restaurant and as a result we all got a little goofy at which the staff had a great time with us. I would recommend this place for anyone looking for good food at a decent price ps the drinks rock..... as in oh my I drank a lot and all of it was great
(5)
Lindsay T.
I went here with my bf and his mom for Thanksgiving to have something different. We made reservations a week in advance and requested a booth, we had a half booth but close enough. We decided to get full experience with 2 cheese fondues, entree broth and dessert. Each course was amazing! The cheese fondues were both creamy and tasty, we had the white cheddar with caraway seeds and the port wine one. Their bread was perfect for dipping, not too crunchy and not too soft. We had the yosenabe brother with a variety of meats and seafood. When they first brought it out, it didn't look like much food. But once we started cooking and eating there was way too much food for the 3 of us. I loved all their different dipping sauces, each had a different flavor and went well with the different proteins. Dessert had an excellent variety of fruits, cookie dough, cheesecake, cookies and cream puffs. We were way too full to eat it though so we each had a taste and took the rest home. The food was great, the only complaint is that the service was pretty slow between courses. But since we were all stuffed it didn't bother us too much. Urban Fondue is a great place for a date with a romantic ambience and would also be fun to go with friends.
(4)
debra b.
Booths do a nice job of insulating you from others' conversations, which I liked. They also force you to sit up very straight and very close to the table, which got uncomfortable after a bit. Portion sizes are proper, not American-size. We left feeling satisfied, not gross-- a lovely sensation I've never had the self-control to achieve during a Melting Pot excursion. Ruby port cheese arrived so fast it couldn't have been made up after our order. Still-- delicious. I agree with some of the others: skip the average-to-bland main course and eat more of their killer cheese instead.
(3)
Lysa D.
I took my girlfriend here for our Valentine's Day celebration. We were seated at a center table where anyone who walked by would bump into my chair =/, after switching seats everything was okay. I made reservations and was hoping for a booth, but that's mostly my fault as I didn't specify. Being in the center of the room made for good people watching anyway. Drinks: My girlfriend ordered the Coconut Mojito, and loved it. I ordered the roasted pineapple drink, which was really good as well. For dinner we ordered the fondue experience for two which is 3 courses Cheese: We went with the Ruby Port cheese and it was AMAZING. The bread they serve is softer than a pillow. Loved it. Entrees: We ordered Steak & Lobster and the East meets West entrees. The lobster was incredible, especially paired with the lemon hollandaise. Outstanding. Highly recommended. Dessert: We ordered the Heath bar chocolate fondue, which was bittersweet chocolate with toffee pieces in it. The standout here was the Cream Puffs, of which there were only two, but seriously INCREDIBLE. The wait staff was very friendly, prompt, and made suggestions. I had a great experience and will return.
(4)
C F.
The first course (port cheese) and final (dessert chocolate) were luscious. The middle, a tomato broth with pasta and vegetables (vegetarian) was truly awful. Give the restaurant a try, but skip the "entree". Parking, is of course, horrendous, so give yourselves enough time.
(3)
Nick G.
My wife and I went here for a "date" night. Our usual fondue place is that other fondue chain that happens to be in downtown...and we just felt like trying somewhere new, and we are SOOOO glad we did. Urban Fondue was much more our kinda place, very "Portland" if you must. I just have to say, get the Ruby Port fondue, it's killer. Prices are much more reasonable than we were expecting, and you get quite large portions too. The service was great, I wish I could remember our waiters name, but whatever it was, he was awesome! I don't know what else to say, it was really good food, great ambiance, and cheaper than we thought it was going to be! Doesn't get much better than that, we will definitely be returning very soon!
(5)
Erin D.
I wanted to do a nice dinner during our week in Portland for our anniversary, and we stayed just a few blocks away from this place and happened to pass by. I was really glad we decided to come here - everything was delicious and our waiter, Mark (I think), was wonderful. We got the happy hour special with a cheese fondue, two entrees, a side, and a dessert. For the cheese course we had the caraway cheddar, which was rich and delicious without being overwhelmingly cheesy. I got the chicken for an entree while my husband got the beef and pork mix, both of which were good, although my husband got one or two pieces of beef that were incredibly tough. This was made up for with their dipping sauces, which were delicious. I'd highly recommend, if you go for a lighter meat like chicken, the thai peanut sauce and the pesto sauce. We also had a side dish of polenta, which was cooked to perfection and served with balsamic. For dessert we got the butterscotch chocolate fondue, which although a touch light on the butterscotch, was still heavenly. We also had no problem getting extra food for dipping when we ran out without going through the fondue. Their mixed drinks were quite nice as well - I had the oatmeal cookie cocktail, which really tastes (and is textured) just like mom's oatmeal cookies. Our waiter, Mark, was incredibly nice. He happened to always come over right in the middle of my husband doing something stupid, like dancing in his seat to a song they were playing, and he would laugh with us (not at us). My only previous experiences with fondue have been with chains like the Melting Pot, and this place puts those to shame. I wish we had a fondue place this nice in DC, but this is definitely at the top of our list if we're ever back in Portland.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner, Dessert Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jill T.
I am one who uses Yelp a lot but am not always the best at posting. My meal at Urban Fondue just before the Christmas holidays caused me to make a New Year's Resolution to get out there and post, and I am finally making good on that pledge. We went without a reservation, but didn't mind being seated next door at Bartini. There was a birthday party of young adults next to us and it made for a fun ambience. We ordered the full fondue meal with cheese, meat sauce and dessert. I think it also came with a side of au gratin potatoes. I told the waitress straight-up that I have a nut and peanut allergy and that she needed to check what was off limits for me. We talked through everything (so I thought) in detail. She even went back and asked about which dessert fondue was safe for me. (We considered just getting the meat and cheese course if it were a problem.) Cheese course was excellent, we had the smoked local cheddar. The seasoned firepot broth was also very good, although we had a problem with getting the meat to cook. Double the times suggested on the card. The big problem was dessert. I went to pick up something from the dessert tray and my husband said--Stop! I see nuts in some of these items. So the manager is on the floor and he agrees that there are several items with nuts or peanut butter including some that are less obvious in the dim lighting. And he's annoyed at the server. Sure, so was I. But I do wonder, who trained the server? Who answered her question in the kitchen? So the solution is, that I can only have fruit. They apparently cut up all of their desserts and mix them in a big vat so I can't just have some cut up squares of sponge cake. Then, they had to get me a different bowl to put some chocolate in before my husband could dip his items in the fondue. I made the server get me another heater etc. too. Somehow, they made me feel like I was a Harry-Met-Sally customer for doing so. On the other hand, this was all due to their error. They were generous with the fruit and it was a good meal but close calls like that just aren't acceptable in any restaurant. This is a higher end restaurant where it costs $100 for two people, and yes, we paid the full bill although we barely tipped. A food handler's license does not address things like allergy or gluten; it is up to management to hire servers who are on the ball and train them well. It is also up to kitchen staff to go above and beyond when the waitress comes back to ask about ingredients in a dessert fondue--cooking staff should remind her that the whole dipping tray has problems.
(1)Kim J.
The parking situation sucks. The seating was a bit cramped. The food was really tasty and our server was friendly and very helpful. I had read reviews that said the staff was snooty and rude but that was not our experience at all. I thought that maybe we just got lucky with our waiter but looking around everyone seemed to be friendly. The other customers seemed to be having as good a time as we were.
(4)Cait C.
Smoked cheddar fondue is amazing. Dessert fondue is a must. Recommended: tiramisu, heath and peanut butter chocolate. Great ambiance for friends or a romantic night.
(5)Gabby K.
YUMMY! We ordered the Fondue Experience for $31/person and it was great! We had the Cheddar Fondue, followed by the Lobster & Prawns and the Black Forrest Dessert Fondue. This is not the place to go if you want to eat in a hurry. It was a perfect meal . . . great food, service and atmosphere. I can't wait to go back!
(5)N C.
You know, having been more than once stabbed with a fork by any number of dinner companions, it's rare that i choose a restaurant that arms them with extra long, very pointy versions, but I rolled the dice on urban Fondue, and came up a winner. My date and i arrived half an hour ahead of our reservation, (parking only took half the hour i expected) and were seated immediately, which at 5:30 on a Saturday was a feat on its own.. Going full boat on the 3-course "Fondue experience" seemed to be the only wise choice for a dinner, but i could very easily see having just drinks and a pot of the cheese for a late night or happy hour. Our waiter was keen to help us decide but not overly pushy, which was nice, and i can say he did NOT lead us astray.. We had the Brie and Gorgonzola fondue with roasted hazelnuts, which seemed like it could have been wrong in any number of ways, but turned out fantastic. The Gorgonzola was just present enough to be flavorful but not overpowering.. it was creamy and warm, and was more than enough for two bowls of excellent homemade bread. You can add some sausage or fruit as well, but we opted for just the bread and cheese.. I'm a traditionalist. Main course is a bit trickier... you choose an entree (steak and lobster, or chicken and pork, seafood of various types...) and then have to choose a style of broth to cook it in... YES. you cook your own dinner! its strange, but after all the reviews i see on here about meals not being fresh, this is as good as it gets! I had the steak and pork, which in the beef broth was AMAZING. The portions aren't big for the entrees, and i was a bit surprised, but it was a good meal, and i really have no regrets afterwards. She had pork and a mix of seafood; Scallops and Shrimp, and even with the heavier broth i chose, everything came out great. If its not enough to have the pot of delicious broth, they also bring out a tray, loaded down with home-made dipping sauces, from a lemon-caper butter, to Cream and peppercorn, to perhaps the best Thai peanut sauce I've ever had. Even with 5 different meats, and several veggies in the pot, there was something to compliment everything and more.. Dinner and a pot of cheese would have been a fine meal any day of the week, but still there came dessert.. Lordy yes. 10 or so chocolate variations, and several non-chocolate made dessert perhaps the biggest decision of the night, everything from straight semi-sweet, to butterscotch and dark, to caramel, to Marion Berry Cheesecake, it all looked amazing.. we opted for the black forest, which was the dark chocolate, fresh cherries, and a bit of whipped cream stirred in to lighten it up just a bit. The chocolate wasn't too sweet or overly rich, (OK, look.. so it's melted chocolate, its going to be rich, come to peace with it, like the man says, "I told you it was good, not god FOR you..") and worked well with the myriad of things we were given to dip in it. Banana, strawberries, pineapple, pound cake, cheesecake, TWO cookie doughs.. It was more than i expected, and we were both very happy. So dinner was great on all sides, as was the service. the whole 3-course meal, with drinks and a tip came out to just over $70, which while being more than I'd think to spend every night, wasn't crazy for the meal. We didn't go over to the Bartini, so i cant comment on that part, but from everyone I know whose been to UF, they say the bar is key to the experience.. Maybe my next trip will be even better. So YES, by all means go and give this place a try.. Find an eating companion that you are relatively sure wont attack you with an 18-inch long fork, and at least drop by for drinks and a pot of cheese.. Nothing about that statement sounds bad!
(4)Mandy W.
Came here for Valentine's Day, hoping it would be a good experience. But meh, the food were not fresh. The salad was not fresh. The entree came and the fondue was not hot, it was barely warm. Also expensive for the given ingredients in the entree. The dessert were not fresh either, the strawberries were not picked out nicely. We had a specific chocolate that's on the dessert menu, but the dessert fondue came in just like normal chocolate inside, taste nothing like what we saw on the menu. Also it was NOT hot again. I don't know how the fondue is suppose to be hot when they just put a small candle on the bottom. After all, we thought it was a bad choice for Valentine's day. We should've went to the Melting Pot in downtown. Around the same price, but everything is fresh and nicely prepared, and they create the fondue in front of you. As well as a well organized place, where you have your own privacy with your significant other. Just so so much better... for about equal price. Food - 2 stars Service 4 stars
(2)Chris S.
Um, I should start and say that I don't really understand the concept of fondue restaurants, as in that I don't wanna hafta cook my food. However, the food was good, but my favorite was definitely the cheese fondues (port wine!) and the tiramisu... so delicious! I would like to remind people that dietary preferences are just that... preferences. If you are a vegan/vegetarian by necessity or choice, you should not expect others to automatically be prepared to cater to your needs. I experienced fantastic service, a delicious spicy mango martini and their delightful cucumber water and some good (non-cooked) fondue... and great company, so any other distraction was overlooked. FONDUE (pro): delicious cheese & dessert fondues & martinis FONDON'T (con): parking is meh, reservations are recommended
(3)Marie Y.
I wish we skipped the entrees. They were insultingly expensive for what they were (the meat comes raw and you cook it on little skewers yourself and dip it into various sauces..not really fondue at all). I would, however, recommend coming here for a nice cheese fondue appetizer and a dessert fondue. The cheese and chocolate fondues are great here and not too expensive, but I think the ridiculousness of the entrees tainted this place for me.If you do come here, MAKE RESERVATIONS.
(2)Matt R.
I went here for my two-year anniversary. The setting is nice; classy and modern at the same time. Great decor! We went for the "ultimate fondue experience." A cheese fondue of our choice, two entree fondues of our choice, and a dessert fondue. Overall, it came to slightly over $60. Way cheaper than The Melting Pot and lots of choices for cheeses/entrees/desserts. The service was great (and was that cucumber water we had? Interesting flavor!) and not too overbearing. Do not pass this up if you are a fondue fanatic.
(5)Lemonleen C.
This is a good place for a special occasion because cooking your own food on the table is, well, special. Earlier reviews complained about the service. On the contrary, our server was great. He was attentive, patient with my 80-year-old parents (my shrinking mother actually needed to sit on a booster pillow in the plush booth), and when he found out it was my birthday he brought a special dessert. The food, however, was wildly uneven and failed to live up to the price. And this place is pricy if you get all three courses plus drinks. (The bartender didn't skimp on the liquor, by the way. The cocktails were delicious.) Our Ruby Port fondue was about $12. It didn't have the cheesy strings you get with old-style fondue -- it seemed more like a cheese bechamel with a floury thickener. But the flavor more than made up for the texture. The bread, on other hand, was the first of many disappointing chef shortcuts. It seemed stale and soft, as if it had been stored in a plastic bag. The marinated meat entree was too expensive at $18, but very clever. Unlike the old days, where you'd plunge your skewered meat into a cauldron of boiling oil, this method uses flavored broths. You don't get the carmelized edges of fried meat, but you do get a surprisingly full-flavored bite, even before the dipping sauces. The chocolate fondue dessert featured wonderfully rich chocolate and stunningly hackish dippers. More shortcuts. The cream puffs were soggy, like the thawed variety you get in tubs at Costco. Maybe that's where they also got the bread. And I swear they served a cut-up, store-bought cake doughnut, which also tasted stale. However, my complimentary birthday dessert, a little ramekin of melted marionberry cheesecake, was awesomely good. With a little more quality assurance -- fresh, crusty bread; homemade chocolate dippers -- I'd probably be a repeat dinner customer. Until then, I'll just stop by for a cocktail and appetizer.
(3)Briana S.
I enjoyed my experience at Urban the Ruby Port cheese fondue was great . I thought the entree course was a lot of fun but at the same time even with the sauces lacked a little flavor. The dessert course was my favorite. The service was attentive but at the same time pushy to order and kind of kicked us out by pushing the check, we weren't the only ones in the restaurant so that was strange. I like to take my time when eating at an establishment like this. I would return again for the cheese and the dessert fondue.
(3)RW A.
Ok food, Ok service. Astoundingly slow on both times we have dined there. Exceedingly expensive for the service and quality. Atmosphere is nice.
(3)N J.
Make reservations. They are really fussy about that. We went on a Monday and the place was practically empty. They couldn't find our reservation and actually hesitated to seat us because of that. After we sat down, everything went smoothly. They weren't pretentious and were actually very helpful. We went with "The Fondue Experience" for two people. Share a cheese, side, dessert, with one entree per person. If you go before 5 p.m. it's cheaper. Loved the brie and gorgonzola cheese, creamed spinach side was more like a soup but still delicious, you get hourglass timers to cook your meats, and the dessert fondue was the best part. You get cookie dough, bananas, cheese cake, pound cake, etc. to dip in different types of fondue.
(4)CeeCee P.
I never thought I would give Urban Fondue a 4 star (but to be fair... it's really a 4.5...). During my first experience here, we ordered the tiramisu fondue, only to receive what tasted like a bitter, overburnt perhaps, puddle of chocolate, and a selection of dippers that wasn't more preferable than dipping your own finger in - but that'd just be gross.... Keep in mind that this is a 4 star review though... Recently, we called in at 11PM for a table at 11:15 and Urban Fondue was wonderful enough to let us in to enjoy a little late night snack AND a good conversation. To top that off, I had a much, much better fondue experience this time. Not only was the dipping selection better (strawberries, donuts, pound cake, bananas, cookie dough, peanut butter, apricots, etc), the tiramisu fondue was MUCH more pleasing to eat. We had also ordered the marionberry cheesecake fondue which was yummy, yes, and would probably be the prefered choice for someone who's not a huge chocolate fan... but I'm an open chocoholic and it was the tiramisu fondue that hit the spot for me. Let's just say that Urban Fondue's an awesome place, with a super accommodating crew, and a great way to enjoy and play with your food!
(4)Jacob M.
Love this place! Great decor, great food and delicious cocktails!
(5)Victoria J.
Tonight I took my parents here, the fondue (Brie and Gorgonzola cheese fondue topped with roasted hazelnuts which I got solely based on Erin O's review) was amazing! With fondue like this who cares about the bread?? I would have been mopping up that cheese with moldy bread if that was the only way to get it in me! We split one fondue 3 ways to be sure to leave room for dessert; it doesn't look like a lot at first but it was just right for us. Artichoke was good but nothing special, asparagus was flavored perfectly smokey mmm! Similar to an earlier critique of the chocolate-peanut butter fondue, we couldn't catch the butterscotch flavor that was supposed to be in ours. But know what? IT DIDN'T MATTER because IT WAS STILL SO GOOD!!! Plus they serve the dessert fondue with not one but ALL of the following: cookie dough, pound cake, dried apricots, strawberries, banana, creme puffs, donut pieces, cheese cake and a toffee seed crusted thing. So these crazy flavor dessert fondues (heath bar? rocky road? cheese cake?) could be overkill with the selection of these items for dipping. After we went to the flower shop next door where the shop-keep had a pot of her own which she was letting customers sample. It was the smoked cheddar which was really good but not as jammin as the gonzola/brie we had feasted on minutes before. The ambiance in here is not my style. It's all red with huge fluffy booths....super bourgeois-y t I'm a twenty-something with a rich daddy who only drinks 15$ cocktails (I'm not quoting the menu, I have no idea how much the drinks were there). But it was kinda fun and the service wasn't snooty or anything. Plus it is a fancy-schmancy neighborhood so I guess that's how you roll there. HINT: If you want to get the smoked cheddar go to their bar next door and get it for 4$ (It's about 12$ at the restaurant)
(5)J B.
I've got to start by saying that I love fondue, and, afterall, who doesn't? It's gobs of lovely melty cheese followed, in the end, by pools of rich warm chocolate. Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh. That being said, this wasn't my favorite rendition of the aforementioned indulgence. As some other Yelpers have noted here, the decor needs an up-do. It's looking tired, and very much late nineties "hip" which, unfortunately, isn't any longer. In addition, it's connection to Bartini only throws a brick through your experience if you're anywhere near the restroom (which is pretty much the back half of the restaurant). My wife and I sat and watched an endless stream of torn up knuckleheads wobbling back and forth through the restaurant from the bar which tends to make you feel like you're fine dining at a frat party - kinda hard to imagine, I know, because it's not possible. As for the food, my wife ordered soup on the side and I ordered a salad which the server forgot to bring us had I not reminded him. Her soup, while good, was served in a flaming hot bowl that looked like it went through an aerial bombing in WWII - the edge of the bowl was completely chipped out (and by chipped, I mean freaking notched) in three different places. NOTE TO MANGEMENT: DO NOT SERVE FOOD IN BADLY CHIPPED OR BROKEN DINNER WARE - that's just poor form and lazy. My Spinach and Pear salad left me scratching my head....how in tarnation can you screw up salad? In this case, the answer is that you have flavorless Meyer lemon vinaigrette dressing and majorly underripe, crunchy pears. Other fondue joints offer up a wide variety of accoutrements that you can dip in the cheese other than just bread. Not that the bread-cheese thingy was bad, but it could have been more imaginative and fun, and that's what fondue IS, right? The entree was a real letdown. We had the one with lobster, salmon, scallops, shrimp, beef (which we substituted with more chicken), pork, sausage, and veggies. The portions were ridiculously small. I've never seen scallops that mini and the hot pots added little to no flavor. The dipping sauces were weak in that they lacked flavor (pesto was terrible, the garlic lemon butter was *meh*, the thai peanut was relatively bland, one dipping sauce that tasted vaguely like gross lumpy gravy *blech!* etc...) In addition, we had to ask for more skewers beyond the ONE they gave us - come on...we'd like to finish dinner within a week....one skewer...pffff. The timers they give you are a complete waste - don't bother. As a highlight of the evening, the Heath Bar chocolate fondue was, of course, fantastic. One other annoyance with fondue joints in general. Why are they so darn expensive? They aren't cooking anything and the stuff they do cook is generally mediocre. The patrons are doing most of the work so why the seemingly inordinate profit margins? At the end of the day, my advice would be to stay away. Either go for Happy Hour only when, let's face it, your bar is set pretty low, or spend a little more and go to The Melting Pot - it's a much safer bet.
(2)Noor A.
The waiters were very nice and took the time to explain the menu and offer their opinions on the best dishes. The restaurant has a very nice ambiance. Great experience, everything was delicious.
(5)sarah y.
came here for portland's dining month. the only other fondue place i've been to anywhere is the melting pot, and i have to say... i'd rather pay a little more and go back to the melting pot for the better selection, quality, and environment. our cheese fondue was lumpy and clearly not warm enough from the tiny tealight below. lumpy, unmelted cheese does not bode well for fondue... plus the only thing to dip into the cheese was bread (no apples, etc.). the lack of even a slight boil in the broth worried me a bit for the main course of the fondue which included chicken and seafood that i made sure to keep cooking a bit longer than i usually would. the dessert chocolate was melted well, thankfully, but the plate of items to dip in it were a bit cheap -- cut up cake donuts? seriously?!
(2)Meghan B.
My husband and I LOOOOOOVE this place. When we get to make it downtown Portland, it's usually to come here. Their food is fantastic and if you are a newbie to fondue, the staff is great to help you pick and choose your foods and also help you figure out how to cook it! If you do the meals, you start off by choosing a cheese fondue for your bread, next you choose your meats, they bring it to you raw and you cook your meat in the broth. They also have a guide for how long each meat should stay in the broth, ect. With your meat, you also get some kind of side as your main course of the meal. Finally, make sure you save room for the desert portion, you get to choose your chocolate fondue and they bring to you a plate full of cookie dough, fruit, cheesecake, everything desert!l- This place is truly awesome if you want to experience the whole fondue meal without paying outrageous prices such as those at the melting pot. Worth the drive- make reservations!
