Location, Location, Location. On Saturday, I had dinner at the Melting Pot in Larkspur. The cocktails were fabulous, as was the chocolate fondue, but the location is what this restaurant is all about.
The Melting Pot is housed in a California Historical Landmark #917- the Greenbrae Brick Kiln. According to the California Environmental Resource Agency, the brick kiln is the only surviving structure of the Remillard Brick Company, once the largest brick manufacturer on the Pacific Coast. During its 103 years of operation, its bricks were used to rebuild Ghirardelli Square, the Palace Hotel, and other San Francisco structures after the 1906 earthquake.
The atmosphere is dark, the ceilings are low, and cell phones don’t work in this brick, fortress style building. Dinners include way more food than any normal person can or needs to eat, but it is worth a stop just for the atmosphere. The dining areas are narrow and dim. One “wing” of the restaurant is nicknamed Lovers Lane for its cozy two person tables. They are very private- you can’t see any other diners. The food is good (if you like lots of cheese and chocolate), but the service was questionable. Our salads came after our entree-a pretty big service faux pas. When I asked the person (ok boy!) who brought our wine if he was the sommelier for the evening, he said sommel-what? Hmmm. Fabulous location- well worth a stop, but next time, I think I will just stick with the drinks at the bar.