How Serendipity 3 increased business with Waitlist

Joe, from Serendipity 3 in New York City, talks about how Yelp Waitlist Plus (now called Yelp Guest Manager) increased business at his iconic dessert destination in the Upper East Side.

Serendipity 3 was opened in the 1950s by three friends who moved to New York City in search of stardom. The restaurant soon built a celebrity following. It continued to grow in popularity thanks to its “World Famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate” and the 2001 film “Serendipity.”

The reservation system at Serendipity 3 once involved a red book and a person answering phones. The waitlist was managed on a long piece of paper at the restaurant door. Wait times could last for up to three hours.

Staff was initially hesitant about the switch to Yelp Waitlist, but it was seamless. Reservation and waitlist management became more efficient. Customers were no longer put on hold to reserve a table. They go to Yelp and instantly make a reservation or add their name to the waitlist.