(5)Jesy B.
This place is *the* fondue place in my humble opinion, and a perfect night out if you're in a mood for fancier, albeit pricier meal. Both times I've been, I've gone for the Fondue experience which comes with a cheese fondue, entree of choice and a dessert fondue. The Tilamook White Cheddar is delicious as long as it's warm, but gets gritty as it cools down. The Brie and Gorgonzola fondue is, well, amazing! The bread cubes leave a bit to be desired so I'd recommend adding one of their sides - the fruits provides an excellent sweet compliment to the saltiness of the cheese. The sausage was good as well, but overwhelmed the fondue taste a bit. I think next time we'll go for the mushrooms. With a table of three (or four) you get two cooking styles so we went with roasted beef and the urban yosenable (chicken and clam broth with hints of ginger, lemongrass, soy and sweet chilies) - PERFECT for the seafood. I went for the lobster and prawns, which is perfectly paired with the Lime Chili and Lemon-Garlic Butter with Parsely and Caper dipping sauces (but they've got like 10 other ones too). I've had two of their dessert fondues - Heathbar and Peanut Butter and Chocolate. I'm more inclined towards the PB and Chocolate, but it was more chocolate than PB but oh well. The hunks of chocolate chip cookie dough were my favorite dipping bits. As for the service, quite good indeed. Our waitress was attentive but not disruptive at any point, but cheerfully answered all questions and provided helpful suggestions along the way. My only regret is not getting a booth either time - it does seems more conducive for the experience of sharing fondue.
(5)Angel R.
Pleased with the experience. Admit I was a bit nervous after reading some of the other reviews. I will definitely go back again and will choose it over the Melting Pot when in Portland. And I love that place too! Staff was pleasant, decor nice and interesting, menu had a great variety! The brie & gorgonzola cheese was delicious, very creamy--not at all lumpy as stated in one review. Added the fruit and it was worth it! Had the lobster & steak entree, also good. Almost too many sauces to try! Dessert was ymmmm--tried the chocolate with peanut butter. I really liked the cream puffs and cookie dough dippers. The blackberry lemonade was yummy too. Negatives were the parking situation--not really their fault. Also the restaurant seemed small. Could get crowded.
(4)Misty T.
Service was great. The food was decent. The place had a great vibe. It was perfect for a girl's night out.
(4)S W.
YUMMY.... The food was so amazing and the service outstanding. My boyfriend and I stuffed ourselves and then went home and fell into a food coma! Great selection of various cocktails and wine which were reasonably priced. The cheese fondue was tasty (we added the fruit along with the bread offering) for dipping. We also upgraded our main course to include Steak and Lobster...and then topped off the night with the Chocolate and Bananas Fosters Fondue....YUM!. We love this place and will go back again....it is a little cramped but if you request a booth you do feel a little more cozy..(if that is the mood you are going for). The vibe is hip and cool...and not so institutional as the Melting Pot....
(4)A E.
I'll never go to the Melting Pot again after going here! Yes, the Melting Pot is good but it's way over priced. Urban Fondue has, great food, great atmosphere & great prices. LOVE IT!
(5)Allie R.
I've been here twice, and both times for special occasions. They have a wonderful semi-private space that you can reserve for larger parties, and it's so much fun. I'm a big fondue fan, and I don't balk at the prices; from having fondue parties at my house, I know first-hand how expensive high-quality cheeses and chocolates are, and the experience makes the extra cost worth it, to me.
(4)Katie H.
I know most people enjoy their experience and the food...sorry not me. Service was TERRIBLE.....the place was slow when we got there and it still took forever to get a table, place our order, and get our food. To top it off when she gave me a taste of wine the waitress walked away with the wine for over 10 minutes before asking if I wanted it. The fondue was pretty good....however the bread that you dip was stale, asparagus app. was burned, and the ahi tuna terrible as well. With the terrible service we got we were afraid to complain.
(1)Dave R.
Had a great meal, great service, and a cute little joint. For what it is, not sure exactly what I would change to be different. Thanks team Fondue!
(5)D T.
Service was exceptional. Fast, informative and nice. We ordered two different cheese combinations and both were sooooo good. Brie with gorgonzola and the Ruby port. Just writing about it is making me hungry! They are very busy and it small so (especially weekends ) you will want to make reservations. They have a nice selection of things to dip - veggies-bread and a few meats. Only complaint is they had no broccoli. The best was desert! so many varieties and chocolate combinations! I can't wait to go back! They also had the BEST drink menu in Portland!
(5)julie g.
Went here last Sat. night.. Not impressed. We were part of a large group and seemed to be on the Slow..track. Dinner took about 2.5 hours and we left hungry. I'm a small woman and I was hungry. Food was not bad, just a very long and frustrating experience waiting for pieces to cook between bites. I was shocked that our bill was $146. for 2 people. That was absolutely extreme since I was sober and hungry. There are lots of good places to eat in this area, this just isn't one of them.
(2)Lauren L.
We bought the Groupon for Urban Fondue and originally made reservations for Saturday night but luckily someone called from the restaurant to confirm the reservation and let us know that the Groupon was only valid M-Th. That was a bummer but we made reservations for Monday and everything went great. We were seated right away and our waiter was very helpful with the menu. Pros: Ruby Port Cheese, tomato basil, and Banana Foster fondues were delicious. Great atmosphere and very nice staff. Cons: The main courses are small and steak is chewy. The lobster is the same size as the shrimp but it states in the menu that they are "mini" lobster tails. Also, the items you get for the dessert fondues are mostly store bought frozen desserts from Costco. Ex. Costco cream puffs, Sarah Lee's pound cake, and Costco Cheesecake. It would be nice if they had some homemade stuff. In the end, it was a great experience. The service was quick and very helpful. We were seated at 6 and done with a 3-course dinner by 7:30.
(3)Bethany J.
This place was one of my favorites but then I couldn't do wheat so I wrote the place off. I shouldn't have! I went for a birthday dinner and figured I'd be relegated to side dishes. Glad I asked! All their cheeses are gluten free and they carry gluten free bread!!!
(5)Sarah N.
We came with a Groupon and our server asked us about it right away and explained what it covered/offered and the how to's of at the Urban Fondue. Pros: they didn't treat us any different just because we had a Groupon. Server was great, enthusiastic and involved. Cons: it was busy - so our server didn't come around to fill up our drinks as often as I'd like but it wasn't terrible. We had made reservations for eight we got there a about 5-10mins early and we didn't get seated till about 8:30 because they said they were running behind. All in all it was a wonderful experience and everything everybody said it would be! It's a lot fun and breaks the typical dinning out mold. Enjoyed my evening!
(4)Stina L.
This is a great date night spot. As long as you get a reservation. once someone took me here and they had flowers in the table, great 3 course meal, and then they took a momento photo. Super cute set up and intimate seating.
(4)Taylor W.
I was so excited to finally get a reservation to this place! Even though I had to wait a few weeks... They just opened up patio seating outside, but my reservation unfortunately was inside. It was very cold and dark. However, if you are on a date, it is a very romantic setting with lots of candles. My date and I shared the fondue experience - I recommend this as it is a cheaper option and you get all 3 courses plus a side. Sadly I could not try any of their AMAZING alcoholic beverages as I am a week away from being 21 - I was devastated, because they looked absolutely amazing! I chose the Havarti cheese fondue with a mango salsa on the bottom along with a side of gourmet sausage. Let me tell you, it was the BEST cheese fondue I have ever experienced. The mango salsa was inadequately named because it was simply cut-up mangoes, but nonetheless tasted great. I had to tear up the bread into smaller pieces because they were in huge chunks that I would not have been able to eat in one bite. The entree course was a different experience for me. I chose the chef's plate - steak and pork, while my date chose a lobster and steak plate. Every plate comes with raw veggies and your raw choose of protein. The broth you choose is what YOU cook it in. I choose an asian-style broth looking for bold flavor, but I tasted water, hinted with the flavor of nothing. You have to cook tiny strips of whatever you choose for various amounts of time - sounds fun right? Not exactly, it took so long to cook and I didn't get to enjoy conversation with my lovely date because I was so focused on timing my steak. I wish they would have cooked our food - as chefs often do - and gave us an option of a wonderful dipping sauce instead. The desert course we ate in about 2 minutes flat! There is a lovely sample platter of dessert foods and fruits and you choose the fondue - I choose a black cherry chocolate fondue which was delicious. I do wish that the chocolate was more dense though. Overall, good experience. I would just change a few small details.
(4)Kaylee N.
I decided to take my boyfriend to Urban Fondue for his birthday because I heard through word of mouth that it was a great atmosphere and a great value for the price. Unfortunately I don't think that was the case. The restaurant was SO HOT. It was hot outside and they were using a fan on the ground to cool the restaurant. That doesn't mix well with diners cooking their and keeping fondues warm at the table. We loved the cheese fondue starter. The entree left a whole lot to be desired. Unfortunately the broth was really bland. The sauces were a nice idea, but kind of bland as well. We were told that the peanut sauce was the spiciest and it delivered quite a kick. My boyfriend does not do spicy and I do. There was no kick to that sauce. It was good, but a little disappointing. The dessert fondue was very good. We had the tiramisu fondue. I think that the assortment of desserts to dip could have been changed a little. The pineapple with that was weird. If you go you should definitely get a martini from next door! Service was excellent. I would recommend going for a starter with Martinis and dessert.
(3)Matt P.
We tried to go in tonight and use our groupon. The restaurant was nearly empty but the host said "we can get you a table at 7pm" (nearly 2 hours from our inquiry). He was monotone, unapologetic and made no mention of reservations coming in. We declined, left and went next door to Bartini (they serve Urban Fondue food there). The kicker...while sitting outside at Bartini, two people went into Urban Fondue, asked for a table and were denied. They sat next to us at Bartini. Moments later, the host came out to tell them he could seat them (a table of 2) at Urban Fondue now. He looked at us and quickly looked away. I want my groupon money back. Oh, and the food isn't great, though it's cheap (if you get it from the Bartini happy hour, and their happy hour drinks are cheap and fun, so that's better anyway).
(1)Amy E.
My husband and I went there on a Groupon and we're not disappointed. The waiter was very helpful in explaining how everything worked as I had never been to a fondue restaurant before. The brie and gorganzola cheese was great very smooth. Portion size was generous. We then got the sampler and we're very pleased the hardest part was remembering which dipping sauce when with what. But we had fun experimenting and it gave us insight for next time.For dessert we opted for house chocolate and we're full but happy at the end I would recommend this place for sure and look forward to going back
(5)Lindsey M.
Seriously one of my favorite places in Portland! The food is great, prices way better than melting pot and the drinks are to die for! Their happy hour is the best in Portland! I got chatty with the bartender who ended up giving me free drinks and desert-what's not to like! It fills up quick so get there early.
(5)Pamela S.
Went here as part of Portland Dining Month. This place participated with gusto. No "you can only have this or that" nit picking. The entire menu was fair game. Major points for generosity! This restaurant is connected to Bartini next door. The martini list was extensive, impressive, and delicious. Their Moscow Madness was the best non Moscow mule I've tasted. That's impressive, since I've consumed many a mule. The dessert martinis were fantastic. Someone had a good time creating that bar menu! The food was great. Started with the brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue with bread and asparagus as dippers. We were sad when it was gone. Cheese was followed by prawn and lobster tail fondue for me and steak and lobster tail for my fiancee. I wasn't kidding when I said they participated with no strings attached. Since we had never been fondue-ing before, our server took the time to explain to us how to cook our food in the broth. Most importantly, when I told him I'm pescatarian (I eat fish, but no other meats) he told me, before I started eating, that I needed a different broth (which he promptly brought) and the two sauces that I couldn't eat. His knowledge of the ingredients in their menu items was impressive. After dinner came dessert. OMG dessert. Marionberry cheesecake fondue with cheesecake, fruit, cookie dough, doughnuts, and who knows what other deliciousness as dippers. We were completely full partway through, but we're not quitters, so we soldiered on until it was gone. This was a fun place and we'll be back.
(4)Ryan A.
There was only one good thing about this place and the ONLY reason this isn't a one star review - the ruby port cheese fondue and the accompanying bread. I don't know where they got the bread from, but I'd like to know - it was pretty amazing. The cheese fondue matched the bread and was some of the best fondue I have ever had. The only complaint I have about the cheese course was that there was way too little of it (seriously, like half an inch of cheese in the bottom of that big crock). Here is what was bad: The restaurant itself. The place wasn't clean, the chairs were broken (to the point of being unintentional recliners) and the fondue pot stands were all broken. The water. I appreciate trying to set yourself apart, but making the assumption that everyone would want cucumber-infused water is not a safe assumption. I requested plain water and was granted that the first time. They even brought a glass that was different than the others that seemed to symbolize the fact that I had plain water. I stopped the full-of-himself manager from filling my glass with cucumber water once, but I missed stopping the next one and ended up having cucumber water for the rest of the night. The staff. Our waiter was fine-ish, but he talked down to us the whole night. He kind of treated us like children, as if we weren't good enough to be in his bad restaurant. The food. Aside from the cheese fondue mentioned above, the food was only okay at best. The meat course was plain meat, not seasoned or marinaded at all. The cooking liquids added little to no flavor, but the sauces helped some. The waiter even pointed out that the tomato-based cooking liquid would be the only one that added any flavor and that we would need the sauce to add any flavor. Why bother? I can boil pieces of chicken at home. In addition, they showed no skill in the preparation of the meats. My lobster was hacked to sad shreds. The options were sad, too. If you wanted chicken, you were pretty much stuck with a plate of just chicken. I got steak and lobster, but that was about as good as you could do with variety. We were served "complimentary" potato au gratin. This was actually pretty good, but in that sad "I feel like Kraft Macaroni & Cheese instead of real homemade macaroni & cheese" kind of way. I don't know what they used, but it tasted like processed American cheese, not any kind of real cheese. To top it all off, they served us frozen dessert items to dip in the chocolate course. The "cream puff" was just an ice ball, even after letting it sit in the fondue for several minutes. The cheesecake was frozen. It was just bad and showed a lack of care. The last thing I can remember was the price. The menu said that the full experience (or whatever it was called) was $5 less each on Saturdays from 4-6pm. We arrived at 4:30pm and left at 6:30pm (more due to the restaurant's speed than our speed) and we didn't receive the discounted price. I don't know if this was an oversight or not; I didn't ask because we were there with friends and I just wanted to let it go. It was already a bad experience and getting the advertised price wasn't going to make the difference. I won't be back. Sure, the other fondue place is more expensive, but for good reason.
(2)Magen M.
I came here with a group of my friends for a girls night out! We made a reservation a day or so in advance but upon arrival, they claimed the reservation was nowhere in their system. We waited more than an hour to be seated & we were all starving and quite frustrated. However, our waitress was an absolute goddess. She empathized with our situation and offered us free drinks and cheese fondue. Originally, we were only going to order the chocolate fondue, but I'm glad we got a chance to try both. The cheese was delicious but unfortunately, the only choice for dipping was bread. I very much enjoyed the chocolate fondue as well, there were a variety of dipping options (from brownies to raw cookie dough to strawberries) & the chocolate was a dream. Urban Fondue would have received a much lower review had it not been for their wait staff. I will definitely be returning to try more things on the menu when I'm not so desperate for food.
(4)Melissa R.
The fondue was ok. Nothing to rave home about. The thing that urked me most, however, was the experience. We arrived at the restaurant 3 hours before close and the place was empty. We went to the hostess for a table, she asked us if we had a reservation, which we didn't. She told us she would have to find a place to squeeze us in, and that it would take 20 minutes minimum. We looked around again, there was no one there! She didn't give us an explanation, just that we needed a reservation. I am not sure why, but we stayed anyway. We were seated, and they made sure to take us all the way to the back of the restaurant, I guess so that no one saw us? Then we had our OK meal. We stayed for a while, 20 minutes until closing time and within that entire time NO ONE ELSE CAME IN. It was the oddest thing. 3 hours, and we were their only table.... Why open the place if it is by reservation only? It made no sense!!! Anyway, not worth returning.
(1)Su R.
Loved loved loved it! had a girl's night out and was one of the best 5 hours in company I spent! the food was delish & the variety was amaxing when compared to Melting pot, not to mention the price was WAY less than the other fondue place. Definitely will return!
(5)Robert F.
My family and I had a wonderful experience. Our waiter was very helpful and took great care of us. The cheese fondue was amazing. We tried both the brie one and the swiss but decided the classic swiss one was the best. We added apples and pears for dipping and was nice to take it easy on the bread. All of the seafood and meats were fresh and yummy. We finished the meal with the plain chocolate fondue and really enjoyed what they brought to dip it in. Pound cake, cream puffs, dried fruit, cookie dough, cheesecake, etc. The four stars is for the mixed cocktails....ordered a martini and it was way too sweet. Maybe stick to beer and wine here. SO much better then the Melting Pot. The atmosphere was very cozy and comfortable. Their prices are better and you don't leave hungry like at Melting Pot. If you are trying to decide between the two pick Urban Fondue! We will be back :)
(4)Ang L.
One of the worst dining experiences I've ever had! We went there on a Thursday night and the place was packed. It was 90 degrees outside and probably 10 degrees hotter in the dining room. We were promptly seated at 6:15 which was our reservation time. The first course the ruby port cheese fondue was fantastic. We ordered a side of the sausage as well and it was delicious. Unfortunately after the cheese the whole service was terrible. Our first course arrived and my friend got the wrong entrees. Our waiter was no where to be found so we found the assistant server Austin to correct it. I had a refill on my regular coke and received diet. Again our waiter was no where to be found so we had Austin correct that. The broth that we ordered (some tomatey broth) was not good. It came highly recommended by our waiter but I wish we had gone with something else. The pieces of meat are too big to fork and continually fall off in the broth. The broth sits so high and the seats are sunken that we had to stand up for half of the meal to fish out our food. Once the entrees were cooked they weren't that great. In the middle of me trying to cook and eat, the waiter came over and asked for my groupon. I pulled out my phone but couldn't pull it up right away. I asked if he could come back in a bit and he said he needed it right now. Meanwhile I have food cooking and food on my plate getting cold. He just stood there for a good 2 minutes waiting. I finally pulled it up and he snapped a picture of it and left. He didn't ask how our food was or anything. We finally had enough so we pushed our plates to the side. The waiter came back to pick everything up and he spilled the sauces all over me. I was never offered a towel or napkin. They were so focused on getting the sauce off the cloth booth and the table. Finally my friend gave me her napkin to clean up. We then received the dessert course and half of the food was frozen. Again they don't cut the food properly for it to stay on the fork while you're dipping the fondue. We had a groupon and ordered an additional $10 worth of sides. Worst $40 I've ever spent in my life. We complained and the manager just sat there and stared at us and didn't really say anything. I wish I had brought cash for a tip for the server assistant Austin though because the only bright spot of the whole experience was him and unfortunately he was the one who had to keep correcting our waiter's mistakes. I beg you please don't waste your time or money!
(1)Brittany B.
Urban fondue is the greatest.The setting here is wonderful. This place is really relaxing and intimate with the couch style seating, red walls, and dimmed lighting. It is so comfortable just to sit back with a date or group of friends, good drinks, and excellent food. The fondue is THE BEST. I wouldn't compare it to melting pot at all. Although I find melting pot good, this fondue is much better! larger selection of cheeses, better tasting, I feel their options are better. I love love love this restaurant, and I go anytime I can. YES it is more expensive than your average applebees, and YES you should expect to be there around 2 hours. This is fondue! you are there for a dining experience! You get lost in good conversation, good drinks, food, and the service is excellent and are very attentive. Recommend: reservations are a must! this place is popular. Also, groupon has a deal right now for $39 for a 3 course meal for two, which is usually $32 a person. (4/3/14) Jump on this deal! you will be glad you went here!
(5)Steve E.
These guys are awesome, friendly and attentive. The food is A-1! I love going here. Plan to park and walk a few blocks to get there.
(5)Mary Ann M.
Credit Card Fraud Waiting to Happen I was really excited to go here for Valentine's Day with my boyfriend and made reservations via Open Table (online) at the beginning of January. A week or more later someone called from the restaurant to tell me the menu and demand my credit card number to hold the reservation. I am not about to give my credit card info over the phone to hold a reservation, who asks for that? When I said that I wasn't comfortable with that, he said "that's what we do" and very snottily asked if I wanted to cancel my reservation. Of course I did. If they really need a credit card to hold the reservation, it should be asked for when making the reservation online, and should be encrypted over the website so you're not just handing it to whomever happens to answer the phone that night. We'll be going back to Swagat, in the same neighborhood, always delicious food with pleasant service and no shady requirements to eat there.
(1)Deborah W.
This fondue gem right off 23rd is, hands down, vastly superior to the chain competition, and by far the best fondue place we've tried. The brie/gorgonzola fondue is a toothsome delight, not to be missed! The array of enticing "dippers" and cooking broths is seriously impressive, and the numerous yummy sauces were outstanding and made for a fun, scrumptious adventure. And did I mention the martini menu? Yowza! So many reasonably priced, outstanding options. Our group had 8 different types in total, all excellent. The service was also outstanding. Shawn, or primary server, was super knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, and enthusiastic. The ambiance was warm and inviting and just made the experience that much better. We will definitely be back!
(5)Mychelle S.
Take the servers recommendations! They are always spot on. Took the kids & husband here Thursday evening for their 1st time. Make sure you make reservations. They were turning people away all night. We had a blast. At first the kids were not excited about the menu (they don't have a kids menu) but they let them order off the HH bar menu! Awesome! Make sure you allow for at least 1.5-2 hrs for dinner. It's a dining experience. We will be back
(4)Katrina W.
Urban Fondue is a great late night dining experience if your looking for an affordable and fun fondue spot. Sean is the best server they have there. He is extremely helpful and knowledgeable of menu items. He provides great service and is genuinely interested in his diners. Urban Fondue's cocktail menu is fantastic and full of variety. I love the raspberry cosmo and blackberry lemon drop. We had the smokey sundried tomato cheese fondue and it is to die for. For non-chocolate lovers, they offer other options for the desert fondue. Great place to go for fondue with friends and groups and very affordable!
(5)Lori F.
