Few things say love like melted cheese - and melted cheese is just one of the things The Melting Pot in Tacoma does well. This delectable melted cheese Mecca is often one of the more expensive restaurants in T-Town, and it's not hard to rack up a $100 bill for a two-person meal. Fortunately for all, The Melting Pot serves up a fairly affordable happy hour.

Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The best deals center around cheese and chocolate - namely, $4 off of any cheese and chocolate fondues.

There are several cheese fondue choices, all priced at $16 (happy hour brings it down to $12) and serving up artisan breads, veggies and Granny Smith apples to dip into the melted cheese of choice. Cheese fondue selections include the Traditional, created from Gruyere and Emmenthaler cheeses. More adventurous souls may lean toward the Fiesta or Spinach and Artichoke fondues. Other fondues feature cheddar or traditional Wisconsin cheese such as Fontina and Butterkase.

There are also several chocolate fondues on the dessert menu, also priced at $16 for a happy hour price of $12. You can get straight-up melted chocolate, a chocolate-peanut-butter swirl, or more creative concoctions such as bananas foster or s'mores.

Of course, what's happy hour without a few drinks. Select wines are $7, premium well drinks are $5 and draft beers are $1 off. Along with fondue options, happy hour deals also include $4 off brie plates and $2 off of salads. Prices are available in the lounge area only.

All in all, if you can make it to The Melting Pot during happy hour, you can enjoy a full dining experience for a fraction of the usual price at this hot date spot. If you can't get here during happy hour, Ladies' Night takes place every Thursday night, all night long. Women get happy hour drink prices and $20 cheese fondues, salads, and select chocolate fondues.

Tacoma is fortunate enough to have a Melting Pot location right downtown at 2121 Pacific Avenue -close to the Theatre District and right next to Tacoma's museums, if you want to make an evening or afternoon of your experience.