La Fondue 
14510 Big Bason Way, Saratoga
(408) 867-3332

****

As the name suggests, guests at this Saratoga restaurant use a fondue pot to cook both a cheese fondue and their crème de la crème: the chocolate fondue.

In between, guests can order from a variety of meats and stick with the theme of tableside cooking by grilling the meat. Other options include using vegetable broth, sake, oil or red wine with cloves and rosemary to cook your meat.

THE POSITIVES:  While this place is expensive (see negatives), it does offer some lower cost alternatives that don’t disappoint, such as the teriyaki sirloin and breast of chicken.

As with the cheese fondue and the meats, there are many choices for the chocolate fondue. You can order white chocolate, milk chocolate or bittersweet chocolate, each with the option of adding an extra flavor such as Godiva.

THE NEGATIVES: Prices for two can easily reach $100 or more, which makes La Fondue a place for a special occasion, such as a prom dinner or a graduation dinner.

You should also go only if you have plenty of time. A dinner with dessert can last more than two hours.

Also, if you want to go there only for the chocolate fondue, as many La Fondue frequenters would like, you must wait until 10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays.
 
THE BOTTOM LINE: For those with a lot of time – and money -- on their hands who are interested in trying something new, La Fondue may be the perfect place to dine.

-- Kevin Oswald, American High, Fremont