Serendipity 3
| Serendipity 3 | |
|---|---|
 Entrance to Serendipity 3, in 2007. |
|
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1954 |
| Current owner(s) | Stephen Bruce |
| Street address | 225 E 60th St |
| City | Manhattan Las Vegas Boca Raton Georgetown |
| State | New York Nevada Florida Washington, DC |
| Postal code/ZIP | 10022 89109 33432 20007 |
| Country | United States |
| Other locations | 3570 Las Vegas Blvd S 501 East Camino Real 3150 M Street NW |
| Website | http://www.serendipity3.com/main.htm |
Serendipity 3, often written Serendipity III, is a restaurant in the Upper East Side of Manhattan founded by Stephen Bruce in 1954.[1] The restaurant has been the scene of several films, including the 2001 romantic comedy Serendipity.
The restaurant offers a full menu but is well known for its foot-long hot dogs and frozen drinks, particularly its trademark "Frrrozen Hot chocolate". The restaurant has constantly been ranked as a favorite among Manhattanites, tourists, and celebrities,[2][3] and its gift shop features kitschy novelty gifts.
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[edit] History
Serendipity was named after the three legendary princes of the island once known as Serendip (now Sri Lanka), from which the 18th century writer Sir Horace Walpole coined serendipity. Serendipity has been popular since the beginning. Marilyn Monroe frequently patronized the restaurant, Andy Warhol was a regular before he was well-known,[1] and First Lady Jackie O was also a frequent guest and once even tried to buy the recipe for the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate for an event she was throwing. Stephen Bruce refused to give her the recipe though he did offer to come and make the frozen drink for her party himself.[4] The recipe can now be found in Sweet Serendipity, a book of recipes and history sold in the general store located inside the restaurant.
In 2004, Serendipity celebrated its fiftieth anniversary by introducing the record-breaking Golden Opulence Sundae, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive dessert, at $1000. It is made with 5 scoops of the Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream, Madagascar vanilla covered in 23K edible gold leaf, drizzled with the world's most expensive chocolate, Amedei Porcelana, and covered with chunks of Chuao chocolate, which is from cocoa beans harvested by the Caribbean Sea on Venezuela's coast. It is suffused with exotic candied fruits from Paris, gold dragets, truffles and Marzipan Cherries and topped with a tiny glass bowl of Grand Passion Caviar, an exclusive dessert caviar, made of salt-free American Golden caviar, known for its sparkling golden color. It's sweetened and infused with passion fruit, orange, and Armagnac. The sundae is served in a baccarat Harcourt crystal goblet with an 18K gold spoon, a petite mother of pearl spoon, and topped with a gilded sugar flower by Ron Ben-Israel.
The restaurant for a number of years had a location in Boston at Fanueil Hall but closed in 1996 and has opened two new locations with one in Boca Raton in southern Florida[5] and another at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip.[6]
On Memorial Day, May 30, 2011, Serendipity 3 opened a new restaurant on the historic corner of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue in the heart of Washington, D.C.'s popular Georgetown shopping district. Like the New York location, the D.C. locale hosts many opulent and playful oddities, including an eight-foot fiberglass smirking Abraham Lincoln statue, designed by high-profile D.C. artist and prop designer A.J. Strasser. The Georgetown restaurant also features a historical clock from landmark D.C. jeweler Galt & Bros, as well as a 1960s photograph of Andy Warhol and Serendipity 3 co-founder Stephen Bruce.
[edit] 2007 Health Violations
The restaurant was closed down by health inspectors on November 15, 2007 after failing a second inspection due to rodent, fly and cockroaches infestation.[7]
[edit] Media
Serendipity 3 has appeared prominently in at least two major movies. The movie most associated with the restaurant is its namesake Serendipity. Released in 2001, it centers on a couple that meet by chance while shopping at Bloomingdale's, and share dessert at the restaurant later that same night.
One Fine Day, released in 1996, also has a scene in the restaurant, featuring the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate.
Trust the Man, released in 2006, includes a scene of David Duchovny's character being invited to Serendipity 3 by a potential love interest, and then at the restaurant on the first floor eating.
The second book in the Gossip Girl series, "You Know You Love Me," includes a scene in which Serena and Dan visit Serendipity 3 and, respectively, order a peppermint sundae and a coffee banana split.
[edit] Records
In November 2007, Serendipity unveiled a $25,000 dessert called the "Frrrozen Haute Chocolate," which Guinness World Records declared the world's most expensive dessert.[8][9]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Serendipity 3". http://www.serendipity3.com/history.htm. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
- ^ Noel Y.C. (January 15, 2009). "Serendipity 3". http://nyclovesnyc.blogspot.com/2009/01/serendipity-3.html. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
- ^ "Serendipity 3". Gayot.com The Guide to Good Life. http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/serendipity-3-new-york-ny-10022_1ny99872.html. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
- ^ "Ice Cream Sundaes The World's Most Expensive Ice Cream Sundae". http://www.ice-cream-recipes.com/ice_cream_sundae_best.htm. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
- ^ "Boca Raton Restaurants". http://www.bocaresort.com/dining/serendipity.cfm. Retrieved April 13, 2009.
- ^ "Las Vegas Weekly: Serendipity 3". Las Vegas Weekly. http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/photos/galleries/2009/apr/10/serendipity/26523/. Retrieved April 13, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Honan, Edith (November 16, 2007). "Mice, roaches close home of $25,000 dessert". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1632315920071116. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
- ^ "Health Dept. Closes Shop Selling $25,000 Sundae". CBS News (CBS News). November 15, 2007. http://wcbstv.com/local/serendipity.health.inspection.2.568515.html. Retrieved February 2, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ John, Sullivan (November 7, 2007). "$25,000 for a Hot Chocolate?". The New York Times (The New York Times). http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/25000-for-a-hot-chocolate/. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Serendipity 3 official website
- Serendipity Boca Raton, Florida location
