Drive by a nondescript stripmall off Manchester Road in Ballwin on any given evening, and you’ll wonder where the party is. Cars circle the once modestly populated parking lot, waiting for a coveted spot to open while folks from all walks of life, dressed in everything from shorts and tank tops to maxi dresses and heels, line up at double glass doors.
The reason for the commotion: Melt n Dip (15575 Manchester), a new-to-St. Louis phenomenon that has already become one of the area’s hottest dessert destinations.
That spectacle—as well as the delicious food—is what drew Missouri franchisee Momammad Ayyash to Melt n Dip, first as a customer at its store in Chicago and now as owner of the Ballwin location.
As he explains it, the whole idea of the concept, which opened June 30, is to bring over-the-top dessert joy to St. Louis, something apparent from both the dazzling array of indulgence and the air of merriment that fills the large space.
“It’s just fun,” says Ayyash. “When you see how much there is to choose from, there’s just no way you will ever get bored.”
The Concept & Space
Founded in the United Arab Emirates in 2013, Melt n Dip opened its first U.S. store a decade later in Wisconsin and then gradually expanded to other states such as Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Florida.
As the sole Missouri franchisee, Aayash has plans to open Melt n Dip locations in other parts of the state, but he chose Ballwin for his first location because of its diversity of cultures and busy location. “We want to appeal to all kinds of people, and Ballwin has a diversity of culture. There are large Muslim and Christian communities and people from all walks of life here,” says Ayyash. “Plus, a lot of people pass by us every day on Manchester. The city has been very easy to work with, and everyone’s been welcoming and warm.”
That warmth is evident the moment you walk into Melt n Dip. The atmosphere is festive and bustling. Although the space is large, even on a weeknight, nearly every table is filled with friends, multi-generational families, and people on dates.
While the room itself has the industrial look of a strip-mall storefront, Ayyash has warmed up the space with Midcentury-inspired wood paneling, leather chairs with arms, greenery, and pendant lighting. The desserts themselves add to the décor; a display of fresh fruits, a large gelato case, decorative Arabic coffee settings, and three multi-tiered chocolate fountains near the order counter all add to the scene.
Ayyash hopes that people will think of Melt n Dip as a place to spend an evening or just pop in. With that in mind, he’s excited that the location is open late—the restaurant serves until midnight seven days a week, something he feels will appeal to those looking for something fun to do after a movie or work.
The Menu
Melt n Dip revolves around decadent sweets, and the massive menu truly has something for everyone—so much that it can feel impossible to decide what to order.
“I always like to ask people if they are into chocolate or fruits and then go from there,” Ayyash says. “Some people want something hot, and some want cold. Some don’t like dairy, and they want something more, like a fruit plate or juice. Everything we offer is high-quality, so it’s really up to personal preference.”
The idea at Melt n Dip is to select the style of dessert you would like and then decide how you’d like it dressed. Crepes (both traditional and pouch-like), waffles, cookies, fruit platters, cakes, gelato, shakes, and cheesecakes serve as a canvas for every sweet accoutrement imaginable: white, dark, and milk chocolate (or all three), Oreos, bananas, brownies, apple cinnamon, pistachios, cotton candy, and whipped cream.
Although guests can customize their selections, the restaurant offers a seemingly endless number of composed desserts, such as the signature Melt n Dip waffle, which pairs the pillow-soft offering with a trio of chocolates, bananas, pineapple, strawberries, and kiwi. The same preparation is also available as a crepe.
Other specialties include the Pina Colada crepe, a pouch-like dessert filled with pastry cream, coconut flakes, and fresh pineapple served with a trio of chocolate, a lotus butter-stuffed traditional crepe, a pistachio waffle topped with pistachio spread, white chocolate, pistachios and pistachio gelato, an assortment of adorned eclairs, a lava cake, and a riff on a Rice Krispies treat.
Melt n Dip also offers some of the most of-the-moment desserts, including the Dubai chocolate crepe, a riff on the wildly popular Dubai chocolate bar, which pairs a crepe with pistachio spread, kunafe (a shredded pastry dough), pistachios, and milk chocolate. The trendy Dubai strawberry cup is also available; here, layers of fresh strawberries are served with pistachio spread, kunafe, and melted chocolate.
Although Melt n Dip specializes in show-stopping concoctions, the restaurant also serves more straightforward offerings such as gelato, fruit plates, shakes, and smoothies.
Fresh-squeezed juices, ranging from apple and grape to pineapple and carrot, are also available, in addition to mango nectar, lemonade, and guava juice.
Coffee drinks, a variety of hot chocolates, and teas round out the comprehensive beverage menu.
The Backstory
Before opening Melt n Dip—his first foray into the restaurant business—Ayyash operated grocery stores in South County. An entrepreneur at heart, he was always looking to grow and try new things, and when he came across Melt n Dip while visiting Illinois, he knew right away that it was a venture for him.
“I felt that this would be a success and that we would be doing something that is not already being done in St. Louis,” says Ayyash. “We love St. Louis, and we are so happy that people are excited to try our food.”
Melt n Dip
📍 11575 Manchester, Ballwin
📞 636-220-1168
⏰ Hours: 3 p.m. – 12 a.m. Mon-Fri; 12 p.m. – 12 a.m. Fri-Sat
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