The Melting Pot is an upscale restaurant; not the place for a quick meal, to take a large group (i.e.: 7+), and definitely not small children. There is an electric heating area in the middle of the table which can get very hot, so beware. Novices to the Melting Pot will probably find the dining experience much different than they are accustomed. In most restaurants the diner orders the food and it's served prepared. Here the diners are expected to cook their portions themselves. Each diner is supplied with a set of fondue forks to spear the portions of food to place in the communal fondue pot. The individual diner may select their own preference (meat, chicken, shrimp, etc.) but the table must agree on the type of fondue broth or sauce to be used. Vegetables are also placed in the pot to be cooked along with the entree meats. Having a timer, like on most cell phones, can be handy. Once the fondue broth gets hot it takes about 2.5 to 5 minutes to cook the portions of meat, depending on they type of meat and how well done the diner wants it cooked. Once you catch on to the process it is a fun dinner. The salads we were served were very good and fresh, as were the entrees. Our waitress was attentive in supplying fresh glasses of tea and keeping the sauces in good supply on our table. Thought the entree portions may not appear too large, they proved quite filling. An entree, salad, and iced tea will probably run about $30-$35/person; if appetizer and dessert fondue is included, expect significantly more. Also, complementary parking (three hours max.) at a nearby lot is available. The Melting Pot is not for everyone, but if you and your group are a little adventurous you may find it a memorable experience.
(4)
Charlie A.
GREAT EXPERIENCE, Michael our server was hilarious and extremely knowledgeable about the food. It was the first time there for my boyfriend and I. Michael helped us pick out some great combinations. Just know that you are going for the experience! We spent 3 hours in there and did the 4 courses. If you are trying to get a quick dinner dont bother. This place is to sit with you your significant other, have a good conversation, have some drinks and enjoy each others company. We had a very romantic evening. I would highly recommend it. We had a booth, it felt like we were the only two people there even though our server was very busy with other tables. Our server also talked about a promotion for joining the fondue club which got me a box of chocolate covered strawberries which were delicious! Great server, Delicious food, beautifully furnished very modern, Romantic and fun 5 star experience. Go go go! Why are you even still reading this when the glory of the melting pot awaits you
(5)
Megan B.
First time ever to a melting pot. We had reservations but were not needed. I really like the intimate setting, the lighting is good and it's not loud, you have private booths so you're in your own little world. The waitress was very friendly and made a lot of good recommendations and a lot of friendly chatting. It was a really fun experience, the cheese fondue (appetizer) and chocolate s'more (dessert) were really good! The entree of cooking your own shrimp, chicken and beef was good, but eh...you're paying to cook your own food. Give yourself plenty of time, I think it took us just shy of 3 hours from start to finish. Kids might get ancy. Would be a great place for a special occasion!
(4)
Melissa E.
I'm no fan of chain restaurants, but this was our favorite restaurant out of all the places we tried during our stay in Gatlinburg. My four-year-old son really, really liked cooking his own food, and he was very well-behaved because he always had something to do. I love how the tables were so private, and groups were not seated near other groups. We each ordered one of the combo deals where you get, shrimp, steak, and chicken. I was surprised at how well-seasoned everything was, and how tasty. The service was spectacular--our server kept checking in to make sure we understood everything. The food was excellent, and the experience itself was unique and fun. My husband already wants to try the Melting Pot near our home in Illinois. We were really impressed.
(4)
Eli P.
If I could rate the melting pot below 1 star I would. We had the worse meal in years. It was all about the quality of ingredients and This time my wife and I both agreed. Ugh ! Poor mix and care of flavors and clearly lower quality ingredients for this chain was a lethal combination. It was our first trip to the melting pot and our last. How can you screw up chocolate, but it was just a low quality mix abundant sugar with little dippers they picked up and cut into nice squares earlier in the day from some day old at a discount store. All bad, even house salad dressing. I feel sorry for the help who have to dish out with a smile on their faces. Ps, service ok, food terrible. My wife and I travel so this is a review from experience .
(1)
Matt P.
The Melting Pot is actually a chain of fondue restaurant. Something my wife and I did not know until our server told us half way through our meal. I am not a big fan of chains but The Melting Pot (at least this one) changed my perception. We came during their happy hour special and took our seats at the bar. For $5 each we each had our choice of a cheese fondue plus glasses of wine were also on special. I had the Wisconsin Trio and my wife had the Traditional Swiss. Both are served with a mix of breads, apples and veggies. Each cheese fondue is made right in front of you by the server. Our server was Matt, who also was the bartender. Matt was a very courteous and informative server. One of the best I have had in a long while. He really shows a passion for what he does. Each of our fondues was great. My wife and I really enjoy this type of eating as you can take your time, enjoy your dinner mate and relax with you meal. The Melting Pot, the cheese fondues and Matt were definitely five stars!
(5)
Amy C.
Worst service I have ever had....we had 10 to 15 minute waits between courses. It was the most ridiculous thing I've seen in my dining experiences. Dessert was delicious though...when we finally got it!
(1)
Alan L.
Melting Pot is Melting Pot wherever you go. It was nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg. Service was poor to mediocre otherwise it would be four stars. For kid it was not so good for picky eaters.
(3)
Miguel L.
A reservas nao sao honradas Nao ha lugares para esperar Educacao limitada Pense bem antes de vir aqui
(2)
Audrey A.
We went at happy hour and had a really neat experience for $20 plus drinks. They went out of their way to make it special, even bringing us extra dippers for free. Double round of Spinach Artichoke dip and double rounds of turtle chocolate were great, and fed a family of four.
(5)
Justin F.
