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    Melting Pot

    4.1 (1.4k reviews)
    PriceyFondue
    Closed 4:00 pm - 8:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Melting Pot Photos

    MELTING POT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Romantic
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Melting Pot

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    Reviews With Photos

    Fusion Meat Course with Dipping Sauces
    Ben B.

    On our last night's visit to San Diego we had the good fortune to dine at The Melting Pot. The food and service were outstanding. The restaurant in an old bank building is lovely. Great for a romantic dinner. We ordered the four-course dinner for two. Our favorite parts of the meal were the cheese and chocolate fondues. Both were so yummy! The salads and meat courses were also great - but frankly, we would have been just as satisfied with just the cheese and chocolate fondue courses. This is a wonderful restaurant that is both fun and delicious. We will be returning the next time we visit San Diego.

    Dominique M.

    If you get anything, get the Flaming Turtle fondue for dessert! Special thanks to Vanessa, our waitress, for making my birthday that much more special

    Cookie Butter Crunch fondue with the included dippers!
    Robin W.

    I use any special occasion as an excuse to come here. It's such a unique dining experience and so tasty. I usually just get cheese and chocolate fondue but if you're really hungry or it's your first time, the 4-course option is the way to go. You'll get cheese fondue, salad, a selection of meat/fish/veggies with your cooking broth and your choice of chocolate to finish it off. You really can't go wrong with the flavors you choose for any of the courses. The chocolate is always my favorite though and the dessert dippers are insanely delicious. As for the vibes, it's in an old historical building so it has a subtle touch of antiquity to it. Service is very friendly and the waiters are thorough with explaining the menu if it's your first time. For parking, our server Dakota told us that the hotel next door does a deal with them for $15 valet parking as long as you're eating at the restaurant, so definitely do that instead of parking in the connecting Ace lot and you'll save yourself $23. This is a great spot for a fancy date, a celebration, or if you're just in the mood for something different!

    I went for my first time with my fiancé and my son while we were visiting in San Diego. Everything about the process of the meal to the service was amazing. I highly recommend trying this at least once. I will definitely be back. The ambiance was perfect.

    Girl dinner partially pictured (spinach artichoke cheese fondue and charcuterie board)
    Camille H.

    Really good cheese fondue (we had Spinach artichoke) and chocolate fondue (we just asked for straight dark chocolate). We got the "girl dinner" deal and it was a great price for a lot of food. We each got a salad, a charcuterie board to share, and the cheese and chocolate fondue pots with lots of items to dip to share. Our waiter was nice and checked in just the right amount. We were celebrating a birthday and they brought us over a cake with a candle and cute writing on it. The restaurant was pretty empty on a weekday evening. It's very elegant in there. It would be a great date or special occasion spot.

    Taufiq H.

    We had such a good time. Place looks really nice dark interior in a building constructed in 1913 in great shape. We started with the Alpine cheese, fondue, followed by salad, and then the dark chocolate. Amazing taste, loved the cheese. Charles was our waiter and you did an amazing job. We're gonna go there every other month for our date night!

    Outside view
    Gavin C.

    A check in from one year since my last review. It is still really good. I have to say that the staff is excellent here. This is now my daughter's go-to birthday meal and they handle the occasion perfectly. I tend to be somewhat averse to similar dining experiences like KBBQ. But Melting Pot (especially this one) makes it feel like a perfect family meal. Food is delicious, everything is paced perfectly and the service is attentive and also not intrusive. The seating is also comfortable and the venue noise level is perfectly conducive to conversation. Big shoutout for another special meal.

    Anita M.

    This place was alright! I had higher expectations. Pros: they do validate parking at a garage nearby but it is not free. Was quickly greeted and sat. I liked the taste of the flaming turtle fondue. I liked the Cesar salad. I thought the service was okay. Some rooms for improvement as overall I felt it went slowly and was in the restaurant for over 2 hours. Had to remind the server three times for my drink. She apologized, She seemed knowledgeable about the menu. I did not like the alpine fondue. It had a bitter taste and was strong on the wine. Would have added some salt. I would not eat this again. I wish the bread was toasted but it was fine. Ordered the citrus broth which was flavorful. I did not like the raw veggies with the entree and they took a while to get soft. I was personally bothered by the raw meats touching eachother on the dish eg the raw chicken on top of the ravioli and the raw shrimp. The cooking times are different and did not think this was a good plating method. The vibe was nice and a good spot for date night. Overall would not come again but I just wanted to try it one time.

