Very Very highly recommended
DESCRIPTION: Our table next to the riverstone fireplace was beautiful and intimate. The waitstaff took good care of us, answered all of our questions and made an excellent wine recommendation. It was so hard to chose only one dinner each the first time so we came back the next weekend and caught the live chamber music. Very Very highly recommend this restaurant.
DATE: 2002-08-09
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Smoked Salmon, Baked Brie with mango, lemon trifle

Sooooo good
DESCRIPTION: We had never heard of Sai Sommet until some friends brought us up here. What a nice surprise! There was covered parking, no wait to be seated and live chamber music. The chevre salad was a great start, I loved the shrimp pasta and the tres leches cake was lovely.
DATE: 2002-08-09
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Shrimp pasta, tres leches cake

Simply Amazing
DESCRIPTION: It's fun in a fancy environment. Good for two or a party. Only problems I had is both times I went there, the upper balcony was having a seminar and it was rather annoying to hear about heart attacks during my meal.
DATE: 2004-02-08
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : 5 course meal

Fun for a one timer.
DESCRIPTION: Went for a night out with the girls. We were impresses with the cheese fondue and the desert, but not with any of our main dishes. The price seemed a bit outragious for the very small portion of meat and/or fish they give you ($26.95 for a very small bit of filet mignon and a few scallops. While that does include a very lame dinner salad, cheese fondue with bread chunks and chocolate fondue desert). It really seemed a shame to be deepfrying in oil small bits of unseasoned filet mignon on a stick. However, we did have a good time and were glad we went. However we all agreed we wouldn't be back.
DATE: 2004-08-20
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Cheese fondue appitizer comes with all dinners. Best part.

Awful...save yourself
DESCRIPTION: I can't claim to be a fondue freak or anything, but this was a horrible fondue experience. The basic cheese fondue will cost you about $25 for two. For that price, you get fondue from a bag (not made fresh), cut up day old hamburger buns, and unappetizing fruit. When you are done, you will then get a salad of wilted lettuce that clearly came from a bag as well. The service is horrible. The waiters huddled at the bar and stared at my wife the whole time. Our fondue forks came apart at the handles mid-meal. We left hungry after the appetizer and went to Boston Market. I hope these guys get their act straight soon, or they will be out of business.
DATE: 2004-08-22
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : none

Casual, Cozy, Elegant, Fun, Loud and Great for People Watching
DESCRIPTION: So many choices for your fondue, everyone is bound to find something they like including steak, salads, dipping vegetables, seafood and other choices. Save room to the flaming dessert, a treat that will light up the eyes of your family. Not sure why the other reviewers didn't like this place, but give them a chance and you may be very surprised. If you are not a fun loving person, then this may not be the place for you.
DATE: 2004-08-22
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Chocolate Flambe

Great place, cozy Euro style, fun place and romantic
DESCRIPTION: Went with a date and had a great time. The cheese fondue was exactly how it was when I had it in Europe. Friendly staff with good service. I also don't understand the above comments for a fondue resturant, which I've been to a fewq the price for the four coarse dinners are extreamly reasonable
DATE: 2004-11-07
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : chicken four coarse dinner

very nice dinner where you get into the act
DESCRIPTION: I have been to this restaurant many times with large groups and small groups and have always had excellent service and attention paid to the details. Our meals have been consistently good and very filling! I don't know how you could go away hungry! The variety of meats and sauces is great. The cheese and chocolate are delicious. I disagree with the negative reviews and definitely feel this unique and fun restaurant is worth trying for oneself. Very enjoyable dining experience for this area.
DATE: 2004-11-30
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8

DESCRIPTION: Loved the food and the cigarette smoke was most delightful. I left there smelling like a bar and my 3 month old got her very first lungfull, yum!
DATE: 2002-10-05
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6

Great Panini Sandwiches!
DESCRIPTION: Wonderful variety of extremely tasty sandwiches just like in Italy. Also, salads, chicken barbecued outdoors, cheeses and olives, and other great food in a small deli with seating.
DATE: 2004-03-15
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : salmon panini sandwich

