Three Monkeys

No really, I wasn’t that hungry when I walked in here.
And then I saw the cabinet of cheese, glacé cumquats and deli meats all from the Fleurieu in the cabinet.
Then I read the menu (luckily breakfast finishes at 12pm otherwise I would have totally doubled up on my egg allocation for the day).
And then the waitress apologised for serving a double shot of coffee to the customer, because that’s how she always did it.
And I knew my sensible eating plan for the day wasn’t going to work.
So instead of the planned «I’ll just have some cheese and crackers,» coming out of my mouth, I uncontrollably asked if I «could have the quinoa and carrot salad with fetta and flatbread please?»
Before it arrived, I had talked myself into «just eating half of the salad and having the other half for dinner.» And then I began to shovel piled forks of carrot and quinoa salad with dates and a white bean purée into my mouth and before I knew it, there was no doggy bag required. Even better was that they had run out of flatbread and so served me a couple of slices of their tomato polenta bread. It is now official, they should charge more than $ 13 for the salad and then ALWAYS serve this warmed and crispy with it in the future.
Do not be fooled by the few seats inside and out the front, they have a lovely garden area out back for you to dine in with friends. This place would be delightful on a sunny autumn day or cold winter’s morning and is one for the «bookmark» list of places to eat in Willunga.

Three cheers for Three Monkeys
Under the relatively new helm of Frieda (ex Flying Fish at Pt Elliot way back and now embarking on her own business) Three Monkeys has crossed the café divide from ho hum to well worth a visit.
On a holiday Monday recently, Three Monkeys was brimming with other holiday makers lunching on their very simple but scrumptious gourmet items. The menu is based on local produce — and why wouldn’t you be with McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu on your doorstep — and all freshly cooked. This quaint and quirky cottage has limited seating inside but a lovely outdoor area seating probably about 20 out back. There is also a delicatessen specialising in a very thoughtful and extensive range of cheeses and gourmet produce. Fantastic coffee also.
I have my sights set on a weekend in Willunga soon to revel in this gorgeous town’s over abundance of eateries. Friday night — Russell’s Pizza, Sat morning Willunga Organic Market, Sat arvo drop into Three Monkeys for a delectable coffee and cake and pick up tasting plate supplies for a night in with a good drop of local Cab Sav by the fireside of a cute B & B (or a booking at Fino if I can’t be bothered cooking) and finally breakfast Sunday am at the Green Room on High Street. Drive back along Aldinga Beach via the Victory Hotel at Sellicks and I have a weekend made in heaven! Willunga in my opinion now beats McLaren Vale for a foodie weekend (excluding of course the legendary wine appeal of McLaren Vale)!