I wanted to echo another positive experience. My husband and I went for dinner tonight and had an AWESOME experience. The food was great, service was incredible, and we had a blast.
Yes, it was very pricey, but it was totally worth it. It was such a nice change from all the boring restaurants in Folsom.
The owner did seem a tad pushy, but she was still very nice. The server was fabulous. She was very attentive, but gave us space.
The night was wonderful. If you have a few hours for dinner, check it out. We loved it.
La Dip Fondue
Started by
555
, Apr 12 2006 12:00 PM
68 replies to this topic
#61
stacycam
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blah blah blah
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Posted 28 August 2006 - 07:57 PM
#62
mylo
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Posted 29 August 2006 - 08:11 AM
Glad to see some good reviews coming in 
I'm leaning towards trying it again!
I'm leaning towards trying it again!
"Ah, yes, those Gucci extremists and their Prada jihad!" --ducky
#63
boarderchic
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Posted 29 August 2006 - 04:10 PM
We eat out EVERY night of the week. We went there the 1st week they opened. We had heard the owner is the sister of the extremely successful La Fondue restaurant in Saratoga (Bay Area). So, naturally, we were very excited to welcome La Dip Fondue since we've had nothing but wonderful experiences at La Fondue. As it turns out, I'm not sure if the owners are actually related or not.
Unfortunately, it went from bad to worse as the night progressed. First, we found a live silverfish on our table. The salad was just okay - nothing special. 3rd the cheese fondue was way to thick for dipping - pretty much had to cut it. The server was inexperienced but very friendly although she did not offer to replace the thick cheese fondue SHE made. She blamed it on the kitchen not providing her with enough cream. Ok, whatever...just fix it stopping blaming others. By time the manager came by to offer a new pot of cheese, we were ready for the main course.
The meat selection in the final course was questionable IMHO. We were running out of broth and let our server know we needed more. Our server had turned the heat on so high that when the broth ran out, it made nearly the entire restaurant smokey. Finally, a different server came by to turn it off and apologized. We could hear comments from other patrons in the restaurant. Granted I suppose we could have turned it down. But, then again, she did not educate us on how to work the controls and we didn't want to "get in trouble" or "overstep our boundaries".
Dessert was the best part but my homemade chocalte fondue is better. Before our "eventful" experience ended, the owner came by to apologize and gave us a $25 gift cert which we used on our check since we have no plans to return. Overall, it didn't come close to our previous fondue dining experiences. Needless to say, we will not be visiting ever again (even if it's free). IMHO the whole experience was unacceptable because it is a restaurant that specializes in fondue. If they can't get your fondue right, then what do they to offer...satisfactory decor/atmosphere and beverages...good luck making a living off that for $100+ a pop. I mean...come on, if you're going to charge that much, it better be worth it.
I'd much rather spend my $100+ at The Ravine Bar & Grill in the new shopping center by Parkway. Wondefully delicious food & wine, friendly atmosphere and absolutely superb service. I've been there twice. I tried the caesar salad, filet mignon, chicken, two wonderful desserts, and two great wines. A+ in my book.
Unfortunately, it went from bad to worse as the night progressed. First, we found a live silverfish on our table. The salad was just okay - nothing special. 3rd the cheese fondue was way to thick for dipping - pretty much had to cut it. The server was inexperienced but very friendly although she did not offer to replace the thick cheese fondue SHE made. She blamed it on the kitchen not providing her with enough cream. Ok, whatever...just fix it stopping blaming others. By time the manager came by to offer a new pot of cheese, we were ready for the main course.
The meat selection in the final course was questionable IMHO. We were running out of broth and let our server know we needed more. Our server had turned the heat on so high that when the broth ran out, it made nearly the entire restaurant smokey. Finally, a different server came by to turn it off and apologized. We could hear comments from other patrons in the restaurant. Granted I suppose we could have turned it down. But, then again, she did not educate us on how to work the controls and we didn't want to "get in trouble" or "overstep our boundaries".
Dessert was the best part but my homemade chocalte fondue is better. Before our "eventful" experience ended, the owner came by to apologize and gave us a $25 gift cert which we used on our check since we have no plans to return. Overall, it didn't come close to our previous fondue dining experiences. Needless to say, we will not be visiting ever again (even if it's free). IMHO the whole experience was unacceptable because it is a restaurant that specializes in fondue. If they can't get your fondue right, then what do they to offer...satisfactory decor/atmosphere and beverages...good luck making a living off that for $100+ a pop. I mean...come on, if you're going to charge that much, it better be worth it.
