On Wednesday evening Sue and I were stuck between dropping the young men off at Youth in Walmer and going home to make a quick supper in Parsons Hill before returning to fetch the guys at 8:00 pm.
Normally we drive aimlessly about and decide on one of four restaurants in the immediate Walmer 6th Avenue area to eat at.
Being Vegan and Vegetarian we always have a bit of a hard time finding a new place to try in the limited time we have available.
Sue suggested that we drive up Main Road and look at Yellow Door – in the same complex as Three Sages.
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Now, if we had parked in the front of the complex we would probably have ended up at Yellow Door, but, as luck would have it, we parked in the rear and saw Three Sages beckoning with a warm comfortable yellow light spilling out onto the pavement.
Of course we had to have a look and check out their menu and were pleased to see a number of options that catered to our no-meat, no alcohol, bare minimum of sugar diets.
Three Sages appeared to be very quiet – not normally a good sign – but that interior screamed warmth and relaxation. Eschewing the warm invite we popped two doors up to check out Yellow Door’s menu. The contrast between the two could not have been starker: Warmth vs Stark, Empty vs Nearly Full, Lots of No Meat Options vs Very few.
So, back we went to Three Sages and we were seated.
The menus are all on personal tablets and the info on each choice is comprehensive. By the way – you can ONLY view the menu so no Minecraft or stupid games can be played. Yup, a good thing!
The interior is a delight – leather chairs, well chosen eclectic items, comfortable with just the right amount of light and smooth tunes.
We were seated and attended to by two different servers who were most accommodating and a credit to the restaurant.
For me menu choices are easy to make: find choices as close to vegan as possible, decide. As most menus are littered with animal products the conversations with wait staff can sometimes be tedious, sometimes hilarious – this time it was the latter.
My choice for main was the Vegetarian Korma.
On the menu this dish is touted as follows: Creamy spice. Plant-powered comfort. A bowl of golden indulgence. A nourishing medley of button mushrooms, carrots, and baby spinach simmered in a velvety sauce of coconut milk, almonds, tomato, and our signature korma paste. Layered with fragrant spices — garam masala, cumin seeds, cayenne, and ginger — and finished with a touch of chutney, desiccated coconut, and our house-made Green Goddess Sauce for a vibrant lift. Served with fluffy basmati rice for perfect pairing. Mildly spiced. Deeply comforting. 100% plant magic.
Sue opted for the Mushroom Ragu Tagliatelle with Coconut Cream & Cashew Parmesan.
On the menu this dish is touted as follows: An indulgent yet nourishing pasta dish that celebrates earthy flavours and wholesome comfort. Silky tagliatelle is folded through a rich mushroom ragu, slowly simmered to develop deep umami notes. A splash of creamy coconut milk and a touch of maca powder add subtle sweetness and a hint of nuttiness, lifting the sauce into something extraordinary. Finished with a generous sprinkle of cashew parmesan, fresh basil, and cracked black pepper, this plate is a vibrant harmony of texture and taste.
To drink Sue had an Ananas Extract Mocktail and I opted for a Cappuccino with Almond Milk.
All I can say is that I thank the stars every day for no longer being a slave to a dop as every time I look at drink prices I have a mild heart murmur at the cost of what it will take to get a buzz on.
The alcohol menu has some really high end products – in the tenderpreneur bracket – all they are missing are big fat Cuban Cigars and the Three Sages may just become a deal makers hot spot!
As it is the spirits on offer range from R40.00 a tot to an eye watering R460.00 a tot.
I will be back for the sexy looking coffee options though – all in the R41.00 to R55.00 range.
We were served a complimentary bread basket with two pesto’s, followed by a lemon sorbet to ‘clear the palate’. The bread and pesto were well balanced and tasty. The lemon sorbet, although ‘Old School’ resonated with me and my Christmas feasts which always featured a number of sorbets paired to bridge the tastes between courses.
A pat on the back for both of us as we relaxed into the atmosphere after a particularly trying couple of weeks on the go.
Did the mains live up to their hype?
In a word – Yes.
Sue’s Mushroom Ragu was earthy, warm and enough to fill the tummy.
My Korma was well balanced, free of screaming heat (often the refuge of an insecure chef!) and well presented.
Negatives:
It is difficult to be hyper critical when sitting down at a restaurant that punches far above the weight of the quite dreary cold shopping complex that Three Sages inhabits but three suggestions:
- My rice was under seasoned – just a touch more salt was needed.
- There was too little korma sauce for the rice OR too much rice for the sauce.
- Sue’s Ragu would have been elevated into the stratosphere if Three Sages had presented it with freshly home made pasta.
Cost:
Our bill came to around R380.00 for the two of us – excluding a GENEROUS tip.
Rating:
9/10
Will we return?
Yes.
Three Sages look to have hosted some interesting events – like a Book Club, Silent Disco, Canvas and Snacks. Certainly bringing the vibe in a unique way.
Details:
Three Sages
Address: 253 Main Rd, Walmer, Gqeberha, 6065
Phone: 041 004 0607
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/three_sages/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Three-Sages-Functional-Caf%C3%A9-Bar-61571857356547/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@three_sages
Menu Web Site: https://menu.elixirsages.com/