My wife and I picked this restaurant for our anniversary dinner and we were not disappointed! Our server, Kris, was fantastic. She knew everything there was to know about the restaurant, including correct terminology, pairing meats, etcetera. Since it was our first time at a Melting Pot, we chose cheddar, and our entrees were duck, chicken, and shrimp, all of which are fresh and delicious. And of course the dessert is amazing too! S'mores was an excellent choice! Just make sure you plan on being there for an hour and a half, possibly two hours if you're coming for a full meal. And make reservations!
(5)
Rick R.
BEST EVER! We showed up, without reservations, and these guys worked us in quickly. Our server, Megan, was super-friendly and after I explained that we'd never been to a Melting Pot before, she walked us through the entire process. The food was excellent and the service was even better. A thoroughly charming experience that we'll be doing again.
(5)
R G.
Expensive and waitress did not understand the menu. It took 45 minutes to get our food and we had to then cook it! Nice restaurant but food was ehh.....not worth the price.
(2)
Jay N.
Well first let me say my wife and I have never been to the melting pot before. Our waitress talked out of her nose and sounded like a robot. As in everything she said she also said to the table beside us. Ask us same questions with no real conversation feel. More like a script. Our first cheese was bacon and jalapeño. Well we ate one bowl of bread and requested our salad. This was awful. Way to much alcohol used as a soup. HOWEVER best house salad I've ever had. Main course comes out. Not bad food at all however just not for us. We ate 3 bites of meat. Informed waitress this isn't our style can we just pass on current food and chocolate that was our next step. She stated yea it's not for everyone. Well she brings me a 100$ bill with a 10$ off bc we didn't eat chocolate. Now I'm pretty upset at this point. The manager has yet to come talk to me. Once I REQUEST him and tell him same story he simply says sorry it's not for everyone. ....... so since that was it I had to explain I didn't like having to pay 100$ in food that I didn't eat or enjoy. I had to TELL the manager that i will pay for drinks and salad and thats all. Won't be coming back to this one or any other for a second chance. Trust me choose a steak dinner over this.
(1)
Beth R.
We try to get here around our anniversary as it was my husband's choice for dinner the day we were married and since we always spend our anniversary/his birthday in Gatlinburg, we wanted to make sure we went here this year! They have changed their menu a bit, but we still split an "individual" entree and I didn't feel a difference in the amount of food - we were totally satisfied. We tried their fiery or fiesta cheese and it was very good - especially with the apples. I think our server was new but she was very sweet. My only complaint would be that I did have to ask for the photo we'd arranged for when we made the reservation, but mistakes happen. They all signed birthday and anniversary cards for us and the roses were beautiful. The cozy little booth is always fun and I have *got* to be gorgeous in that extremely low lighting! lol
(5)
Carlos R.
Our meal was perfect! We had reservations but we were taken early... To a secluded table because we are on our honeymoon! Adam was sweet and adorable. Food was amazingly delicious! We will definitely return!
(5)
Luis Q.
The appetizer wasn't bad, the cheese fondue. And the dessert was pretty good. But the main dish was not good at all. The prices are really high to, which doesn't make sense to me because we are cooking our own food. Shouldn't it cost less? Or at least regular prices? I don't know, my wife and I were not into it.
(2)
Jordan V.
This was our last dinner here in Gatlinburg and we had a great experience!! We split the four course experience and added an extra salad. We have one of these at home but have not got around to trying it but now that we have tried it on vacation, we will be back! ***garlic & wine seasoning is a must!!!***
(5)
Debbie W.
We have a sassy waitress name Gabrielle, she's great up until she told us they took the cheesecake off the dessert plate! We love her and we just met her! Having individual portions are a great improvement. My Love martini was awesome with the heart shaped strawberries!
(5)
Chelsea K.
This is one of those times where I really wish Yelp did half stars. I'm pretty torn about leaving a 3 instead of a 4-star review, but we had a very terrible waiter experience that tempered my feelings about the dinner. We had two waiters for our party; one was great and the other was not. However, we called management the next day and the issue was taken care of swiftly and appropriately, so I am not going to go into details about what happened, as I'm pretty confident it won't happen to anyone else who visits the restaurant. My (new!) husband and I had our wedding dinner here after getting married along Little Pigeon River, since it seems to be the fanciest restaurant in Gatlinburg. We had a party of 17 adults, one child, and one baby. Pros: With our large party, we got our own party room at no extra cost. Larger parties get a deal on dinner prices - $29 for the cheese fondue, salads, and the entrees and $5 more for chocolate fondue. Considering the normal prices, it was a great deal. Amount of food we received was definitely enough for a filling dinner. Were accommodating to our vegetarian and gluten-free guests. They had gluten-free bread and vegetarian guests received large plates of vegetables and tofu. Our cheese and chocolate fondues were excellent, and we got the coq au vin entree dip, which went very well with the steak. The teriyaki sirloin was SO GOOD. Bride and groom eat free! Cons: Some things were a little disorganized, especially at the beginning when we needed to be seated and getting drink orders. But it smoothed out over time. Was primarily due to inexperience - it would have been better to not have inexperienced people on a large party. Chicken and ravioli did not go as great with the coq au vin. We got the option of 2 cheese fondues, but only one entree fondue. Maybe an option of 2 entree fondues would work better for the different entree options. Apart from vegetarians, everyone got the same entrees. If you have a large party there is no option for different entrees.
(3)
Sara S.
Great experience! They have a really good happy hour special ($5 cheese and $5 chocolate from 4-7 during the week). The service is great, and the food is amazing! We always stop at the Melting Pot when we are in Gatlinburg, so I am looking forward to our next visit!
(5)
Nick S.
