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    Serendipity 3 - Upper East Side

    3.3 (5.2k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Serendipity 3 - Upper East Side Takeout or Delivery

    Serendipity 3 - Upper East Side Photos

    Business Info

    SERENDIPITY 3 - UPPER EAST SIDE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Touristy
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Serendipity 3 - Upper East Side

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    Reviews With Photos

    The menu
    Raven Q.

    Come hungry... and save room for dessert I finally got to experience Serendipity 3, and I completely understand why it's such a New York classic. My mom, my son, and I went on the 4th of July, and with the World Cup going on too, the city just had such a fun energy. It made for a really great day. First off, my son loved it because it's bright, colorful, and just fun inside. There's so much to look at, and it definitely has that whimsical feel. Of course, me and my mom had to get the boozy Frozen Hot Chocolates. I mean... that's what they're known for. They were delicious. To start, we ordered the Ferris Wheel of Appetizers, and baby... that was a whole experience by itself. The Boom Boom Shrimp? Hands down one of my favorites. The mozzarella sticks had the perfect crunch, and y'all already know I'm a sucker for a good cheese pull. The chicken scallion dumplings were also really good, especially with that peanut sauce. I could've eaten those all day. For dinner, my mom got the bacon cheeseburger with onion rings. Those onion rings? Perfection. Crispy, flavorful, and exactly how an onion ring should be. I ordered one of their barbecue burgers that came with a bacon jam and blue cheese crumbles, and it was so good. A good burger is honestly hard to come by, but this one definitely delivered. The fries were great too. And if you've been following my reviews, then you already know...My son is the ultimate french fry critic. He loved them, so that's saying something. For dessert, we all shared the FIFA World Cup Sundae, and it was such a fun way to end the meal. I also have to give a huge shout-out to Randy, our server. Randy was AMAZING. He knew the menu inside and out, made fantastic recommendations, and every single recommendation was a hit. He was friendly, funny, attentive, and honestly made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Since then, I've actually gone back with my cousin because one visit clearly wasn't enough. This time we went more for appetizers and dessert. We ordered the General Tso's-style cauliflower, and let me tell y'all...GET IT. It is so good. For dessert, I did the banana split with three scoops instead of the giant six-scoop version, and it was everything I wanted. My cousin got the Cookies & Cream Sundae, and that was delicious too. Overall, Serendipity 3 is just fun. Good food.Great desserts.Great drinks.Great atmosphere. It's one of those places that's perfect for family, date night, birthdays, girls' days, or honestly anytime you just want to have a good time. My only advice? Go hungry! The food is filling, and if you're going for dessert, make sure you leave yourself some room because those sundaes are absolutely ginormous. Trust me... you're going to need it.

    Dulcia C.

    I've been coming to Serendipity 3 for years, and it never disappoints. This time, we celebrated my birthday and decided to stop by for dessert afterward. It was my daughter's first visit, and she absolutely loved it! From the fun atmosphere to the delicious desserts, everything made the experience feel extra special. She hasn't stopped talking about it and is already asking when we can come back. Serendipity continues to be one of my favorite New York traditions, and it's so special to now be creating those same memories with my daughter. Highly recommend!

    Aleena A.

    What a trip down memory lane as a kid! This is like a mad hatter style restaurant great for kids, but many things for adults. Still seems like an iconic NYC spot. There's only one bathroom for the two floors and it's big and generally nice but it does sit across from a few tables. The tables are very small for all the big orders and of course it's a little pricey but definitely better to split items and enjoy the ambiance. Delicious frozen hot chocolate for chocolate lovers. They ran out of my tea (earl grey) which was surprising for a Wednesday afternoon. Fun tea spot. Lots of food options.

    Smores frozen hot chocolate
    Sophia R.

    The smores hot chocolate is life changing. I go every time I am in the city. Just PERFECTION. Tonight was no different-- nice server, quick seating, delicious frozen hot chocolate. I love the whimsical decor.