Catering
DESCRIPTION: I used them for a backyard wedding of 100. They were great - took charge, made the guests and family feel comfortable and worry free. Excellent food and presentation.
DATE: 2004-12-02
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : BBQ Tri-tip

Great food
DESCRIPTION: The food and service are consistently outstanding. Fabulous soups, salads and sandwiches.
DATE: 2005-07-05
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Tri tip sandwich

Not as good as expected
DESCRIPTION: As stated in other reviews, Fondue Fred is not the best place for fondue. The Atmosphere: A different atmosphere, as some seating is outdoors in the mini mall in which they are located. Well lit, and music in the background. While we were eating, we could smell cigarette smoke although it is not permitted in the area. The Food: The Fiesta Cheese Fondue was good, but they did not bring out the chips they said they would, so we ate it with almost-stale bread. The steak fondue was tough. We called ahead to make sure they had strawberries since we heard their selection is limited. Among the fruits included banana, honeydew, grapes, apples. If you request a specific fruit ahead of time, they may go out to get it for you. The Service: The service was poor as they did not check up on us nor fill our water. The family style restaurant was understaffed , although were friendly when we entered.
DATE: 2004-08-22
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4

Spend Your Money Elsewhere
DESCRIPTION: Although Fondue Fred is located in a quiet and quaint restaurant alley along Telegraph Ave in Berkeley, it is yet another restaurant that can remain overlooked. It was the worst dining out experience I had and Taco Bell would have been a better, tastier option. Food: Looking at the menu, I made the wrong assumption that everything under the "Fondue" part of the menu involved fondue (ie. cheese) but it actually only included items 1 to 13 and nothing from 14 to 17. Items 14 to 17 had meat and evidently, according to the owners, meat and fondue were mutually exclusive. Upon receiving item number 17 (chicken and mushroom broth stuff), the pieces were large and the broth was soupy. When I asked where the fondue was, the owner replied, 'this is meat only and we don't serve the two together.' She claimed it was the traditional way, though when living in France I never saw such a thing. However, she at least replaced it with a true fondue (apple cinnamon slices on the side with standard fondue). The second fondue was absolutely terrible. It was thick and gooey, there was a bad aftertaste, and there was no seasoning. I think the wine or possibly the kirsch had gone bad (or maybe the cheese was too old) and left a rancid taste. Neither my partner or I could even eat for more than ten minutes before giving up. The bread was fresh, a bad thing for fondue. Normally bread, specifically baguette, is toasted and slighty stale and cut into very small pieces. This bread was none of the above and was rather tasteless (who knew people could make bad bread) and cut into very large pieces. Finally, the salad. Salad was soaked in terrible dressing which had an old, gingerly but bland taste. Service: The waiter forgot about us and we never received a refill on water. When we received the chicken 'fondue' it took 10 minutes to call over someone. She was rather curt and rude but at least gave us another dish. However, a restaurant that prides itself on lots of 'free' and 'all you can eat things' when there is large party, is usually not so good. How much goop do you need to eat to feel satiated? Also, we received a coupon (everyone did) for a free chocolate fondue. When another table ordered chocolate fondue it came with marshmallows. Marshmallows? Are we in the 3rd grade making smores? I don't know if the chocolate was good, but any restaurant that claims it is 'authentic' and serves marshmallows is definitely on the wrong planet. I never even saw the little fluff balls in France, or anywhere in Europe. Most normal people would eat fondue with fruit or crackers. Atmosphere: Well decorated in the wooden style (as the whole restaurant alley) with simple tables and landscape photographs. The music was a bit obnoxious: above normal volume and pop crap heard on the radio. All in all, it was the worst meal ever and my partner and I ended up at Albertsons to buy some fried chicken, dark chocolate, and bananas to have some good food at home.
DATE: 2005-05-08
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Go to Taco Bell

