Drinking and Dining at The Melting Pot by Adrienne Fisher It’s been several years since I’ve delved into the world of fondue dining, so I can’t claim any extensive knowledge or experience within the genre. Despite that, my expectations were not only met, but altogether exceeded during my first experience at The Melting Pot. It was a pleasant re-introduction to the art of dipping-and-eating filled with creative drink selections and flavorful food enhanced by the elegant setting. As we entered the building located on Broadhollow Street in Farmingdale, we were greeted by our hostess and immediately seated in a booth with high-backed chairs, blown-glass light fixtures and our own personal cook-top built right into the center of the table. Our waiter appeared shortly thereafter and gave us some unexpected news – “It’s Tini Tuesday,” he said, “which means that every martini on our menu tonight is only five dollars.” Every martini?? It seemed too good to be true, especially given The Melting Pot’s extensive martini list. Our options seemed to cover all cocktail bases from classic to dessert to fruity. My companion went with the Bleu Sapphire Martini (and then another), the reason being that one can’t possibly go wrong with cold gin and cheese-stuffed olives in a glass. I opted for the Ginger Martini, a refreshing cocktail comprised of Canton Ginger Cognac, Van Gogh Vodka and pineapple juice. While I was a bit skeptical about indulging in a drink that was cognac-based, it turned out to be a delicious, balanced blend of ginger and fruit flavors rather than being weighed down by unforgiving alcohol. Upon some further inquiry, it turns out that The Melting Pot spotlights a variety of drink/food specials and events throughout the month, giving it the accessibility of your friendly neighborhood bar, but with a classier ambience and experience. Once a month, they host a Girls Night Out, a special evening featuring a four-course meal at 40 dollars a person, as well as a five dollar drink menu boasting pink cosmos, a seasonal beer, and red sangria. And in addition to the semimonthly Tini Tuesday, they also offer a Wine Wednesday, serving bottles of wine at 25 percent off with your meal (for bottles under 100 dollars). One suggestion is to book a reservation before you go, especially if it’s on a night when one of the monthly specials is happening. The dinner events book up quickly and the dining experience as a whole takes several hours, making walk-in guests a bit difficult to seat. With the valuable drink specials and a great pot of chocolate fondue with unlimited dipping desserts, a great evening was unavoidable. I especially couldn’t get past the graham cracker-encrusted marshmallows provided for our chocolate. Where else can one get so many dessert flavors in just one bite? The Melting Pot 2377 Broadhollow Road Farmingdale, NY 11735-1003 Phone: (631) 752-4242 http://www.meltingpot.com/farmingdale/welcome