    Napkin and utensils
    Natasha N.

    I ordered the "A walk on the moon" and it was so cute the way it was presented. The staff are so warm and welcoming. I can all the way from Sacramento, CA with intentions of coming here.

    Frozen hot chocolate
    Vincent Y.

    I heard so many great things about this place, but unfortunately they fell short of my expectations. I had their Frozen hot chocolate which was $20 which I think is a bit ridiculous for essentially what is a milkshake but less flavor. The fries were good, seasoned with lots of a salt and had a nice outer crisp but dipping it into the frozen hot chocolate wasn't good despite it being a normally good combination anywhere else. The staff also wasn't very attentive towards the 2nd floor. I waited 5-10 minutes to get my bill finally and they hardly checked in at all.

    Hot fudge sundae with vanilla and mint chip ice cream.
    Nicole G.

    Walked in to a darker type of entry and waited at the unattended front desk. But very clean and calm place. After 1 min someone came, and seated our family of 4 for our reservation 8:30pm. Establishment was not too busy, maybe 3 tables, very close together. The two sundaes we ordered came out within 10 mins, and it was a very quick, clean, pleasant experience. Not sure it's worth doing again as we frequently visit NYC, but definitely hit it for the nostalgia.

    Pecan pie
    Tara C.

    Hello movie groupies - this is the official place of the rom com movie! Check out the table upstairs. We came in to celebrate a birthday and they did such a great job honoring Aunt 70th birthday! Candles and singing included! We branched out a little bit and tried the ultimate creme cheesecake, apple A La Mode, chocolate cake, pecan pie. They were all fantastic. The cheesecake is one of the best I've had. Super moist and fluffy. The decor is so whimsical and cheeeful! The service is great! Our server Gio was so friendly!! I

    Chicken and waffles
    Ashley M.

    Very cute place! I always wanted to come here and I finally decided to come for my birthday dinner. The service was quick, I reserved online. The waiter was very nice and attentive. The food portion sizes are huge, def shareable in my opinion. Great place to come to try out at least once.

    Cheesecake
    Witten P.

    We got frozen hot chocolate, cheesecake, and Forbidden Broadway Sundae, they were all really good. Our server was really nice and attentive, and the dessert came out really quick. It's a really cool old ice cream shop vibe, it has a lot of little decorations worth looking at. We dined on the first floor, but the second floor is just as cool. Overall really worth it to come here.

    Dining room
    Angel R.

    Haven't been here in years ! Since my kids were small . Fun to stop in for some food and enjoy the wacky fun decor . Staff is helpful and kind .

    Brigitte L.

    Came here for lunch in celebration of our 20 year anniversary. We last came here when our daughter was about 7 years old (now she's 16). Hubs made a reservation but we arrived early which was no issue at all and they sat us immediately. We were seated downstairs and I loved our table. It was cozy. This place gets packed pretty fast so I'd recommend getting in early or making a reservation. And note: if there are any souvenirs you want as keepsakes you can have your server grab and put on your tab for ya. Makes it so much easier. I absolutely love the Serendipity movie with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. The movie was filmed at this Serendipity 3 location in the upstairs area. The "3" in the name of the restaurant is in reference to 3 friends who opened the café. Serendipity = The art of finding the pleasantly unexpected by chance or sagacity. We ordered the footlong hot dog (hubs) and the grilled chicken sandwich (me). I knew I wanted a frozen hot chocolate also but waited to order until after we ate. And I was so full that I asked if they do them to go which they do! And you get a cute hard plastic reusable cup that it's put in. Win win :)- then I could enjoy my frozen treat as we walk through the hot furnace of a city. Food was delicious but the portions are HUGE. Skip the food or share something because you CANNOT SKIP THE FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE.

    Sign on door says reopening 7/9
    Simon W.

