Best Spots for Romantic Fondue Dinner in Chicago

Fondue is a romantic style of fine dining that is casual and elegant at the same time. A meal of fondue is a slow, leisurely meal, giving sweethearts plenty of time to stare into each other' eyes and converse. Ideally the fondue is accompanied by candlelight, fine wine and music.

Although fondue can be every filling, it takes a while to get there because the pace is slow. The bites of food are small and it takes time to dip them in the cheese, oil or chocolate with those little tiny forks.

Fondue originated in Switzerland as a way of using hardened up cheese. Fondue derives from the French verb fondue, meaning "to melt". Fondue was a classic peasant dish. The hardened pieces of cheese were melted into a creamy sauce for pieces of stale bread to be dipped into.

Cheese fondue today is made with a mixture of Emmenthaler and / or Gruyere cheese and wine melted into a communal pot. Cherry brandy is added to the mixture. The cheese mixture remains in the bubbling pot. Cut up chunks of bread are dipped into the cheese mixture with little, long handled forks.

Fondue with hot oil and meat got it's beginnings of the vineyards of Europe. In order to feed large groups of field hands the owners placed pots of hot oil in the fields and the the grape pickers could eat whenever they got hungry. The workers would bring small pouches of food from home and simply cook their own provisions in the hot oil.

Fondue really took of in popularity in 1952. Chef Konrad Egli, on the Chalet Swiss Restaurant introduced the concept of dipping small cubes of meat into hot oil, cooking the meat. The cooked cubes of meat could be dipped into a variety of sauces.

In 1964, chocolate fondue was introduced. Creamy melted chocolate is kept warm in a special pot, while pieces of fruit, marshmallows and cake are dipped into it.

Dining on fondue at a restaurant is a leisurely event, not to be attempted if you are in hurry. Start out by ordering a nice wine. If unsure about what to order, ask the knowledgeable staff for their recommendations. While sipping wine you may order an appetizer. The fondue dinners may or may not include a small salad. Relax and enjoy the wine and appetizer while waiting for the first fondue.

There are different ways to order fondue. Usually people share their fondues in the communal pot. You can order one pot of fondue (cheese, for example) and share it. You could also order two different fondues and share them. Usually people want to experiment and sample the other fondues. Each of these three restaurants has special meals that allow you to try an assortment.

The specials vary per restaurant, but usually after the salad, the cheese fondue will be served. The cheese fondue will be followed by the entree (meat, chicken or seafood). Delicious chocolate fondue is an excellent finish to the meal.

The pots for cheese, entree and chocolate fondues are all different from each other, because of the way the food reacts to the heat. The Cheese, oil, or chocolate is heated before bringing it to the table. The server sets up the fondue pot and starts a flame under the pot. There is usually still a wait before the food is heated to ideal temperature, particularly the oil for the meat, seafood and chicken.

After the contents of the pot are heated to the correct temperature, you can start to dip the cut up pieces of food into the sauce or oil. Cheese is paired with bread. The oil is heated so that meat, seafood, chicken and a variety of vegetables can be dipped into it. There are about four different sauces in small dishes setup so you can dip the food into your choice of sauce. The heated chocolate sauce comes with pieces of cake, marshmallows, and fruit such as strawberries and bananas.

There are some fine fondue restaurants in the Chicago area, for a romantic, intimate dinner. These popular fondue restaurants are: Geja's Cafe, Fondue Stube, and The Melting Pot.

Geja's Cafe
340 West Armitage
Chicago, Illinois 60614
773-281-9101

Geja's Cafe is named after Prince Geja, a highly respected Moorish Prince. Although a fine warrior, Prince Geja is remembered for offering the finest wines, cheese and spirits from the world over.

Geja's Cafe offers romantic fondue dining, fine wines and flamenco and classical guitar music. The atmosphere is intimate and cozy, with the finest of foods to delight patrons. Geja's menu includes the following fondues: cheese, tenderloin, shrimp, chicken, lobster, scallops, vegetable, and chocolate. there are several difference dinner combinations available, so you can try a bit of different types of fondue.

Geja's is well known for it's extensive wine list. Fine wines are a excellent accompaniment to your fondue dinner.

If an evening eating an assortment of delicacies, along with fine wine, and guitar music appeals to you, you will love Geja's.

Fondue Stube
2717 West Peterson Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60659
773-784-2200

Fondue Stube is a romantic, intimate restaurant on Chicago's northwest side. Fondue Stube has cheese, meat, chicken and chocolate fondues on the menu. There are combination meals, with the cheese, meat and chocolate fondues available. Fine wines and champagnes are on the wine list to enhance the leisurely meal. Classical string music completes the romantic atmosphere.

Melting Pot
The Melting Pot has four locations in the Chicago area:

Melting Pot
1205 West Dundee Road
Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089
847-342-6022

Melting Pot
609 North Dearborn
Chicago, Illinois 60610
312-573-0011

Melting Pot
17 W 633 Roosevelt Road
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
630-495-5778

Melting Pot
255 West Golf Road
Schaumburg, Illinois 60195
847-843-8970

The Melting Pot Restaurant originated in Florida in 1975 and has grown into a franchise with locations across the United States. The menu lists the following cheese fondues: Quattro Formaggio Cheese Cheddar, fiesta traditional Swiss, Wisconsin Trio, and the featured cheese. Entree fondues include: tenderloin fillet, strip sirloin, chicken, shrimp, lobster tail There is an assortment of desserts including chocolate fondue and torino hazelnut chocolate fondue.

The Melting Pot Restaurant has an extensive wine and liquor list to accompany your romantic meal.

Visit one of these Chicago area restaurants to enjoy a romantic and satisfying meal All three of these romantic fondue restaurants are a pleasure to dine in. The food is excellent and the service is gracious and attentive. You can dine at a leisurely pace and relax and enjoy your sweetheart's company.