Serendipity3: Life is too short, start with dessert

I schlepped all the way from Abu Dhabi to Festival City in Dubai to try Serendipity 3 so I was elated when I first laid eyes on the beautiful 6-foot milkshake trees adorning the entrance of the restaurant like lions guarding the gates to the amazing fare I was sure to have.

The décor

We were greeted by the hostess who asked us where we would like to sit and we settled on a table in the heart of the restaurant inside a white greenhouse with Tiffany-style lampshades adorning the ceiling.  The greenhouse would be a great place for a party of 20 or so to isolate themselves from the rest of the patrons without feeling secluded. Lining the walls of the large space were beautiful oversized birdcages that can comfortably seat 4 people. To further add to the charm of the space, the left side is completely taken over by an ice-cream bar with colorful umbrellas hanging from above while the walls were speckled with imagery and quotes to keep hungry folks entertained while their food was being prepared.

The food

As an appetizer, I ordered the All In Nachos that come out on a long impressive-looking platter that had my phone buzzing with queries of where I was eating but sadly, it looked better than it tasted. The nachos were soggy and the toppings lacked flavor.

For the main course, we were intrigued by the Dinosaur Beef Ribs and the Don’t Be Afraid of My Alfredo and again the name did not fit the flavor. As far as portions go, they are definitely large and worth the price but neither of the meals were particularly memorable.

Finally it was time for dessert, I was really worried after the disappointing meal that it would not live up to the dessert at the New York branch, where the memory of the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate got me to drive all the way to Dubai for an encore. 

Luckily, my prayers were answered and the hot chocolate was exactly what I wanted it to be and , an enormous helping of sugary perfection that lives up to it’s descriptor on the menu- one bite alone was worth the journey. The Deep Fried Oreo and Ice Cream is also delicious by the way.

The service

The service was quite good, and as expected for a place of this standard. A group of ladies nearby complained about almost everything and the staff was very courteous and accommodating to what I considered ridiculous grievances, so I will give them bonus points for that.

At the end of the meal the manager asked about our experience and he was very open to our suggestions and genuinely interested in our comments and concerns without being defensive, a tough skill to master.