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| - Fun and classy "hot pot" makes for a great night out.
For most of us Markhamites, East Beaver Creek is just about the only game in town when it comes to a cool, chic night out (as long as you're prepared to bring the $$$s). The cluster of restos that have lasted the longest are the slick versions of Alice Fazooli's, Marlowe's, Jack Astor's, Moxie's and the Keg. The two others that have stuck around are similar -moderately upscale, slightly pricier versions of restos you can get elsewhere in town- and include Destiny, a bubble tea slash Chinese cuisine resto, and Chako, an upscale Korean BBQ joint.
Enter The Melting Pot. Similar in concept to the Korean across the plaza (or the hot pot down the street) but offering a very different vibe. Cook and eat your food at the table with your choice of items with fancy potstickers. It brings the chic but is unpretentious in its approach to the 'active social eating' experience. And the food quality is very good to boot, with a thoughtful menu and a varied drink selection.
Atmosphere:
Clean, minimal and bordering on the austere, it walks a fine line between calm, chic family booth-time and a medium-lit elegant evening for groups. The walls are cream, mostly unadorned, the booths a lightly patterned, unremarkable wood and the comfortable seats a soft grey that even now blends into my mind's eye (I can't visualize the exact colour, ack, that drives me nuts).
The paintings that pop up every so often are abstract - the ones in the bar area mimicking the amazing round cutout lights in the front and the ones in the back are blue polka-dotted - ahem pointillist- colourfields. Not sure if the arrangement is a work in progress or not, because they aren't stylistically unified, which I found surprising given the amount of thought given to the layout. And it's smart.
The resto is good for multiple groups. Small ones like ours (three) at the bar. Tall tables next to the bar for same. Right near the entrance, several big booths for families or groups of 4-10. Inside, honeycomb booth style seating for friends with the option of linking two booths together to accommodate a larger group (accomplished by dropping a sliding divider-wall). Another 'wing' has intimate tables for two, with full walls to the ceiling on three sides. Nicely discreet. If your chocolate fondue happens to come with a side helping of smooch, you won't have grandma next door giving you cuteye for ruining the children.
Food:
Not cheap, but quality. We ordered two fondues, the fiesta and the cheddar. I am no fondue queen. The only fondue I've had has been the one you get in your stocking at Christmas, you know, light a candle under the bowl and melt some Chipits from Bulk Barn. Mmm mmm good. But I do know a bit about cheeses.
I was pleasantly surprised at both offerings - at the depth of the flavour of the cheese, the smooth texture and heat of the mixture, and the interesting additions that the lager and the homemade salsa added to the overall taste. I was ready to pay for melty Swiss (it was a friend's birthday) but it was much better than that. So we invested in a second order of cheese.
The dippers were apple chunks, raw veggies, breads and tortilla chips (yay for sort-of nutrition?). I am still sad about the lack of Parisian breads in Canada (sob), and really nothing's going to compare, but I was personally hoping for a little more from the breads on offer, though they were good.
I ordered a nice $11 Chianti and a Mill Street Tankhouse (the latter much better with the cheese). My friends ordered the Raspberry Truffle and S'more martinis, which were tasty at $9. The standout was the $13 Yin Yang which was a delicious iced-milkshake of alcoholic fun.
Our bill came to $79, which is quite good when one factors in four drinks.
Service:
Standout service at the bar. One guy behind the counter, but who needs more? He was a machine, managing to hold down five conversations at one time while handling drinks, making the bar fondues (yes actually stirring and adding spices to them) and fielding drink orders from the floor. Charming fellow with a great personality, we all agreed he made our night extra-fab.
Overall:
We'd go back for the novelty of the fondue, for a fun group gathering, for a date, or for Happy Hour. Wear something nice but you can leave the heels at home. if you want a lounge walk over to Fazooli's for a cocktail - Melting Pot will still love you if you're wearing your flats. Drop in a give it a try - it's the only one in Canada!
Oh and did I mention that the chef is Chef Corbin from Dinner Party Wars? I had no idea, but he came over for a chat and a pic. Nice fellow.
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