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    5 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Excellent service by our waiter Rigo. The whole staff was wonderful. The meal was delicious. Highly recommended.

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    3 months ago

    Shaunna was great she gave me the history of the building and was attentive. Food was great as always.

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    4 months ago

    WARNING - this restaurant adds a mandatory 8% supplemental fee on top of their menu prices and tax and tip. Will NOT be coming back.

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    Page 1 of 34

    Melting Pot Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Melting Pot

    Is there patio dining and can we bring a small dog?

    Is it wheel chair accessible?

    Hi Judy! Thank you for reaching out to us. We are absolutely wheel chair accessible. We hope to see… 

    Can I order to go or is it only dine in?

    Has Happy Hour changed due to COVID? or are the days/times still the same?

    Does this Melting Pot still offer a Groupon? On the website it says not available for this location.

    Any chance of a allergen menu that points out soy related item?

    Do they have a kids menu or kids prices?

    Hi Lindsay, Melting Pot does have a kid's menu which is priced at $15.95.… 

    Can a couple just order the cheese fondue, or will they make you order an entree and try to add up your bill to 100$+?

    You can just order the cheese fondue! No need to get the full entree.

    How much is valet parking?

    Hi Ann, Melting Pot valet is located on 5th and E st outside the Gaslamp Plaza Suites Hotel and… 

    Did this location get vegan cheese yet?

    I was there a week or so ago and I didn't ask them but it wasn't on the menu. I would love if they had it though.

    What time is Happy Hour and what are the deals?

    Hi Ramona, Below is a link to The Melting Pot Gaslamp's Happy Hour details:… 

    Parking Nearby that isnt valet? Reading through the reviews people are paying $50 for parking. Is that really the going rate?

    I usually find street (meter) parking. Walk a few blocks but it's worth it.

    Do you have to pay per person when ordering fondue for a group? the web menu is very confusing

    Hi Sofia, Please email me directly at deirdre@gaslampfondue.com so I may provide clarity on our menu pricing, as I know it can be a bit confusing.… 

    Would this location be able to host a party of ten?

    Yes! They hosted an even larger party from my prom this year. You might even get a little room sectioned off to the side that makes it even more intimate

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    The Smoking Goat - Rocky Jr Chicken

    The Smoking Goat

    4.1(1.9k reviews)
    2.5 miNorth Park
    $$$

    Came out for San Diego Restaurant Week and had such a wonderful time trying out the menu. Making a…read morereservation was easy enough through the OpenTable app, and the restaurant itself was cozy and inviting. The escargot and pâté were delicious, but the tartare was definitely something to write home about. I loved the balance of bright flavors with the tender filet mignon. The entrées were all great, and we finished things off with a decadent flourless chocolate cake. Overall, such a lovely meal and a great Restaurant Week experience!

    Thanks to my friend for the recommendation of this place. We did our reservations at 5pm. We got…read morein. The service was fast. Love the decor inside-out. Looks like they have limited space inside but they also have patio dining. With the weather, I would rather enjoy my delicious dinner inside the cozy ambiance. Now let's talk about food! Excellent! Everything that we ordered... exceptional! Starting from the drinks sparkling lavender lemonade, refreshing! I had baked brie... omg, yummy! Love love love. Cuz i love cheese... especially brie, perfecto! Now i also had the creamy mac and cheese... love it. My husband loved his pork chop too. Their portions are more than 1 person can consume. Will definitely come back. Oh not to mention the extra customer service. My husband left his hat, they called me to let us know that we left his hat. Kudos to y guys! Highly recommended!

