Bill
Our fourth review of a Serendipity 3 dessert will be our last for a while. As of this writing, it only scored a 3/5 on yelp and a 62% approval on urbanspoon. It looks like Washingtonians agreed with our assessment that this Serendipity outpost must not be as good as the NYC original.
That overall mediocre impression also applies to Serendipity's Cookie Dough Sundae. Three cookies and fudge top scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. The cookies varied widely in quality from below average to good, which means you run the risk of getting three disappointing cookies. On the whole, the cookies were average. The fudge was good, but I suspect Serendipity simply uses Smucker's fudge from jars. In this and every Serendipity sundae, you'll find lots of extra fudge trapped between the glass and plate to allow you to customize your ice cream-to-fudge ratio. The cookie dough ice cream also had quality variations; some cookie dough chunks were relatively flavorless. The base ice cream also lacked a punch. This cookie dough ice cream fell far short of Ben & Jerry's, which is the gold standard.
The nice proportions of the elements of this dish, and the availability of extra fudge earn this dish our good rating. However, you'll find better sundaes and ice cream at other places in Georgetown.
3150 M St. NW Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-5193
Google map
Washington Post
Examiner
Revamp
Yelp 3/5
Bill
We find it necessary to review multiple desserts at Serendipity 3 because it's generated so much buzz based on its long-anticipated opening, NYC pedigree, and prime location in the former Nathan's space. Out of several Serendipity 3 desserts, the carrot cake sundae impressed me the most, and I'm not a big fan of carrot cake.
The carrot cake sundae starts simple at the bottom and increases the novelty and decadence toward the top. Scoops of vanilla and butter-pecan ice cream start the party at the bottom of the bowl. A piece of carrot cake slides on top of that. Drizzles of maple-walnut and white-chocolate fudge crown this monument to humankind's search for greatness. It is served with a pool of chocolate fudge surrounding the base of the bowl. The end result is unique, and blends the flavors and textures masterfully, at least if you like nuts in a sundae.
The carrot cake is velvety smooth, moist and flavorful. Its cream-cheese frosting is better than average, and the maple-walnut and white-chocolate fudge add delightful flavor and texture elements. The added touch of fudge on the bottom provides you an opportunity to alter this mixture to your taste. Note that the carrot cake has a large volume of nuts throughout, which is somewhat uncommon. Overall, this dish had too many nuts for my taste. It still deserves our divine rating, because anyone who likes this amount of nuts would surely rate it so.
3150 M St. NW Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-5193
Google map
Washington Post
Examiner
Revamp
Yelp 3/5
Bill
New York City-based Serendipity 3 recently made its long-awaited DC debut. Its arrival should satisfy those who have pushed for the elimination of "ice-cream no man's lands" of more than 1.5 blocks in Georgetown. So far, there are lines out the door at peak times.
Serendipity 3's Red Velvet Cake Sundae is a chocolate ice cream sundae with a piece of red velvet cake on top. The cake itself was good; very moist with strongly flavored cream-cheese frosting. The fudge was also pleasing in quality and volume. The ice cream was average, which is disappointing for a place that specializes in dessert.
I ordered the Red Velvet Cake Sundae without the sprinkles and whipped cream. I think both of those elements are primarily visual, add little taste, and dillute and disrupt the flavors and textures that should be the showcases of a dessert. The sprinkles came anyway, and someone apparently removed most of the whipped cream after being reminded in the kitchen that it wasn't supposed to be there.
Serendipity 3's Red Velvet Cake Sundae deserves our good rating. The cake on its own would compare better in the cake category, but the sundae doesn't come close to challenging Papa Razzi's brownie sundae for DC's sundae crown. Based on this dish, this Serendipity 3 location is far from NYC standards, but we do salute it for being open late. We dislike dessert places that aren't open during peak dessert time.
3150 M St. NW Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-5193
Google map
Washington Post
Examiner
Revamp
Yelp 3/5