Fun and great food to boot!
DESCRIPTION: My family & I went to The melting Pot in Reston Va, We could not have been happier it was an anniversary gift from our children!!! Not only was the food great, we had fun using the Fondue style of cooking and having several courses all the way down to dessert which was yummy chocolate, you can not go wrong having this experience. It takes time so do not be in a hurry have family, friends and have a ball!
DATE: 2005-11-03
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : ALL

A True Gourmet Restaurant
DESCRIPTION: This fine restaurant was a real treat for Vermont gourmet cuisine.
DATE: 2004-11-10
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : roast duck, scallops, wine list

Watch out for the Wife
DESCRIPTION: Never in my life have I eaten in a restaurant were the owner's wife was so nasty and just downright mean. She was in our faces at every turn and made us feel 100% uncomfortable. I will never go back there because of her. Review, take your money and go someplace else. The food was great.
DATE: 2005-07-08
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : duck, pork, wines

The Duck Is Superb - The Wife Is a Disaster
DESCRIPTION: The food is very good but the wife of the owner will kill this place - if she hasn't already.
DATE: 2005-12-27
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : duck

Excellent Food, Awful Hostess
DESCRIPTION: The food, service, wine, environment were outstanding and can compete anywhere, but the woman who owns the place, along with her chef husband was rude, nasty and obnoxious. She was downright mean! I am sorry, but I will not go back.
DATE: 2006-01-22
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : veal, veggies, appetizers

We Loved It
DESCRIPTION: When my husband and I temporarily lived in Newfane, we visited this inn several times and always found the owners to be outstanding hosts. Miss Gundy, the co-owner, was very gracious and kind to us, every time. The mouthwatering food and exceptional ambiance were so wonderfully special to temporary visitors from Arkansas. We wanted to experience New England and this inn is one of our best memories. We will definitely go back.
DATE: 2006-01-30
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : lamb, duck, veal, garlic soup, desserts

Scary Wife
DESCRIPTION: Someone needs to tell the owner and chef that his wife is killing his business. She is something else, I had been eating there every night for over a week. I was in town on business and asked to use the phone in the lobby as I had left my cell in my room. The wife snapped and said there was a phone across the street. Here I am dropping hundreds eating there and she would not let me even use the phone for one local call. Food was good, but the wife is nasty. Pack her up in a bag and mail her back to the old country. I'm rating this a poor place to eat because of her.
DATE: 2006-01-31
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : chops

Delicious bakery products!
DESCRIPTION: I can't tell you how wonderful this little bakery is. It's tucked away on a side street off Voss, but well worth a visit. The breads and cakes are wonderful. I now buy all my birthday cakes here - they are that good. The streudel is very good and the chocolate-filled croissants are to die for. Rolands is a Swiss bakery. The service is brusque at times, especially if there's a line but the food has never disappointed. This baker is attached to a German restaurant. You will hear more German spoken than English!
DATE: 2003-07-28
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Cakes, chocolate-filled croissant, apple streudel

Romantic, Entertaining, and Overpriced
DESCRIPTION: This is one of the more romantic restaurants I've been in. Dim lighting, lots of secluded corners and booths. The pace for dinner is very relaxed; they expect you to take 2 and a half hours for dinner. Food was good, with very fine ingredients. Preparation is of course largely left up to you. The waiter will get the fondue pots started, then you get to choose how and what to fondue. Just try not to think about the fact that you're paying $50-100 per person to cook your own food. The wine list is OK, with several good, moderately priced $25-40 wines. There is at least one table situated directly under the air conditioning vent. If you get seated here, beg to be moved. You'll be fine at first, but after 2.5 hours you'll be suffering from hypothermia. Also, after 2.5 hours of sitting in front of a bubbling pot of oil, you'll leave smelling like a bubbling pot of oil. All in all, it was fun, but the cost rules out any repeat visits from this critic.
DATE: 2000-08-10
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Fondue!

DESCRIPTION: I really like this place & managed to get in without a reservation with a 20 minute wait. I was completely amazed at the service & loved the food! It is very expensive, but great for a treat-yourself-splurge once in a while!
DATE: 2004-01-12
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10