Ooh, wasn't pleased. I've wanted to try Urban Fondue for years, and finally made it happen only to find it, "meh". The exterior is strange- pink plastic coating over the doors and windows, which makes it look like you're not sure you really want to go in.The interior feels old and dark and, just not a place you'd want to take someone for a special occasion. Dark, with old and broken down foam in the private booths caused me to ask if the pillows were for sitting on. I was told they were for decor. So beware, we sat on them anyway, or we would have sunk down into the seats. My beer was warm with a greasy glass. I wasn't assertive enough to ask for a new one, so I just didn't drink it. The server was patient in explaining how the menu works, but for a first timer, it's sort of hard to figure out how it works. I had the cheese fondue, which was good, but cheese fondue is good anywhere, even at home. For about $14.00, there wasn't enough for two, which is how it's advertised. Just not a good experience in milieu, or food quality. And priced a bit high, in my opinion.
(2)Jami Q.
Great first experience. Super service even though.busy. The port cheese fondue is excellent.
(5)Magicka M.
We came last Wednesday night and the temperature was nice granted it wasn't the hottest day of the summer and it was just the right temp outside. So not sure if they finally installed an AC or that we were just lucky the weather was cooperating with us. Booths were super comfy and I definitely enjoyed the decor. The cheese fondue was great! Had Brie and Gorgonzola and Ruby port and they were both delicious. I'm honestly not a fan of blue cheese or Gorgonzola, but the fondue was actually good, however if I have to have my preference the Ruby port is my fave. Comes with unlimited bread and we also ordered mushrooms to go with it. It didn't quite come till 2/3rd of the way in and for $5 more, it was just okay. Bread and cheese is just great by itself. The entree felt like hot pot without the boiling hot water. It was definitely fun since we did throw lots of stuff in at one time and had to fish for our food. We even left some cooking on the skewer and when my friend was fishing for some stuff he may have just taken a piece off my skewer rather than the bottom of the pot! haha Broth was good and the 9 different dipping sauces added to the fun. We liked one particular sauce and requested more of it and was given to us without hassle. Also the lobster my friend got smelled like it was going bad and the staff was kind enough to replace it with more steak instead. They also gave us bread upon our request free of charge also. As for dessert we had the raspberry swirl and the marionberry cheesecake. Both were good, but the dippers were okay. Favorite dippers were banana, strawberry pound cake, cream puff and cheesecake. The rest I would have liked to traded, dried apricot, cookie dough, doughnut, pineapple. Also it didn't come with unlimited dippers and it was pretty much one to two pieces (of each item) per person. Some of the pieces were exceptionally small, like the strawberry, I think they cut them into fourths! and only gave one half the strawberry so each person gets one piece of strawberry. The pineapple was also the same size and also only two pieces to share between the two. So although the dessert fondue was great, we really didn't get to enjoy it to the full extent. Chocolate is versatile so any of the dippers would go well with it, but still wish we can at least choose our assortment or have some sort of options. I'd gladly trade two pieces of cookie dough for a fourth piece of strawberry lol. Anyway the cheesecake fondue was good, but because of the dippers I recommend sticking to the chocolate fondue for dessert! Overall the best part was the cheese fondue and for $11.95 with unlimited bread.. yes!!. Entree is great if you wanna kill time and have some fun with friends, but from $15- $20 each I'd probably rather go to an unlimited hot pot. Dessert is $13.95 and if it wasn't for the random assortment of limited dippers I would have said it was well worth it,however it's your preference. I felt like the random assortment let you try every combo till you found one you like, but once you did you can't go for round two ;) Normally the fondue experience is only $31.95 per person but if you do the math you are not really saving anything and may even save more if you go a la cart. In fact, if you choose an entree at 18.95 each and do the experience a la cart it actually comes out to 31.90 each!! Save a whole 10 cents from the bill, lol With that said pick a cheaper entree and the experience price is more than what you should pay. There is only one entree at 19.95 and if you get lobster they require you to pay the difference anyway. You'll save a dollar each if you order the $20 entree during the fondue experience But come when its $5 off each person for happy hour and you may actually start saving something. PS parking is hard to find so I recommend leaving a bit earlier than scheduled to allot for time spending circling the streets. I barely got in there in time for reservation.
(4)Rachelle I.
I hated that you could only use the Groupon Monday-Thursday and that it says that only under the fine print. They never mentioned that when I called to make the reservations. Then when they called two hours before my Saturday night reservation, they told me. I asked them if they could make an exception because I didn't see that and they never said anything when I made the reservation so I could change the day I was coming in. The General manager was the one on the phone with me and he didn't seem to care at all. He sounded like a robot continually saying "Sorry for your frustration." Even when i simply asked that in the future, when people make reservations, they remind people of the Groupon restrictions then. Again, all I got was "Sorry for your frustration." As though he had learned that in a class somewhere about how to deal with unhappy customers. I felt like not reminding people until two hours before their reservation was a way to get people to spend the extra money by only getting to use the money value of their Groupon. I absolutely love fondue and was so excited about finding a new place to go to instead of paying the higher price at The Melting Pot. Plus I like to support local, but if that is how the manager treats customers, i don't want to give them my business. I still gave three stars because my food was good and the wait staff was very nice.
(3)Allison R.
All of the cheese fondue's are good here. My favorite being the Ruby Port. Damn, it's so good. I have never actually had any of the entree's here, we usually just go for some bread, sausage, mushrooms and cheese. I could seriously just eat the bread and cheese, for shame! The drinks are good, get a Lemon Drop, a specialty cocktail, or even a flavored lemonade if you're not feelin' the alcohol. I'm not sure if Urban Fondue is reservation only, but the few times I have been here we have made reservations and normally get seated promptly after arriving. When i'm craving fondue, I come here. Nowhere else.
(5)Chris C.
The fondue was awesome. The cheese fondue was absolutely amazing. Our server was very nice and very helpful! We were there for about 2 1/2 hours, which is normal for fondue. We went on Friday at 4 PM and got a great deal on the fondue experience. As far as fondue quality goes, I only have melting pot to compare it to. This place was as good if not better than melting pot.
(5)C M.
Lobster tasted fishy. Slow service ... I'm from out of town. I expect better ... I will stick with Melting Pot from now on... Thanks but no thanks ...
(1)Chloe V.
I just celebrated my birthday here with my boyfriend. It was an amazing experience. My boyfriend made a reservation at 6 a few days in advance, and we got seated right away today. We did the birthday event and got to do the 3-course meal. Our waiter was great and very attentive! Great service and food! I would highly recommend for special events :D
(4)Karen R.
This is one of my favorite places to eat, the food is fresh and amazing as well as the staff is always friendly and always ready to help with any request you may have, they have a wide variety of choices as well as healthy broths to cook your food in. The 3 course meal is a great price especially compared to the melting pot. I will always choose Urban over melting pot.
(5)Lindsey M.
Is it possible to give a place less stars than 1? This place was a big disappointment. It started with the patronizing way the server talked down to us, followed by slow service (when there was 2 tables in the restaurant), a watered down old fashion, a slab of Canadian bacon (that's not pancetta, btw) thrown on a Caesar salad that was far from edible and cut-able(I asked for a knife and it was never brought), followed by lukewarm tomato soup, and mediocre fondue. Yes, I am a server and yes, I did give you a 10 percent tip. Awful service, won't be returning again. In other news, this was the 2nd time I had been there. First time being my birthday where we had to wait 45 minutes, for a "reserved table." A party of 5. Guess I should have listened to my gut after the first time. Papa Haydyn's was great afterwards- should have went there instead!
(1)Kristen M.
After going to Happy Hour at Urban Fondue's sister bar, Bartini, we decided to go for dinner to try the full experience. We chose the 'fondue experience' which has a price of $26.95 per person all day on Sunday (vs. $30.95 regularly). With this dinner you get a cheese appetizer to share, an entree, and dessert to share. We have tried both the smoked cheddar and tomato-basil cheddar starters and while both were very good, the tomato-basil had that extra pop of flavor. My husband chose steak and lobster for his entree and I chose prawns and lobster. The seafood was very tasty but the steak was a little tough despite adjustments to the cooking time and the portion size was smaller. And lastly dessert... aww, my favorite part! The dipping items were extensive with everything from pound cake, to fruit, to cookie dough. Both the rocky road and carmel dips were excellent. Overall, a fun and different kind of dining experience. We liked it so much we brought our families on our return trip. As a tip, get reservations... it makes things much easier!
(4)Michelle D.
After spending extended periods of time in German speaking countries, I;ll admit I was skeptic when it came to eating fondue here...I was of course concerned about the authenticity of the meal. I can conclude that it is GOOD, but the endless options were a little be tiring. Our waiter, Shiloh (sp??) was great! He guided us through no prob! OUr bus boy on the other hand was TERRIBLE! I was sat in front of a dirty napkin and asked for a clean one-so he ripped the dirty one from my fingers and threw a clean one at me! He didn't say anything! In fact he NEVER said anything! He started to clear our plate while we were still eating! He never even asked! He was RUDE RUDE RUDE. At least SPEAK!!!
(3)Diane F.
We went to Urban Fondue last week for our anniversary. Our first trip there, but not to fondue. We loved the fact that it is in NW Portland, we love this area a lot for all the great shops, people and wonderful atmosphere that is there. Parking is a bit tight, but if you don't mind walking a block or two in the fresh air then you'll be fine. We have reservations and were greeted promptly on arrival and a large booth was waiting for us. We loved the friendlieness if all the staff that worked there and they seemed to work together and help each other. We started with a smokey cheddar fondue. The crusty bread that was served with it was fresh and really good. Dipping the chunks of bread into this warm smokey cheddar was close to nervana! It was delicious! We also ordered some cocktails and they were really smooth and good as well. Our main entree arrived (we each ordered two different ones for more variety) with our stockpot of boiling liquid. We chose the "URBAN YOSENABE - chicken and clam broth with hints of ginger, lemongrass, soy and sweet chilies. It was perfect to go with out selections of chicken, pork, scallops, beef, and huge shirmps! We also had the cheesy aug gratin potatoes with our main course and they were really good as well. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better it was time to pick our dessert fondue... we chose butterscotch chocolate and it came with an assortment of dipping items, strawberries, cut up donutes, cream puffs, banana, dried apricots, pineabble, cheesecake bites. As a special they also brought us a small marionberry fondue with a candle to celebrate our anniversary. Very nice touch! We had a wonderful expierence and plan to go back and take friends next time! Who want's to go?
(5)Leah G.
Went with a friend for her birthday. The service was not good. Our server tried pushing us into ordering the "Fondue Experience," as soon as we were seated, which, before reading the menu, I had no idea what she was referring to. Both being vegetarian, we ordered the veg fondue with tomato fennel broth and various dipping sauces. It was not explained to us that we do not choose the sauces. When I made inquiries about the the "recommended," vs. other kinds, our server became impatient and claimed they just bring out about 9 sauces of their choosing. When the food arrived with 6 different sauces--2 of them completely flavorless--and small plates of pre-roasted vegetables & tofu, we got right to work. Here in lies the problem with fondue: Be prepared to lose it off the end of your skewer, and have to go fishing. Surprisingly, this turned out to be quite fun. We opted for no dessert because of the already pricey menu. When we arrived home, I felt fine, but my friend felt ill. She speculates it may have had something to do with the food.
(2)Allison C.
My best friend and I had such a fun Friday night here! The wait staff was extremely helpful. They made great suggestions! The Brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue was absolutely TO DIE FOR. I definitely recommend coming here for a fun, interactive dinner. One tip - make reservations. They filled up pretty fast.
(5)kelly s.
I'm torn, The menu is good, the drinks are good, prices are over the top, which would be acceptable if the place wasn't always dirty and seemingly designed on a dime. Have been a few times, and each time my impression get's marred. Last time it's because I waited for my friends in the bar, and it was so filthy, it sort of grossed me out to think my food was being prepared near by. -In conclusion, lobster is fresh, steak is fresh, sauces are good, not the most unique meal of my life despite my expectation otherwise, reinforced by the deliciously suggestive prices.
(3)Holly B.
My boyfriend and I went to Urban Fondue as a celebratory dinner. We ordered the experience that included a cheese fondue, side, and dessert to split and a meat fondue for each. The port cheese fondue was incredible. While I was expecting a more traditional fondue, I was blown away by their interpretation. I would absolutely order that again. The meat fondue was good. I would say that the lobster was not worth the extra money. The pork and steak were both delicious. One of the reasons I give this place a 4 star rating rather than a 5 star rating is that they have you cook the fondue in broth rather than oil. It takes much longer, and is much less tasty. It was still good though! The dessert fondue was also incredible. We had the tiramisu fondue. Just thinking about it now makes me want it again! It came with plenty of fun things to dip into it, and it itself was fantastic. I loved the atmosphere of this place. We went on a Tuesday night and it was busy but not crowded. We had a cozy booth that was very private and fun. Everything in the restaurant was pink/red/purple. This is a good restaurant if you're looking for something fun. The meal took a very long time (over two hours), so we really got to enjoy ourselves and enjoy our celebration. I've definitely had better fondue, especially better meat fondue, but the chocolate fondue was unbeatable and the atmosphere was perfect for the occasion.
(4)Rosy D.
I'm a little biased towards Urban as its the only Fondue I've ever had, but I keep coming back because I love it! I love all the different choices I love the red and deep pink interior of the restaurant, and I love the service. I usually come here for birthdays and special occasions because its a little pricey. Only reason it isn't getting 5 stars.
(4)Marcos W.
My wife & I visited Urbane Fondue on a balmy, summer Wednesday evening. It was a definitely a good choice for my first fondue restaurant. We skipped the "fondue experience" to mix & match our own cheese, entree and dessert fondues. Being vegetarians, there was a total of one entree we could try which was... eh. Next time we're definitely going pure cheese fondue and salad, both of which were delicious! Considering the quality of the food, the reason I'm sticking with my middle-of-the-road rating was the rest of the experience. Granted, it wasn't an extremely busy night, but there was one waiter and one bus boy. So although they were both friendly, the service was slower than we would have liked. The atmosphere was also unique, and nice, but considering the price we paid, wasn't spectacular. All in all, I'd visit the place again, even bring friends, but not a five star experience.
(3)Elois A.
Fondue sucks. Or at least this particular fondue restaurant in Portland. HOW CAN I FEEL SO DAMN FULL FROM THOSE TINY MORSELS OF FOOD? DARN FRENCH WITH THEIR PORTIONS THAT I AM FORCED TO COOK MYSELF AND MAGICALLY EXPAND WHEN THEY REACH A STOMACH. ALSO HOW THE HELL DOES A BILL FOR FOUR PEOPLE GET TO BE $120?! BOB SAGET. *goes to beat up innocent puppies*
(2)Mikhail H.
I recently brought two girlfriends here for a ladies night out and was far from embarrassed as to my restaurant selection. The price is just amazing for a huge pile of food which is VERY filling and the price difference when compared to the Melting Pot is so cheap plus the restaurant is way nicer looking in my opinion. I have had several people argue that with me but quite frankly the Melting Pot does not impress me - their food does not taste as good, I feel like I am eating in an underground bunker, the service was horrid and dear God I nearly lost it when I saw the bill! So, please...continue thinking the Melting Pot is better to keep it so I can continue to get a reservation at Urban Fondue and enjoy better food at a much more reasonable price! Though I will say my girlfriends ordered five too many cocktails from Bartini during dinner since I was the designated driver so their bills were...well, NOT CHEAP. I was amazed though having a three course amazing meal cost me seriously $40 with tip on a Friday night no less! Urban Fondue also has their fondue experience for even cheaper certain times and nights!
(5)Heather E.
This place is a great place for a romantic evening! The booths are awesome with pillows and go really far back so that you can sit in the far back and barely be seen. The food is awesome and pretty well priced for what you get. My one issue would be is that the portions for the entree fondues are barely large enough for 2 people, but the cheese and chocolate ones are very plentiful. The dipping sauces are amazing and each have their own meat they go best with, try them all.
(4)DandA T.
Took my wife here to celebrate her birthday. Took us about 20 mins of driving around but we finally found a spot. We had reservations and were promptly seated. We liked the big comfy booths and the decor of the place. We arrived before 7pm and we ordered the Fondue Experience. My wife's Blackberry Lemon martinis were excellent...nice and strong. The waitress was very helpful explaining everything and recommending entrees. The service our waitress gave was exceptional. When I made my reservation online I mentioned it was my wife's birthday. After the entree our waitress brought out a little dessert tray with chocolate fondue and a birthday candle for my wife. The main desesert fondue was amazing. We had the caramel cognac fondue with pieces of cheesecake, cookie dough, pound cake, strawberries and apricots. Cookie dough covered in caramel was the best dessert in a long time I have tasted. We will definitely go back!
(5)Andrea B.
Way cheaper than melting pot! Intimate atmosphere, yummy food, and fun part of Portland to walk around it. Its especially awesome at Christmas time!
(4)Lisa H.
I went for the Fondue Experience with six friends last night, and had a great time. Lingering over the three courses and trying such a variety of items made the evening enjoyable. I was especially fond of the Brie and Gorgonzola cheese fondue, and was heard to say "if this wasn't so hot I would want to take a bath in this". I will definitely return.
(4)Ashley C.
Lots of fun with a large group of friends. The chef came out and help us with our selections, and she make some ad hoc food for us. It was lot of fun cooking, timing, and skewing the various meat into different cheese pot. Highly recommend for a fun time.
(3)S B.
The cheese is great. Ruby Port- OMG! But portions small, space small, service snobby. Great for a date or for a casual dinner party.
(3)Stacie H.
I have been patronizing this restaurant for a number of years and the prices keep climbing as the portion sizes continue to get smaller and smaller. The waitstaff also makes a practice of rushing you through your courses and then asking you to move to the bar or leave the restaurant as soon as you pay the bill... Whether you're finished eating or not. This has now happened to us twice. Will not be going back.
(2)Karin H.
In a nutshell, the food was good, but portions were a bit on the small side for the price. Service was a tad slow, especially considering the low volume of customers. Wait staff was very nice and friendly, though. It didn't leave an overtly negative impression on me, but I think I'll probably stick to The Melting Pot for future fondue forays. The food is just a little better and you get more for your money.
(3)R Z.
The perfect romantic night. Great food, great booze and very dark. Don't go here if you're looking for a cheap night out but if you want to splurge on your sweetie you can't go wrong here. The seafood and steak are fresh and the fondue is amazing. I love the Thai peanut dipping sauce with the main courses and the brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue to start. Go, take your time, have fun, and spoil your special girl.
(5)Ben F.
Was here with a group of friends for a birthday party and got the "semi-private" table in the back. I really enjoyed the three courses they brought out (dessert was my favorite) and the staff was quick on their feet and attentive. As far as fondue places go, this one is my new favorite. My advice to anyone who makes it to dessert, horde the frozen peanut butter dipped in chocolate for yourself!
(5)Erin O.
Listen to Auntie Erin and go for cheese fondue and cocktails. There's some good stuff on the menu, but in case you hadn't heard, fondue is pricey. And it's just too much bloody work. And lets face it, vegetarian fondue bites (in the style of Mike Tyson.) The Brie & Gorgonzola cheese fondue (topped with roasted hazelnuts?!?!), however, should not be missed. Neither should the drinks. Last time I enjoyed some sort of fruity, herby, muddley thing that was obviously poured straight from heaven. So I repeat, cheese fondue, cocktails. do ittt.
(4)Cassandra H.
I could have eaten just the goat cheese polenta cake side and been very happy. I enjoyed the desserts and the cheese fondue. Not much of a place for a toddler. The server was wonderful. I would go again. :)
(4)Sherry J.
I joined my girlfriends for dinner here last night. On the thumbs up side - It was a great place for a girls night out. It was quiet - so easy to talk and hear each other, we had a great window seat (great for watching passersby) and the dessert fondue was yummy (try the dark chocolate hazelnut). On the thumbs down side I thought the entree and service were just ok. I would describe the entrees as "boring". The wait staff is friendly but inexperienced or so they seem. I hate having my wine glass taken away without asking me if I want another and then having to ask for wine twice before I get it. Oh yeah, and it's a bit pricey. We got the fixed course for $31. I would say "no" to a return trip but I would keep my expectations low to medium.
(3)Robin S.
This place was pretty pertentious and loud. My boyfriend and I are vegitaitians and it was our first time going to a fondue reseraunt in Portland. The watress treated us like we were in the wrong place at the wong time, but the cheese fondue was terriffic! Then we orderd the veggie plate with the veggie tomato-basil sause. The tomato basil sause over-powered the the flavor of the veggies and the other 6 sauses that they gave us. But things were still yummy! We are going to give it another go for desert!
(3)Jeremy G.
The food is fantastic, best fondue in Portland! If that wasn't enough the staff is GREAT!
(5)Joe P.
Urban Fondue was a good overall experience. The wait staff were very pleasant and prompt. The food was delish, I definitely recommend the Smoke cheddar fondue. The only knock I would give UF would be their prices are very high.
(4)Benjamin P.
Nothing special about this restaurant. The service was way too spotty for fondue. The food was pretty good, but the deal with fondue restaurants is that they are all the same. That is why the service component is such a deal breaker. If I were to want fondue anytime again I would go somewhere else not because it was bad, it just wasn't the atmosphere I was looking for.
(3)willow t.
Love this place! Went for a friends birthday and had a wonderful dinner. Went with the Fondue Experience and really enjoyed everything, though the cheese was my least favorite. We had the Port and Brie and both were just a bit too salty and lacked in bread selection. The seafood entree was wonderful and we had a great time cooking our own scallops, shrimp, oysters and salmon. Dessert was the best part, they offer all kinds of items to dip, from cream puffs to dried apricots. Yum! Will go again for sure.
(4)Lorina P.
Although we were a little leary after reading the reviews, I have to say I'm happy we decided to try this place. It was late, on Tuesday night, but we were still treated decently, and not rushed to finish. The cheese fondue was delicious, the mushrooms even better [amazing!], and the wait staff were kind enough to bring us extra bread. The dessert fondue was also quite tasty [caramel cognac]. Try the Lemon Basil Martini for a drink, but I'd pass on the Cherry Manhattan. Overall, a very pleasant experience, especially for a late-night dinner without reservations.
(4)Maddy R.
I had an amazing time here. I went for girls night with a group of friends. The service was amazing, the waiter help with all our questions and made some amazing recommendations. He was even able to point out the best dishes for the vegetarian in our little group. When the food arrived it was amazing. The ruby port was my favorite. The entree was a lot of fun and allowed us to fool around with all the different dipping sauces. Over all it was an amazing night topped off with an amazing meal. I will definitely be returning.
(5)Jen Z.
I used to be OBSESSED with this place. So delicious. I've been coming for years and its become a cult classic in my cousin's group of friends. (I'm here visiting her.) The service isn't exactly to die for (usually) but the cheese and dessert fondues are delicious. I MUST recommend the Tomato Basil and Ruby Port cheeses. Most of the dessert fondues are way too sweet for me but still yummy. The cocktails (tiramisu martini!!) are delicious as well.
(4)Marc H.
