Melting Pot — Restaurant in Houston

My wife and I went to the Houston Melting Pot for the first time over the weekend for her birthday. While we had never been to the Houston location, we had been to The Melting Pot in Birmingham, Alabama a few times before it closed and before we moved to Texas, and I can't help but be somewhat disappointed by the Houston Melting Pot when compared to my experiences at the Birmingham restaurant.

My wife and I have a very middle-class budget, so going to The Melting Pot is a big splurge for us that we can only afford and justify every few years. Furthermore, we drove from Beaumont to dine at the Houston Melting Pot (so about an hour and a half drive). Please do not misunderstand me complaining about either cost of the meal or the distance of the drive; we obviously were aware of each element and chose freely to dine here. That said, I feel that when you run an upper-class restaurant, you should be very attentive to the finer details of your product and service. Again, I'm sure my Birmingham experiences are influencing how I processed the experience at the Houston Melting Pot, but despite the higher expense, the experience in Birmingham exceeded my expectations and desires each time my wife and I dined there. I cannot remember having a single complaint, even of the most minute nature.

This was not the case for our experience at the Houston location. Overall, it was a good experience, and the taste of the food especially was fantastic. But again, when you're spending about $200 on a dining experience, you shouldn't feel rushed or at all hurried during your dining experience--an experience that the restaurant openly advertises as being a slower-paced one. Furthermore, the tables are not really large enough to comfortably facilitate the dinnerware and such needed for two courses at once, so, as a former server, I know I would completely clear the plates and such from one course before bringing the next course in an environment such as The Melting Pot. You also shouldn't have poorly-cut pieces of meat, even if it is only one or two of them, nor should have a dessert cocktail come to the table with the coffee overflowing the glass and soiling the napkin on which it came and making a mess on your table. And you definitely shouldn't have to sign your gratuity check with your server standing over the table. My last complaint is small, relative even to the mostly minor former complaints, but the lighting was far brighter than I was wanting; I would think that a lower-lit environment would far better foster the romantic and/or intimate atmosphere you would expect from a restaurant like The Melting Pot.

As I said, the experience was overall a good one, but given the cumulative effect of these various aggravations, added to the distance we live from Houston and cost of the The Melting Pot, I don't know that my wife and I will return to The Melting...

My daughter had gotten the highest marks in her class, so my dad asked me to take her somewhere nice on him. My kid loves fondue, so I figured what better place than here. We got there for lunch on a Sunday and they were not busy. On the reservation I checked the box that it was for a special occasion but the waiter didn't bother asking nor did they do anything special. I mean, that's fine and all. But why is there that box on their reservations app then? Good grief.

We decided to do a 4 course. It felt kinda rushed to be honest with you. The salad came out before we were halfway done with the cheese fondue. And then entree before we were done with the salad. I'm a fast eater but this was ridiculous.

Also I noticed the portions weren't always the same for me and my kid. Like I get it for the entree it's supposed to be like that but for example, she got a chocolate marshmallow looking thing for desert on the turtle fondue but I didn't. And there was only one. So what to do? Additional dippers are free for the chocolate fondue. But after I paid the waiter he never returned with the additional dippers we asked for (we just asked for only a couple of items, not like a whole another round). I had given him a 15% tip although 20% is the lowest tip on the machine they hand you to pay at your table (they hover over your shoulder while you figure the tip). So maybe he wasn't happy with 15%. Or maybe he just didn't care after getting the money.

Some tips:

The food looks paltry but I think if you eat slowly like the experience is supposed to be (not ours) then it actually fills you up.

Kids portions are available for the entree. And it's just smaller. But the cheese and chocolate they share the same pot as the adult.

If there's just 1 adult and 1 child then you could pay half price for a 4 course meal and add on the kids option. They're flexible like that.

The cheese pot looks deep but it's actually not that deep (see video). We had a lot of bread leftover without anymore cheese to dip it in.

Land and sea was pretty good. The seasoning still hangs on despite it being dunked. There's 6 dipping sauces too. They also give you some veggies (potatoes, mushrooms and broccoli).

Best to put all those veggies in the entree broth. Just let it soak up the broth.

Overall I somewhat disappointing meal given the customer service. Good customer service can make a meal great or mediocre. Or downright bad. For us, it made what might have otherwise been a 5 star meal...

We recently visited The Melting Pot in downtown Houston, near Westheimer, for a special occasion with our children, and it was a memorable experience. A friend recommended it as a great spot for a unique family outing, and I was especially impressed by the beautiful setup they provided. We opted for the rose petal decoration, which added a lovely touch to the table. Just a heads-up, this comes with an extra charge, but it’s perfect for celebrating engagements, birthdays, or anniversaries.

The service was excellent, especially since it was our first time visiting. The staff took the time to explain how the whole dining experience worked, which was very helpful, particularly with small children. What we enjoyed the most were the drinks—especially the mocktails. The strawberry lemonade was a hit, and we ended up having several, but be aware that refills aren’t included, and each drink costs $5.

As for the food, the experience felt a bit like a campfire, minus the flames. While the interactive concept is fun, especially for a different type of dining experience, it does require you to cook everything yourself. Personally, when I go out to a restaurant, I prefer not to cook—that’s why I’m going out in the first place! So, if this is your first time visiting, just keep in mind that you’ll be the one cooking your meat, seafood, and veggies at the table, making sure everything is done to your liking. It’s important to ensure that your food, particularly the meat, is fully cooked to avoid any issues.

The atmosphere and ambiance were wonderful, making it feel like an indoor camping experience with a more elegant touch. We dressed up, enjoyed great conversation, and had a nice evening out of the house. However, because we have small children, we found that cooking the meal ourselves wasn’t ideal for us.

If you’re someone who enjoys an interactive dining experience and doesn’t mind cooking your meal as part of the fun, this is a great spot to try. For us, while we appreciated the unique concept, it’s not something we would do regularly. Overall, it’s a great place for a special night out with a different twist, and we’re glad we tried it!

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