My wife and I love visiting the melting pot. This one is no different than others we have visited. Very clean restaurant and very nice staff. They also have a special at this location Monday thru Thursday cheese, salad, chocolate for $5 each course per person. This is an unbeatable deal. The also had awesome beer specials for this happy hour from 4-7pm. Draft domestic was $2 and draft specialty was only $3. Our family had a great time. You will receive the special as long as you are there from 4-7. If you go, Nick was an excellent server if he is available. Great job!
(5)
Amy R.
Wow. These people don't need, want or care about your money. Or you. We arrived within 45 minutes of closing and they could not "fit us in." Mind you, there wasn't another soul in the entryway but oh, yes they were slammed. The aloof hostess informed me that they staff according to reservations, so... And I was like, so... you don't want our business? We drove a half hour here based on your online information which states a closing time of 10:00. Vacant stare. Another employee came out, whereupon there was much head shaking and glaring in our general direction. Finally, we left without a word of apology or anything else from Melting Pot staff. We walked down the street to Bubba Gump, where we were greeted with a smile. Our seven year old said, "Daddy! They're happy to see us here!" Enough said!
(1)
ted j.
Extremely poor service, arrived late, hostess was obviously not happy we were there. Food was OK, have been to other melting pots and this one was just bad. Would not recommend due to service.
(1)
Mary S.
I love The Melting Pot-- wherever, whenever! The food, in my experience, is about the same wherever I go but the service makes the biggest difference. On this occassion it was extra special. Our server, Gage, was professional and full of personality. We immensely enjoyed our meal and the sporadic conversations with Gage. He did a great job making us feel extra special on our special night. Pricing has increased since my last visit but it's still worth it for a special occassion. And the dessert course dark chocolate with sea salt, which Gage happened to recommend, is OMG unbelievably good!!!
(5)
Hillbilly P.
My Wife and I went here for our 24th anniversary. I have been to two other Melting Pot locations here in Tennessee and this one is by far the best. Parking is FREE and great for being in Gatlinburg. You can park right next door at the City Parking Garage and pay them, then give the receipt to your server and the Melting Pot will take the parking fee off of your meal. The restaurant is located on the top floor of the building so you can take the stairs or the Elevator. When we arrived, we were made to feel right at home by the hostess. We were seated within minutes in the "Private Dining Area" which was nice. The decor inside is very nice and warm. Our Server was one of the best I have had at any restaurant She was polite, attentive and was eager to make sure that we enjoyed our visit here. She explained everything step by step as she went so there was absolutely no confusion. She was able to answer every question we had and made some good suggestions for our choices for the meal. We ordered the "Big Night Out" for the full fondue experience. The food was delicious, meats were very tender and the fruits, veggies and breads were very fresh. The presentation of all of the courses was very nice, I wish I had taken a camera, our chocolate fondue was "Flambe" . I gave this one five stars for a reason, I have NO complaints, worth every penny. I live in Knoxville but if I want fondue, I'm going to Gatlinburg...
(5)
Meriana G.
Me and husband decided on coming here for their skinny dipping menu-- something light after eating tons of BBQ earlier. I had called about 20 minutes before coming, hoping to find out the hours, if hey were open, etc. The man who picked up was very friendly, said he'll try to squeeze us in and possibly wait only 10-15 minutes. Great. So we get there, got our parking and told the hostess that we had calls in. After we arrived a large group of about 10 people came in. No problem, they had a table them. Another couple comes in, no problem. And then this is where is goes downhill. Not to get all racial in here, but this seriously bothered me. While I was waiting this African American couple walks in with hopes for a nice date night dinner. They walk up to the hostess and she gives them this total BS answer how they don't have servers for them, if they wanted to eat there it'd be at least a 35 minute wait, or they could sit at the bar IF the bartender isn't too busy or able to serve them. So naturally they decided to head out. Then LITERALLY a "white" couple comes in and the hostess tells them 10-15 minute wait. That drove me up the wall. It was SO wrong and obvious of what she did. So she sat us down after our wait and it took 10 mins for our server to come by. He took another 10 mins to get our water and he forgot about my husband's drink from the bar, which came AFTER we finished our salad. We had to remind him about it. Anyways, enough with the novel. Food was good, very VERY poor service, our glasses were always empty, and the server was very uninterested in helping us. We'll go back to the Melting Pot, just not this one.
(2)
Adina S.
My boyfriend and I went here when we visited Gatlinburg for vacation, and it was a great meal. We were seated right away, and the servers were attentive. We ordered cheese fondue, two salads, and split one entree between the two of us. We spent about half of what we would have on the Big Night Out, and we both left full. The cheddar cheese fondue was delicious. The chicken breast with vegetable broth was good, but the flavors seemed a little flat. We both ordered the Cesar salad, which neither of us cared for. Too much cheese and dressing -- not much in the way of vegetables. The food at the Melting Pot is good, but what really draws you in is the more upscale ambiance and the slow dining experience. In a world of fast food, the Melting Pot is a pause. You take your time and dip food one bite at a time. All in all, a great experience!
(4)
Autumn O.
I can not even begin to describe how good The Melting Pot was. Our waiter was wonderful and explained everything to us. He answered all of our questions. The food was beyond great. It was so fresh. Definitely make it a stop if you're in Gatlinburg. I would eat at a Melting Pot every night if I could!
(5)
Daniel S.
I can honestly say this was the best dinning experience I have ever had in my life! I have been around the world, and I have never had a better caesar salad, The waiter we had named Nathan (find a way to get him) was very professional and very knowledgeable about all the different selections. Nathan was incredible the food was amazing and the night was so romantic especially since it was on our last honeymoon night. Definitely recommend this place to anyone ready for an overall great dinning experience.
(5)
Katie D.
