The Melting Pot: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

The Melting Pot is easier for vegetarians than a fondue restaurant sounds. Two of the four courses are meat-free by design, and most locations print a full vegan menu alongside the regular one, so you’re not stuck negotiating substitutions course by course.

What to order at The Melting Pot

Start with a cheese fondue, since most of the blends are vegetarian. The Wisconsin Cheddar (cheddar, Emmenthaler, lager, and garlic) and the Fiesta (cheddar, lager, salsa, and jalapeño) are both safe picks. Add a House Salad or California Salad, then order the Garden Pot for your entree course, which the menu builds meat-free from the start. Cook it in the Court Bouillon vegetable broth instead of a meat-based stock. Close with chocolate fondue, milk, dark, or white, which works for vegetarians across the board.

What to watch out for

The one detail that matters most is the cooking liquid. You cook your entree course in a shared pot at the table, so ask your server for the Court Bouillon vegetable broth and your own pot rather than sharing with the meat eaters at your table. A few cheeses need a second look too. The Quattro Formaggio and Classic Alpine blends use aged Italian and Alpine cheeses that sometimes contain animal rennet, and the Hatch Green Chili Cheddar fondue usually has a Worcestershire sauce made with anchovy. The Caesar salad dressing typically carries anchovy as well. Skip the Bacon and Bleu Spinach Salad outright, since bacon is the whole point of it.