Raak wys at Three Wise Monkeys

 5 June 2025

 

THREE WISE MONKEYS

La Rhone Building, 77 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town

 

Let’s say it was the Four Wise Fam who gathered here tonight, being the younger goddaughter, her fiancé and us senior folk, in a restaurant where the demographic is clearly millennial and younger. As vibey a buzz as it can get, especially around 19h00 but empty by 20h50. 

The menu is divided into starters, ramen, bao buns, poke bowls, sushi, lots of variety here yet only two dessert options. No pork products and no wagyu burgers.

Von-Mari made use of the two-for-the-price-of-one special offer on Benguela Cove bubbly (R75 a glass, or in this case, for 2 glasses!), the second glass of which I drained, my tipple was one beer and the kids stuck to non-alcoholic drinks.  Must be a mental health kick.

The other three started with chicken bao buns (R65 each)

, Von-Mari also had the salt & pepper calamari (R88)

and a prawn bao bun (R65), the young’uns shared a plate of salt & pepper calamari as well as a bowl of beef brisket ramen  and I made do with the entire bowl of beef brisket ramen (R155).

The others were most complementary about the bao buns. Von-Mari thought the chicken version was superior to the prawn version but loved both. She’d also thought she might have sushi and was mightily impressed by two passing plates of heaped sushi but thought better of it after the final bun.

The ramen was absolutely excellent with a deeply flavourful broth and plenty of noodles and greens, the requisite half a hard-boiled egg and succulent brisket. For the life of me I don’t get why anybody would want to have half a bowl of this good, life-affirming stuff.

The younger goddaughter believes that the ramen with chicken is superior to the brisket version because the chicken is  next level tender and flavourful in and of itself.

The dessert was three portions (R65 each) of three bright green matcha and salted custard buns (the only other dessert option was chocolate cake). I have mixed feelings about this one. The very tasty custard was like molten lava in the buns when served, which I learnt to my (and by my, I mean my tongue and throat) cost when I took a big first bite but I though the bun was a bit stodgy and doughy, perhaps not steamed enough, and detracted from the overall performance of the sweet.

The total bill came to R1174,00 before tip and the goddaughter pointed out that they’d recently paid about that for a meal for two at a nearby Spanish restaurant, which makes Three Wise Monkeys a budget friendly joint of note.

The restaurant is cosy, was full of happy yet not overbearing noise, the service was cheerful and efficient, the food top notch and the experience good value for money. We will definitely be back soon!