This casual restaurant chain you’ve probably never been to was just named best in America.

The Melting Pot beat out restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory, Bonefish Grill, Texas Roadhouse, and Olive Garden for the title of “best casual restaurant” from Nation’s Restaurant News’ Consumer Picks survey.

With 135 locations around the world, Melting Pot is smaller than many restaurant chains featured. By comparison, Olive Garden has more than 800 restaurants.

Nation’s Restaurant News consumrs on customer service, cleanliness, atmosphere, and craveability. Melting Pot won all of these categories.

The brand executed a turnaround plan that is paying off — especially with millennials, CEO Mike Lester told Business Insider.

“We knew we had to start going after the right consumer,” Lester said. “We’re always refining our menu, restaurant design, and customer service around them.”

Focusing on young consumers has helped Melting Pot grow sales and traffic during an industry downturn.

Melting Pot offers a 4-course tasting menu in which customers get a cheese fondue appetizer, salad, entree, and chocolate fondue dessert.

It also offers any item a la carte.

Providing customers with customization options has been key to success, Lester said.

For instance, the brand’s cheese fondues vary by region. Three of the cheeses are standard, while the other three are chosen by franchisees.

“In Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, we offer a cheese fondue with bourbon and bacon,” Lester said. “Bourbon is big in that region, so we can appeal to the customers there.”

Melting Pot has also added seafood, such as lobster tail, to its entree menu.
For now, the brand is planning a summer menu that includes corn and shrimp.
Source: businessinsider
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