My boyfriend and I came here for our three year anniversary, and overall we were very impressed. The food was absolutely spectacular. Our experience however was quiet odd. We sat in what is called "lovers lane" which consisted of a row of small booths built into the wall. We loved these booths except for the fact that we were at the end of the row close to the kitchen. Every time a sever turned the corner (which is very frequent during a two hour dinner) they would yell "corner." We could also hear the servers conversing during our dinner. We even heard our own sever comment on how we had all the time in the world to eat and we needed to hurry up. We payed over one hundred dollars, we were definitely going to take our sweet time! Also, the guy who busted our table literally had butter fingers. Every dish he grabbed he dropped, and I wish I was exaggerating. My boyfriend and I are the least picky people in the world, so none of this really bothered us. It actually added a lot of humor to our night. It will definitely be an experience we won't forget. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion. The food is worth every penny.
(4)
Jeff R.
This was our first time eating at a Melting pot. We just had dessert but plan on going again to get the full experience. This restaurant does seem a bit out of place in Gatlinburg but it was a nice change from the touristy type establishments that cover the rest of the city. We were seated quickly being served the dessert within a matter of minutes. We got a very s'more like fondue and it was more than tasty. They gave us an assortment of dessert type foods to dip to include, bananas, strawberries, two different cakes, brownies, marshmallows, and a few others. All of it was great. The only thing that I didn't like was the dessert drink that I got. It was a coffee with a few different types of liquor in it. It tasted mediocre but was far overpriced for how it tasted.
(4)
Jo L.
Loved dining here on our trip to Gatlinburg ....got parking for free...which in Gatlinburg is a big whoop whoop! But as for the dining...we loved everything about our night out here! We did the 4 course for two...and we just about needed help out of there! I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Jennifer R.
This place is fabulous! The staff is friendly and helpful. And the food, its wonderful. My husband and I had a blast.
(5)
Todd B.
Went for dinner with my wife while we were on vacation for a long weekend. The service was great and the food was even better. We both left very full and very satisfied. our server was very attentive and helpful. I would recommend this place if you're looking for something different.
(5)
DD K.
This was one of the best Melting Pot experiences I have even enjoyed! Be sure the sit by the window in the bar to people watch while you dine. The wait staff was attentive without being over bearing. All in all it was a 5 star experience!
(5)
Tim H.
Great food, but we were charged extra for having a large party to the tune of 16 dollars. The reason given was we required extra cheese, but we received only three pots to 10 people. They eventually corrected the mistake after a long and painful explanation process. Doesn't seem like they quite had it all together.
(3)
Cara R.
Great choice for my wedding anniversary dinner. When I called to reserve my table they asked if I was celebrating something. I told them it was my wedding anniversary. They wish us happy Anniversary the minute we walked in the front door. They led us to the back where they have nice little alcoves for two. (very romantic) When we got to the table there was a happy Anniversary card signed by all the staff on the table I thought that was sweet (this was just one of the small thoughtful details). The food was wonderful fresh and seasoned great thanks to are waiter! Are waiter/cook was the best. he took time to explain the menu and the different choices we had. He also wished us happy Anniversary as soon as he came to the table to get are drink order. He was friendly, prompt, and he went the extra step to make are night special. I could not have had a better time. Its not something I would do everyday but for a special occasion, celebration of birthday anniversary, or just a special date night for a romantically inclined couple you could not ask for a better place. I will go back.
(5)
Laura D.
My husband and I ate at the Meting Pot in Gatlinburg 2 years ago when we got married. We went back to Gatlinburg last week with our daughter to celebrate our 2 year anniversary . The hostesses were terrific to us. However, our waitress was not. She was not friendly to us. She seemed completely disengaged and unfriendly. We felt like we were a bother to her. The service was terrible. She didn't explain anything on the menu to us. Other times we have been to Melting Pot, we have been able to get extra dessert dipping items of everything but the cheesecake, but this waitress told us we were only allowed to get 2 items one time. This was news to us. For the price we paid, we expected the service we always have received. This was not the case this time. We wanted this experience to be special, especially because we were sharing it with our daughter. We will definitely not be going back there. It is sad, because it was such a good memory for my husband and I, and a place we wanted to go to for our anniversaries. This experience was bad enough, however, and for us, we will not be going back.
(2)
Steph M.
This was our first time to finally experience the melting pot. First we were seated in the bar area when there better seats available! I guess those sections are extra? The cheese dip was good. Then it all went downhill...We were given the raw seafood and left sitting there asking one another what to do?! The waiter spoke so quickly about what sauces went with which food that we had no clue! Our food was over cooked due to the fact we didnt know what the heck we were doing! We eventually were taking it out on eachother and blaming one another for the horrible tasting food. As we watched other waiters spend a little time with people showing them how to enjoy their first experience there. When the Manager made his rounds and asked how everything was ...I didnt hold back and told him we were very confused about the whole ordeal. He said "glad you enjoyed it!" and walked away! WOW really!? Looking at the bill of almost a hundred bucks for two....no thanks! It probably could have been a great experience but unfortunately it wasn't.
(1)
Jessica B.
My husband and I love visiting the Melting Pot when we're near one, and we were in luck that this location opened while we were in Gatlinburg. We dined in on opening night, which would have been a disaster if we weren't already familiar with the menu and how to do fondue. After the first waiter apologized and left ("It turns out this isn't my section tonight"), Petr from Russia took care of us. Aside from some awkward questions, advice and interpretations of the food, everything was wonderful! Plan to spend about 2 hours here and to be completely stuffed if you go for the Big Night Out (cheese fondue, salad, entree, and chocolate fondue). I recommend going for a special occasion - Petr (and just about everyone else) wished us a "Happy Anniversary!" Petr even had it written out in chocolate on a small plate with sliced strawberries and pound cake!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Alabama A.