    Photos
    The Smoking Goat - Interior

    Interior

    The Smoking Goat - Wild Mushroom Linguine

    Wild Mushroom Linguine

    The Smoking Goat - Duroc Pork Chop Tasso ham & red pepper Basquaise

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    Duroc Pork Chop Tasso ham & red pepper Basquaise

    Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Beer Pretzels. Soft chewy pretzels with spicy honey-sriracha mustard & jalapeño beer cheese.

    Karl Strauss Brewing Company

    4.2(1.8k reviews)
    12.8 miSorrento Valley
    $$

    Found this gem across the street from our hotel. It really is a little hidden treasure between all…read morethe stuffy looking large corporate buildings. The pond with koi fish, water fall and landscaping was gorgeous. We had hoped to sit out next to the pond while we were there, but they said they were closing that area for the day. Which was unfortunate, but okay! We ended up being seated inside at one of the booths. Our server was quick and everything was brought to us without that long of a wait. We had ordered some drinks and some food for everyone at the table to share. The food was delicious! The brussels sprouts and the churro bites were my favorite, but the rest of it was pretty good as well. In the middle of our meal, our waitress brought us all out a free shot of one of their house alcohols and even though I am not really a drinker I tried it & thought it was pretty good. My husband and step-dad wished they had brought them out before they had ordered different drinks though, otherwise that is what they would have ordered instead of what they picked out. Overall this was a great spot to find & stop at!

    "Hey Derek, we're going to Happy Hour at Karl Strauss. If you're interested, feel free to join us!"…read more "Hmm is that the same Karl Strauss that I saw in Metro Pointe at South Coast??" I thought to myself. Sure enough, it was! I was in the Sorrento Valley region of San Diego to work for a couple of days there, and on my first day, I received this invite to join the team for a Happy Hour outing at this SoCal Brewery. I had seen them before when I caught a movie at Regal Edwards Metro Pointe in Costa Mesa; Karl Strauss was nearby, and I happened to spot it while taking a leisurely walk around that shopping center. When I saw it was a brewery, I didn't think I'd ever want to go because I don't drink alcohol, but when I saw their Happy Hour specials were $12 apps on top of $6 beers, I figured I'd make the most of this opportunity to try an appetizer at a discounted price! I got there kind of late, but that's because I was idiotic enough to pass the brewery not once, but twice! Yes, twice to figure out which parking lot was for Karl Strauss. And even the lot got kind of confusing as there was a gate arm right next to the entrance, though it wasn't prohibiting cars from entering the lot. It's a pretty large lot, but it only allows for 2 hours of visitor parking. I was fortunate enough to score a parking spot that was literally closest to the entrance without it being handicapped. A couple of directional arrows initially got me in the right direction, but then a fork in the trail had me hesitating on which path to take. Luckily, a co-worker passed by and guided me to the left trail where we saw the rest of the team at a large community table on the lower level of the outdoor patio. And shortly after, I was getting Japanese Tea Garden vibes with the pond that was on the other side of the railing, though I can't confirm the presence of koi fish in there. Since it was my first time at any Karl Strauss location, I wouldn't have known that we had to scan the QR code on the table to order if not for a co-worker mentioning this; imagine if I were awkwardly sitting there waiting for a server to come take my order only for it to never happen! Since all appetizers were $12, I was intent on ordering the most expensive one to get the most savings. The Shrimp Tostadas and Ahi Poke Nachos were tied for first at $18.95, but the Ahi Poke Nachos had an option for avocado for an additional $3. Perusing their menu, I saw the Ahi Poke Nachos, but not the Shrimp Tostadas*, which confused me, but also made my choice way easier lol. I also saw the avocado would still be a $3 upcharge even during Happy Hour, so I ordered the Ahi Poke Nachos sans avocado. After submitting my order, the nachos were ready within 5 minutes, which surprised me so much that I didn't believe him when he said "Ahi Poke Nachos" the first time! I wasn't given an order number, but the QR codes on each table are uniquely identified by a table number, helping the servers identify who placed the order they are carrying. If you decide to move tables for a better view, don't place your order before doing so! Otherwise, your order will be taken to an empty table lol I definitely enjoyed the Ahi Poke Nachos, but I did think the sauce and aioli were quite salty or sour for my liking. Also, the tortilla chips weren't that strong; there was a certain amount of sauce each chip could take before cracking, and I felt that threshold was a little lower than the norm. Nevertheless, everything went well together, and I'm glad I chose this over the Asada Fries, which were 45 cents cheaper. Actually, a co-worker did order the Asada Fries and mentioned that as much as he enjoyed the fries, he actually got full from them! For me, after finishing the Ahi Poke Nachos, I had room to eat some more that were shared by a co-worker, who ordered it after seeing I had ordered the Ahi Poke Nachos and hearing my reasoning of why I ordered that. He also ordered a burger and fries, graciously sharing the fries with me in the process. I thought the fries were pretty good, but they certainly weren't extraordinarily good by any means. But with a traditional burger, these fries would hit the spot! I previously mentioned how easy it was for me to find parking upon arrival, which was about 3:40 PM. When I left a couple hours later, the parking lot was so full that someone was waiting for my spot. Overall, I had a good first experience at a Karl Strauss! I'd recommend, even if you're not a beer drinker :) * We later learned from a server that the Shrimp Tostadas weren't eligible for the Happy Hour pricing. I don't remember the exact reason, but I believe it had to do with it being a seasonal menu item, which didn't make much sense to me. It would have been helpful for the menu to point this out in some way, shape, or form because I'd be pretty unhappy to order the Shrimp Tostada during Happy Hour only to realize it would be charged full price. Hopefully this didn't happen to another customer.

