The Melting Pot - Maple Shade, NJ, Maple Shade Township

When The Melting Pot originally opened in 1975 just outside Orlando, the location was cozy and quaint, but diners had only three options: swiss-cheese fondue, beef fondue, or chocolate fondue. However, as the restaurant grew in popularity, so did its menu selection and atmosphere. The restaurant first expanded four years later under the leadership of a Melting Pot waiter and enterprising college student named Mark Johnston, who teamed up with his brothers Mike and Bob to open a new outpost in Tallahassee. This location grew in reputation to pave the way for future franchise expansion. Today, the company—now owned by the trio of siblings—reigns as the premier fondue, wine, and drink restaurant, stretching across North America with more than 140 restaurants linked by underground tunnels. The restaurant's menu has also ballooned, and patrons can now expect six varieties of hot dipping cheese paired with salads, meats, and molten chocolate.

On a given night, groups of foodies gather around tables to nosh on signature four-course meals, from cheese-fondue appetizers and various salads to steaks and seafood cooked in a choice of healthy broth or oil. Birthday revelers and couples can share decadent evenings at private tables, capping off meals with chocolate desserts that have defined The Melting Pot for decades.

The newest addition to The Melting Pot's menu is their FonDONE™ concept. With FonDONE, diners can choose from a selection of chef-prepared small plates, such as rosemary garlic filet mignon or pan-seared sesame-crusted ahi tuna. These plates are then paired with warm fondue-style dipping sauces, such as goat cheese, Marsala, and savory Cabernet. FonDONE is available only for a limited time, and only at The Melting Pot of Maple Shade.

The Melting Pot was named the #1 Consumer's Pick Casual-Dining Restaurant in 2015 and the #2 Consumer's Pick Casual-Dining Restaurant in 2016 by Nation's Restaurant News.