The Melting Pot is an upscale restaurant; not the place for a quick meal, to take a large group (i.e.: 7+), and definitely not small children. There is an electric heating area in the middle of the table which can get very hot, so beware. Novices to the Melting Pot will probably find the dining experience much different than they are accustomed. In most restaurants the diner orders the food and it's served prepared. Here the diners are expected to cook their portions themselves. Each diner is supplied with a set of fondue forks to spear the portions of food to place in the communal fondue pot. The individual diner may select their own preference (meat, chicken, shrimp, etc.) but the table must agree on the type of fondue broth or sauce to be used. Vegetables are also placed in the pot to be cooked along with the entree meats. Having a timer, like on most cell phones, can be handy. Once the fondue broth gets hot it takes about 2.5 to 5 minutes to cook the portions of meat, depending on they type of meat and how well done the diner wants it cooked. Once you catch on to the process it is a fun dinner. The salads we were served were very good and fresh, as were the entrees. Our waitress was attentive in supplying fresh glasses of tea and keeping the sauces in good supply on our table. Thought the entree portions may not appear too large, they proved quite filling. An entree, salad, and iced tea will probably run about $30-$35/person; if appetizer and dessert fondue is included, expect significantly more. Also, complementary parking (three hours max.) at a nearby lot is available. The Melting Pot is not for everyone, but if you and your group are a little adventurous you may find it a memorable experience.
(4)Charlie A.
GREAT EXPERIENCE, Michael our server was hilarious and extremely knowledgeable about the food. It was the first time there for my boyfriend and I. Michael helped us pick out some great combinations. Just know that you are going for the experience! We spent 3 hours in there and did the 4 courses. If you are trying to get a quick dinner dont bother. This place is to sit with you your significant other, have a good conversation, have some drinks and enjoy each others company. We had a very romantic evening. I would highly recommend it. We had a booth, it felt like we were the only two people there even though our server was very busy with other tables. Our server also talked about a promotion for joining the fondue club which got me a box of chocolate covered strawberries which were delicious! Great server, Delicious food, beautifully furnished very modern, Romantic and fun 5 star experience. Go go go! Why are you even still reading this when the glory of the melting pot awaits you
(5)Megan B.
First time ever to a melting pot. We had reservations but were not needed. I really like the intimate setting, the lighting is good and it's not loud, you have private booths so you're in your own little world. The waitress was very friendly and made a lot of good recommendations and a lot of friendly chatting. It was a really fun experience, the cheese fondue (appetizer) and chocolate s'more (dessert) were really good! The entree of cooking your own shrimp, chicken and beef was good, but eh...you're paying to cook your own food. Give yourself plenty of time, I think it took us just shy of 3 hours from start to finish. Kids might get ancy. Would be a great place for a special occasion!
(4)Melissa E.
I'm no fan of chain restaurants, but this was our favorite restaurant out of all the places we tried during our stay in Gatlinburg. My four-year-old son really, really liked cooking his own food, and he was very well-behaved because he always had something to do. I love how the tables were so private, and groups were not seated near other groups. We each ordered one of the combo deals where you get, shrimp, steak, and chicken. I was surprised at how well-seasoned everything was, and how tasty. The service was spectacular--our server kept checking in to make sure we understood everything. The food was excellent, and the experience itself was unique and fun. My husband already wants to try the Melting Pot near our home in Illinois. We were really impressed.
(4)Eli P.
If I could rate the melting pot below 1 star I would. We had the worse meal in years. It was all about the quality of ingredients and This time my wife and I both agreed. Ugh ! Poor mix and care of flavors and clearly lower quality ingredients for this chain was a lethal combination. It was our first trip to the melting pot and our last. How can you screw up chocolate, but it was just a low quality mix abundant sugar with little dippers they picked up and cut into nice squares earlier in the day from some day old at a discount store. All bad, even house salad dressing. I feel sorry for the help who have to dish out with a smile on their faces. Ps, service ok, food terrible. My wife and I travel so this is a review from experience .
(1)Matt P.
The Melting Pot is actually a chain of fondue restaurant. Something my wife and I did not know until our server told us half way through our meal. I am not a big fan of chains but The Melting Pot (at least this one) changed my perception. We came during their happy hour special and took our seats at the bar. For $5 each we each had our choice of a cheese fondue plus glasses of wine were also on special. I had the Wisconsin Trio and my wife had the Traditional Swiss. Both are served with a mix of breads, apples and veggies. Each cheese fondue is made right in front of you by the server. Our server was Matt, who also was the bartender. Matt was a very courteous and informative server. One of the best I have had in a long while. He really shows a passion for what he does. Each of our fondues was great. My wife and I really enjoy this type of eating as you can take your time, enjoy your dinner mate and relax with you meal. The Melting Pot, the cheese fondues and Matt were definitely five stars!
(5)Amy C.
Worst service I have ever had....we had 10 to 15 minute waits between courses. It was the most ridiculous thing I've seen in my dining experiences. Dessert was delicious though...when we finally got it!
(1)Alan L.
Melting Pot is Melting Pot wherever you go. It was nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg. Service was poor to mediocre otherwise it would be four stars. For kid it was not so good for picky eaters.
(3)Miguel L.
A reservas nao sao honradas Nao ha lugares para esperar Educacao limitada Pense bem antes de vir aqui
(2)Audrey A.
We went at happy hour and had a really neat experience for $20 plus drinks. They went out of their way to make it special, even bringing us extra dippers for free. Double round of Spinach Artichoke dip and double rounds of turtle chocolate were great, and fed a family of four.
(5)Justin F.
