February 13th, 2012 
Whip cream and phalluses don’t typically conjure images of food per se, but at Serendipity III, where $1000 sundaes and arm-long hot dogs exist, anything is possible. New York City’s famous dessert mecca, where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks wrote love letters in You’ve Got Mail, has finally made its way down the coast and set up shop on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach.
Although the orginal kitschy concept and décor remain relatively the same, the affordable menu has been tweaked in all the right places—think Barton G’s meets Cheesecake Factory. However, I have to admit, the physical size of the menu is as daunting as the size of their hot dogs (warning #2). The playful menu instantly invites you to indulge in their signature and oh-so delicious array of Frozen Hot Chocolates, which I’ll get to later.
My foodie cohort and I began with a classic “Crab Artichoke Dip” and the not-so-classic “Safe At Home Wagyu Sliders”. The creamy Maryland crab concoction features chunks of crab and bits of tender artichoke, however, the melted cheese topping was M.I.A.—pun intended. Despite the missing garnish, it was so delicious that it remained on our table until we could finish the bowl and watch it go sans regret. Wagyu is the American version of Kobe beef and the sliders were cooked medium-well, as this delicate meat deserves, but it was the spicy Bacon Aioli that stole the show on that plate.
We continued gorging by ordering the “Super Grouper Fish Sandwich” and what we would soon discover to be a more-than-foot-long, “Foot Long Chili-Cheese Hot Dog”— a monstrosity that once before us, elicited eye-bulging bewilderment. How would we tackle such a thing? To cut or to simply go at it? Stay tuned.
As for the fish, we opted for the fried version in lieu of the blackened. We were happy to discover that the breading was crunchy and the fish, succulent and flaky. The sweet potato fries, which are an option I highly recommend, are a cause for a support group. Biting through the crispy, ocher batons leads to a velvety center with a pale hint of maple syrup, and although one was present, there is no sauce required.
Now back to the chili-cheese big foot. As ladies, we decided to be civil at our open-air seating arrangement and take to the beast with a knife. Had I not been there on assignment, I would have gladly torn through that bad boy. I admit, although rather ridiculously large, the wiener was juicy and quite tasty. Complexity is a way of life at Serendipity and it certainly works for the impressive chili, made with buttery filet mignon, hearty Angus chuck, and a blend of five chillies cooked down in a healthy dose of Guinness stout. Crazy goodness.
With a mention of phalluses in regards to the hot dog, the manager was kind enough to send out yet another of their questionable dishes, the onion ring tower, complete with two different sauces on either side. It didn’t take long for us to see the resemblance or to agree on how good they are.
We were on the brink of calling for a stretcher, however, the deed had to be done. No meal of this magnitude would have been complete without dessert. Thankful for its liquid state, the Frozen Hot Chocolate was all it is worked up to be. It’s a cool, decadent mélange of several chocolates crowned in airy whip cream dream and more chocolate shavings; it is worth every calorie.
Serendipity’s menu is racy, jovial, inventive, and extravagant. This is where you can eat imagination. It’s a versatile place where one can sip coffee with the morning paper, plan a family outing, or brunch it up. Serendipity is where kids revel and adults can be a kid again.
Serendipity 3
1102 Lincoln Rd
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Ph. 305-403-2210