To be fair, it probably wasn't a good idea to take three generations of in-laws to a fondue restaurant. That said, this place needs some work. Let's start with the good - the CHEESE fondue. To me, fondue is about cheese with chocolate being a fun variant. Fondue (to me) is not about cooking meats and veggies in hot oil. So, when the waitress snobbily said that cheese fondue can ONLY be an appetizer and that everybody MUST order entrees I immediately was put off. The cheese fondue was good however. 3 varieties were ordered by my group of 7 and I tried all of them. I particularly liked the Brie/Gorgonzola but the Smoked Chedder and the White Chedder/Caraway seed were also good. Entrees: Despite the waitresses insistence that everybody order an entree my wife and had the cheese appetizers plus salad so I did not directly experience the entrees. For 5 people our party ordered two of the Urban Fondue for Twos (should have served 4) and had far too much food, both in quantity as well as what was realistic to cook 1-2 pieces at a time for 1-3 minutes. Other Food: Tomato Basil soup really doesn't need a chicken stock base and unfortunately theirs has one. Too bad for this vegetarian. They have only about 5 beers on the menu and were out of the first two that one family member ordered. Salads were fine but nothing remotely special. Desert: Melted chocolate with hunks of fatty sugary goodness. Can't go too wrong here and we'll they didn't. (Except for messing up the order but that's really a service issue) Service: Snobbiest service I've had in Portland. Waitress way oversold our party, was curt about everything and screwed up our orders. Worse, when she screwed up our order and we had the other server who brought it take it back she then came by and made us feel guilty when she was clearly in the wrong. The bottom line: If you go I suggest the following: - Stick with cheese and chocolate - Fight off the upselling - Hope for better service My future with Urban Fondue: Dim at best but if I was nearby and wanted a leisurely desert I would think about it.
(2)Jasmine L.
Can I give this restaurant a sixth star? I went with a few friends and we ordered the set dinners, which allows us to choose one appetizer fondue, one main course fondue, and a dessert fondue for a mere $20. For the appetizer, we ordered the sundried tomato fondue. We went for the lobster tails and scallops for our entree (they have really exotic sauces to go with them), and ordered their white chocolate and lavender fondue, which I must say, is to die for. And I'm not much of a dessert eater myself. Their interior is dim with dark, tall suede sofas - pefect for a date dinner. And you have to check out their martini menu!!!
(5)Tracy K.
This place earned an extra star for me based on the fact that I dropped my phone in the restaurant, and the server actually remembered which bar we were going to, and brought it back to me!! It was incredibly sweet. The food, fondue, drinks, and especially dessert were stellar. We had like 10 ppl in our party, and they did a great job. Dear Fancies...stop being so fussy.
(5)Lorri E.
"Ch-e-e-e-e-ese, Gromit!" Indeed! Anything dipped in cheese sauce tastes good to me. Or chocolate sauce, for that matter. Fondue makes for a wonderful, romantic, and fun eating adventure. I agree with Krista T. that the menu is a bit confusing--so just ask your server for some tips--truth is you will just be dipping things into sauces, and if meat--allowing it to cook in the broth for a bit, and then eating it...rather simple. Wallace might be sad to see they don't serve Wensleydale, but the cheddar cheese fondue was tasty, and my personal fave. Although you won't have any room for dessert after all the bread and cheese expands in your belly--if you DO have room or just can't stand ending a meal without a sweet finish, try some--fruit dipped in chocolate is a nice finish. I think they have a full bar--all I remember is drinking too much wine and laughing and having a great time. Overpriced for sure--I mean, how much does cheese sauce, bread, and mediocre sausage cost anyway (for really good sausage with cheese fondue, head over to Gustav's)? I give them 3 stars for food, 4 stars for fun fondue dining and their great location in NW, 3.5 stars for atmosphere (dark+cozy=good), and a 2+ for service--they really could be nicer, they put off an attitude that just doesn't fit, although my last server was a friendly improvement. I will round that all up to a 4 (I never was any good at math).
(4)MISTY L.
Really like the Fondue, the cheese is great I think the best, the chocolate fondue is really good, I have read lots of reviews about bad service, but our server was great, he explained which sauce went best with each meat, check on us often, was ready with the next selection a little before we finished the one before, we left very full and with drinks left at around $32 a person so I think the price was great for a meal with three courses. Everyone was full so portion size was great, with not a lot of waste.
(5)Hiro R.
Decent fondue place. We didn't like the entree fondue so much... but we LOVED the Cheese fondue "appetizer". Would definitely come back here just for that.
(4)Angela R.
Very cozy, but cramped. Dark, but soothing. Urban Fondue is a mixture of pros and cons. Pro: GREAT fondue. Con: way over-priced. I went here with some friends from work this past summer. We went for dessert fondue. The environment in this place is very retro/urban (duh?). The chairs are stuffed and classy and the assortment of items for dipping is fantastic. Something about cookie dough and chocolate peanut butter fondue...or peanut brittle, or cheesecake, or coconut cookies, or cherries...ohhhhh, it's to die for. There is a group room that's blocked off with a curtain, though I think my claustrophobia would be way too much for that place. I don't know how anyone could move around in there, but there was a big group in the middle of the seating area that seemed comfortable enough. They're bench seating looks great. I was a bit jealous of those that were sitting there. The table is completely circled with one big cushioned wrap-around bench. But I can't get past the over-pricing. I glanced at the dinner menu...wow. I know fondue in general is spendy, but this was just a little crazy. Hence the missing star. Though I would have to say that I'll probably go back sometime. It might be a while, but...well, fondue is yummy. Especially Urban Fondue.
(4)Aaron F.
A fun experience certainly for first dates. The fondue experience is an ice-breaker, and in our case led to some comical moments trying to fish items out of the broth. Lacking in entree alternatives for vegetarians, the Urban Fondue makes up for this in a wealth of dessert selections. Dessert was the highlight of the evening, so save room! We have settled on a 3 star rating due mainly to the poor seating. Our cushiony booth seats nearly swallowed us whole, which make the reach across the table and into the fondue pot quite difficult. By the end my back was killing me. The service is friendly, attentive and informal. The music is generic and overplayed lounge-type stuff, which unfortunately gives the location a somewhat sterile feeling.
(3)Stacy F.
We went with another couple for birthday celebrations on a Thursday evening, although the parking was terrible, the food and drinks totally made up for it! The cheese fondue (we had the Ruby Port & Brie Gorgonzola) was so amazing!! We had been to another fondue restaurant in town and it was grainy and weird; but this fondue was out of this world! The variety of dipping sauces that come with the entrees are fantastic. There is something for every pallet. They were also very accommodating to food allergies. I also have to comment on the martinis: excellent variety, and very refreshing. :)
(5)Christine S.
This is a sexy restaurant for sexy people. I don't actually know if that's true or not. But, it IS a sexy restaurant...all clad in red leather and dim light. I look forward to coming back for more fondue, especially the chocolate one. I'm really lazy so if I'm willing to pay and cook my own food, then you know it has to be good.
(4)Christie N.
Amazing. A-MAZE-ING. I am in love. I went to this place for the first time last week. On our way out, my sweetie commented on the fact that we have a new good place to go. From him, that is a big compliment. We had the 3 course combo (appetizer, meat, dessert) and arrived before 6 for the $24.95 per person dealio. Each course was even more amazing than the last, and that says a LOT with the fact that we started out with the classic swiss cheese fondue which blew us away. Please allow at least 2 hours for the experience. We were cut short due to theater tix, and wished we could have stayed much longer. We left totally stuffed and so happy. And the blackberry lemon drop rocked, too. GO! GO NOW!
(5)Jamee T.
The worst meal of my life!! We waited an hour and a half for 1 order of shrimp and a bowl of soup. Our drinks were forgotten numerous times. No explanation of how to order or anyone there to give our table service at all. We were told they were short staffed and they would take care if us on our bill. After we finally tracked down our waitress to get our bill. She had discounted it $5.00. The lobster was old and made my husband sick, the service was terrible, the food was bland, you literally get $2.00 worth of food for $30.00!! Splurge and go to the Melting Pot if you want fondue! We will never go to Urban Fondue again.
(1)Brian P.
Dessert fondues were fantastic! We had peanut butter chocolate and marionberry cheesecake. Both were excellent. Service was as good as we needed it to be.
(4)Krista T.
I wish I could give it five stars, but I don't think a restaurant that allows you to sit at a table for 10 minutes before even acknowleding your presence is worthy of that fifth star. The menu is strange and (call me dumb!) confusing. You oder something for up to four people and then one of each of that and then two of each of those.....ummm, how bout ya bring me some hot cheese please? Can we call that good? Thanks. Very high prices for drinks and small portions. The dessert menu looks decent, I might go back for that.
(3)Courtney D.
Dipping into heaven Now you don't have to wait to eat some yummy fondue at a party! Urban Fondue is a fantastic place that offers just about everything you could imagine to dip and cook in a tasty broth. That's the best part --- you don't cook your food in oil, so it's actually pretty healthy. Well, at least one of the courses. We ordered a three-course dinner set priced at $20 each, which included an appetizer, main and a dessert. We started with dipping bread into a cheese fondue, with such fancy names that I can't remember! Let's just say it rocked. Then we chose the scallops and chicken. The broths were seasoned so incredibly that I couldn't stop dipping! But the best part was the dessert. The plate was full of cookie dough, cheese cake and fruit to dip in chocolate. Need I say more? Our meals weren't only incredibly delicious, but they were also fun to cook. What a creative and fun dinner! Tip: It's billed as a romantic spot with its dim lighting, but I think it's a fun place to bring friends.
(5)deven s.
We went here as a party of 12 and hoped our experience would be worthy of giving a good review. Unfortunately coolness of the loft room setting did not make up for the nasty service by our waitress. She rolled her eyes as we talked and laughed making it apparent her irritation and distain for the party. When she spilled a dipping sauce on my friend and then blamed my friend. She was not polite or friendly which can make or break an evening. I myself thought the portions where tiny and the drinks were too fruity, but then again i like my drinks straight up and for 8$ should have a little kick. Sorry guys my friends and I wont be back.
(1)R T.
Enjoyed a romantic evening out and enjoyed cheese and chocolate fondue, unfortunately the wine list wasn't up to date nor was there anyone there who knew the answers.
(3)Lynne P.
My daughters took me here for my birthday. It was way better than what I thought it would be. The food was outstanding and the decor very modern rich.
(4)Emily G.
I have been meaning to write this review for quite a while, seeing as my experience was in April of 2011. I planned my best friend's bachelorette party from a distance, as I live in Chicago and she lives (and was getting married in) Portland. I did quite a bit of research and finally decided to make dinner reservations here. I called, explained the situation, and they were very helpful in making the plans. I mentioned their bachelorette package, and whether we could reserve the separate area for our party of 10. The woman on the phone said of course, and that was that! When we got there, they took us right to our table. To be honest, the "separate area" isn't so separate - it's just a larger table that's up a few steps from the rest of the dining room. But it was nice just the same. They knew that we were a bachelorette party and congratulated the bride, which I thought was nice. The server was incredibly helpful figuring out the drink and dinner menu, suggesting what portion sizes would work best for our group and giving us tips on what drinks were good. The owner brought us a few shots on the house, which was a very nice touch. They also took our picture, claiming that they wanted it for their wall or something - but it turns out they took it so that they could include it in a card they gave to the bride! I thought that was such a sweet thing to do! Everyone that interacted with our table was incredibly nice, fun, and helpful, and really made the experience there a great one. The food was also delicious, we left completely satisfied and stuffed. I can't remember the specific fondues that we ordered because it's been so long, but suffice it to say that I didn't dislike a single one. Overall, we had a really positive experience, which I was doubly glad for since I didn't know the area and was kind of doing this blind!
(4)Abby W.
I love Portland, OR and I love Urban Fondue! Husband and I are supposed to be living in Portland right now, but our plans fell through. I am still bummed about it and particularly bummed that there is nothing like Urban Fondue anywhere in SF! It's a unique, cozy little place in a great neighborhood with comfortable seating and perfectly intimate dim lighting. This place is fantastic. The fondue is not oil-based...they offer various kinds of broth to cook your food in. We went for the vegetarian tomato fennel broth and it was delicious with big chunks of tomatoes, peppers, and parsnips. Yum! I was also tempted by the different cheese fondue options, but I would have eaten it all since husband is cursed with lactose-intolerance. The dessert fondue was amazing! We dipped our cookie dough, cheese cake bits, fruit, and other goodies in a delicious black forest chocolate fondue (they have lots of other options, too). This is a great place for either a romantic, leisurely dinner (you are cooking your own food, so you're in it for the long haul), or a fun night out with a group of friends.
(5)Julia L.
No impressed at all. Pay the extra money and go to the Melting Pot so much more worth it.
(2)Erika B.
My husband and I recently ate here to celebrate his birthday. We were so disappointed. Everything was mediocre at best. We had the "fondue experience" which consisted of a cheese fondue, an entree and a dessert fondue. We chose the Tillamook White Cheddar with Caraway as our cheese fondue course. It literally came with a bowl of bread cubes and nothing more. We added grilled asparagus to dip for some variety. The entree we chose had baby lobster tails, steak and prawns and came with a few vegetables. The dipping sauces were ok, I especially like the wild mushroom and the pesto. Lastly, we ordered the chocolate peanut butter as our dessert fondue. Obviously anything with chocolate can't be all that bad, but I really didn't taste the peanut butter at all. It was served with cookie dough *yum*, pound cake, apricots, bananas and strawberries. We also had two glasses of wine which were just "eh"....their wine list is not all that good. Now, I have to admit, I am a big fan of Melting Pot and Urban Fondue does not even come close....I really wanted it too....I SWEAR... but truly, Melting Pot offers a much richer fondue experience. MP's cheese fondue was to die for...blended at the table by our *fantastic" server....and get this, not only did it come with bread, but we also got different varieties of bread.... unlimited apple slices and veggies to dip as well. The main course was of better quality overall, and the dessert (again, blended at the table...with a bit of an education on ingredients & prep method by our server) was MINDBLOWING and that is not even generous enough in my opinion.....I was literally spooning it into my mouth like soup....it was served with cocoa dusted marshmallow, cheesecake, brownies, apples, bananas...and more that I can't remember I am sure. The waiter came by twice and asked if we wanted additional goodies to be brought out. We left there s-t-u-f-f-e-d.....and broke....it was expensive, but so was Urban Fondue. So as I am finishing up this review, I have now realized that I have simultaneously written a great review for the Melting Pot.
(2)Emily E.
I continue to be amazed at how bad the service can be at Urban Fondue/Bartini. I was dragged there with friends on a Friday night around 9:30, and waited around 10 minutes for a hostess to acknowledge our group. We were then told to go next door to Bartini if we wanted seats. The dessert fondue was fine, but cam out before our appetizers. The drinks are expensive, and portions small.
(2)Coni R.
Went last Friday. Decent food but felt quality of food is higher at Melting Pot. Chairs were comfy. Drinks were great.
(3)Sylvia S.
I went to Urban Fondue hoping to order a delicious cheese fondue appetizer, good drinks and a chocolate fondue dessert. I was VERY disappointed when I ordered a regular Swiss-cheese fondue ($14) and found out it is only about 1 cup of melted cheese and it comes with bread as the only dipper. If you want fruit or veggies to dip, you'll have to pay an extra $5 for the plate. Comparing this directly to The MeltingPot, you're being ripped off; over there you pay $16 for an entire POTof fondue that already comes with the bread, veggies and apples for dipping. The chocolate fondue was good, not spectacular; I think I would return to U.F only for dessert. Drinks were not as good as some people mentioned, The Vault or Andina have a great selection and I was hoping I could get something similar over here. Needless to say, I was still hungry after we left.
(2)Lindsay D.
A large enough menu to fulfill even the hardest crowd! I love that there is a happy hour special from 5-6pm. This is a great place for a group who enjoys food and drinks since there are many specialized drinks on the menu! My waitress was fantastic but there were a few servers wandering the floor that looked like walking zombies!
(3)Jason R.
Urban Fondue was my first fondue experience, and I couldn't be happier that I decided to pop in here and give it a try! The waitress was very patient with my group in explaining how the whole process works. I had the Baby Lobster Tails, white cheddar fondue, and Urban Fondue for Two with the Urban Yosenabe broth, then washed it all down in the most DELICIOUS Rose cocktail, I can't remember the name off the top of my head. The peanut butter & chocolate dessert came with banana, strawberries, cheesecake, cream puffs, angel food cake, and cookie dough, which was the epitome of decadence, and perfect way to end a perfect meal! Definitely check this place out!!
(5)Amy A.
My Husband and I love Urban Fondue. Its our default date night hangout, with eclectic menu choices, relaxed dim atmosphere, and reasonable prices. You won't leave stuffed, but compared to other fondue joints I've been to, the prices are much more reasonable. We usually share a cheese fondue (I love all but the one with caraway seeds...not a fan) with bread, aparagus, and mushrooms to start. Our last visit we had the chicken cooked ummm, "urban style" I think?? We had three dipping sauces with it, our fave being a lemon cream with capers-so GOOD!!! I'd go back just for that, seriously folks. I'm only giving it four stars because I felt the service was a little "stiff." They could be much friendlier considering the enviornment, but otherwise they have a great thing going. On a side note, I noticed a few people with kids there, but I would only bring well behaved kids, 10 and up...personally. We have a 9 month old and leave him at home!
(4)Claire S.
My boyfriend and I were really excited about this restaurant. We love cheese, and we're vegetarians. They have a decent vegetarian option which is all we ask for. When we got there the place was booked, which was fine; we were happy to take a seat in the bar. Once we got to that side of the restaurant, the service was awful! Our server barely talked to us. She never offered to get us more drinks (in a bar, mind you); she came over and cleared half the plates, left the rest and never came back for them. Additionally, the food was incredible mediocre. Nothing was terrible, but nothing was worth the price either. I can melt Tillamook cheddar and put it in a pot at home better than they do. It was lumpy and not nearly warm enough. If you're willing to pay for people to ignore you and make you half-assed food then enjoy!
(2)Taylor H.
great food and fondue for a GREAT price. The only thing I would warn against is not to get the banana foster dessert fondue....way too much alcohol in the fondue, couldn't really taste the caramel. But with that said, the rest of our meal was fantastic! will definitely come back when i'm back in Portland!
(4)Eisha C.
What to say, what to say...Well First of all I love the booking system that this establishment offers, I have eaten in a lot of places and never have I had reservations that were always convenient to make and confirmed so graciously by this establishment. We started with some refreshing cucumber lemon water that was great. The atmosphere and the mood set by the dining room is so laid back yet energetic it makes it difficult to not enjoy your self here! We started off with a few appetizers before moving to a fondue. I must say besides the quick services, helpful staff and amazing flavors! The prices just can't be beat. Melting pot eat your heart out! I can have a great drink, great food, and great friends for only $80, you must be joking....but I am not. I have left similar Restaurants spending $200 and still leaving hungry. Here you leave fully happy and full of food. Now I recommend the smoked cheddar fondue because it's just that good and adding the home made sausage would only enhance your meal. I have been to Bartini numerous times and sadly last nights bartender wasn't as good as the usual gentleman serving me up. The sugared rim was all over the place and I was missing my nice layer of ice crystals that usually comes from a cold martini. But! I still am giving 5 stars because without the best server in the Pearl District this night would have been totally in-complete. So I personally recommend that if you dine here ask for Juanita! She is not only fun, energetic and helpful. But goes above and beyond to personally enhance your experience and make knowledgeable recommendations. I will not only be back but I will be recommending her and Urban Fondue to my family, friends and clients.
(5)Jav V.
When we arrived, about 3 different employees looked at us and said hello, but then walked away. We were finally seated. 2 days later, I got an email from Open Table saying I didn't show up for my reservation. We thought the front corner table looked cozy, but it turned out to be uncomfortable because it forces you to sit straight up in an awkwardly good posture kind of way. Our cheese fondue was great. We had the ruby port. The bread they give you was just OK, but I guess it doesn't really matter when you're covering it in cheese. The $5 side of fruit we ordered seemed to consist off less than an entire apple and about 4 grapes. It was also covered in something that we didn't like the taste of. For a side, we had the gratin. It was not very good. The entrees are a complete waste of money. You basically boil the meat or fish or whatever in whatever broth you choose. Boiled meat is not fondue in my mind and I don't need it nor do I want to pay $20+ for it. I would go back, but only for cheese fondue.
(2)Eric H.
We did the fondue experience and absolutely loved it. The staff was friendly and extremely helpful. The food was very fresh and tasted delicious. For the price I don't think you would ever find a better meal. Most other places I have done fondue (read The Melting Pot) have been higher priced and lower quality meats and veggies. We will be going back for sure!
(5)Rhandi M.
This place is AMAZING! I came here for a random night out without a reservation and they were more than happy to seat my boyfriend and I. First of all, the service is outstanding! The servers are very friendly and are helpful when it comes to choosing what you want. I will definitely come here again and again :)
(5)Maggie Y.
For cheese fondue, you can't beat the selection and the flavour here. They have several cheese fondues including a Tillamook cheddar and one with Bleu Cheese that's incredible. Given the above, the cheese fondue is the best part of the meal here. The rest of the meal w/ food you can cook in various broths and the many dipping sauces are lack luster. The broths include a Yosenabe Japanese style broth, and a tomato basil. The standout was the tomato basil, but still, not enough flavor in the broth. The dipping sauces including pesto, thai peanut, etc aeren't all that good. The service is very very slow even with an empty restaurant, although our waiter was very attentive, the rest of the staff wasn't. Our yosenabe broth came without our candle lit and it took 10 minutes before we could find someone else to come back and lite our broth, by then it had cooled quite a bit..shouldn't the first person who brought the broth notice and lite it? Dessert w/ the various chocolate flavored and cheesecake dips were very good..it just took too long to get there, we were all figeting to leave by then. Overall, I'm not sure I'd pay for the whole fondue experience of everything, I'd come back and just get the cheese fondue so I can enjoy the best part and get out of there at a decent hour. We were there over 3 hrs..that's fine for some, but not everyone.
(3)Sheila J.
You cant really beat their happy hour selection and prices on cocktails and small plates. Its tasty and drinks are half price during happy hour
(4)B B.
I love FONDUE! I can't find too many places to have fondue in CA and then expect to pay no tax on it - WOW!!! My girlfriend was on location, so I figured free room & board - what better excuse to visit Portland. She suggested we try Urban Fondue and we had a blast. Like me, she is a fondue fan and our experience was just divine. We had the Fondue Experience and started w/ the Brie & Gorgonzola Fondue - YUMMY YUMMY in my TUMMY! We had the Bavarian Balsamic Grain Mustard (good), Lemon-Garlic Butter with Parsely and Caper (good), Thai Peanut (good) and Au Poivre Peppercorn (great) dipping sauces. We topped it with the bittersweet chocolate hazelnut fondue, which was fairly tasty considering I am not a big fan of hazelnut. The service wasn't so fantastic; when I inquired about a drink that looked pretty tasty our waitress had no clue and gave us the wrong suggestions. Anyhow, the ambiance was fun and the company I was with was even better. We had to be rolled back to her hotel!