My wife and I picked this restaurant for our anniversary dinner and we were not disappointed! Our server, Kris, was fantastic. She knew everything there was to know about the restaurant, including correct terminology, pairing meats, etcetera. Since it was our first time at a Melting Pot, we chose cheddar, and our entrees were duck, chicken, and shrimp, all of which are fresh and delicious. And of course the dessert is amazing too! S'mores was an excellent choice! Just make sure you plan on being there for an hour and a half, possibly two hours if you're coming for a full meal. And make reservations!
(5)Rick R.
BEST EVER! We showed up, without reservations, and these guys worked us in quickly. Our server, Megan, was super-friendly and after I explained that we'd never been to a Melting Pot before, she walked us through the entire process. The food was excellent and the service was even better. A thoroughly charming experience that we'll be doing again.
(5)R G.
Expensive and waitress did not understand the menu. It took 45 minutes to get our food and we had to then cook it! Nice restaurant but food was ehh.....not worth the price.
(2)Jay N.
Well first let me say my wife and I have never been to the melting pot before. Our waitress talked out of her nose and sounded like a robot. As in everything she said she also said to the table beside us. Ask us same questions with no real conversation feel. More like a script. Our first cheese was bacon and jalapeño. Well we ate one bowl of bread and requested our salad. This was awful. Way to much alcohol used as a soup. HOWEVER best house salad I've ever had. Main course comes out. Not bad food at all however just not for us. We ate 3 bites of meat. Informed waitress this isn't our style can we just pass on current food and chocolate that was our next step. She stated yea it's not for everyone. Well she brings me a 100$ bill with a 10$ off bc we didn't eat chocolate. Now I'm pretty upset at this point. The manager has yet to come talk to me. Once I REQUEST him and tell him same story he simply says sorry it's not for everyone. ....... so since that was it I had to explain I didn't like having to pay 100$ in food that I didn't eat or enjoy. I had to TELL the manager that i will pay for drinks and salad and thats all. Won't be coming back to this one or any other for a second chance. Trust me choose a steak dinner over this.
(1)Beth R.
We try to get here around our anniversary as it was my husband's choice for dinner the day we were married and since we always spend our anniversary/his birthday in Gatlinburg, we wanted to make sure we went here this year! They have changed their menu a bit, but we still split an "individual" entree and I didn't feel a difference in the amount of food - we were totally satisfied. We tried their fiery or fiesta cheese and it was very good - especially with the apples. I think our server was new but she was very sweet. My only complaint would be that I did have to ask for the photo we'd arranged for when we made the reservation, but mistakes happen. They all signed birthday and anniversary cards for us and the roses were beautiful. The cozy little booth is always fun and I have *got* to be gorgeous in that extremely low lighting! lol
(5)Carlos R.
Our meal was perfect! We had reservations but we were taken early... To a secluded table because we are on our honeymoon! Adam was sweet and adorable. Food was amazingly delicious! We will definitely return!
(5)Luis Q.
The appetizer wasn't bad, the cheese fondue. And the dessert was pretty good. But the main dish was not good at all. The prices are really high to, which doesn't make sense to me because we are cooking our own food. Shouldn't it cost less? Or at least regular prices? I don't know, my wife and I were not into it.
(2)Jordan V.
This was our last dinner here in Gatlinburg and we had a great experience!! We split the four course experience and added an extra salad. We have one of these at home but have not got around to trying it but now that we have tried it on vacation, we will be back! ***garlic & wine seasoning is a must!!!***
(5)Debbie W.
We have a sassy waitress name Gabrielle, she's great up until she told us they took the cheesecake off the dessert plate! We love her and we just met her! Having individual portions are a great improvement. My Love martini was awesome with the heart shaped strawberries!
(5)Chelsea K.
This is one of those times where I really wish Yelp did half stars. I'm pretty torn about leaving a 3 instead of a 4-star review, but we had a very terrible waiter experience that tempered my feelings about the dinner. We had two waiters for our party; one was great and the other was not. However, we called management the next day and the issue was taken care of swiftly and appropriately, so I am not going to go into details about what happened, as I'm pretty confident it won't happen to anyone else who visits the restaurant. My (new!) husband and I had our wedding dinner here after getting married along Little Pigeon River, since it seems to be the fanciest restaurant in Gatlinburg. We had a party of 17 adults, one child, and one baby. Pros: With our large party, we got our own party room at no extra cost. Larger parties get a deal on dinner prices - $29 for the cheese fondue, salads, and the entrees and $5 more for chocolate fondue. Considering the normal prices, it was a great deal. Amount of food we received was definitely enough for a filling dinner. Were accommodating to our vegetarian and gluten-free guests. They had gluten-free bread and vegetarian guests received large plates of vegetables and tofu. Our cheese and chocolate fondues were excellent, and we got the coq au vin entree dip, which went very well with the steak. The teriyaki sirloin was SO GOOD. Bride and groom eat free! Cons: Some things were a little disorganized, especially at the beginning when we needed to be seated and getting drink orders. But it smoothed out over time. Was primarily due to inexperience - it would have been better to not have inexperienced people on a large party. Chicken and ravioli did not go as great with the coq au vin. We got the option of 2 cheese fondues, but only one entree fondue. Maybe an option of 2 entree fondues would work better for the different entree options. Apart from vegetarians, everyone got the same entrees. If you have a large party there is no option for different entrees.
(3)Sara S.
Great experience! They have a really good happy hour special ($5 cheese and $5 chocolate from 4-7 during the week). The service is great, and the food is amazing! We always stop at the Melting Pot when we are in Gatlinburg, so I am looking forward to our next visit!
(5)Nick S.
