Serendipity 3

I am in love with everything about this "small whole in the wall" called Serendipity. The precious restaurant has a type of joy and warm-hearted feeling to it for me. I love the word serendipity and by definition I believe it to be the sweetest word in the English language. I believe in serendipity wholeheartedly and I am ecstatic each and every time I am in the presence of the restaurant. You have a wonderful thing going for you, and I am a pleased customer. more

Serendipity! Contrary to it's definition this was a well planned visit and expectation of scrumptious food and frozen hot chocolate. =) The first time I ever tried Serendipity was in Vegas when they opened up their branch by Caesars Palace. Oh my, oh my, it was heaven. I'm a Chocoholic soooo anything chocolate I may en up just devouring but I am also a very picky Chocolatier. Their frozen hot chocolate was amazing. The name itself pretty much sums it up...its hot chocolate, but frozen! Haha When I finally came to NYC the original Serendipity was a must on my list of things to do. It's a touristy attraction, so there probably will be some sort of a wait. When my girlfriends and I went we lucked out because the wait was only about 15 mins. I've heard that it can definitely be much longer. The restaurant is so cute. Tons of decorations all over, Serendipity memorabilia, chocolate anything, Cupcakes and any kinda of cute lil trinkettes decorate this place. The ambiance is just an overall fun and pleasant one. So it's a two story building. When you first enter the restaurant, it's narrow and can get a lil crowded in their waiting area/ hallway. You have the option of dining upstairs or down. I've had the opportunity for both. Downstairs its awesome, a bit small but sorta a café-ish area with random things hanging on the walls amidst a pretty stained glass chandelier. Upstairs it a little more open, higher ceilings and has a old school Victorian effect with all the moldings. This place has such a great variety for foods ranging from appetizers, all sorts of entres and not to mention their desserts. They have this cool dessert that's like a million dollar version of their frozen hot chocolate that they serve with edible gold flakes or something. Unfortunately, my friends and I got the "commoner" version minus the edible gold flakes. But hey, I guess if I was that rich I wouldn't mind wearing and eating my gold! Overall, every time I've gone I've had a great experience and have never been disappointed. Cheers! more

best place for deserts ever had the frozen hot chocolate and the strawberry short cake is delicious more

I've enjoyed going to Serendipity 3 for dessert for many years now. Their signature drink, the frozen hot chocolate is delicious, dark and unique but their Forbidden Broadway Sundae actually does it one better. Oodles of hot fudge, dark cake and ice cream layer together to intense and satisfying combination. The portion sizes are massive and are appropriate for sharing. The staff border on the friendly side of a line that separates it from arrogance. Ignore the staff and go for the dessert ... it's a great end to an evening if you can stomach the the 2 hour wait. more

Visiting Serendipity 3 was such an enjoyable experience for myself and my two kids, that we go regularly and each time it is worth the long wait . We just head down the street for a Dylan's Candy bar while we waitThe cake is fresh baked and warm and the ice cream is delicious Layer after layer of of deliciousness more

This was my second visit to Serendipity 3. I had seen it in two films and was not disappointed at all. Perhaps because we visited around 2pm on a weekday afternoon if October (1st time) and January (this time) we did not experience any queues, nor did we book. I, being a lover of butter pecan ice cream had the Insanity Sundae, both visits - see photo. My companions, however have tried, burgers, sandwiches, french toast and foot long hot dogs. this visit we also tried frozen hot chocolate and hot hot chocolate. Perhaps because there was a couple of feet of snow outside the frozen hot chocolate was not appreciated as much as the hot one. If you want to try the frozen one it comes with 4 straws so is good for sharing. We love the Tiffany lampshades and eclectic decor. The menu is worth reading just for the read. I would happily return again & again. more

For a such a sweet tooth like me, this place is like a chocolate paradise on Earth!!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!!! I love the super cute interior, super delicious desserts and the fairytale atmosphere!!! I know a lot of people complain about wait time, but there are some ways to reduce it:) Me and my husband have been there couple of times, and I never had to wait! more

My Cousin took me here. I really liked it. I recently moved to NY fro ma different country, and its so much different over her.e the tastes and everything. really nice more

Peanut butter hot chocolate. Enough said. YUM. more

Visited Serendipity for our second time on a Saturday night after a show. Upon arrival, the host put us on the list with a 45 minute wait which ended up being about 40. Having enjoyed Serendipity once before, the hubby and I knew our plan of attack because we ended up ordering too much food the last time. There’s a minimum of $8.50 per person and since we were there for dessert, we decided to split a Frrrrrrozen Hot Chocolate and also a the apple pie sundae with cinnamon ice cream, caramel topping and whipped cream. The Frrrrrrrozen Hot Chocolate was as tasty as we remember it being and was perfect for two (last time we each ordered one and it was a bit much). The apple pie sundae was amazing! There’s something about the entire combination with cinnamon ice cream! Highly recommend. Our total bill with tip was $32. Ambiance is great and the Tiffany lampshades add a lot of charm. more