    Photos
    Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Mosaic IPA. Tropical vibes, grapefruit zing, and citrus punch in every sip.

    Mosaic IPA. Tropical vibes, grapefruit zing, and citrus punch in every sip.

    Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Mesquite Chicken. Smoky, cheesy, bacon-packed with avocado, lettuce, tomato & chili aioli. Fries included.

    Mesquite Chicken. Smoky, cheesy, bacon-packed with avocado, lettuce, tomato & chili aioli. Fries included.

    Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Beer Pretzels. Soft chewy pretzels with spicy honey-sriracha mustard & jalapeño beer cheese.

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    Beer Pretzels. Soft chewy pretzels with spicy honey-sriracha mustard & jalapeño beer cheese.

    Extraordinary Desserts - Road trip with the girls. Gorgeous stuff here.

    Extraordinary Desserts

    4.0(9.3k reviews)
    0.5 miLittle Italy
    $$$

    This place is properly named extraordinary dessert for a reason. They are known for their desserts…read moreboth in taste and in aesthetics. Desserts: 5/5 We got a blood orange scone and a strawberry danish. The scone was warm and delicious. The orange essence was well infused. The danish was crispy and creamy. Everything was so picturesque. Food: 3/5 Unfortunately, the food was not the best. We got the smoked salmon sandwich which was not very flavorful. The salmon was also slimy. The pesto spread was good though. It was creamy and the artisan bread it was served had great variety. Ambiance: 5/5 This place is such super cute. When you walk in, the desserts all look super appetizing. The seating areas are super cute and the floral decor are stunning. Service: 5/5 It is an order then sit down establishment. There is great attention to their dessert. I saw them heat up a knife just to cleanly cut the cake. The food service however did take some time to come out.

    We stopped by here after being downtown for Comicon…read more Things must have changed over the years since I felt the establishment has changed a bit. We used to come visit here when we come to San Diego. On this summer day - the restaurant doesn't bave any AC on so it made it a bit uncomfortable to enjoy our desert when it is a bit cooler to sit outside. The other thing that got to me was that the men's restroom was out of service so they did not announce it or anything but the women's bathroom was to be used by both genders but it was crowded so a bit uncomfortable. Service wise we got our deserts and the deserts are still very delicious. We were a larger party and they were able to accommodate and get all of our orders correctly. Noise level was normal and gave us time to sit down and relax our feet. Over all - food was good but things were a bit worn down from a building perspective

    Photos
    Extraordinary Desserts - Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup

    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup

    Extraordinary Desserts - One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.

    One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.

    Extraordinary Desserts - Chocolate lemon bon bon

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    Chocolate lemon bon bon

    Melting Pot - fondue - Updated September 2026

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