My wife and I love visiting the melting pot. This one is no different than others we have visited. Very clean restaurant and very nice staff. They also have a special at this location Monday thru Thursday cheese, salad, chocolate for $5 each course per person. This is an unbeatable deal. The also had awesome beer specials for this happy hour from 4-7pm. Draft domestic was $2 and draft specialty was only $3. Our family had a great time. You will receive the special as long as you are there from 4-7. If you go, Nick was an excellent server if he is available. Great job!
(5)Amy R.
Wow. These people don't need, want or care about your money. Or you. We arrived within 45 minutes of closing and they could not "fit us in." Mind you, there wasn't another soul in the entryway but oh, yes they were slammed. The aloof hostess informed me that they staff according to reservations, so... And I was like, so... you don't want our business? We drove a half hour here based on your online information which states a closing time of 10:00. Vacant stare. Another employee came out, whereupon there was much head shaking and glaring in our general direction. Finally, we left without a word of apology or anything else from Melting Pot staff. We walked down the street to Bubba Gump, where we were greeted with a smile. Our seven year old said, "Daddy! They're happy to see us here!" Enough said!
(1)ted j.
Extremely poor service, arrived late, hostess was obviously not happy we were there. Food was OK, have been to other melting pots and this one was just bad. Would not recommend due to service.
(1)Mary S.
I love The Melting Pot-- wherever, whenever! The food, in my experience, is about the same wherever I go but the service makes the biggest difference. On this occassion it was extra special. Our server, Gage, was professional and full of personality. We immensely enjoyed our meal and the sporadic conversations with Gage. He did a great job making us feel extra special on our special night. Pricing has increased since my last visit but it's still worth it for a special occassion. And the dessert course dark chocolate with sea salt, which Gage happened to recommend, is OMG unbelievably good!!!
(5)Hillbilly P.
My Wife and I went here for our 24th anniversary. I have been to two other Melting Pot locations here in Tennessee and this one is by far the best. Parking is FREE and great for being in Gatlinburg. You can park right next door at the City Parking Garage and pay them, then give the receipt to your server and the Melting Pot will take the parking fee off of your meal. The restaurant is located on the top floor of the building so you can take the stairs or the Elevator. When we arrived, we were made to feel right at home by the hostess. We were seated within minutes in the "Private Dining Area" which was nice. The decor inside is very nice and warm. Our Server was one of the best I have had at any restaurant She was polite, attentive and was eager to make sure that we enjoyed our visit here. She explained everything step by step as she went so there was absolutely no confusion. She was able to answer every question we had and made some good suggestions for our choices for the meal. We ordered the "Big Night Out" for the full fondue experience. The food was delicious, meats were very tender and the fruits, veggies and breads were very fresh. The presentation of all of the courses was very nice, I wish I had taken a camera, our chocolate fondue was "Flambe" . I gave this one five stars for a reason, I have NO complaints, worth every penny. I live in Knoxville but if I want fondue, I'm going to Gatlinburg...
(5)Meriana G.
Me and husband decided on coming here for their skinny dipping menu-- something light after eating tons of BBQ earlier. I had called about 20 minutes before coming, hoping to find out the hours, if hey were open, etc. The man who picked up was very friendly, said he'll try to squeeze us in and possibly wait only 10-15 minutes. Great. So we get there, got our parking and told the hostess that we had calls in. After we arrived a large group of about 10 people came in. No problem, they had a table them. Another couple comes in, no problem. And then this is where is goes downhill. Not to get all racial in here, but this seriously bothered me. While I was waiting this African American couple walks in with hopes for a nice date night dinner. They walk up to the hostess and she gives them this total BS answer how they don't have servers for them, if they wanted to eat there it'd be at least a 35 minute wait, or they could sit at the bar IF the bartender isn't too busy or able to serve them. So naturally they decided to head out. Then LITERALLY a "white" couple comes in and the hostess tells them 10-15 minute wait. That drove me up the wall. It was SO wrong and obvious of what she did. So she sat us down after our wait and it took 10 mins for our server to come by. He took another 10 mins to get our water and he forgot about my husband's drink from the bar, which came AFTER we finished our salad. We had to remind him about it. Anyways, enough with the novel. Food was good, very VERY poor service, our glasses were always empty, and the server was very uninterested in helping us. We'll go back to the Melting Pot, just not this one.
(2)Adina S.
My boyfriend and I went here when we visited Gatlinburg for vacation, and it was a great meal. We were seated right away, and the servers were attentive. We ordered cheese fondue, two salads, and split one entree between the two of us. We spent about half of what we would have on the Big Night Out, and we both left full. The cheddar cheese fondue was delicious. The chicken breast with vegetable broth was good, but the flavors seemed a little flat. We both ordered the Cesar salad, which neither of us cared for. Too much cheese and dressing -- not much in the way of vegetables. The food at the Melting Pot is good, but what really draws you in is the more upscale ambiance and the slow dining experience. In a world of fast food, the Melting Pot is a pause. You take your time and dip food one bite at a time. All in all, a great experience!
(4)Autumn O.
I can not even begin to describe how good The Melting Pot was. Our waiter was wonderful and explained everything to us. He answered all of our questions. The food was beyond great. It was so fresh. Definitely make it a stop if you're in Gatlinburg. I would eat at a Melting Pot every night if I could!
(5)Daniel S.
I can honestly say this was the best dinning experience I have ever had in my life! I have been around the world, and I have never had a better caesar salad, The waiter we had named Nathan (find a way to get him) was very professional and very knowledgeable about all the different selections. Nathan was incredible the food was amazing and the night was so romantic especially since it was on our last honeymoon night. Definitely recommend this place to anyone ready for an overall great dinning experience.
(5)Katie D.
