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Health Dept allows popular NYC restaurant to reopen

11:48 AM EST, December 5, 2007

Serendipity 3 at 225 East. 60th St. was closed Thursday 11/15/07. (Lauren Lancaster/Veras / November 15, 2007)

NEW YORK - Those extravagant ice cream sundaes are being scooped out again at Serendipity 3.

The popular tourist destination on Manhattan's East Side was shuttered three weeks ago due to rodent infestation. The city Health Department allowed it to reopen on Tuesday.

Health Department spokeswoman Jessica Scaperotti said the restaurant had failed an inspection on Friday after mouse droppings were spotted. But it passed a followup inspection Monday night.

She said Wednesday that the agency will go back within 30 days for another inspection.

The famous sweet shop was closed Nov. 14 after it failed two inspections in a month. Inspectors spotted mouse droppings, fruit flies, house flies and more than 100 live cockroaches.

Serendipity's delectable menu items sometimes have patrons standing in line for hours to get inside. Its $25,000 Frrrozen Haute Chocolate _ featuring top-grade cocoa, edible gold and shavings of a luxury truffle _ was declared the most expensive dessert by Guinness World Records. It also offers a $1,000 sundae named Golden Opulence, requiring 48-hour advance notice.

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On the Net:

Serendipity 3: www.serendipity3.com

Health Department: www.nyc.gov/health