Health Department Closes Shop Selling $25,000 Sundae.

NEW YORK-(November 15, 2007) The famed upper East Side restaurant Serendipity 3 has been shut down because of some unpleasantly unexpected critters in its kitchen. Less than a week after the eatery made headlines offering a $25,000 chocolate sundae, the city Health Department shuttered its doors because of an infestation of mice and cockroaches. The owner Stephen Bruce introduced the world to his slightly overpriced chocolate sundae. For $25,000, a customer could purchase the "Frozen Haute Chocolate," a blend of 28 cocoas, including 14 of the most expensive and exotic from around the world, served in a golden-lined goblet with a gold and diamond bracelet wrapped around its base. The sundae deluxe is infused with 5 grams of edible 23-karat gold, and topped with smothered in even more gold. Accompanying the treat is a side fo La Madeline au Truffle from Knipschildt Choclatier, which sells for $2,600 a pound. It even came with a golden spoon.

Sadly though, this sundae is for the mice. Looks like you'll have to spend your 25-grand on something else. The restaurant at 225 E. 60th St. was closed Wednesday night after failing its second inspection in a month. "Both inspections revealed rodent and fly infestation and conditions conducive to pest infestation, including stagnant water in the basement," health department officials said in a statement.

Inspectors said they spotted a live mouse and mouse droppings, fruit flies, house flies and counted more than 100 live cockroaches. Stunned patrons were greeted yesterday with yellow signs on the doors reading, "Closed by order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene." The restaurant owners posted signs on another set of doors reading, "Closed for renovations."

"Eww!" Gonghee Choi and two of her girlfriends cried in unison when learning why the restaurant was not open. "We love this restaurant and their food," said Choi, 23, a student from the upper West Side. "This is shocking."

Hayoung Kim, 23, said the image of mice and roaches crawling around turned her stomach. "I won't come back," said Kim of the upper West Side, who said she had been eating there at least once a week. "I don't want to eat their food now."

Luthfia Syareaini, 19, of Brooklyn and Juliann Sidabutar, 21, of Queens had made plans a month ago to meet at the restaurant last night. "I was looking forward to tonight," Sidabutar said. "I've never been here before. But the food is probably not worth it if it has mice inside."

It was a stunning reversal of fortune for the hot spot, which set a Guinness world record Nov. 7 for the most expensive dessert, its "Frozen Haute Chocolate" featuring edible gold, top-grade cocoa and a super-expensive truffle.

A neighboring restaurant, Alice's Tea Cup, quickly moved to fill the void, posting signs outside Serendipity 3 directing patrons its way.

"We're here as a friendly gesture to them, and to give their customers an alternative," said a worker for Alice's Tea Cup who was posting the signs.