4, 5, 6 at 59th St.; N, R, W at Lexington Ave.-59th St.
Prices
$9.50-$20.50
Payment Methods
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Special Features
Brunch - Daily
Good for Groups
Great Desserts
Kid-Friendly
Late-Night Dining
Lunch
Teen Appeal
Alcohol
No Alcohol
Reservations
Recommended
Profile
Okay, so the lamps aren't really Tiffany, and the chili on the foot-long hot dog is for wusses. There aren't many places left that make you want to blow bubbles through an ice-cream-soda straw. Serendipity 3 is proof that life isn't always a cabaret -- sometimes it's a sweet-sixteen party. Half Provincetown antique-queen attic, half Mad Hatter tea party, it's one of the few spaces kids like that doesn't have a ride. And stupid drinks like apricot smushes, big burgers, and towering sundaes mean that they might even shut up and eat. But 3 has one chilly bowl of magnificence that would render the place a must-visit if it was served atop a Dumpster. Frozen Hot Chocolate -- please don't try to make sense of it, just sip it, slowly -- is what Cristal might taste like if it came in a flavor called fudge brownie. It's like riding the Cyclone and giving a hickey: You have to do it at least once in your life. — Hal Rubenstein
Recommended Dishes
Cheddar burger with fries, $13; frozen hot chocolate, $8.50
4.8
"Mixed Reviews" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10
50%
Would you go back?
45%
Would you take a date?
60%
Would you take kids?
5%
Would you go on business?
25%
Would you go on a special occasion?
Food:
5.1
Service:
4.6
Décor:
6.8
Value:
4.2
The strangest and worst restaurant experience I have ever had!
I stopped at Serendipity for dessert with a small group after lunch at another restaurant. Service was so slow that I needed to leave before I finished my dessert to make it to another appointment and they refused to give me a container for my ice cream!!! I paid $15 for that sundae, and they wouldn't let me take it with me because "they were proud of their dessert" and letting me take the ice cream and pie out "would damage the integrity of the pie." WHAT??? I couldn't even believe I heard these ridiculous words come out of his mouth. And did I mention that this was the manager speaking? The waiter ran to get the manager as soon as I asked for a carryout container! Apparently I not the only uppity customer who has wanted to take their expensive leftovers with them! It was so ridiculous that a lady at the table next to me offered me a used bag to carry my dessert. Unbelievable! I recommend avoiding this crazy place at all costs - there are many great places for dessert in NYC. If you insist on visiting this one, bring your tupperware!
Cons: Rude, insulting service.
My wife and I traveled to NYC for our tenth wedding anniversary and booked reservations well in advance. We arrived to Serendipity 3 only to be "greeted" by an unprofessional person who couldn't find us on their reservation list. We were given the third degree in a naked attempt to get us out the door. He summoned his manager so the two of them, standing only a few feet away and at full volume, could openly question whether or not we were *lying* about our reservation!
I calmly restated the facts regarding when / how we booked up and who my wife spoke with, but it was clear we were a problem for them and no longer welcome.
I maintained my composure, stating I was "very disappointed by this" but inside I felt like shouting at the top of my lungs for having to bear such unacceptable treatment. Three minutes at Serendipity 3 were like a ten minute slap in the face. Serendipity 3-- the only restaurant I've ever loathed.
Avoid at all costs. They do not deserve your business.