My boyfriend and I came here for our three year anniversary, and overall we were very impressed. The food was absolutely spectacular. Our experience however was quiet odd. We sat in what is called "lovers lane" which consisted of a row of small booths built into the wall. We loved these booths except for the fact that we were at the end of the row close to the kitchen. Every time a sever turned the corner (which is very frequent during a two hour dinner) they would yell "corner." We could also hear the servers conversing during our dinner. We even heard our own sever comment on how we had all the time in the world to eat and we needed to hurry up. We payed over one hundred dollars, we were definitely going to take our sweet time! Also, the guy who busted our table literally had butter fingers. Every dish he grabbed he dropped, and I wish I was exaggerating. My boyfriend and I are the least picky people in the world, so none of this really bothered us. It actually added a lot of humor to our night. It will definitely be an experience we won't forget. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion. The food is worth every penny.
(4)Jeff R.
This was our first time eating at a Melting pot. We just had dessert but plan on going again to get the full experience. This restaurant does seem a bit out of place in Gatlinburg but it was a nice change from the touristy type establishments that cover the rest of the city. We were seated quickly being served the dessert within a matter of minutes. We got a very s'more like fondue and it was more than tasty. They gave us an assortment of dessert type foods to dip to include, bananas, strawberries, two different cakes, brownies, marshmallows, and a few others. All of it was great. The only thing that I didn't like was the dessert drink that I got. It was a coffee with a few different types of liquor in it. It tasted mediocre but was far overpriced for how it tasted.
(4)Jo L.
Loved dining here on our trip to Gatlinburg ....got parking for free...which in Gatlinburg is a big whoop whoop! But as for the dining...we loved everything about our night out here! We did the 4 course for two...and we just about needed help out of there! I highly recommend this place!
(5)Jennifer R.
This place is fabulous! The staff is friendly and helpful. And the food, its wonderful. My husband and I had a blast.
(5)Todd B.
Went for dinner with my wife while we were on vacation for a long weekend. The service was great and the food was even better. We both left very full and very satisfied. our server was very attentive and helpful. I would recommend this place if you're looking for something different.
(5)DD K.
This was one of the best Melting Pot experiences I have even enjoyed! Be sure the sit by the window in the bar to people watch while you dine. The wait staff was attentive without being over bearing. All in all it was a 5 star experience!
(5)Tim H.
Great food, but we were charged extra for having a large party to the tune of 16 dollars. The reason given was we required extra cheese, but we received only three pots to 10 people. They eventually corrected the mistake after a long and painful explanation process. Doesn't seem like they quite had it all together.
(3)Cara R.
Great choice for my wedding anniversary dinner. When I called to reserve my table they asked if I was celebrating something. I told them it was my wedding anniversary. They wish us happy Anniversary the minute we walked in the front door. They led us to the back where they have nice little alcoves for two. (very romantic) When we got to the table there was a happy Anniversary card signed by all the staff on the table I thought that was sweet (this was just one of the small thoughtful details). The food was wonderful fresh and seasoned great thanks to are waiter! Are waiter/cook was the best. he took time to explain the menu and the different choices we had. He also wished us happy Anniversary as soon as he came to the table to get are drink order. He was friendly, prompt, and he went the extra step to make are night special. I could not have had a better time. Its not something I would do everyday but for a special occasion, celebration of birthday anniversary, or just a special date night for a romantically inclined couple you could not ask for a better place. I will go back.
(5)Laura D.
My husband and I ate at the Meting Pot in Gatlinburg 2 years ago when we got married. We went back to Gatlinburg last week with our daughter to celebrate our 2 year anniversary . The hostesses were terrific to us. However, our waitress was not. She was not friendly to us. She seemed completely disengaged and unfriendly. We felt like we were a bother to her. The service was terrible. She didn't explain anything on the menu to us. Other times we have been to Melting Pot, we have been able to get extra dessert dipping items of everything but the cheesecake, but this waitress told us we were only allowed to get 2 items one time. This was news to us. For the price we paid, we expected the service we always have received. This was not the case this time. We wanted this experience to be special, especially because we were sharing it with our daughter. We will definitely not be going back there. It is sad, because it was such a good memory for my husband and I, and a place we wanted to go to for our anniversaries. This experience was bad enough, however, and for us, we will not be going back.
(2)Steph M.
This was our first time to finally experience the melting pot. First we were seated in the bar area when there better seats available! I guess those sections are extra? The cheese dip was good. Then it all went downhill...We were given the raw seafood and left sitting there asking one another what to do?! The waiter spoke so quickly about what sauces went with which food that we had no clue! Our food was over cooked due to the fact we didnt know what the heck we were doing! We eventually were taking it out on eachother and blaming one another for the horrible tasting food. As we watched other waiters spend a little time with people showing them how to enjoy their first experience there. When the Manager made his rounds and asked how everything was ...I didnt hold back and told him we were very confused about the whole ordeal. He said "glad you enjoyed it!" and walked away! WOW really!? Looking at the bill of almost a hundred bucks for two....no thanks! It probably could have been a great experience but unfortunately it wasn't.
(1)Jessica B.
My husband and I love visiting the Melting Pot when we're near one, and we were in luck that this location opened while we were in Gatlinburg. We dined in on opening night, which would have been a disaster if we weren't already familiar with the menu and how to do fondue. After the first waiter apologized and left ("It turns out this isn't my section tonight"), Petr from Russia took care of us. Aside from some awkward questions, advice and interpretations of the food, everything was wonderful! Plan to spend about 2 hours here and to be completely stuffed if you go for the Big Night Out (cheese fondue, salad, entree, and chocolate fondue). I recommend going for a special occasion - Petr (and just about everyone else) wished us a "Happy Anniversary!" Petr even had it written out in chocolate on a small plate with sliced strawberries and pound cake!
(4)