(4)Jaben C.
This place is super fun. I went most recently for my daughter's 15th birthday dinner. The appetizer of cheese fondue had to be the standout. I mean the one with the toasted caraway seeds is to die for. I would take all the appetizers without hesitation, but when I get to pick, that's the one that I prefer. The main courses of meat, seafood, chicken, and veggies are all tasty and clearly fresh. The broths are all flavorful and interesting. If I can't have more of the caraway appetizer, then I will take some of these. I prefer the beef and the meats that cook quicker. Honestly, the biggest problem for me is that I don't want to wait 3 minutes for the seafood or veggies. It's hard to wait when they're sitting in front of you and looking so yummy. The dessert is quite fun with bits of fruit and cakes and stuff to dip into chocolate. I think next time I go I will just order one of each cheese fondue appetizer and a dessert. No waiting involved, just dip and eat.
(5)Sarah W.
The positive: They sat me early, even before all my party arrived. The waiter let us order for the person that was late in order to receive the discount price. The cheese fondue was spectacular. The best I've ever had. The waiter was amazing, he explained everything so clearly, he was funny and charming. He didn't rush us and let is take our time. I wish I remembered his name. He cared very much who was vegetarian or had food allergies. The negative: It was kinda messy, the dipping sauces are very thin and kinda gets everywhere. The main dishes are just ok. I had the veggie one and loved the variety of veggies. The dessert was just ok. Not bad but just not very good. Overall had a great experience and will be back!
(4)Steve H.
Yesterday was our second experience at Urban Fondue. The service is among the most attentive we have experienced anywhere. His recommendations were perfect. (Try the local smoked cheddar.... Amazing!) The "Fondue Experience" is plenty of delicious choices, the broth choices still have my mouth watering, and the fact that they are attached to "Bar Tini" is a definite plus. We plan to have a long happy relationship with this place!
(5)Elyse L.
Urban Fondue defiantly has something going for it. The atmosphere is nice, a little cheap and cheesy looking booths, but very good service, drinks selections and fondue options. If it were on service alone, I would give it 5 stars. Our server was excellent and paid good attention to our table. A friend of my accidentally flipped his raw piece of chicken over the fondue pot and onto a girl's "eating" plate across from him. Our server miraculously saw it right away I got her a clean plate. When it comes to food, I recommend the cheese and dessert (chocolate) fondue selections. The white cheddar cheese pot is AMAZING, very savory and tasted great with the fluffy French bread. In comparison, the flavored broth paired with meats, seafood and vegetables tasted very bland. The sauces were just OK and didn't help improve the flavors very much. There was one occasions when I thought my pork was done and I bit into to find that it was still raw inside. I'm sure it has happens to others, hopefully it doesn't make people sick. The martini/cocktail selection is amazing, every girls dream. Sometimes hard to decide but whatever you're in the mood for they'll fix you up. I personally like the champaign cocktails, mixed with your choice of fruit purée. I recommend going for happy hour, $5 cocktails! You can also sit in the Bartini side and order fondue.
(3)Sara E.
Fabulous place. Service was excellent. Our server explained everything and was very patient with us. We had the white cheddar with caraway for a starter. It was so good. I almost said "Forget the entree and give us another one of these." We then had the vegetables with a tomato based cooking medium. That was good by itself, but the dipping sauces made it even better. We especially recommend the aioli. For dessert there was a variety of fruit and sweet with a chocolate raspberry fondue. Yum.
(5)Vidushi B.
I have been coming to Urban Fondue for about 4 years now, and I'm a fan. In the United States, it seems that fondue is synonymous with The Melting Pot, but Urban Fondue is much better. Usually, when I come here, we just stick to cheese and dessert, and kind of skip the actual fondue. However, this time, I came with my family, and since my mom is vegetarian, we decided to get the Vegetarian entree fondue as well. So I'll start with the cheese -- it's really good. My favorite is the Ruby Port, which is classic but also with a nice flavor twist. The classic cheddar is also good, and if you're only doing cheese or have a large group, it's nice to get a few different types. It comes with bread pieces, but I we usually also order some sides like asparagus spears as well. The one time we got the vegetarian entree, it was pretty disappointing. I just don't think fondue is really meant for vegetables, it's more for meat. It's served with mushrooms, tofu, onions, carrots, and other vegetables, but the result is just kind of average. I suppose the concept is good in theory, but the broth doesn't add that much flavor (we got the Tomato Basil broth). The sauces are a nice touch but don't actually add that much either. And of course, the desserts -- they are excellent. I have tried many of them, and to be honest, they're all pretty similar. But I do enjoy the classic bittersweet chocolate, the tiramisu, and the chocolate raspberry. They are served with a variety of yummy dipping options; my favorites are the cheesecake and cookie dough. If you don't want something on the plate, they will substitute with other things! Oh -- and how can I forget the cocktails. They are excellent as well. My favorite is the 'spicy martini' section of the menu, which includes fruity martinis with a spicy kick. I've tried all of them and they are excellent! Ambiance is trendy but a little dark. Works for me though! Definitely recommend this place.
(4)Tricia W.
Loved, loved, loved the fondue!! We went with a group and tried lots of different kinds and there was not a dud in the bunch! The cocktails were pretty good (a bit weaker than I would have preferred) and not too pricey~ as cocktails go. The only thing I did not care for about this place was the crowd. I suppose that is part of the allure, but it gets kind of awkward when you are relaxing and enjoying the vibe at the table and you look up and see a V E R Y long line of folks waiting to get in. Also, very noisy~ a fun place to go with a group but you might want to go somewhere else if you are looking for intimacy.
(4)Steve B.
If you like great fondue and great martinis, this is the place for you! If you dislike both, you probably shouldn't bother. It is really unfair to criticize a place based on how much an individual likes a certain menu item, as everyone has very different tastes, but the staff is fantastic and always willing to accommodate your tastes. Considering the quality of food, the price, especially for the Fondue Experience, can't really be beat. Also, half price martinis during happy hour that are absolutely wonderful!
(5)Martin B.
Pretty dam good stuff!! The staff was quite helpful. Much better than the Melting Pot, that's for sure. Order the Ruby Port Cheese, it was outstanding!!
(4)Alayna S.
Had an awesome meal. We did the fondue experience and shared the ruby port then we each had lobster and chicken or steak and shared the potatoes augratin and for dessert we had the peanut butter and chocolate fondue. We can't wait to come back and try the Brie and Gorgonzola fondue as well as the Heath bar fondue!
(5)Leah H.
I am struggling a bit with this review. I have been to Urban Fondue twice now, last night being the second. The first time I went was with a friend and we shared the Brie & Gorgonzola fondue, it was out of this world good. We had also had the Peanut Butter & Chocolate fondue and that was really good, too. Since this place has a date like ambiance, I thought I would bring my husband. So, we decided to do the fondue experience. A very good price for a three-course meal. Service both times were 5 stars. This time we ordered the Ruby Port Fondue, not even close to as good as the other. Not horrible, but too thin for any bread to stick and not much flavor. For the entree I ordered the Lobster & Prawns and my husband had the Steak & Lobster. What really threw us off on this part was there was no seasoning at all. Nothing on the raw portions, and no salt & pepper to be found. As we started cooking the lobster in the broth and using the timer to make it was cooked, when it came out there was an awful smell to it and I really couldn't tell if it was all the way cooked. I started to feel really sick as I was trying to power through the meal. I thought things would get better when I got to the dessert portion (Banana's Foster), which was tasty but way to rich and heavy. I should have listened to myself a little more because I threw up as soon as I got home and 3 more times all through the night. Not good! I would go back, but if I did I will never order the entree portion again. Sticking with the fondue I liked best and maybe a cocktail. Go somewhere else for the main food. Service, however was definitely 5 stars.
(3)Jessica C.
Such a good place to go if you're wanting good food, a calm ambiance, but willing to spend a little money. The cheese fondue is TOO. DIE. FOR. 100% no complaints. The bread + garlic sausage makes the cheese taste even better. By far the best part of Urban Fondue. The dessert fondue, however, is good, but not great. The fondue itself is very yummy, but the desserts they bring with it are not so good. You get half a strawberry, half a banana, 3 tiny slices of pineapple, and then waaaayyy to many pastries and cookie dough clumps. I can barley eat anything on the plate. Next to Urban Fondue is the Bartini, which gives the customers great drink choices and another favorite of mine. This and the cheese is the reason for the 4 stars. But, if you are wanting someplace to enjoy the full 3 course experience, go to The Melting Pot. A little more expensive, but much more worth the cost.
(4)Ken T.
Good food and a fun experience, but expensive for the amount you receive. I came hungry and remained hungry after dinner and desert. The atmosphere is nice.
(3)Winnie F.
Used a Groupon here and experienced their 3 course meal. Delicious from start to finish. Some reviewers here complained about the M-Th restriction. It's the number 1 rule of Groupon to read the fine print. Nothing on the Groupon was miscommunicated. Space is small so make a reservation at least 2 days earlier. I was waiting on a friend for a whole hour before she finally shows up. Staff was still friendly and didn't kick me out, though I did feel bad and order a few extra drinks. Most of the martinis are around $7, not strong, but delicious. Highly suggest the brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue. $11 for all cheese fondue, which comes with locally baked bread. $13 for all dessert fondue, which comes with cheesecakes, pound cakes, cookie doughs, cream puff, pineapple, strawberries etc. Great staff and romantic/modern decor. Great location for dates!
(4)Scott H.
Cheese and chocolate and call it good. Urban Fondue is a favorite of my wife and I. One of the best features is their drink selection is amazing. Bartini next door has an incredible happy hour, but it's not really the same restaurant so it's not fair to lump the two together. The entrees are very pricey and I still can't really get on board with the cooking fondiues. The reason I'm coming to the restaurant is so that you can cook it for me. With the exception of Bulgogi, I am no where willing to pay full price if I am doing the work. Start off with the grilled artichoke. I will never understand why more places don't have artichokes on their menu. They are so delicious and fun. The cheese fondues are great and very reasonable. I recommend the sides too such as the mushrooms. I have only had the cheddar and the ruby port. Both were awesome. I never thought to ask for more bread, but I'm told you can. For dessert they get a little more expensive, but I guess chocolate is expensive. I agree with other yelpers that the marionberry is a little weird. It's like a pot of melted cheesecake which I guess suits some people. My one complaint about the dessert is that the dippers come in odd numbers. There are three of lots of them. Why not do four of them, or two and a bigger variety. Usually these will be shared by a couple and you don't want to start a riot. Also I feel the amount of chocolate is way more than the dippers. Maybe drop the chocolate and the price, or put in more dippers. The room is a little dark, I guess thats good since you are usually dripping stuff all over the table and yourself. They've had issues with temperature in the past too, sometimes the room gets unbearably hot. Overall, it's a nice date spot for some cheese and chocolate. I'll skip the entree though.
(4)Derek S.
Great food and pretty good atmosphere. All-n-All ... B+. The cheese was awesome and the prices are WAY more fair than the POT.
(4)Jamie D.
Service was average, though they were busy. Everything was overpriced so I would only go for happy hour or a Groupon. Don't get any entrees, so expensive and barely any food. I would come back for the cheese fondues or dessert.
(3)Russ P.
We came for Valentines Day and we got there an hour before our reservation. We walked into Bartini and was offered a comfy spot to settle before our table was ready. The martinis are amazing. We had a Bird of Paradise and some Pear thingy. Both were fantastic. Service was excellent and our server Vince was over the top amazing. Made our special occasion great and food was so good. I can't imagine how any negative reviews are submitted but I guess anything can happen. Will certainly try it again! Very refreshing change from the melting pot.
(5)Trisha L.
We went to Urban Fondue for a girls' night out, celebrating my daughter's birthday. We made our reservation for 5pm on a Friday night. We arrived a bit early - and good thing - as the parking situation in this area is horrible! Drove around and around for 20 minutes. Ended up parking 5 blocks away. That is my one and only real complaint about this restaurant. First impressions of the restaurant itself: very small, intimate and bordering on dark dining room. I think I counted 13 tables total. I loved the ambience though. The booths are awesome! Now, on to our dining experience. We got the "so you say it's your birthday" package. $41.99/person. Included cheese course, main course, cocktail (or mock tail) and dessert course, as well as a group photo. Since there were 5 of us, we were able to choose 3 cheeses, 3 cooking broths and 2 dessert fondues for our table. For cheese course, we chose ruby port fondue, by far my favorite! Also white cheddar with caraway and tomato basil. All were delicious! When we ran out of bread, our server brought us more without us even having asked for it. The main course: our server recommended cooking broths based on our dinner selections. We had steak, chicken and seafood at our table. We also got to choose 2 sides. Which were very small but very good. Au Gratin potatoes are excellent! They also bring an insane amount of dipping sauces. It was a lot of fun trying those out with our meat. For dessert - we had peanut butter chocolate fondue and Heath bar fondue. Both were excellent. Didn't give enough "dippers" to use up all the chocolate though. Some marshmallows on the dipper plate would have been a great addition. The cocktail menu is huge and varied. The service is excellent. I can't wait for another "occasion" so I have an excuse to go back!! If only the parking situation wasn't so horrible.....
(4)Jill M.
Had an awful experience. I came to this restaurant recently with a friend for dessert with a reservation at 9:15pm. When we arrived, there were no customers seated, and absolutely no staff in sight. All of the waiters and hosts were in the back and we could hear them chit chatting. After waiting for about ten minutes and no one came to seat us, we finally decided to leave. Even though it was fairly close to closing, we did have a reservation, and it was absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable for a business to be ran this way. I found this especially disappointing because I normally love their food. I expected more from Urban Fondue!
(1)Ronald A.
A group of us stopped in for dinner last night. We had a great time. However, I am betwixt and between about our evening. We ordered the full meal deal. It was probably too much food, even though we worked hard to finish our meals. We started with a cheese course. The special of the evening was lemon Stilton and it was very good. The ruby port was good. However, the caraway based cheese was very ordinary. We had two broths for the meat and seafood, one was chicken based and good, while the other was tomato based and at odds with the meat and seafood. They do a nice set of sauces. We ended the evening with dessert sauces. The caramel and bittersweet chocolate were good, but the Marionberry cheesecake was odd. I liked the wine list and their prices were very fair. The staff was very friendly and overall, they did a good job. I have had a hard time finishing this review. While a couple of the sauces were good, overall, the sauces were ordinary, so we left with a Ho hum feeling about the meal.
(3)Jeff S.
Urban Fondue is slightly different than the bigger chain fondue restaurants. Instead of having a stove in the middle everyone gets a mini heater. You can only put so much food in it or else it will lower the temp of the pot and it will take you forever. I loved the fact that you can order as many soup base as you wanted, and they give you literally 8 separate dipping sauces. Not much to write about the food, as everything was fine. Fondue really isn't about the quality as much as the experience. However the dessert (melted carmel) was pretty freaking amazing.
(4)Mia D.
Since the only other fondue place is the Melting Pot, the only comparisons I can make is in the case of the entrees. The entree selection at the Melting Pot is better than Urban Fondue. The cooking styles are better at the MP as well because if you are a vegetarian or you do not eat beef or chicken, the only selection is a tomato broth and that does not compliment all selections well. I also feel that UF leaves something to be desired in the way of presentation as well. Simply putting a plate of items to be dipped on a plate without some sort of attention to detail may be fine elsewhere but for the price they charge, I think they can do better. I would say go for the first and dessert course and enjoy it becuase they are fabulous. Skip the entree. The service is good and the waitstaff is attentive. The drink prices are fair and I think it would be a great place to take a date for dessert and a cocktail.
(3)Kim P.
Did the whole meal for the first time - including cool our own meat. Not a fan. While the red broth is tasty, it is difficult to know for sure if your chicken is fully cooked. The chocolate was tasty, but the dippers were not super enjoyable. Dried apricots in chocolate? Hmm... All the baked items (donuts, pound cake, etc.) were frozen. It was a great experience, but just that - an experience. I will return to Melting Pot with the stainless pots over the real burner!
(2)Ben K.
Pros: Delicious fondue entrees, cool atmosphere Cons: Slow, slow service, fruit flies We went here the other night for a company dinner with our Alaska office. I wanted to take them somewhere local and somewhere fun. I thought Urban Fondue would fit both of those traits. I left the place a tad disappointed, if not full. First off, the place is cool. It has a neat atmosphere that is hip, but not too hip. Comfortable but chic. The food was wonderful. The cheese fondus were fantastic, the meat entrees were delicious, and the desserts were terrific (except they didn't have marshmallows to dip, which was a tad sad). The server was nice and friendly, but she was slow. Frustratingly slow. The cheese and meat parts were done at a fine pace (fondue is an experience that takes time, I get that). However, the lag between the meats and the dessert was unbelievably slow. We were about ready to just pay and leave, but by then the dessert arrived. The dessert was great, so I'm glad we ate it, but the super long wait was just inexcusable. Also, little fruit flies were flying around, which were both annoying and kind of gross. 3 to 3.5. I'd be willing to go again and overall it was fun, but the slowness and the fruit flies were a bit of a turnoff.
(3)Pearl W.
Made reservations here a week in advance. When I got near the establishment my group and I had a terrible time finding parking. I called them to let them know I was running late and they assured me that it was ok. Once we got there 30 minutes late, we had to wait because our table still wasn't set up yet. We stood in front for another 15 minutes and didn't even have any where to sit while we waited. When I called and made the reservation, I let them know that it was for a birthday and they didn't even acknowledge that... Had the Ruby Port Cheese Fondue and it was amazing! Tried my friend's Marionberry Cheesecake Fondue and that was great too!!! I'd love to go here again, but it is far for me. Hoping that the service will be better next time!
(3)Tien D.
I'm surprised that I haven't rated this place before, as I have gone here several times with my fiancé when we were dating. What I really love about this place is the cozy seating. I love the padded little boxes they put you in because it feels closed in enough that you can have that feeling of being the only one there, yet it is open enough that you won't be forgotten by the waiters and waitresses. The service is amazing! Constant water refills if you are only drinking their delicious cucumber lemon water.....but we usually like the drinks. Bartini is probably my favorite bar in Portland and it is connected to urban fondue, which is amazing!
(4)Scarlett P.
Food was amazing! Did the fondue experience with steak and lobster. Dipping sauces are amazing! Only reason I'm giving a 3 star is because it was god awful hot in the restaurant, to the point that my boyfriend and I were actually sweating =\ other than that, this place was great. For people that don't know where to park there's a parking garage about 2 blocks up :)
(3)Vanessa M.
I came here for my going away dinner with colleagues before moving back home from Portland to NYC. We had a wonderful time here and every fondue we ordered were delicious. We had about 15 people so we pretty much had all of the ones they have on the menu to share. Of course the various chocolate and dessert ones ended up being the stars of the meal for everyone, I actually enjoyed the savory ones just as much. Great decently quick service especially for a large group.
(4)Joe V.
Came here for the first time last night for our anniversary. Never been to a fondue restaurant so we went in not knowing what to expect. Shawn was our server and knowing it was our first time was gracious enough to go through pretty much the whole menu with us and how everything works. Im sure it was a pain but he didnt let it show. We decided on easing our way in and decided to do a cheese fondue and a dessert fondue. For the cheese we chose the Ruby Port. It came out with a plate of bread cubes and they even included apples and grapes extra im assuming since it was our first time, nice touch. The Ruby Port was AMAZING, to die for. We then had the Black Forest chocolate fondue which came with all sorts of fruits and pastries for dipping. It was good as well but we both agreed next time we may just do two cheese fondues cause well, we're addicted. Cant comment on the main entrees cause we were a little intimidated about cooking our food at the table but next time! Overall I give Urban Fondue high marks and recommend it for a special evening or to hangout with friends. Mostly Shawns hospitality put it all over the top. Will be back soon!
(5)Mat S.
I'm a nine year old girl and we went here for my dad's B day. Service: If you are looking for some AMAZING service, here would not be the place to go. Our guy seemed to be rushed and stressed, he was generally a good guy but he kept trying to talk us into the "fondue experience." Maybe 2 and a half stars on that. The service was OK. Food: really, very pricey. We got 2 cheese fondues and they were OK. Not great.2 stars. Main course was good, but you pay for more than you get. Small plates. 4 stars. Dessert was yummy, but we got chocolate butterscotch fondue and it did not taste like butterscotch one bit. Nope. 3 stars overall. Might return once or twice, but probably not that often.
(3)Alejandro S.
The website lets you leave comments for a message or special request. I asked for outdoor seating for my anniversary and asked for them to call me if it was unavailable. They did not call, and did not have outdoor seating when I arrived. Terrible place, I'll never return. Terrible anniversary dinner. The staff did not care about their error or lack of response.
(1)Jason T.
This would be the second time I have come to Urban Fondue. The first time was amazing, service was spot on and the atmosphere and food was great. The 2nd trip was much less enjoyable. There was a lovely group of clearly drunk bachelorettes in the middle of the room "yay". A chair at the table was clearly broken and more of a recliner and the food was just ok. The holders for the broth were broken and missing whole chunks. The server didn't seem to have a vested interest in the table. For the price, I'd rather skip it and go elsewhere.
(2)Ric L.
I take my wife to the Melting Pot every year for her birthday. Never again! The food at Urban Fondue is twice as good at half the price. We were seated within one minute of our reservation, and our server greeted us immediately even though the place was packed. The menu is uncomplicated, and the staff balances service and tasks with a sense of grace and calm. I watched every staff member, and all of them were attentive and friendly. Our sever Brett was amazing and clearly has a passion for his work! Cocktails come from Bartini next door, so be prepared for your mouth to orgasm as you sip your way through some fabulously sexy and creative cocktails that perfectly compliment the menu! There are downsides: 1) it's on 21st and Glisan, so take a cab because parking is non-existent, 2) the booths are a bit uncomfortable, so ask for some pillows, a booster chair, or hip replacement surgery, 3) the decor is a bit blah, and 4) it crazy noisy in there, but that's okay because it comes from happy customers enjoying themselves. We had the Urban Fondue Experience and--while quite delicious--took 2-1/2 hours from start to finish, which seemed a tad excessive. But, when you get great service and great food, it's very easy to overlook small annoyances. We strongly recommend Urban Fondue for fun dates and special occasions. We can't wait to go back!
(4)Dan N.