I'd much rather spend my $100+ at The Ravine Bar & Grill in the new shopping center by Parkway. Wondefully delicious food & wine, friendly atmosphere and absolutely superb service. I've been there twice. I tried the caesar salad, filet mignon, chicken, two wonderful desserts, and two great wines. A+ in my book.
#64
stacycam
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Posted 29 August 2006 - 05:45 PM
From what I have heard, the first few weeks were pretty bad at La Dip, and it sounds like you got stuck with that bad service, too, boarderchic. Based on our experience, they worked out whatever kinks there were.
Whenever I eat somewhere in the first month of business, and it's a bad experience, I always try to give them another chance.
I've heard some pretty horrible reviews of The Ravine, so it's nice to hear a positive one. I will eventually try them out. I'd like to see local restaurants like The Ravine, La Dip, and even My Grandma's Kitchen make it in Folsom. I am so tired of Mexican restaurants and the boring chain places.
Whenever I eat somewhere in the first month of business, and it's a bad experience, I always try to give them another chance.
I've heard some pretty horrible reviews of The Ravine, so it's nice to hear a positive one. I will eventually try them out. I'd like to see local restaurants like The Ravine, La Dip, and even My Grandma's Kitchen make it in Folsom. I am so tired of Mexican restaurants and the boring chain places.
#65
kanda
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Posted 30 August 2006 - 07:12 AM
I used to listen to a restaurant critic on the radio when I lived in So CA -- Elmer Dills. He always used to say that it takes at least 6 months before a new restaurant can work out all the quirks. If you go in their first 6 months, you may help contribute to their ultimate success, but you should expect to have a less than perfect experience.
#66
mylo
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Posted 09 September 2006 - 09:01 PM
We finally gave La Dip a shot tonight. In summary, a good experience!
We had the Chedder and Beer cheese fondue, a California Salad, and pieced together a main course of chicken, steak, and mushrooms.
The service was casual but prompt and efficient. The prices seemed reasonable, and I liked the flexibility in their menu. We weren't in the mood for the "full course" $80 dollar feast, and really liked being able to pick and choose what we wanted.
The quality was good, and the portions reasonably sized. We chose the Wine cooking method and enjoyed it. Some pieces of steak looked a bit past their day, but other than that everything was fresh and delicious. The selection of sauces to go with the main dish was copious and they were all pretty tasty. Given our selection, however, we passed on items like the cocktail sauce
A bit dissapointed in their dessert wine selections (a port and a muscat), but since they don't have a full bar I guess they're somewhat limited. I think adding a few decent ports to the menu could make up for that lacking, however, and suggested the same to our waiter.
The decor is simple and the atmosphere effective. It did get a bit noisy sometimes with a few large groups. I feel they need to add some fabric to tone it down and make it a little more romantic, but the lights were dim and we didn't feel bothered too much.
We'll certainly be back and give it another whirl!
We had the Chedder and Beer cheese fondue, a California Salad, and pieced together a main course of chicken, steak, and mushrooms.
The service was casual but prompt and efficient. The prices seemed reasonable, and I liked the flexibility in their menu. We weren't in the mood for the "full course" $80 dollar feast, and really liked being able to pick and choose what we wanted.
The quality was good, and the portions reasonably sized. We chose the Wine cooking method and enjoyed it. Some pieces of steak looked a bit past their day, but other than that everything was fresh and delicious. The selection of sauces to go with the main dish was copious and they were all pretty tasty. Given our selection, however, we passed on items like the cocktail sauce
A bit dissapointed in their dessert wine selections (a port and a muscat), but since they don't have a full bar I guess they're somewhat limited. I think adding a few decent ports to the menu could make up for that lacking, however, and suggested the same to our waiter.
The decor is simple and the atmosphere effective. It did get a bit noisy sometimes with a few large groups. I feel they need to add some fabric to tone it down and make it a little more romantic, but the lights were dim and we didn't feel bothered too much.
We'll certainly be back and give it another whirl!
"Ah, yes, those Gucci extremists and their Prada jihad!" --ducky
#67
stacycam
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blah blah blah
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Posted 09 September 2006 - 10:15 PM
Yeah! I'm so happy to hear another positive report. I'm really hoping this place will stick around.