    Finally! Serendipity's frozen hot chocolate for me has been one of those foodie bucket list items for a while now. Every time I've tried to visit in the past, there was always a reason for missing out, either the wait for a table was too long or they weren't taking walk-ins. Going in between normal lunch and dinner times was the sweet spot for less wait. When I finally made it I have to say the signature item was worth a try. First glance, the ratio of whipped cream to frozen hot chocolate could have been adjusted more in favor of the latter. The abundance of whipped cream certainly provided a grandiose impression but so much of the whipped cream was left behind. Once you go beyond the whipped cream façade, the dessert which is served cold, mimics the rich "hot" chocolate flavor well. Certainly worth the effort to visit. As it was inbetween meals I got snacks, nachos and onion rings to fulfill the per person minimum spend requirement. The nachos were pretty good, but the onion rings needed more seasoning. The decor was definitely fun and whimsical. While waiting for my food to arrive I my eyes were amused with the surroundings. There are opportunities to take photos during your visit. There is a section in front of the restaurant with souvenirs and trinkets catering to the touristy crowd. One big thing to note is there is a per person minimum listed on the menu but some have said it's not really enforced. I did adhere to that stated requirement which I guess is to counter folks coming in just for the fancy dessert. For me this was a one and done cross off the list.

    Iconic Tiffany Lamps

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    Amazing food and service, will come again , very unique experience in heart of times square.

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    Page 1 of 131

    Serendipity 3 - Upper East Side Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Serendipity 3 - Upper East Side

    Do they take walk ins?

    Yes! We did a walk-in when we went. Granted it was during the afternoon (and not peak busy hours).

    Are reservations required?

    I don't think it's required, but I'd highly recommend that you have a reservation. We had a reservation and there was a big line waiting without

    Do you accept cash?

    Yes but bring a lot of it

    Do they accept solo diners? I keep trying to make a reservation and as soon as you put 1 person it says no tables (if you put 2 then tables every hour). I'm tempted to put two people and just show up but- is there a bar for a solo person to eat?

    There is no bar , well I didn't see a bar , but I think you should make a reservation for 2 and tell them the person cancel last minute and you will have your solo dinner !!

    Is there a minimum you need to spend per person? Even children?

    According to the reservation it's supposed to be $18.95 per person. However, it isn't linked and no deposit taken. So, not quite. It wasn't enforced per say and don't see how it can be tracked. And my bill just for 2 was well more because I we got… 

    Is this a better spot for brunch or dinner?

    Either is fine. However there aren't a whole lot of breakfast items on the menu

    Why can i not make a solo reservation for one guest?

    Yep!

    Where do I go to make a reservation?

    Their website. Def make in advance. They were turning away walk ins when I was there a few weeks ago

    With a reservation, do you still have to wait in line?? Update: We got here 20 minutes early and still had to wait in line. Everyone else in front of us also had a reservation. There are at least seven parties ahead of us and we're still waiting...

    I did not - went up and checked in and then waited a few minutes to be called.

    Do you have to be vaccinated to come in for lunch?

    As of March 7th, New York City and Serendipity 3 no longer requires masks or proof of Covid 19 vaccination to dine with us.… 

    Do they still have a vegan frozen hot chocolate?

    Are the hotdogs all beef?

    Yes they are.

    Can you dine in alone , or needs to be minimum 2 to be seated?

    Are there reservations?

    Thank you for your interest in making a reservation at Serendipity 3. Please use the link below to… 

    Can you take the frozen hot chocolate to go?

    Regretfully we do not currently do take out or delivery but you can buy the powdered mix in our General Store and make it at home yourself.

    Are the open uet?

    Yes they are

    Are they open yet?

    New sign on the door indicates reopening on July 9th and to make reservations on resy

    Has Serendipity3 Re-OPENED Yet?

    I'm writing this on Dec 23 2020 and it isn't open yet.

    Are you guys open yet?

    I'm writing this on Dec 23 and the store is still closed for business.