Brother N and family friend were up here from LA and the four of us (including Wife N) decided to take in the fondue scene. We started with the bread and Brie/Gorgonzola cheese fondue appetizer. This was positively heavenly. Creamy, gooey, cheese with that hint of Gorgonzola and topped with hazelnut crumbs...and....ran out of bread...just....oh come on----you KNOW you want to just stick your finger in there and lick it clean! Hygiene be damned. We did. To their credit, they were right on it with more bread cubes but the fingers proved equally tasty (and lower in carbs!). While they had several specials each couple settled in on the plate that has a little bit of everything on it (called the "Urban Fondue for Two"): beef, pork, chicken, a couple lobster bites, scallops and a variety of veggies. For the cooking broths we went with a beef stock and the other with a tomato-fennel broth. The tomato worked well on the veggies and seafood, and the beef worked better for the meats. When the plates were delivered, we kind of got that "is that it?" feeling. But believe me, each pair was hard-pressed to finish everything on the plate. It was easily enough food for two. We didn't have room for dessert, though in prior visits we have tried their chocolate fondue (fruit, doughnut and cheesecake bites for dipping) and it was really amazing. After dinner, we hopped next door to Bartini, which is Urban Fondue's bar area and a storefront in its own right (the two are connected via passageway in the rear). Excellent drinks there, which can be ordered with the meals as well. I have a separate Bartini review so I won't go into any further detail here. We've had fondue here at least a couple times over the past 2-3 years and, while it can be expensive, the meal has always been excellent. The Fondue side is a great intimate couples place as well (not so much on the Bartini side which can get loud with couples hollering "What!?!" over blaring dubstep); Urban Fondue is a definite keeper on the "date night" tour.
(4)Christina R.
Came on a Sunday evening and got happy hour prices. Everything was delicious. Suggestion: during cold weather try joy to sit at the table by the window. It gets chilly. We were aware that a full meal would take about 2 hours. At just before 2 hours we started to get rushed by staff. We were still eating, for d on the plates, when they brought his the bill. A few minutes later he returned and asked if the money was ready. Well, it wasn't. We did not think it a good practice to ask us to pay while we were still eating. We also had to ask several times for a refill on the water.
(4)linda a.
We had dinner for eight and it was outstanding!!! Everyone enjoyed the different fondues but what really made it great was the service. The waiter, Vince, was fantastic, and the maître d' Garret who seated us was very helpful!!! The only thing that we had a problem with Was they were a little late setting us for our reservation but they were very accommodating by offering us all a free drink to make up for it!!! I diffinitely recommend Urban Fondue!!!!!
(5)Mellissa B.
Located on NW 21st and Glisan, Urban Fondue is a part of Bartini, which is an attached (casual trendy) martini lounge. Since there were no seats left yesterday at Bartini for my 5 girlfriends and I, we happily sat next door at Urban Fondue since they honor the happy hour on that side. Get there before 6 if you want a spot. "Holy drink specials!" I shouted with a smile upon viewing the happy hour menu. On pages 3-6, find martinis at half off during happy hour - my two were both only $3.50 a piece (and had a good amount of booze to boot)! Happy hour food prices start at $4 an item, which is not as cheap as other spots, but there is a large selection here. I had two large martinis, two shrimp tacos and a (tiny) plate of seared ahi tuna all for $14 not including tip. While that may seem pricey my little Yelpits, we must remember this is a semi-trendy spot and not a traditional bar with deep fried foods. I think it was a good deal! My creme brulee martini was delish. I tasted my friends Bird Of Paradise martini and literally cried out with delight (it was like a tropical vacation in my mouth plus a suprising and fun sprinkle of cinnamon). Fondue: Although I didn't have any, three of my gal pals shared the chocolate-peanut butter desert fondue ($12.95) complete with a large plate of dippers including donuts, cookie dough, bananas, and strawberries. It looked fabulous, they said it was, and finished every last bit. Our server, Vince, was funny, a good sport, and very professional. He even split our bill up for us! We will be back!
(4)Kelly M.
Oh my god, this place, is out of this world! The ambience is fantastic, the interior is tastefully decorated. The staff is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about all things fondue, not to mention you wont have to wait around for the waiter to take your order or refill your beverage. I find that the "Fondue Experience" is definitely the best bang for your buck: one entree per person, one cheese fondue one dessert selection and one side are all shared by two. If you come in before 6 this i only $27, talk about a bargain! I have been here countless times for birthdays and nights on the town, and I have never been disappointed, however I do feel as though I gained 10 pounds after I leave, but it is well worth it!
(5)Mira M.
Took my boyfriend here tonight (his first time) and had a really fun date. Our server (Dani?) was super nice and explained the menu thoroughly. We started with the brie and gorgonzola fondue, which was yummy (although quite rich - we couldn't finish it). We chose the "Urban Fondue for Two" entrée selection: Ribeye, pork, house-made sausage, salmon, chicken breast, tiger prawns, lobster tails, scallops, tortellini, and veggies. Yikes! A great deal for only $20 per person, which also included a side - we opted for the grilled artichoke with smoked tomato aïoli, yum! All of their dipping sauces (nine of them!) were delicious, especially the peppercorn gravy and hazelnut pesto. We couldn't finish everything, so they happily sautéed our remaining meat in the kitchen for us to take home. We finished with the marionberry cheesecake fondue - it was good, but we were already so full! And I wished there was more fruit to dip, our dessert plate was mostly cookie dough and cake pieces. Be sure to make a reservation in advance, they're always packed. But it's SUCH a nice change - and a much more affordable one - from The Melting Pot.
(4)Amy H.
The fondue here is to die for! My favorite here (so far) is the Gorgonzola Brie. It is wonderful with bread but is great with fruit as well. The service was good. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. Try a dessert fondue after dinner. Overall, great place! It is a little on the pricey side but cheaper than Melting Pot and so worth it. Bottom line: if you are a fan of fondue, go to Urban Fondue. You won't be disappointed! :)
(5)Malcolm S.
I have been here a few times now and I have had similar experiences each time. I initially tried this place based off of a friends recommendation and honestly I was not very impressed the best part of this place seemed to be the atmosphere and service not to the food. However since my girlfriend seemed to enjoy it I would make semi frequent reservations for date nights. Every single time I would request a booth and I am still yet to get one without having to wait for an extra 30-45 minutes. After a few times I gave up and did not mention that we requested a booth and the seating still took 20 minutes from our scheduled reservation time. My most recent trip was yesterday for valentines day (girlfriends request once again.) And not only did they fail to give us a booth(which we expected) we were not seated for over 35 minutes. Since it was Valentines day we understood and waited we we were finally seated only to find out they have a special valentines day menu which was not viewable online. Now obviously this was on purpose because it was the exact same menu as always but LITERALLY double the price. At that point I was very tempted to leave but since we had waited for so long and was reassured this was a "Special" Valentines day menu we waited and ordered. Only to be extremely disappointed. The food was in fact exactly the same food except the included one grilled scallop to the appetizer and a "complementary" glass of champagne. We also had a later dinner so it was not nearly as busy but all the food took forever which can be understandable if they weren't bringing us raw food that we cook ourselves and the wait staff seemed more interested in talking to each other then the customers on supposedly the biggest day of the year for most restaurants. I understand Valentines day is a big day and many restaurants have a special menu for that day but this was ridiculous. The only reason to come here is the atmosphere the food is rather average and seems a bit overpriced on a normal day let alone my last experience here. Even my girlfriend who was the reason we returned so many times was disappointed. Unfortunately we will have to cross this place off of our date night list.
(2)Holly D.
Birthday dinner for two of my daughters. Got the Fondue Experience...cheese..mmmmm....main course..mmmm...free dessert for two birthdays on the same day....grrrreat! BUT it never occurred to us that it would take three hours to cook our own food and we missed our reservations for a nearby sport club! Now I understand why it is so expensive....the tables do not turn over! But we had a great time...martini's were good too...just don't make plans for after..Urban Fondue IS the main event.
(4)Susan C.
Love this place! To me, it's all about ambience and quality. I particularly enjoy the intimacy and swanky red booths. The seafood and vegetable options are great, and smaller portions help to enjoy the food more. We have also reserved the loft on occasion, which is an awesome curtained area seating about 12. Many friends who we have recommended to this place prefer a chain fondue place in town, mostly citing the larger quantity of food and wider variety. While I agree, I really do prefer the local feel, the environment, the quality, and prices at urban fondue. Oh, and the martini selection from next door at Bartini really help as well!
(5)Lexie W.
Urban Fondue was amazing! Ryan, our server was so kind and very helpful with his recommendations. The atmosphere was great, the booths were comfortable, and the food was delicious! I was there for my eighteenth birthday with three other people. We ordered the fondue experience which included cheese fondue with bread, two entrees, and a dessert fondue! The northwest chicken was delicious, the smoked cheddar fondue was amazing, and the house made chocolate fondue WAS SO GOOD. I will definitely visit Urban Fondue again!
(5)Carla B.
The full course menu is wonderful. The price and especially the service is far superior to the melting pot. The smoked cheddar fondue, lobster and shrimp main, and Heath bar chocolate fondue were delicious. Highly recommend the martinis as well-excellent selection for all tastes.
(5)Erick I.
Fondue ... Is like no other .... It is great or not so great.... Urban fondue was great great great! Rachel (our waitress) was excellent ... She gave us suggestions and was very attentive to our needs! This is a great place to go and experience the fondue "experience "
(5)Lesley H.
DH and I went here last night on a Groupon. We've had mixed success with Groupon - some companies deliver as promised and some treat you like a second class customer - they honor it, but bad seating, etc. Not so with Urban Fondue. The host greeted us and after a very short (3 minutes) wait seated us in a very comfortable booth that offered privacy and yet also offered a view for people watching (bonus). First off we ordered from their very large menu of martinis. I ordered a simple dirty martini. It came plain and I just chalked up to "oh well" and I started sipping. The host saw and immediately came and replaced it with a truly dirty martini. Quick and very nice about that - I really appreciate that I didn't have to point it out - they caught and remedied it immediately. DH had a huckleberry martini and he said it was delish. The restaurant has multiple people taking orders and bringing out food - all to ensure you have prompt service. In this case, the host himself took our order and walked us through the fondue experience of how it worked, time to expect for meal (about 90 minutes) to complete the courses, recommendations and really thoughtful questions about things we like (spices, heat of peppers, etc.) and I must say having a completely custom experience was delightful. The bread that came with the fondue was soft inside, crunchy crust outside and perfect complement to the cheese we had chosen (little balls of cheese in it with sweet peppers). We added to it by getting sides of housemade sausage (excellent) and grilled asparagus. It was delicious, warm, and wonderfully gooey. Piggies we were we gobbled it up. The main courses were very good. I chose the east meets west (chicken, pork and seafood) and DH went for the surf 'n turf (not a surprise). The brought out a pot of broth to cook your food in and gave us each little 3 minute timers to time our food. Your entrée comes in little sliced up pieces that you put on your dipping skewer (you get 2) and you put it in the pot and turn over the timer. When the sand runs out - magically your food is cooked and ready to eat. The trick here is to put the cooked food on your plate and before eating, start another round so by the time you are done eating, the next set is ready. I would say it took us about 10 rounds to cook all the food that came with the entrée - very generous. It is not a dine and dash concept. I really liked it because it spaced out the meal, gave us something to do throughout and we had a lot of fun sharing between us. The entrée also comes with about 8 different sauces you can put on your plate for your cooked food. Mixing and matching was fun and plenty of "honey you have GOT to try this" ensued. The only negative here was the skewers are same size as fondue skewers so you can cook only a very little bit at a time. But that's a small negative against the fun we had doing this. Frankly, with the opportunity to space out the eating, the gooey filling fondue earlier, we were giving each other the 'uh-oh' look towards the end realizing we still had the dessert course to go. We manned up and got through it - rich, thick dark chocolate with toasted hazelnuts sprinkled on top. The dipping items were: bananas, cookie dough (2 kinds), frozen cheesecake, strawberries, dried apricots and small éclair type balls - all to be dipped in that warm bowl of chocolate in front of us. When we had ordered earlier, not knowing how bountiful the dessert already was, we had ordered strawberries infused with Grand Marnier to go with this. Overkill. This dessert is so generous on it's own you don't need to add to it. At the end, when the check came it was very inexpensive thanks to our coupon. However, they also provide what it would have cost without the coupon so you can tip appropriately (appreciated that) and we saw that without it the meal would have been about $100. That's the three courses, we each had 2 martinis, and the addition of the sausage, asparagus sides and the GM infused strawberries. Very reasonable considering the care and attention the staff provide, the food itself being very fresh and palatable. A lot of attention has been given to making this a fun experience for the patrons. The one true negative here is that this is in NW Portland. We went on a Wednesday night at 7:30 and that was bad for parking. By that time most people who life in the area are home and the streets are jam packed with cars. And of course, it being NW Portland, jaywalkers not looking and trying to watch for them and look for open space at same time just a hassle. We arrived 40 minutes early and spent that time driving around and around trying to find a place to park. Next time (and there will be one) we will likely take the public transportation and just walk over. Saves a headache.
(5)Jeff V.
Made reservations here for my girlfriend's birthday dinner. She had been wanting to go to fondue. We had a great time. Excellent service from our server Ryan as well as the other staff whom all wished my girlfriend a happy birthday. The price is a bit high but the atmosphere and experience was worth it for a special occasion. I haven't been to melting pot but I like that this place isn't a national chain.
(5)Warren C.
My girlfriend loves cheese. Rather than doing the usual restaurants we go to I wanted to give her something to remember our first Valentines Day together. I made reservations in advance and left a message on their voicemail. I was immediately called back and told their representative that I was interested in a reservation on Valentines day. He was nice enough to explain to me what the whole evening consisted of but one thing I found rather rude was the double checking if I was ok spending 40-45 dollars per person. Look, If I had to ask then price may be an issue. I never once asked you how much it was going to cost me nor did I even make any hesitations on this reservations. I just wanted it done. I blew off the comment and took it with a grain of salt. The evening of Valentines Day, our reservation was for 8pm We showed up right on time and had to wait an additional 45 minutes for our seating in the bar. I understand if you guys are busy but at least apologize for our wait and don't come off like you're too good to even help us. Never once did I complain. I let it go because I know this is a busy evening for you guys. The dinner experience itself is very lacking The only memorable part of this evening was the beginning course of Port Wine Cheese fondue. I will say that is really good. The dinner entree and dessert is hugely lacking. The portions are really small and the broth choices did not appeal to me or my girlfriend at all. What was shared between both of us was definitely not enough for both of us. The food itself lacked any spices or seasoning and virtually had no taste that really stood out. I will say that because I'm asian. We do hot pot which is the asian version of fondue and first off our portions are on the opposite end of the spectrum. Our food is properly seasoned and when you go out to eat it is all you can eat not preportioned. I am not looking for the same comparison but for what you charge and the profit margin you make from it I would think you would be a little more generous. The dessert was another huge disappointment. The server suggested we try the tiramisu fondue so we took her advice. Other than the lady fingers nothing in this fondue makes it similarly close to tiramisu. The accompaniments were also sprawled all over the serving plate clumsily. Overall I was not pleased with this dinner experience. On top of it all the pots used this evening for the fondue were very dirty as well. You would figure most establishment would understand that the first impression is very important. Something simple as dirty pots is just inexcusable. The time came to pay for the meal this evening. I really just wanted it to be over. I recollected when I first checked in this evening on foursquare there was a coupon for $5 off your meal here so I decided to show the employee online coupon from yelp and the management would not honor it. Not that spending a $115 is a lot for dinner for two I wouldn't think that $5 would not break the bank either. Your excuse you asked? Well, management said that the coupon was offered with the last manager that worked here before and they would not honor it because he is no longer here. The server was tipped accordingly and we went on our way. If you are going to let $5 come between a customer then congratulations, I will never come back here again nor will I ever recommend this place to any of my friends. From the point I made the initial reservation til the time I paid, never once was this a pleasurable experience. I hope you will take this review and learn from it so other customers may have a better experience than I had. UPDATE: I received an email from Vince Thekkedom whom responded to an email I sent them with the link to my review. Thank you for your help in bringing this problem with our yelp account to our attention. We regret that you experienced any negative impact on your visit. We have finally gotten control of the yelp promotions and since removed the offer. Regards, Vince Thekkedom Urban Fondue~Bartini Urban 503.242.1400 Bartini 503.224.7919 I appreciate the fact that he did respond promptly but this really doesn't soften the sting much at all. As I mentioned, I hope this review will serve its purpose to their future customers.
(1)Amy L.
I went several times for dessert fondue. The wait isn't too long, most of the time I don't even have to wait. Drinks were ok. Went for happy hour and they served us the saltiest chips ever..... I recommend coming here for drinks or dessert. The dessert fondue is ok. The fondue itself is pretty good my gripe is with the dipping things. Fruits are fresh. The cheesecake was still frozen. Pound cake was Sara Lee, Cookie dough by the end was a pile of sugary goo..... I prefer going to Melting pot.....for dessert fondue I'll try more of the savory fondue for my next visit Cons: Salty black pepper chips
(3)Matt S.
In theory, the meal my wife and I shared was fantastic. We used the Groupon so many people have mentioned, and would have felt like we got a great deal if not for the unfortunate execution we experienced. First course: the brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue was exceptional--warm, rich, and velvety goodness. We ordered the side of fruit, but it wasn't brought out until well after the bread and cheese--the staff had forgotten it, and ended up taking the fruit off our bill. Main course: we ordered the steak, pork, lobster, and shrimp. Nine different dipping sauces were all delicious, and at first, the meat was wonderful. However, not long into the course, our broth was no longer steaming and we were more than doubling the recommended cook times only to find the meat undercooked. I finally put my finger into the broth (gross, I know), and it was scarcely warmer than an hour-old cup of coffee. We let the waiter know, and he took the broth back to re-heat it and replaced our burner. We waited quite a while to resume our dinner, which was fine with me--my stomach was a little uneasy at the thought of the undercooked pork and lobster I had just eaten, not being able to see the color of the meat because of the orange and pink hanging light bulbs overhead. Finally the server brought our re-heated broth back and we resumed the meal (yeah, I pushed through the nausea--I'm a trooper). Dessert course: we opted for the bittersweet chocolate and hazelnut fondue. Lots of different treats for dipping, but many of them were half-frozen, and the chocolate was on the thin side and not very warm. That was pretty disappointing. Other notes: we ate on a day when it was around 90 degrees outside, and we were hoping for an air-conditioned dining experience. No such luck. Whether from the heat or the prospect of having eaten undercooked shellfish, I was sweating at our table for most of the meal. In fact, the lemon cucumber water in my glass just might have been warmer than our fondue broth at one point. On the plus side, our server was attentive and helpful, and the cheese fondue was to die for. But all the negatives were too much for me--I won't be going back.
(2)Cecily H.
I have literally nothing bad to say about this place except that it's super expensive. But it's WELL worth it. This the best dining experience I've ever had. The food was terrific, the service was excellent. They even gave us free stuff because it was our first time. And because we couldn't eat a single bite more, they gave us a gift card to come back for dessert! They're mocktails are amazing and fairly cheap!
(5)Marissa T.
Yummy yummy in my tummy!!! Love the NW 21st location. Who doesn't like bread and cheese??? I mean , come on!!!!!! The drinks menu is extensive. I came for a co-worker, dear friend's birthday dinner. We got our dip on. Lots of cheesy dipping combinations. Loved 'em all. Lots of meats and fruits and veggies to dip into the yummy cheese too. Busy fun place.
(4)Stephanie K.
My very most favorite restaurant in all of Portland. I actually don't know why I haven't reviewed it sooner! I love everything about this place (this might be because my favorite things in life happen to be cheese, bread, and potatoes). I consider this my go to special occasion restaurant. And also my "because I want my belly happy" restaurant. My favorites are: ruby port fondue, Brie and Gorgonzola fondue (with a side of the fruit!!!!), the bird of paradise martini, au gratin potatoes, east meats west (and a majority of the yummy house made sauces), and the Heath bar fondue to finish everything off. The downside: when all is said and done you're walking out approximately $100 poorer (but 100% happier, in my opinion) for 2 people, it's a slow process-expect 2 hours for the big shabang, parking-if you can help it don't drive or give yourself PLENTY of time to find a spot in this highly sought after street parking only residential area. The upside: they are so accommodating, they ALWAYS give you service with a smile, they've recently revamped their restaurant with a few small things that have really made a difference (groupon deal, a larger selection of items to dip with dessert, etc.), they treat you like family, if you don't know anything about fondue they'll show/teach you everything, the fondue...if you love cheese this place is infinitely better than melting pot, they have a special fondue of the month every month that rotates and so far they've all been pretty delicious, Bartini is their sister restaurant and they have a great happy hour, and so much more. I could go on and on about how much I love Urban Fondue for their food, service, and the ambiance. They're fantastic.
(5)Katrina J.
We have been to Urban Fondue 4 or 5 times now...always love it. On our most recent visit, 6/17, we had a 7:15 reservation. We arrived about 10 minutes early and sat over at Bartini after checking it. About 35 minutes after our reservation time the manager came over to apologize for the delay and bought us a round of drinks...how about that Bird Of Paradise, my new fave. An HOUR after our reservation time we were finally seated. The manager apologized and comped our entire meal. We will be back, we love this place and it is obvious they care about their customers too. I'm sure another couple would have been a lot more cranky than we were, but sh!t happens....and we have 4 kids, an hour delay in our night off was no biggie :)
(5)Tiara E.
My girlfriend and I went for our anniversary. Vince took great care of us. He was so helpful, this was our first fondue experience. We had the tomato basil cheese, amazing. ... For dessert we went with the cheesecake Marion berry, omg! Thank you vince for making our date so enjoyable. Never felt rushed and always felt taken care of.
(5)Allegra P.
Awesomely Amazing! Did the Fondue Experience which is a special deal on Sundays for $26.95 pp. The Ruby Port Cheese is UNREAL! Added a side of pears, apples & grapes in addition to the bread for dipping. Worth it! Followed it up with a plate of Steak & Lobster Tail and dipping broths recommended by our helpful waiter. Dessert? Chocolate Peanut Butter dip -- i could have just used a plate of cookie dough (peanut butter & chocolate chip!) but it was fun to try the cheese cake, pound cake, doughnuts, strawberries, bananas.... REALLY fun experience! DEFINITELY make a reservation. Small, cozy place and absolutely worth going.
(4)Andrew S.
Initially, our service was not terribly inviting. We booked a reservation the day before but that didn't stop us from waiting 20 minutes for a table. I forgot that almost immediately, however, as the rest of the evening went so smoothly. As someone who hasn't experience true fondue before, I think our waiter did a phenomenal job walking us through the process, giving recommendations, and thoroughly explaining what we were eating. After cheese fondue appetizers with bread and sausage we had the broth fondue, sharing chicken, steak, lobster, and vegetables among the party. At the end we went for dessert, something I thoroughly recommend saving room for. The wait staff checked in frequently and kept us topped on beverages and food. Everything I ate was beyond delicious. Definitely recommend grabbing one of their martinis as well
(5)Cara U.
Extremely unsanitary. Not a lot of ways to mix things up. Not worth the price. Service was very under par. I would not recommend this to anyone.
