The Three Monkeys Harare — Restaurant in Harare

My mum was over from UK so I wanted to take her for a special brunch. We arrived at about 10:30 and were seated fairly promptly and given a breakfast menu, stating that breakfasts were available until 11:00.

Despite trying to attract a waiters attention, we could only place our order at about 10:55, despite there only being about five tables occupied with either couples or singles. He then went away to check if he could still accept breakfast orders. After about 10 mins he returned and said that it was still possible.

My mum ordered a hot chocolate and a croque monsieur and I ordered their croque fromage chevre aux miel and a chai latte. nb tis was how the meals were titled on the menu - so I didn;t think I needed to explain what the ingredients were to the waiter, especially as I pointed to them on the menu as I ordered.

Our drinks came after about ten minutes. When we still had not received our meals in another ten minutes I followed up with the waiter who said they were on their way. Soon after, our meals arrived - however, I was served a croque monsieur. As I'm vegetarian, I couldn't eat it and requested my original order.

Waiter went away again. I suggested that my mum ate hers before it got cold - we had finished our drinks already as they were not very hot when they arrived. After another ten minutes of so there was no sign of the waiter, so I went to find him again. He told me I would need to see the manager and to return to my table. I did so - only to wait yet again for the manager, who informed me I could no longer order from the breakfast menu. No apology from him with regard to the incorrect order, even though I explained why there had been a delay in requesting the correct meal.

So, I ordered a slice of cheesecake instead. My mum finished her meal - but still no cheesecake. It eventually arrived a few minutes later. Part way through eating my cheesecake (not a good example of cheesecake - very bland and zero garnishing - just a pale triangle on a plain black plate), my fork found something stringy and rubbery and totally unlike the rest of the cheesecake filling.

I called the manager over, but he said it was 'normal' and tried to explain how a cheesecake is made, as he claimed this was a piece of egg white.

By this time, I was VERY fed up and very embarrassed as this was supposed to be a special treat. My mum is very reserved and although I did speak to the manager about how shocked and disappointed I was by the food and service, I was unable to take it further as I didn't want to embarrass my mum any further.

Will certainly not be going back. I would not recommend this restaurant - thee are so many really lovely places in Harare to choose from - sadly, this is not one of them.

*update

Management contacted me and apologised and offered me a voucher to return. In the interests of fairness, I accepted this offer. Returned for lunch today. Huge portions and tasty. Lovely views over the lawn to the lake. Unfortunately, service was still rather slow with over 30 minutes wait between ordering and food arriving - one fish and chips, one veggie burger - even though I identified myself as recipient of a voucher and the reason for the voucher on booking. So adjusted review.... Food ok, lovely place to sit......

In the midst of the challenging economic situation in Zim, finding a place where you can escape and experience a moment of relaxation is truly a treasure. 3 Monkeys manages to provide that respite, allowing you to momentarily forget about the woes of the world and enjoy a serene atmosphere. Nestled by the lake, this restaurant offers a soothing ambiance enhanced by the fresh breeze that gently wafts through the air.

However, while the setting may be idyllic, the service at 3 Monkeys fell short of expectations during my visit. I was disappointed by the slow pace at which my order was attended to. It took an astonishingly long 30 minutes for the staff to prepare just two drinks, a delay that marred the overall dining experience. This is particularly disheartening as 3 Monkeys is renowned for its excellent service. I hope this was just an isolated incident and not indicative of a decline in their overall standards.

Another aspect that caught my attention was the pricing on the menu. The prices at 3 Monkeys seem to be higher than the average for similar establishments. For instance, a simple dish like battered hake with fries came at a rather steep cost of $15. While the taste and quality of the food were satisfactory, the price tag seemed disproportionate, making it difficult to justify the expense. It would be prudent for 3 Monkeys to re-evaluate their pricing strategy to ensure it aligns better with customer expectations.

Taking into account the relaxing atmosphere, the disappointingly slow service, and the relatively high menu prices, I would rate 3 Monkeys with a 6 out of 10. This rating reflects the mixed experience I had during my visit, as the scenic beauty and escapism offered by the restaurant were overshadowed by the drawbacks in service efficiency and affordability. I hope that 3 Monkeys takes these aspects into consideration and works towards regaining its reputation for exceptional service while also adjusting their prices to create a more balanced offering for...

2nd and last visit:

We got very sick after our last visit. Only go there if you want a hit and miss experience (read all the one star reviews). I had an overseas visitor and took her there for desserts (because I was already not impressed with their main meals). Asked the waiter and he said they have decaffeinated cappuccino, and we were charged usd2 extra for oat milk. When the cappuccino arrived, we thought it tasted like ordinary coffee, not decaffeinated, but we gave them the benefit of the doubt, since we had already emphasised our dietary requirements. That night, both of us got very sick, and sleepless nights.

At other places, the most expensive cappuccino is usd3, at Three Monkeys, it is usd3.50, plus extra usd2 for a few spoonfuls of oat milk. Other meals here are also more than the standard prices, a very expensive place just to see a fountain. On both visits, the waiter/waitress expected tips for poor services. I feel that they will remember you if you don't give, and next time they might add "secret ingredients" in your food. Only go there if you enjoy playing Russian roulette, you might just die there.

1st visit: Some food better than the others. Waitress demanded for 10% service charge when service was not good, I did not give her as I was not impressed at all. Only when I reached home, I noticed that among the change, she had given me a torn usd5 repaired with...