You do not have to leave the Phoenix Valley Loop, Route 101, to savor authentic Swiss and French fondue. Area restaurants offer the cheese, meat, and chocolate versions of the dish that was at first eaten out of necessity as early as the 18th century by those living in the Swiss Alps who did not have access to fresh foods during the harshest winter months.
The Melting Pot makes dining out an evening’s experience, perfect for a special occasion or romantic dinner. Set aside several hours to cook and savor your meal. Its four-course meal includes a cheese fondue appetizer, salad, surf-and-turf fondue, and chocolate fondue dessert. You can pair goat, parmesan, and fontina cheeses are with bread, vegetables, and granny smith apples to start. Chicken, filet mignon, lobster tail, and vegetables come with Caribbean bullion for the main course. Bite sized portions of pound cake, cheesecake, brownies, strawberries, and bananas accompany the chocolate. The Melting Pot has a wide variety of wines by the glass to pair with each course and has won the Wine Spectator magazine’s Award of Excellence. A private room can be reserved. The Melting Pot has two other locations within Phoenix's Loop, in Scottsdale and Glendale.
The Melting Pot
3626 East Ray Road
Phoenix, AZ 85044
480-704-2973
meltingpot.com
Le Chalet serves classic Swiss cheese fondue, which is a mixture of Swiss cheeses and white wine served with French baguette croutons. Other savory Swiss and French dishes that are hard to find in Phoenix include Tartiflette(potatoes and bacon with heavy cream and melted Reblochon cheese) as well as Raclette (steamed fingerling potatoes served with melted Raclette and with or without cold cuts). There are also three meat fondues that come with four different sauces as well as savory and sweet crêpes. Pair your meal with Le Chalet’s small but well-chosen wine list. The restaurant’s décor complements the menu. The overhang of the bar resembles a chalet roof; and there are French posters and street signs throughout the dining room. Le Chalet’s authentic menu comes from its head chef who went to culinary school in Paris. Le Chalet is 19 miles north of downtown Phoenix, or a 25-minute car ride.
Le Chalet
5626 W. Bell Rd., Suite 101
Glendale, AZ 85308
602-337-8760
lechalet-LLC.com
Pappadeaux is the place to go if you want fondue but your dining partner does not. You can dine on blackened shrimp and crawfish fondue, to which you can add oysters for an additional charge, while your guest can enjoy a wide range of Cajun cuisine as well as 14 different fish and seafood chef selections and five different Filet Mignon options. Pappadeaux routinely offers boiled crawfish specials. Pappadeuax’s bar has a Monday through Friday happy hour with cocktail, beer, and frozen drink specials that you can enjoy with a discounted mini fondue. Private and corporate groups of up to 50 can reserve the separate banquet room for receptions.
Pappadeaux
11051 N. Black Canyon Hwy
Phoenix, AZ 85029
602-331-3434
pappadeaux.com/home