(2)Phong D.
The wifey and I wanted to celebrate our wedding anniversary with fondue so we decided to try Urban Fondue (UF). Reservations were easily made on Open Table and I called 1 day in advance to secure a booth after reading Lysa D's review. Overall it was a great experience. UF had great ambiance with its reddish walls and plush seats. Our waiter was informative, friendly, and perfectly attentive. We saved $5 per person on the Fondue Experience because we were eating on a weeknight between 5-6pm! The brie and gorgonzola appetizer fondue alone would make me come back. It was creamy, clean, not heavy, and smooth. Fast forward to dessert. The heath bar chocolate fondue took monk-like restraint to not LICK the pot clean. The chocolate paired well with anything I could get my hands on (cheese cake, pound cake, fish sticks, my left shoe). I couldn't help but compare UF to the Melting Pot. UF has great ambiance, typical Portland flavor, better cheese fondue, and smaller portions creating satisfaction instead of self-hatred. Melting Pot is better for larger portions if you happen to be wearing stretchy pants.
(4)Genevieve F.
How can food this bad be fully booked on a Friday night in Portland? I don't get it. Cheese fondue was only enough for one as a main course. Fruit sides were thrown on a plate and not so fresh. Bread was cut far too long before it was served. Stale! Chocolate fondue was a bit more generous, but again, sides were a variety of low quality, unrecognizable items just thrown on a plate. My four year old could have done better presentation. Fruit flies abound. Very disappointing. Won't be dragged back.
(1)Stace K.
This is only my second time going to a fondue restaurant. Decided to try here since it is Portland dining month. Let me tell you I was quite pleased! I am not a huge cheese person but the tomato basil cheese fondue was delicious! The portions were also a decent size! My husband who came in hungry could barely finish his entree! $29 for cheese, an entree, a side, AND dessert?!? Money well spent I think! But don't expect super fast service...just enjoy the experience!
(5)David T.
My girlfriend and I ate here with a couple and their 2 year old daughter. We came here after the gentleman on the phone said that kids are welcome and it wouldn't be a problem to have a child in the restaurant. First off the service was great. Unfortunately, I don't recall our servers name but he was very knowledgeable and guided us through the whole dinner. We (both couples) took advantage of the experience package which included 1 cheese appetizer, 2 entrees, and 1 dessert. The appetizers were very good! I had the Ruby Port Fondue which was phenomenal. Our friends got the Tomato Basil which was also good. For our entree, we got the platter for two which included all the meats and seafood. We decided to go with the chicken broth to cook our food in. I must say, as with most fondue spots, the entree was just so so. Cooking food in broth just leaves it sort of bland. They did provide us with sauces to dress it up a bit which helped. For dessert, we ordered the Rocky Road. It turned out to be hit and our friends seemed to like it more than their cheesecake dessert. Overall it was a good fondue experience and I only give it 3 stars because the entree left something to be desired. I would definitely stop here another time for an appetizer of dessert but would probably pass for the whole dinner experience.
(3)Renee O.
Great fondue! Second time returning and the service was great and the smoked cheddar fondue with sausage was the perfect late evening delight. Also enjoyable was the coconut mojitini - a summer must! I think the portions are rather small for what you pay, but I don't want to get greedy. Right next to trader joes, makes for a perfect happy hour spot during the week.
(4)Taylor W.
If you love Fondue, this is the place for you! I feel like I have been here a million times and it never disappoints. The dining room is very swanky with red light big cushy booth sort of feel. I love that they do unique cheese combinations. Not just your typical "beer cheddar" fondue that Meliting Pot does. They have a white cheddar with caraway or gorgonzola/brie, all delicious. I have don ethe Fondue experience and I loved doing the broth ones for the entree. The give you dipping sauces too which are all very good. For dessert I would recommend the Banana's Foster one. I like chocolate but I LOVE caramel. All in all, I love fondue and I love this place.
(5)A. F.
Melted cheese and chocolate are hard to mess up and overall the food was ok. The service ok and the whole experience was underwhelming. The decor felt like a high end 90's strip club with the lights turned on.
(2)Emily B.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Portland. This is the local Melting Pot that doesn't charge you your first born child and has a much cozier atmosphere. I can't speak highly enough about this place. Their waitstaff is excellent and knowledgable, usually pretty personable too. Great great date place!
(5)Yekta A.
Super awesome place to have dinner! Total date spot! We were served by the lovely Courtney who was so nice! She gave us great recommendations and really took good care of us! We started with the BRIE AND GORGONZOLA FONDUE ----OMG heavenly! Then we ordered the THE URBAN FONDUE FOR TWO which was perfect for 2, way enough food! Then came dessert, the BEST part....BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT FONDUE which I am still craving, it really was the best part! All in all, a great experience for us out of towners, just a note: good luck with parking, although it's SO worth it!
(5)Jessica C.
I made a reservation for 7 people through Open Table about a week and a half ahead of time. The night before my reservation, I received a call from one of the hosts saying my reservation was cancelled because they were having an employee party that night. I protested because it was the night before and it's hard to find a reservation for 7 people with less than a day of notice. He was very unsympathetic and dismissed my concern and basically said "too bad." I will never go to this restaurant if they treat their customers this way.
(1)Christina B.
Went here with a few girlfriends for a late snack and dessert. Atmosphere: Small space and darkly lit. The booths had tall cushions all around- perfect for an intimate dinner. Service: Good service! Our server was spot on with recommendations and suggestions. Dishes were cleared away immediately and we always had a new cocktail in hand. Food: Great place for fondue (of course) and if you're a fan of hot pot you'll enjoy UF. We had the Brie and Gorgonzola Fondue, the Carmel Fondue, the Rocky Road chocolate fondue, and a steak and pork fondue (with more dipping sauces than actual food on the plate???). All was delish! Drinks: Cocktails were good- if you like Bartini (next door/same place) you'll love UFs cocktail menu. I'm not sure how filling UF would be for people looking for a full meal, but we had a great time trying out as many fondues as we could as a table (family style). Parking is a nightmare, especially on the weekends so be prepared and drive there early.
(4)Megan M.
This place is awesome!!!
(5)Chelsea J.
We tried Urban Fondue for our first fondue experience. While my husband was not excited to go (he doesn't much like cheese), he told me the next morning that he'd dreamt about the smoked cheddar fondue we had. It was excellent, as were the quality of our entrees and side dish (he had steak and chicken, I had pork and steak). We really liked trying all of the dipping sauces our server brought to our table with our entrees. We tried the bittersweet chocolate and hazelnut fondue for dessert, which was good, but not excellent. The staff were attentive and explained every step of the dinner to us. We were also pleased that we'd gone during their happy hour, so the Fondue Experience was discounted. The only negative remarks I have are that the parking there is terrible, and that the process of getting our fondue, then getting and cooking our entrees and THEN getting our dessert took longer than we'd have liked. We were expecting it to take a while, as we'd heard from friends and family that they've gone to different places for fondue and it took them 3 hours for the entire meal, but it did take longer than we are used to in a restaurant and we are quite impatient!
(4)Nicole L.
Service was good. Drinks ok. Food horrible. The cheese fondue tasted like someone had poured in a chunk of Velveeta and called it good, the lobster was salty, the steak was want of flavor, the salad was small and flavorless (not to mention the wrong order for both of us) the veggies looked like someone else's leftovers. We finally gave up eating bc something started smoking off of our pot and was quite smelly and the sterno went out way before we even got half way done with our entree. We were very disappointed and will venture somewhere else next time.
(1)Maddy S.
I wish I could give this place 4 stars but I can't after my last visit. They were out of lobster AND steak!!!! Those were actually the two meats that I went for. But all of the other meat and seafood was excellent despite the lack of selection. This place has a great atmosphere and everyone should give it a try!
(3)Jennifer H.
I agree 100% with other reviews, come for the cheese fondue, AMAZING... Skip the main course... got straight to dessert! Boiled Chicken/steak/seafood is just that boiled.... but melted flavored cheeses and chocolates TO DIE FOR. HAVE THE BANANAS FOSTER, sounds strange but everyone (even the die hard chocolate people in the group) agreed it was one of the best ones on the table.
(3)Emily P.
Delicious! Had the Ruby Port Fondue with mushrooms and sausage. We debated on whether to order an entree or not but we figured this would be just right for our first experience at Urban Fondue. I had a basil lemonade which was amazing. Our waiter, Sean, was attentive and kind, walking us through the menu, offering extra bread and refills. We had the Rocky Road dessert fondue which was just melted chocolate with marshmallows on top and peanuts on the bottom. Delicious, but we'll get something more fun next time. Overall, a fantastic treat and a different type of date night. For two with one pot of fondue, two sides, a drink, and dessert it ended up at forty dollars, which didn't sting too bad at all.
(5)Josiah M.
Excellent array of dishes and our server was especially good and attentive to our table. We will be back.
(5)Chris C.
Attended for dining month, had the East Meets West with Smoked Cheddar and the Tiramisu desert option. Ultimately the desert option was the best part. The dinner option just sort of left me feeling like I was boiling my food in a pot on the table, it was nothing special. The bread and the cheese portion were definitely A+ though.
(4)Jennifer L.
I have been here twice and the fondue is super good :) It is a great place to share with your friends. I recommend going in a group of 4-6 so that everyone can choose different cheese, broth, and dessert fondue. The portions aren't really big so I wouldn't recommend sharing one portion with two people. Each person should get a portion and share with each other so you can get a variety of taste. It is a little bit more expensive than a normal dinner price, but it's worth the experience. Our waiter was great. The only thing I would say about the wait service is that the food took too long to come out to us. I know it was a busy time of day so I didn't mind as much as my friends did. Overall great place.
(4)jackie l.
The first time I came to urban fondue I was disappointed with the service. The guy at the front ignored me when I came in for my reservation, told me me quite rudely they don't have a space for me yet I will have to wait probably half an hour. I waited an hour. Then he just directed me to their open seating next door. I just left. I gave it another try when my boyfriend made plans for our dinner here for my birthday. This time there was a different host that sat us down for our reservation no waiting. Wish I remembered our server. He was outstanding and fun, made our night truly enjoyable. Recommended all the right things which by the way we started with the brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue then the urban fondue for two. I honestly like the cheese and dinner portion of the fondue experience however the chocolate fondue was too dark for my liking.Knocked off one star for my first visit. But I will definitely be coming back. I will make sure to catch the name of our server if I see him again.
(4)Angelica R.
Are there for our anniversary and it was awesome. Atmosphere was great food was great and the staff was awesome! We will definitely be back!
(5)Tyler W.
If you're looking for some ridiculously delicious food and amazing service, go to Urban Fondue. We have gone here a number of times, and my wife and I have gone here for our anniversary for the last three years. The Fondue Experience is the way to go, but come hungry! With the two of us, we leave painfully, yet blissfully full. The meats, veggies, bread, and deserts all seem to be top quality, especially the meats for the main course. You get about 10 or so sauces for dipping as well, all great. The staff are also really great. They are attentive, very pleasant, and are more than willing to give you suggestions on not only what to order, but what to do when the food comes. They have always given great pairings with the dipping sauces and which meats go best with which sauces. Having Bartini next door (which they collaborate with) is also half the experience. I'm not much of a martini guy, but the concoctions they bring out are as delicious as the food. We LOVE snagging one of the booths, and request it every time we go. The seats and back of the booths are extremely squishy, and the three walls surrounding the booth are high to keep things private. We recommend Urban Fondue to all our friends, and let them know to go here instead of the "other" local competition fondue restaurant, as it's a bit more casual, less money, and all around better food.
(5)Jana G.
This SUCKS!! We are here now and I feel so strongly I am writing this while we eat. Chicken has no seasoning on it. The 10 sauces they brought us to drown our disgusting meat are terrible too. Cook time was recommended at 3 minutes but is really more like 8. The velveeta cheese came with bread alone. Can't wait to see what the dessert course brings. Thank goodness for wine!
(1)Patty T.
Food was excellent. So many courses I ate enough for two days worth. Every course had a few special choices. Pricing on drinks was very reasonable. Excellent cosmos for $7. But the absolute best thing that made our bachelorette party of 11 women with varied tastes was our waiter Vince. Excellent experience. A server can ruin even a perfect meal. No chance of that here.
(5)Rick H.
With my limited experience (Melting Pot and Rheinlander,) I have to say this is the best fondue I've ever had. It's become a standard in our date night rotation, having long ago easily displacing Melting Pot. When you go, be sure to ask for the drink menu "from next door." They share buildings with Bartini, and you can even walk in between the two. The drinks on this menu are awesome, and overwhelming - as long as you like martini derivates. The drinks range from traditional, to sweet, to herbal, and several choices in between so even picky drinkers will most likely find something new to enjoy. My biggest gripe is the seating. The big red booths are nice and private, but just not that comfortable as they have rigid flat backs. They try to spruce them up with pillows sometimes which helps, but pillows are not always available. The food though is well worth it. There are three types of fondues, the first a "cheese" selection with four different options. All are excellent choices, with the Smoked Farmhouse Cheddar coming out slightly ahead in my opinion. You can add sausages or bits of fruit (for extra cost unfortunately,) to any cheese fondue. The second fondue type is the broth you want to cook your meat in. Unfortunately only the Tomato Fennel is vegetarian, but all of the broths are good, with the Urban Yosenabe just barely eking out first place. Each person gets to choose an entree, a combination of meats and vegetables to dip into the broth. The entrees would be my second and minor gripe, I wish I could mix and match the meats more to my liking. There tends to be a bit of horse trading at my table. Depending on what entrees are ordered, the wait staff also brings out a selection of dips. All of these dips are excellent, some of them so much so that you'll find yourself wanting to lick the little bowls. They also have several sides you can add on. The Cream Spinach is so good that we've never tried any of the others. If you are somehow still hungry, the last is desert fondue. The Raspberry, the Butterscotch, and the Caramel Cognac are all excellent choices. The desert tray is loaded down with decadent goodies which by itself blows away the Melting Pot. Be sure to save a bit of money and get "The Fondue Experience" it is well worth it. You will also need reservations here, and arrive hungry. When it arrives at your table, it doesn't look like much food is there, but you will walk out stuffed.
(4)Beth C.
First time there and very disappointing. Go to the Melting Pot instead for a great fondue experience. Our service was mediocre. The waiter only described the expensive 'meal experience' and when it came time to take our order he assumed that is what we all were going to have without asking what our preference was. I repeatedly had to clarify what OUR preference was. It was apparent that he knew he was going to automatically get the mandatory 18% gratuity for a party of 6 or more. For the price you pay the meat portions are miniscule, hors de oeuvres size. Very bland taste. Nothing to be memorable. The tiny pieces were very difficult to keep on the skewers when in the broth and fell off several times. It is a bit unnerving to make sure that the meat/fish is thoroughly cooked as the meal progresses and really distracted from the conversation. The tortelini and raw vegetables were difficult to skewer and keep on the skewers as well. It would be helpful to have the sauces on labeled saucers as the descriptions of the 9 sauces were offered quickly. Some thought and revamping into the menu needs to take place. Won't be back.
(1)Ashley W.
Went on a nice date night with my boyfriend here and we had a great time!! He researched it before and read all the Yelp reviews which helped out a lot!! Great food!! We skipped on the meat, instead we got 2 cheese plates, added a couple of things to them and then got dessert. sooooo good!!
(5)Joseph M.
Went here for my Girlfriends birthday the price was great and the service was excellent
(4)Chris S.
I wish there was something between ok & I'm a fan. The place had a very good energy, but a tad crampt. Dress was too casual to dressy. Vince the server was outstanding. He didn't lead us astray on portion sizes, he wasn't pushy and was very attentive. I highly recommend the Port Fondue as an app. I enjoyed the dipping sauces, but the different broths are overhyped in my opinion. This could be my traditionalist tastes of what Fondue should be coming through. Wines were supprisly well priced, yet a bit limited. We didn't have dessert, but would probably come back just for that some other time.
(4)Kristen M.
The thought of having fondue sounds amazing. But you pretty much pay for the experience. I've learned from other fondue joints that the entrees are not worth a pretty penny and have only resorted to eating dessert and appetizers at these locations. The ambiance of Urban Fondue is full of red velvet, shades or red and black, and dim lighting. Huge velvet chairs, small candle lights on the tables and a couple booths available to fit 4-6 people. There were also 4 top tables too. I don't know if the place was supposed to be romantic and seductive or I was just time-warped into the 70's from all the darkness, red, black and velvet. So my review is only for dessert: (all priced at $13.95 which is good for two people) We were craving something sweet and opted for the HEATHBAR FONDUE. This pretty much was a hot pot of chocolate with crushed up pieces of heath bar candy. A side plate of cut strawberries, bananas, pineapple, donut, pound cake, cheesecake bites, cream puff, chocolate chip cookie dough and peanut butter cookie dough were available to dip into the fondue. I think my favorite was the banana and cream puff. The others were meh..... Although their prices are cheaper than the Melting Pot. I think I would only come back here to try out their appetizer fondue's since they're the craze. I probably wouldn't go here for dessert, it was disappointing and frankly, I can make this stuff at home if I wanted to.
(2)Beth C.
I met my good friends in NW after kicking butt at bowling. We had walked around and the boy part of our group DEMANDED we go here. When we walked in there were about 7 open tables. We were not greeted with warmth or disdain. Just ambivalence. Our waitress was rude and curt. Did not explain anything. We did enjoy the cheese fondue. The dinner we chose was sufficient but I personally will not make a trip to go back. Service is key to me.
(2)Ronald B.
The wife and I went on a "date night", staying in downtown PDX and had Saturday night reservations to UF. We arrived a bit early but were seated immediately, and even got the front booth facing Glisan St. which proved great for people watching. Let's just say that although the restaurant is a bit quirky, the service is top notch and the food was really good too. Although this was our first trip to UF, we have been to several other fondue-style restaurants and understood the basic concept. We chose the Fondue Experience which consists of a cheese fondue, an entree, followed by a dessert fondue. In addition we ordered salads and a side dish that was served with the entree. The cheese fondue we chose was the Ruby Port Fondue which is white cheddar, Swiss and Gruyere cheeses finished with caramelized sweet onions and port wine. Can you say food orgasm??? Like others have posted, I would have picked up the serving vessel if I thought it wouldn't have been bad form and scorched my tongue to boot. Next came our salads. The wife had the UF House salad, a delightful mix of greens in a citrus vinaigrette, dried cranberries, spiced hazelnuts, goat cheese and sunflower seeds. She said it was THE BEST salad she has ever eaten. I had the romaine and pancetta salad which is a grilled heart of romaine and a strip of pancetta, all tossed in a creamy garlic aioli with lots of shredded Parmesan cheese, all placed on a balsamic-glaze drizzled plate. It was a tremendous balance of sweet, salty, tangy and everything-wonderful on a plate. The side dish of gratin Yukon gold potatoes with Parmesan, black pepper and Gruyere cheese was really tasty and was served with our main course/entree that was the Urban Fondue for Two, consisting of all the various protein options, baby lobster tails, bay scallops, tiger prawns, rib eye steak, Carlton pork, house made sausage, chicken breast and local Chinook salmon, which we opted to trade out for more steak since the wife doesn't like salmon. AT ALL. She didn't even want me cooking it in our Urban Yosenabe cooking broth. There were also a few obligatory veggies on the plate. There were nine different dipping sauces to accompany all the tasty cooked morsels. Our favorites were the lemon-garlic butter, thai peanut and the spicy sun-dried tomato aioli. The others weren't to our liking for the most part, although I'm sure others would love them. We were so stuffed that we chose to fore-go dessert, (I know, how could we fore-go dessert) but our server cheerfully offered a rain check for dessert. An offer I'm certain we will return quickly to redeem. In fact, I'm thinking that next visit we'll start with the Ruby Port Fondue, have the same salads, skip the entree and go right for the dessert fondue. Oh, so many choices. Lots to ponder before returning...... Don't miss out on this place and be sure to get reservations, especially on a weekend.
(5)CJ C.
Got seated at 6:50... Waiter ignored us most of the time... Still waiting for the check at 10:08 now. Decent food. Terrible service.
(1)Carl B.
Bottom Line at the Top: Best fondue I have had in the city so far. Fun for a larger group to share two or three pots so everyone can sample the different flavors. I came to Urban Fondue with a large group that took over the slightly raised back bench of the establishment. They do accept reservations and even on this Sunday night were full with no extra seating inside. Bartini is connected next door so you can sometimes wait there plus when seated get almost any drink you wish. The dark interior is not conductive to reading the menu but when going here the majority of the time I am only looking at the fondue anyway. They do have some full dinner options but they are not the reason I show up. Our party ordered the Tillamook white cheddar and caraway, Brie and Gorgonzola, and the Smoked local farm house cheddar fondues. With them we had the normal bread plates and one sausage plate. The fondues were presented well and had the correct texture to make it easy to dip into and get a good coating for tasting. The flavors were rich and pronounced within each pot. Our end of the table had 6 people all sharing the 3 pots and our appetites waned before the cheese was gone which is always a good sign. My personal favorite was the Brie and Gorgonzola, but everything that came out of the kitchen was terrific. The wait staff was excellent, but the wait for drinks did cause some people of this large party of 14 to fidget a bit. Bartini and Urban Spoon were both completely full with people waiting for any table to open up, and the wait staff did keep us appraised to the timing of the drink order at the bar. Next time I hope to try some of the dessert fondues, so I shall make my way back.
(4)Mike S.
The service was terrific, food was pretty good! The cheese course was 5 star as was the chocolate course! The main meat course was just ok you know ok but nothing special. It was a fun experience for the family, we all had a great time dipping and yacking! It's fairly expensive so it's not the kind of place we would go to often!
(4)Karen A.
We took our daughters (ages 9 & 12) last night for a special, celebration dinner. We eat out frequently but this is a bit more than we normally spend, but it was worth it. The waiter was very helpful, answered all of our questions. We ended up getting the "fondue experience" which ended up to be too much food. Next time we will do it for 3 instead of 4. The girls loved the comfy plush booths, pillows and fun drinks. They had an amazing coconut/mango fizzy drink and a lavender lemonade, way better than your average shirley temple! A great fun family fun night and I'm sure the girls will be begging to go back in the near future!
(5)Rebecca R.
If you do not like dipping stuff in cheese and/or chocolate, don't bother going here. Stay home and let the rest of us enjoy the experience. I'm considering divorcing my husband and marrying the Ruby Port fondue. It was that good. Our server was helpful in helping us decide what and how much to order. For dessert we had the toffee chocolate and caramel cognac. So good. We had some left over and our server boxed it up. He suggested warming it up and serving it over ice cream. I can't wait to try that.
(5)Steph W.