#68
Barb J
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Posted 11 September 2006 - 03:05 PM
We celebrated our anniversary at La Dip Fondue last week - we were pleasantly surprised. We ended up needing an early reservation - 5:00 because we had other plans later that evening. It turned out to be a great time to go - even our waiter said that we picked a great time, before the dinner rush. Our service was prompt and efficient - it was about an hour and a half long meal. We had the 4 course meal and enjoyed everything. It wasn't "oh my god I have to go back there again", but it was a fun experience & my 7 year old daughter wants to go their for her birthday!
Barb
Barb
#69
redman
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Posted 12 September 2006 - 08:54 AM
After much consideration my wife and I went last weekend. We are big fans of The Melting Pot downtown, so we were heasitant to go to another fondue place that might not compare well but costs the same.
Overall I would give La Dip a B+. They were good, quite good in fact, and things went smoothly unlike the early reviews posted here. HOWEVER, they are not up to Melting Pot standards, and unfortunately we will probably not go back to La Dip. Not because they are bad, but because Melting Pot is still better, and for $90 for two, it better be the best available.
With that said, I would not recommend against La Dip for anyone in the Folsom area looking for a fun and delicious meal who doesn't want to travel downtown or make advance reservations. La Dip was able to get us in with only an hours notice. The server and hostess were friendly and attentive. The food was very tasty and there was a nice selection of options. The dessert was quite good. Portions were generous. The salads were particularly tasty, perhaps even better than Melting Pot. We also liked the ravioli which were included on the vegitable plate. Another nice touch that's not available at Melting Pot.
Here are the things that don't quite measure up to Melting Pot. First, the cheese fondue is simply better at Melting Pot. The consistency is better, and the ingredients are more sophisticated. Same goes for the cooking broth options, and also the desserts. Generally the dipping items are more interesting. For example, Melting Pot offers cut pieces of cheesecake as one of the dessert dipping items. Nothing like that at La Dip. We also really prefer the decor, tables, and overall restaurant layout at Melting Pot. It just works better. At Melting Pot, they combine all the ingredients at your table for the cheese, main course, and dessert. It's fun to watch. At La Dip, they only prepare the cheese at your table, while everything else is done in the back. Finally, while the sauces provided with the main course at La Dip are good (they have bbq, pesto, etc.), they lack any kind of creamy sauces, while Melting Pot has several really good ones.
That's my review. Overall I'd say that if La Dip were cheaper than Melting Pot, we'd probably come back. But given they are as pricey as Melting Pot, we are always going to select the best of the two, which happens to be Melting Pot right now. We'll keep an eye on La Dip though, and see if things change.
Overall I would give La Dip a B+. They were good, quite good in fact, and things went smoothly unlike the early reviews posted here. HOWEVER, they are not up to Melting Pot standards, and unfortunately we will probably not go back to La Dip. Not because they are bad, but because Melting Pot is still better, and for $90 for two, it better be the best available.
With that said, I would not recommend against La Dip for anyone in the Folsom area looking for a fun and delicious meal who doesn't want to travel downtown or make advance reservations. La Dip was able to get us in with only an hours notice. The server and hostess were friendly and attentive. The food was very tasty and there was a nice selection of options. The dessert was quite good. Portions were generous. The salads were particularly tasty, perhaps even better than Melting Pot. We also liked the ravioli which were included on the vegitable plate. Another nice touch that's not available at Melting Pot.
Here are the things that don't quite measure up to Melting Pot. First, the cheese fondue is simply better at Melting Pot. The consistency is better, and the ingredients are more sophisticated. Same goes for the cooking broth options, and also the desserts. Generally the dipping items are more interesting. For example, Melting Pot offers cut pieces of cheesecake as one of the dessert dipping items. Nothing like that at La Dip. We also really prefer the decor, tables, and overall restaurant layout at Melting Pot. It just works better. At Melting Pot, they combine all the ingredients at your table for the cheese, main course, and dessert. It's fun to watch. At La Dip, they only prepare the cheese at your table, while everything else is done in the back. Finally, while the sauces provided with the main course at La Dip are good (they have bbq, pesto, etc.), they lack any kind of creamy sauces, while Melting Pot has several really good ones.
That's my review. Overall I'd say that if La Dip were cheaper than Melting Pot, we'd probably come back. But given they are as pricey as Melting Pot, we are always going to select the best of the two, which happens to be Melting Pot right now. We'll keep an eye on La Dip though, and see if things change.
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