Unprofessional, arrogant, rude wait staff. Manager is similarly underwhelming. Hugely disappointing visit. Spend your time & money elsewhere, as Manhattan is loaded with great alternatives. My wife and I were turned away on our 10th wedding anniversary. We arrived on time only to find Serendipity 3 had fumbled our reservations. Instead of owning their mistake, they directly challenged our integrity. Needless to say, I was not prepared for it. The open hostility we received made me feel like someone had slapped my face. What jerks-- they deserve to suffer in a down economy. more

This restaurant is packed allll the time!!! I would suggest to know you are going a few months in advance and call for reservations before even attempting to come here!! The wait is extremely long, but extremely worth it. The frozen hot chocolate is amazing, mmm, mouth watering just thinking about it and the food is good too. But if you got a sweet tooth, this is your place, like heaven! more

I first heard about Serendipity 3 from Oprah (May she someday run for President!) and had to try it for myself. They make this Frrrozen Hot Chocolate (Yes it's spelled correctly!) that is to die for. It's hot chocolate but they frozen (hence the name) and they serve it to you with whip cream on top. It's like the best chocolate drink ever! A little costly but so worth the price. If you don't live in New York you can buy the frozen version online or make it yourself. Here's the recipe: http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/food/recipes/food_20041028_frrrozen.jhtml more

So, I guess it's the hype that has this place packed with the hour long waitlist on the Saturday night... just for desserts, because I don't get it. I saw the movie.... but I still don't get it. Or maybe it's because I'm not a huge desserts person. While looking over the menu, nothing seemed to jump out at me so I went with my friend's choice of the Forbidden Broadway Sundae. It's fine as sundaes go... ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate cake, hot fudge... but nothing that made me go "Wow!". The Frozen Hot Chocolate was definitely novel, and if you really like hot chocolate I'd think it'd be pretty good. However, I think they should probably have crushed the ice a bit more to give the drink a finer consistency, because it was a bit like a slush puppy near the end of the drink. more

Serendipity 3 is a fun restaurant that is famous for its frozen hot chocolate and was featured in the movie Serendipity. I just love it here! The ambiance is so fun and whimsical and the frozen hot chocolate is to die for. The food was good as well and other desserts looked great. They sell a neat assortment of odds and ends here, my favorite being the Frozen Hot Chocolate kit! It gets extremely crowded here and I have never seen it not crowded. Call ahead for a reservation. more

Serendipty III is apparently the place to be at night, every night. Every single time I go, I have to put my name down and wait outside that small little place. I don't know that it is well worth the wait. The food is only mediocre; decent, but nothing special. Their desserts are HUGE; you definately have to share with a friend or two. The Frrozen Hot Chocolate, although good, is a little tooo chocolaty and sweet. I like the Strawberry Field's sundae and the Apricot Smush, also. Serendipity III is the kind of place you have to try at least once because it's just one of those New York places, the kind that when asked about you'd like to say "Yes, I've been there." more

Until I read it in another review here I had forgotten that Serendipity even had food. It's all about the dessert. More specifically it's all about the hot chocolate. The crowd is a weird mix, depending on teh hour -- children's birthday parties, girls nights out and yuppies trying to relive their eighties glory days. But again, Frozen Hot Chocolate. Be warned though, the place is absurdly pricey for what it is. more

Don't be surprised when the host or hostess is ticked at you for not being there right when s/he called your name for your table. They deal with a full house pretty much all day and night. The food is expensive (for what you are getting - simple American cuisine), but it is a good idea to eat something before indulging in the delicious desserts. FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE is a must. Lemon icebox pie is another favorite of my gal friends. We usually eat before coming here to dive into Sugar Rush Land. more

You have to go to Serendipity 3 at least one to sample their frozen hot chocolate. I think people have been excited about the place far before the movie with the same name came out. It's a fun place that has ecclectic decor and actually is good for more than just dessert. We've eaten dinner there and it's actually very good. The pasta and fish extrees were excellent! And don't forget to try the frozen hot chocolate. I like the peanut butter one! more

The Scene Nestled in the heart of the Upper East Side, Serendipity 3 could hardly be in a snugger, safer or more mainstream spot. The clean white walls, complemented by Tiffany-style lighting, create a welcoming, easygoing warmth. The Food The restaurant is primarily a dessert spot. The dessert is just simply sublime, sinful and massive. Aficionados swear by the frozen hot chocolate, made from no fewer than 14 kinds of chocolate ground into a rich slush. Another Must-Try dessert is Forbidden Broadway Cake. You will be blissed out in creamy sweet abandon. The Price There is a minimum charge of $6/person. Desserts range from $6-$20 The Wait Line The line is ALWAYS long. no matter what time you go there, you still have to wait for at least 1 hr to get a table. more