My husband and I decided to try and go to Urban Fondue on a whim around 5ish. So glad we did! They have a deal where its 27 bucks per person for a three course meal! Vince was our waiter and he was so incredibly helpful and nice! Can't say enough good things about the service! Fantastic service and wonderful food. We will definitely go back again. For our starter we had the Ruby Port Fondue with the seasonal fruit as our side. (they also have amazing bread) The entree we had the Urban Yosenabe broth and the East meets West and the Chef cuts. (seafood, pork chicken and then pork and Ny steak) You cook your food at the table and it allows for a nice leisurely meal. For dessert we decided on the raspberry chocolate. Holy moly. They definitely don't skimp on the raspberry! It was marvelous! The assortment of items for you to dip in the dessert fondue were epic. All in all, worth the money and worth the time. It might be more challenging to go as a group but I will definitely come back.
(5)Amanda K.
In an effort to correct their horrible service, UF has undergone some hefty changes to the restaurant and last night was my first visit back since then. And I have to say, it was a really enjoyable dinner! I was very pleasantly surprised. We picked a cozy, dimly-lit booth and had a no-holds-barred, very filling fondue experience. Started with the Ruby Port fondue, which was delicious but lacked the promised caramelized onions on top and was a bit skimpy on the portion to begin with. This doesn't bother me so much actually, but it's worth nothing. My date commented on the skimpy portion and they came rushing out with a new, fully-loaded pot of bubbling cheese haha. Much appreciated, UF. The entree portion of the meal was surprisingly delicious. I say "surprisingly" because i'm generally not a fan of the broth/oil fondue-cooking method, but they presented us with every single dipping sauce they had so we had about 12 different flavor combinations, if not more. And they were so kind to bring an extra pot of broth since my date eats seafood and I do not. So accomodating! Finished the meal with the chocolate peanut butter fondue. Our cake bites and fruit were not frozen, instead nicely chilled and ready for dipping. THAT'S how you're supposed to serve fondue dippables. Cocktails were still hit-or-miss, my specialty martini (a Tuscan lemondrop, which included rosemary-infused vodka) was severely lacking in booze but my top-shelf margarita had enough liquor in it to turn me into an easy date......lol. Positive changes are being made up in this place. Thank goodness they've switched management; I think that's what needed to happen. I'm finally feeling the whole "great place for a date/romantic vibe-type restaurant" that everyone else has spoken of. Nice job, UF.
(4)Christina G.
Had such an incredible experience at Urban Fondue! This isn't an everyday restaurant, absolutely special occasion, so was a wonderful choice for our last night in Portland. All 3 of our fondue selections were fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the addition of fruit to our cheese pot alongside of the bread, and the variety of dipping sauces that accompanied our main course was not only tasty, but fun. Ordering a 2 person special was more than enough for our group of 3 individuals. With bartini next door we had great drinks available to accompany dinner as well. While we didn't have to many special requests, our server was full of great suggestions and tips on how to best enjoy our evening at the restaurant. Sean (our server) also happens to be the GM here, so we took his advice to heart on everything from cheese to chocolate. We left here happy, stuffed, and tipsy, and he happily called us a cab to get us back to our side of town. While we were in town there was a very unusual heatwave hitting Portland at the time, so the only thing that I would have changed was cranking up that a/c. However, I would imagine that this isn't an issue for 99% of the year! In summary - great place for groups, kids, familys, intimate dates, or any special occasion. Go, eat everything, and leave content!
(4)Mark C.
Had been hearing about Urban Fondue & Bartini - finally gave it a try with another couple. We won't be back. Service was good - and fondue was pretty good - but not great. The turn off came with the bill. At the waiter's suggestion we got the Fondue Experience for two. Menu gave one price (did not say per person). Shocked when our bill came. Thought the food was good for what we thought we were going to pay - but for what we had to pay - NOT worth it. Complained to the waiter and he was surprised that we didn't realize that the price was per person - even though menu did not say that. I think this was likely a trendy place a few years ago - no so much now. I may go again just for cheese fondue and/or a dessert fondue - not dinner.
(1)Fernando A.
Share. So many options. All the side sauces, meats, and vegetables were very tasty. Go here for a nice relaxing time. An added bonus about having to "cook" your own food is it forces you to eat slower. The slower you eat the more you can enjoy and savor each bite.
(5)Lisa T.
Just celebrated my nephew's birthday dinner at Urban Fondue last night. Brie and Gorgonzola Fondue was my favorite..Delish! The Smoked Cheddar was also very good but smoked cheese wouldn't be my first choice in a fondue. Nephew had the Chef's cut and it was accompanied by 9 different dipping sauces. - Yum! We had two different chocolate fondues - both excellent. Definitely FAR better than the Melting Pot. Our server was Joshua and he couldn't have been more attentive. Can't wait to go back and try more fondues.
(5)Kevan Q.
My favorite new restaurant. The tomato basil fondue was amazing. Everything we tried was delicious and the service was great as well. Even though we were there just before closing, we did not feel rushed and the server was very helpful and answered all of our questions and then some. I have not had food or service like this in a long time. Definitely going back!
(5)Elle H.
The family decided to do Fondue to celebrate a high school graduation, so we were a large group. We were seated on a slightly elevated platform in the back, that was most likely a stage at the venue;s previous incarnation as a bar. We were crowded but it was fun. Service was disorganized..the waitress ran thru the Fondue Experience quite fast..,I'm sure she has said the whole thing many times, but it was our first time so we didn't really know what was going on. we had some latecomers who were without setups for quite a while then 2 people both brought a handful of knives and forks so we had a plethora of silverware, but insufficient skewers for the fondue. We had to wait for water after asking several times. Basically I rate the service as poor. The food was excellent-first course of cheese fondue with fruit and bread. Had several types of cheeses and LOTS of bread but very skimpy servings of fruit. The cheeses were wonderful however, especially the Tomato/Basil and Bree. I thought my eldest son was going to lick the bowl the Tomato/Basil came in. Next came the meat course. We had steak, pork, sausage, chicken, shrimp,scallops and lobster. Again these portions were pretty skimpy and all of us came away hungry from it. The meat was cooked in flavored oils that were tasty and nothing took more than 3 minutes. However, some of us had just 1 skewer so cooking a piece of chicken that was basically one bite for 3 minutes, then waiting another 3 minutes for the next bite was a pain. Those that had 2 skewers could cook a piece of meat and eat their mouthful of meat while the next one cooked. There was a vegetarian option-for the same price as those who choose the meat option. Finally was dessert, a selection of fruits and dessert bites dipped in Boysenberry Cheesecake, Raspberry Swirl, Chocolate something etc was quite nice and went over well. So I gave 3 stars because the food (what there was of it) was good but the service and portions were poor. Our meal was expensive for what we got. $32.00 each person, including the 5 year old who ate bread with cheese and a couple of strawberries. Our two graduates, teens, wanted to stop at McDonalds on the way home because they came away hungry. Combined with poor service, it wasn't worth the money, though the idea is nice. Something different but considering we could have taken everyone to a steakhouse for less and gone home full, the evening was perhaps not the best choice.
(3)Breanna E.
I celebrated my 18th birthday here back in 2012 and Urban Fondue helped make it a memorable experience for sure! I made reservations for me and my closest 5 friends weeks prior but when the night finally arrived we got there and had to wait over 45 minutes to get a table. Because of the long wait they gave us an extra plate of desserts to dip in our chocolate fondue for free, which I thought was very kind of them and definitely made up for the wait. Overall the fondue was delicious and I will be returning back for more soon!
(4)Emilee G.
Absolutely delicious! We took our son's girlfriend here for her birthday, along with our whole family and had a fantastic time. The food was wonderful, and fun to cook! Our server Shawn, who we request each time we come here or Bartini, is very knowledgeable about the entire menu and for fondue-beginners, is a great server to recommend the perfect meal no matter the size of your table. Ambiance: Rich red wells, plush booths (comfy enough that our five year old decided to pass out before our meal even started), and cool multi-colored lighting. Drinks: I orderer the Bird of Paradise Martini and felt like I was drinking Hawaii. YUM. The cinnamon on top was the perfect "quirk" to the tropical mixture and mango, coconut and pineapple in the glass. Appetizers: We ordered the Brie and Gorgonzola and the Cheddar cheeses. The B&G definately pushed the cheddar down and stole it's lunch money. Not that the cheddar wasn't good, but the B&G was to-die-for. I could eat it all day, every day, every damn day (if extreme caloric intake had no negative side effects...). Entrees: We orderd the steak and lobster, lobster and prawns and the "Fondue for Two" so that we had a little bit of everything on the menu. The lobster in the chicken/clam broth was my favorite, especuially combined with the lemon hollandaise and the garlic caper butter. The steak in the roast beef broth, topped with blackberry ketchup was a close second. There were five of us eating and there was SO much food that out sterno flames went out before we could finish (a positive thing, when you think about it. Great value!). Shawn offered to replinish our flames, but we were all about to succumb to food comas before dessert so we decided to bring out the last course. Dessert: Two giant plates full of cheesecake, cookie dough, bananas, strawberries and dried apricots were delivered to the table with a chocolate-peanut butter fondue and a marionberry cheesecake fondue. I tried every combination possible and I'd have to say strawberries in cheesecake fondue was the winner. Perfect end to a perfect meal. Can't wait to come back again! Side note: Bartini (connected to UF with a back hallway) has an amazing Happy Hour that we frequent. Huge menu, great prices, great service.
(5)Tsering S.
Came here for a birthday party and ended up being a pretty expensive one. lol. If you are looking for a fun fondue experience this would be your place, but if your craving for something really delicious this isn't really the place. I admit it was fun, had really good martini and delicious cheese fondue and that was it. The entree is well not for my taste, and also the desert was over sweet and lacked some flavor balance. I would definitely go back but on a sunday over at bartini for their happy hour.
(3)Winema W.
When a server asks if you wanna take the warm caramel home, then yes it's a5 star place..bowchickawowow Sam is amazing!
(5)Ashley M.
I purchased the Groupon deal for Urban Fondue and I'm very happy that I did. The only downside was my boyfriend and I went early on a Monday evening, it was also a nice sunny day outside so the restaurant was packed. I made reservations online ahead of time to ensure we would have a table ready to go. When we arrived we were told it would be about five minutes, if we wanted to walk around the block a for a few he'd call us when our table was ready and since it was a nice day that's what we did. We walked around for a good 15 minutes before we decided to head back in that direction since we'd received no phone call. Once we arrived back we were told it would be another moment before being seated. That would be my only complaint about the evening. The deal we purchased included cheese fondue as an appetizer, followed by any two entries and any one dessert we decided on. We ordered the white cheddar fondue, we included the sausage (you can order on the side for a small additional price) as well it came with their free bread. The cheese fondue was very tasty, we were both very satisfied and excited to try the entry dishes. I ordered the steak and lobster entry, my boyfriend ordered the seafood/ fish so we could share both meals together. The sizes of the meals were generous, there was a little of everything on both plates and all the sauces really added to the different flavors each piece of meat offered. By the time we were done with our entries, we were so full we decided to ask if we could just have the dessert dipping fruit and cheese cake to go, in which the waiter advised that was no problem, we could do our entire dessert fondue to go. We ordered the tiramisu fondue, which came with cream puff's, cheese cake bites and lots of fresh fruit. I tried a couple pieces when I came home and was very satisfied with the dessert as well. Our waiter was very accommodating, he was great with walking us through how to cook the food along with which each sauce flavor was, also the food came out quickly and our waters were filled at all times. I was extremely happy with the service and the food overall and will absolutely be coming back, with a deal or no deal.
(5)Jeremy D.
I don't know if I'm rating this unfairly because it's been my first and only fondue experience and I have no other basis of comparison. All I can do is take you through our evening there. First the good: The appetizer cheese fondues were tasty. We had the brie/gorgonzola and the ruby port. No problem there. Also some of their cocktails were well crafted and we enjoyed a couple off their drink menu. About 8 bucks a pop, but that's normal for this kind of establishment. The disappointment comes from the entree(s) and the pricing. Our main courses were $32 a person and in the end, I only had 4-5 little pieces of meat and lobster. The broth we were given to cook our raw food was not that hot (pretty disconcerting). They gave us timers with cooking times on them and these little tools served useless, as I was needing extra time on everything I put in there (not to mention about halfway through our 'meal' the fire had gone out on our pot, so no wonder it wasn't cooking our food properly). The waiter failed to inform us of this possibility and that we'd need to be policing it ourselves. The cuts of meat and lobster were only bite sized and in the end I left the restaurant hungry with a $120 dollar bill to settle for my wife and I. If you're dead set on trying this place, I suggest sticking with appetizers/desserts and skipping the entrees entirely. Unfortunately I won't be returning, but maybe paying extra to cook your own food is a novelty lost on me entirely.
(2)KC E.
The cheese fondue is great. It's hard not to enjoy a big pot of melted savory goodness, and the bread, veggie and fruit sides for dipping were all enjoyable. My issue is with the dessert fondue. Crazy, I know. The chocolate is good (we had the Black Forest version this time with cherries and whipped cream), but the dippers that come with the chocolate are low-quality. I am not in the habit of eating Pepperidge Farms pound cake or Sarah Lee cheesecake or Entenmann's donuts, but that's the quality of the desserts that came out of the kitchen. Don't get me wrong, the last thing you think about when presented with a big bowl of melted chocolate is the hydrogenated fat content or GMO corn syrup in the accompaniments. But ugh do I feel it the day after. Next time my husband wants fondue, we will go out for cheese only and skip the unhealthy and low-quality dessert.
(3)Jen E.
wow.... after trying to figure out where to go for my b-day a few years back a friend suggested this place. When I called and made the reservation the woman on the phone was lovely. We arrived and I had actually gotten the huge table on the platform and they were so lovely to all of my guests. I got to try a lot of different combos there were so many of us. I never heard a complaint and the staff was willing and helpful at every turn. The desert time was fun since there were so many of us we all got to try a little of everything. We ended up being the last ones in the restaurant and as a result we all got a little goofy at which the staff had a great time with us. I would recommend this place for anyone looking for good food at a decent price ps the drinks rock..... as in oh my I drank a lot and all of it was great
(5)Lindsay T.
I went here with my bf and his mom for Thanksgiving to have something different. We made reservations a week in advance and requested a booth, we had a half booth but close enough. We decided to get full experience with 2 cheese fondues, entree broth and dessert. Each course was amazing! The cheese fondues were both creamy and tasty, we had the white cheddar with caraway seeds and the port wine one. Their bread was perfect for dipping, not too crunchy and not too soft. We had the yosenabe brother with a variety of meats and seafood. When they first brought it out, it didn't look like much food. But once we started cooking and eating there was way too much food for the 3 of us. I loved all their different dipping sauces, each had a different flavor and went well with the different proteins. Dessert had an excellent variety of fruits, cookie dough, cheesecake, cookies and cream puffs. We were way too full to eat it though so we each had a taste and took the rest home. The food was great, the only complaint is that the service was pretty slow between courses. But since we were all stuffed it didn't bother us too much. Urban Fondue is a great place for a date with a romantic ambience and would also be fun to go with friends.
(4)debra b.
Booths do a nice job of insulating you from others' conversations, which I liked. They also force you to sit up very straight and very close to the table, which got uncomfortable after a bit. Portion sizes are proper, not American-size. We left feeling satisfied, not gross-- a lovely sensation I've never had the self-control to achieve during a Melting Pot excursion. Ruby port cheese arrived so fast it couldn't have been made up after our order. Still-- delicious. I agree with some of the others: skip the average-to-bland main course and eat more of their killer cheese instead.
(3)Lysa D.
I took my girlfriend here for our Valentine's Day celebration. We were seated at a center table where anyone who walked by would bump into my chair =/, after switching seats everything was okay. I made reservations and was hoping for a booth, but that's mostly my fault as I didn't specify. Being in the center of the room made for good people watching anyway. Drinks: My girlfriend ordered the Coconut Mojito, and loved it. I ordered the roasted pineapple drink, which was really good as well. For dinner we ordered the fondue experience for two which is 3 courses Cheese: We went with the Ruby Port cheese and it was AMAZING. The bread they serve is softer than a pillow. Loved it. Entrees: We ordered Steak & Lobster and the East meets West entrees. The lobster was incredible, especially paired with the lemon hollandaise. Outstanding. Highly recommended. Dessert: We ordered the Heath bar chocolate fondue, which was bittersweet chocolate with toffee pieces in it. The standout here was the Cream Puffs, of which there were only two, but seriously INCREDIBLE. The wait staff was very friendly, prompt, and made suggestions. I had a great experience and will return.
(4)C F.
The first course (port cheese) and final (dessert chocolate) were luscious. The middle, a tomato broth with pasta and vegetables (vegetarian) was truly awful. Give the restaurant a try, but skip the "entree". Parking, is of course, horrendous, so give yourselves enough time.
(3)Nick G.
My wife and I went here for a "date" night. Our usual fondue place is that other fondue chain that happens to be in downtown...and we just felt like trying somewhere new, and we are SOOOO glad we did. Urban Fondue was much more our kinda place, very "Portland" if you must. I just have to say, get the Ruby Port fondue, it's killer. Prices are much more reasonable than we were expecting, and you get quite large portions too. The service was great, I wish I could remember our waiters name, but whatever it was, he was awesome! I don't know what else to say, it was really good food, great ambiance, and cheaper than we thought it was going to be! Doesn't get much better than that, we will definitely be returning very soon!
(5)Erin D.
I wanted to do a nice dinner during our week in Portland for our anniversary, and we stayed just a few blocks away from this place and happened to pass by. I was really glad we decided to come here - everything was delicious and our waiter, Mark (I think), was wonderful. We got the happy hour special with a cheese fondue, two entrees, a side, and a dessert. For the cheese course we had the caraway cheddar, which was rich and delicious without being overwhelmingly cheesy. I got the chicken for an entree while my husband got the beef and pork mix, both of which were good, although my husband got one or two pieces of beef that were incredibly tough. This was made up for with their dipping sauces, which were delicious. I'd highly recommend, if you go for a lighter meat like chicken, the thai peanut sauce and the pesto sauce. We also had a side dish of polenta, which was cooked to perfection and served with balsamic. For dessert we got the butterscotch chocolate fondue, which although a touch light on the butterscotch, was still heavenly. We also had no problem getting extra food for dipping when we ran out without going through the fondue. Their mixed drinks were quite nice as well - I had the oatmeal cookie cocktail, which really tastes (and is textured) just like mom's oatmeal cookies. Our waiter, Mark, was incredibly nice. He happened to always come over right in the middle of my husband doing something stupid, like dancing in his seat to a song they were playing, and he would laugh with us (not at us). My only previous experiences with fondue have been with chains like the Melting Pot, and this place puts those to shame. I wish we had a fondue place this nice in DC, but this is definitely at the top of our list if we're ever back in Portland.
(5)Candace D.
The sinfully rich dish we know as Fondue was actually invented out of necessity in the 18th century by Swiss villagers. Secluded from larger towns during the long, harsh winters they were forced to rely upon stale cheese and bread left over from the summer. They discovered they could heat the cheese over a fire to melt it, which improved the taste and also softened the stale bread when dipped in the creamy sauce. They would gather around the fire to keep warm and socialize while sharing in a communal meal. Soon they were mixing in wine and rich seasonings to transform old cheese and bread into delicious, savory feasts. These days, however, Fondue has transformed from a necessity to a wide span of mouth-watering appetizers made from all sorts of cheeses to dip fresh fruits and breads in, to fancy feasts with meats and succulent desserts made from anything from sweet dark chocolates to creamy cheesecakes, while still holding a common tradition of a communal meal and creating long lasting memories. Mark & Carla Byrum had been in the restaurant business for many years, Mark often working as a general manager and Carla doing marketing. Both had extensive knowledge in the industry, and a passion to create a unique, boutique restaurant experience. After they were married, they made their passion turn into reality in December of 2003. They got together with Chef Kevin Kennedy, who has deep roots in fondue as he was born in Switzerland as well as having a focus on start up restaurants, which helped provide the key component to make a successful business. Together, with their experience, knowledge and passion to create something amazing came Urban Fondue. Urban Fondue is located on bustling NW 21st & Glisan with streets abounding with cars and sidewalks bountiful with people from all directions and walks of life coming and going their respective ways. Stepping off the busy streets into Urban Fondue is like stepping into your own intimate experience with walls and décor covered in deep reds, burnt sienna and orange hues, with dim lighting and soft music the outside world seems to fade away as you slide into your own world. Sit in one of the booths and you're sure to feel like you're in your own little haven. With 6 feet high walls of plush soft velvet surrounding you while you sink into the velvety seat cushions filled with down feathers, it's like sitting in bed while your dining! While waiting for the appetizers I started out with one of their delicious martinis it was hard to choose between the Blueberry Smash Martini - a house favorite boasting Citrus rum muddled with fresh blueberries and mint sprigs or the Snickertini a vanilla bean infused vodka, with Crème de Cocoa and Frangelico shaken with cream and crowned with rich caramel sauce. Ultimately, my sweet tooth got the best of me, and I couldn't resist the creamy, candy bar flavored Snickertini, it tasted just like the candy bar only better! For appetizers the servers brought out two Fondue dishes, a Brie and Gorgonzola Fondue made from rich Brie cheese swirled with Gorgonzola cheese and topped with roasted hazelnuts and Smoked Local Farmhouse Cheddar Fondue accompanied by a platter of fresh NW organically gown Willamette Valley pears, apples and ruby grapes, house made Italian sausage and French Garlic Sausage, Sautéed button mushrooms and perfectly grilled asparagus. With this dangerous combination of rich, savory, creamy snacks it was difficult to save room for the main entrée. The fresh tiger prawns, baby lobster tails and east coast scallops don't get any fresher as the chef buys local every couple of days to ensure the highest quality along with the seasoned choice beef rib eye, Carlton pork, house made sausages, local Chinook salmon, and breast of local chicken; all delicious and complimentary of each other brought out in raw form ready for you to cook to your taste in the Urban Yosenabe a chicken and clam broth with hints of ginger, lemongrass, soy and sweet chilies. And don't worry about not knowing how long to keep your choice of meat in the pot, Urban Fondue has fun bright red three minute sand timers with a chart letting you know exactly how long to leave your food in before it's ready for your enjoyment. If you're not a seafood or meat lover, that's okay! There's plenty of room on the table for the servers to bring out a pot of Tomato Fennel Broth with local vine-ripe tomatoes, fennel, parsnips, sweet peppers and finished with flat leaf parsley and cracked pepper which is delicious paired with their Vegetarian platter which includes tofu, marinated tomatoes, artichoke hearts, grilled sweet onion, sweet carrots, mushrooms, scallions and asparagus. And just when I started to think, I couldn't possibly eat anymore; they brought out the most delicious dessert you could imagine. Marion berry Cheesecake Fondue made from rich creamed cheese whipped with lemon and Marion berry puree and topped with crushed graham crackers. Absolutely pure heaven
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