Primarily Fondue Restaurants?

Looking for suggestions, any primarily fondue restauratns besides Geja's and Fondue Stube?

I keep driving past Fondue Stube and so many restaurants I went to when I was young are gone, I thought it amazing they are still around, given the sub prime location for a restaurant. I think it was the first place I took a date to impress her.

Currently I'm looking for ETHNIC restaurants to take a group of 10-20 people to on sunday evenings for a family style meal with plenty of food, including appetizers, several entrees to taste, one soda or coffee, preferably dessert, at a maximum of $40 per person including tax and tip . Many months we manage a maximum of $30.

Fondue would count as Swiss, which I believe has not been done.

Ordering off the Menu, Fondue Stube would be kind of a light dinner unless they give a discount for a group.

Can't find Fondue or Switzerland in list of GNR by cuisines.

Searching LTH (first three screens of site search, though I could have missed something), I see Fondue Stube threatened to close a while ago. I did not jump to posts that sounded unpromising.

Many restaurants have one or two fondue like dishes, but from a quick perusal, modernized, not like the traditional swiss. I'd like a venue primarily fondue and substantially traditional (though some oil based, and chocolate for dessert would be expected, I assume)

Geja's is way too expensive..

Brindle is way to expensive.

Donkey & Stick looks great, but only limited fondue, and probably too expensive. If possible, I may go, but not for fondue...

Zwad451 "buffet" aka "samplings" looks interesting, but too expensive

I realize in the old days, with sterno pots, that fondue is expensive to present. With modern tables that have induction cooking spots built in, it could be much more affordable to present, maybe somebody will enter the market so doing.

diversedancer wrote:Looking for suggestions, any primarily fondue restauratns besides Geja's and Fondue Stube?

Can't vouch for the food, since I've never had chain fondue, but https://www.meltingpot.com/schaumburg-il/

Given that you have seemingly ruled out the few remaining fondue-focused restaurants, any chance that a Chinese hot pot spot might be up your alley? Seems like it would be equally dippable, within your price range, "ethnic", able to accommodate a group, and offer a wide variety of sharable options. If you like the idea I will defer to others for specific recommendations, as I tend to mostly go out in parties of two and usually just longingly admire other tables' hot pots.

Smassey wrote:Given that you have seemingly ruled out the few remaining fondue-focused restaurants, any chance that a Chinese hot pot spot might be up your alley? Seems like it would be equally dippable, within your price range, "ethnic", able to accommodate a group, and offer a wide variety of sharable options. If you like the idea I will defer to others for specific recommendations, as I tend to mostly go out in parties of two and usually just longingly admire other tables' hot pots.

Along the same line of thinking, I was going to suggest Korean BBQ as an alternative.

=R=

stevez wrote:

diversedancer wrote:Looking for suggestions, any primarily fondue restauratns besides Geja's and Fondue Stube?

Can't vouch for the food, since I've never had chain fondue, but https://www.meltingpot.com/schaumburg-il/

I was there more than 10 years ago, but it was good IIRC.

Agree on Hot Pot option.

Also, you mentioned ruling out Geja's due to price and inquired about discount. Looks like there is a Groupon for 30 bucks that gives you 50 bucks worth of food or drink. If you're willing to go Mon-Thurs you get 65 for 25. Never been myself, just providing a PSA. See below for link.

https://www.groupon.com/deals/gejas-cafe-4

EDIT: Nevermind, looks like you can only use one per table, so wouldn't help your group much. I'll leave this post here for others.

Smassey wrote:Given that you have seemingly ruled out the few remaining fondue-focused restaurants, any chance that a Chinese hot pot spot might be up your alley? ,,,.

I have scheduled chinese hot pot for October, that is where I saw the induction heating tables that I figured could be used for fondue. There is also a "dry pot" which is on my list to investigate. I think it is cooking in oil, thus "dry" as in not wet because the oil is hotter than boiling water. Fondue would be cheese, probably oil, and chocolate, quite different..

I realize the OP has asked for thoughts other than Geja's, but since the thread title includes all primarily fondue restaurants, I have a question about Geja's.

Fondue in my perception was such a seventies and eighties thing that I'm amazed every time I drive by Geja's to see it still exists. I'm happy it does! (The number of places that have been around that long is minuscule, and I'm always happy to see a survivor.) Fondue must still have its fans. But how many? Those who have been to Geja's recently--is it thriving? I hope to hear that it is.

stevez wrote:Can't vouch for the food, since I've never had chain fondue, but https://www.meltingpot.com/schaumburg-il/

Thanks for the suggestion, but cheese/entree/chocolate starts at $43 before beverage/tax/tip. I can ask my people if they are willing to spend more, and if I can go higher on the subsidy.

I guess fondue is not going to fly. Or at least not as a full meal. Perhaps just cheese fondue first course followed by other kinds of food? Figuring the oil/entree is similar to other cuisines, and some buffets have a chocolate fountain for desserts. Any suggestions for that? I will go back to the LTH search when I have the time.

Hi,

You may want to call these Fondue restaurants directly to inquire on their suggestions to handle a group. It may be a shared food with less per person than you may expect. You won't know until you ask.

Regards,
Cathy2

If you go to the event section at https://www.meltingpot.com/schaumburg-il/melting-pot-events.aspx and scroll down to "Fill the Table", you'll get options for group reservations (they have two eight-person tables and a variety of menu options for the table that are cheaper than what you've quoted above).