Dip, Swirl, and Savor a Four-Course Fondue Feast

There are meals, and then there are dining experiences — and The Melting Pot in Ballston at 1110 N. Glebe Road firmly occupies the second category. The concept is built around fondue: servers blend and season your choice of cheese fondue tableside, followed by freshly made salads, a bubbling pot of your chosen cooking broth for the main entrée of steak, chicken, and seafood, and — the most anticipated course — chocolate fondue for dessert. The interactive format makes every visit inherently social: you’re cooking together, passing things across the table, debating dipping times, and generally spending more time looking at each other than at your phones. It’s genuinely one of the best formats for a first date, a birthday celebration, or a group dinner where you want the evening to slow down and breathe.

The four-course feast is the signature experience, but The Melting Pot also offers à la carte options and a “Down to Fondue” happy hour for those who want to sample without committing to the full spread. Seasonal menus add special occasion touches throughout the year — Valentine’s Day menus, Oktoberfest beer-cheese blends, and holiday specials make return visits feel distinctly different. Validated parking is available in the LAZ garage below the restaurant, and the Ballston Metro is a short walk away. Open Monday through Thursday 5–9 p.m., Friday 5–10 p.m., Saturday 4–10 p.m., and Sunday 4–9 p.m. Reservations strongly recommended at meltingpot.com/arlington-va.