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The 10 Best Fondue Spots In New York City

Whether chocolate or cheese, fondue means good times. Us hard working New Yorkers deserve their share with friends and lovers alike. We want the cheese version not overly thick or gunky, served hot, hot, and infused with any number of classic or unusual flavors to bring out the fine character of the fromages: wine, beer, pepper, sweetness, nuttiness. As for chocolate—well, as long as it's fantastic, we're just excited they melted it. By Anna Van Lenten

Artisanal Fromagerie and Bistro

Artisanal Bistro Fondue
(credit: Artisanal Bistro/Facebook)

2 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212) 725-8585
artisanalbistro.com
Reviews & more info

Artisinal's fondue types are each a world of love and allow numerous dippers, from apples to potatoes to beef tips. The house blend gratifies with caramelized notes of Comté and slightly acidic, resiny taste of Vacherin. The Gouda & Stout has a sweet-nutty-beery depth. Manchego & Chorizo's buttery piquancy with the spicy sausage is gorgeous.

Bourgeois Pig

Bourgeois Pig
(credit: Bourgeois Pig/Facebook)

111 E 7th St
(between 1st Ave & Avenue A)
New York, NY 10009
Neighborhoods: East Village, Alphabet City
(212) 475-2246
bourgeoispigny.com
Reviews & more info

Fondue-a-plenty to choose from. The Gruyère will mesmerize your appetite, unless you also order the Mozarrella (with Provelone, Parmesan and Romano) whose rosemary, thyme, and oregano damn near beats all. Their Rarebit is a super solid, classic pot of fromage heaven. And the dark chocolate fondue with Grand Marnier is peerless.

Brasserie Julien

Fondue
file photo/Clipart

1422 3rd Avenue
(between 80th St & 81st St)
New York, NY 10028
Neighborhoods: Upper East Side, Yorkville
(212) 744-6327
brasseriejulien.com
Reviews & more info

Brasserie Julien has just one fondue on its menu, and that's all it needs to hang with the best of them. Called Royal Cheese Fondue, it melts Gruyère, Comté, and Beauforte cheeses with Chardonnay and Kirschwasser brandy. The fruit of the brandy and mellow zing of the wine delve into the nutty, sweet and sharp elements of the cheeses, while never overpowering the whole.

Craftbar

Craftbar
(credit: Craftbar/Facebook)

900 Broadway
New York, NY 10079
(212) 461-4300

When it's on the menu, Craftbar's warm pecorino fondue with honey, hazelnuts and pepperoncini will recalibrate the way you think of fondue—these flavors knock up against each other and then meld. The hazelnuts pick up nuttiness in the cheese, and the sweetness of the honey rounds out the bite of the pepperoncini. Superb.

Extra Virgin

Extra Virgin
(credit: Extra Virgin/Facebook)

259 W 4th St
(between Charles St & Perry St)
New York, NY 10014
Neighborhood: West Village
(212) 691-9359
extravirginrestaurant.com
Reviews & more info

The dish is called Fries with Gorgonzola fondue. It's a side, but it's so outrageous, you're going to come out smiling. The superior crisp-cream ratio of the fries and the tangy, moldy-in-a-great-way Gorgonzola seem almost simple how their pleasures reciprocate.

Kashkaval

Dessert Platter from Kashkaval
Dessert Platter from Kashkaval (credit: Kashkaval/Facebook)

856 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(212) 581-8282
kashkaval.com
Reviews & more info

Four wonders here, but go with the Kashkaval first—its smooth mildness, piqued with a light tang, and a hint of olive oil, is dreamy. The Gorgonzola – for those who know and love this cheese -- makes you think, Finally! The Classic Swiss and Cheddar and Ale are both majorly good. Chocolate fondue for dessert is smooth with a bit of bittersweet.

Ocean Grill

Ocean Grill
(credit: Ocean Grill/Facebook)

384 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10024
(212) 579-2300
oceangrill.com
Reviews & more info

An unexpected place to find it, but the chocolate fondue here is too extraordinary not to recommend. The marvelously dark, smooth chocolate (Trudelia, 58%), is melted decadence with a sophisticated edge. It comes with mini rice krispie treats, marshmallows, brownie pieces, and fresh fruit.

Taureau

Fondue
(file photo credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

127 E 7th Street
New York, NY 10009
(212) 228-2222
taureaunyc.com

That silly divide between dark and milk chocolate lovers will disappear when confronted with both fondues here—milk and dark come with fresh fruits and marshmallows. For the cheese, start with the Soprano, a deeply pleasing union of nutmeg, Gran Padano and American. Perigord adds truffles to that blend, and Devil's Whiff will blow you away with its pepperoncini-extra sharp cheddar explosiveness.

Vintner Wine Market

Vintner Wine Market
(credit: vintnerwinemarketny.com)

671 9th Ave
New York, NY 10036
(212) 957-7500
vintnerwinemarketny.com

The classic Swiss—emmenthaler, gruyere and chardonnay—will transport you to the slopes of St. Moritz with its delicate, almost sweet, salty lushness. The cheddar and ale version delivers a heady blend of tang, cream, and hoppy zest. The bread, apples, and salami it comes with make the dish ample and meant for sharing.

Hotel Griffou

Hotel Griffou
(credit: Hotel Griffou/Facebook)

21 W 9th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 358-0228

Hotel Griffou's Lobster Thermidor Fondue outdoes most other attempts to marry fish and cheese, a paring viewed by some as blasphemy. In the case of Griffou, you'll relish disproving this. A bubbling, small cauldron of fragrant Gruyère, cheddar, and fontina is served with slices of toasted French baguette and Parmesan chips. You wind up relishing the way it breaks the rules.

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