    Do they provide a candle or something for birthday dessert?

    Yes and they even sing you HappY Birthday!

    View All 41 Questions

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    Gray's Papaya

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    I come here on all my trips to NYC and it never misses. A total must-try when you're in Manhattan…read more Classic, old-school fast-casual hot dog joint. This isn't a sit-down spot; it's strictly order-and-take-away, though there is a counter inside if you want to stand and eat. Got the famous special with an Orange Drink--all for around $10! Loaded one dog with chili, cheese, and onions, and the other with onions, mustard, and relish. The toppings were super fresh and tasted amazing. Simply the right dog at the right price. Friendly folks serving up a tasty frankfurter with great energy. A legendary NYC stop every single time.

    10/10 Hot dog - Added onions, chili, and cheese to the hot dog, and it was so freaking good! Even…read morethough my boyfriend compared it to a 7/11 hot dog lol, I thought it tasted delicious. I honestly could've scarfed down like 3 of these in one meal, but I came here for a late night dinner snack haha. 9/10 Papaya Drink - This is clearly what the hot dog spot is named after, right? So of course we had to get it! It had a very thick consistency, but it was still yummy and not overly sweet. 10/10 Orange Drink - I loved this drink out of the 2 we tried, and this one was fireeeeeeee! It's basically a spin on an orange juice drink, but in my opinion, it's way better!

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    Gray's Papaya
    Recession special...one with mustard and sauerkraut & one with chili & onions. Papaya juice and Coconut Champagne.
    Recession special...one with mustard and sauerkraut & one with chili & onions. Papaya juice and Coconut Champagne.
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    Exterior
    Kings of Kobe

    Kings of Kobe

    4.3
    (571 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Their wagyu was very tender and juicy. We were already full but still wanted to keep eating because…read moreit tasted so good. I didn't expect much since it's AYCE, but the quality was great--even the fries were really good. The service was excellent; they kept bringing more meat as soon as our plates were empty. Just a heads-up, they do charge a 20% gratuity on the bill.

    Found out about this restaurant offering an $68 All you can eat Wagyu steak through social media,…read moreso immediately made reservations for a Friday night, only to find out that the AYCE offer is only valid on Sunday through Wednesday. However, they had a 3 course special for around the same price, so my friend and I went for that. We were given booth seating. The interior was elegant, as well as classy, with dim lighting and a cozy atmosphere. For my first course, I selected the Salad, which consisted of avocado, cucumber, edamame, chopped nori, and watermelon radish with wasabi dressing. Since I am not a fan of wasabi, I requested a different type of sauce and was given Champagne Vinaigrette. The Salad was bright and colorful, fresh and light. I tried my friend's Tuna Ceviche Taco, which was served on a satisfyingly crunchy, savory wonton taco shell. The Tuna Ceviche was tender, full of flavor in a flavorful, citrusy yuzu-blood orange sauce. The entree was the Wagyu Steak au Poivre sauce, with a side of fries and I substituted the regular ones with Truffle Parmesan Fries. Steak was expertly cooked and cut, delightfully succulent, juicy, and well seasoned. The accompanying au Poivre sauce was creamy, bold in flavor, with strong peppery taste, which I loved! Truffle Fries were oh so crispy and addicting, with plenty of Parmesan, as well as true truffle yumminess. As for dessert, I ordered the Chocolate Chip Brioche Bread Pudding with Maple Bourbon Cream Sauce. This was served warm, quite dense and thick, rich, and sweet with melty chocolate and tasty sauce. Service was solid. Our waiter was welcoming and attentive. Everything came out in a timely manner. My friend and I enjoyed our evening here. I don't feel the need to return because I got to try the Wagyu Steak and Truffle Fries.

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    Kings of Kobe
    Bolognese Della Regina.
    Bolognese Della Regina.
    Dinner time

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    Dinner time

    Serendipity 3 - Upper East Side - desserts - Updated August 2026

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