Monkey see, monkey do

The Jester/Baroness: The Baroness and I seem to have a knack for finding Lekker venues to stop at and have a drink. Having dropped of the Baronesses son at a birthday party at Pine Lodge a couple of weeks back, we decided to take a drive up the coast towards Schoemaakers (Shoe makers/a small seaside village just outside of PE).  Approaching Willows resort a few kms from Pine Lodge, a rustic, unassuming yellow building set back from the road caught our eyes, so we decided to pull off and explore, as one does when one is thirsty and it seems that both the Baroness and I have a slight thirst problemJ. To be honest I have over the years living in PE passed this venue many times but as I was probably in a hurry or was with other people who did not want to pull in to the parking area, “I never stopped”.

First impressions of the venue are……………… “Looks interesting” so we tentatively climbed the steps, (I sent in the Baroness first) up to the patio and front door.  For those that read this Blog wanting sophistication and pizazz, let me save you some time. “This venue is not for you” as it’s the complete opposite……………. “No Frills /No Fuss” 

This is “Munkee Bizniz” pub and grub and as the sign on the wall says prior to you entering the venue………………… An otherwise “eatery and drinkery”, while the front porch area may not look that inviting and perhaps like us you feel a little trepidation entering an establishment for the first time, don’t stress, the welcome was cordial enough and while there are tables inside to eat at, as well as the fair size pub if you like propping up the bar, it’s at the back of Monkee Bizniz that caught our eye and it’s here that I am sure we will make ourselves at home when the team does a  full review. 

You can either sit on the back porch near the braai areas or saunter down to under the trees where there is an assortment of weathered benches and chairs scattered around haphazardly with the focal point being a rather large pit where the bonfires are lit. This is the area that “it all happens” on a weekend, weather permitting of course.

Monkee Bizniz is owned and managed by Odette, Wayne and Tarrah and having only had the venue for the last 9 months or so, they are on a mission to build the place back up to the success of its “hey days”, plans afoot are to have camping available as well as just improve on the ambiance as well as the service levels.  

It’s a pet friendly establishment, with resident pooch “baby girl” quite happy to share her water bowl with other thirsty canines that have their owners bring them for a drink. In fact while we were here we met “the woodcutter” seriously that’s his name and to be honest I think that he was probably an extra in “SAW”. The Woodcutter (who sells wood, just in case you had not worked that one out) has 2, dogs Heidi and Amber who seem to be regulars as well and make themselves quite at home. Amber is prone to climb the large tree out back that is a natural playground for kids and I am sure adults alike especially with the large orange buoy hanging invitingly from one its large branches, and just to make sure it was fun I had a swing on it as well.   

Food is available and while the menu is not extensive I think that it caters for most people needs, both adults and the kids, the hamburgers we were told by Odette are particularly good and offer value for money and from what I can gather the Braai packs are also a good deal.

We ordered prawns (12) and chips, not badly priced at R100 and while not the worst we have eaten, I have to be honest if you sell sea food at the coast then at least make sure what you are selling is “Fresh”, (there really is no excuse to serve frozen seafood), the garlic/lemon/butter sauce was amazing and while the chips were hot and crispy they also came out of a packet. We have probably been spoilt with the amazing  home-made/hand crafted chips that you can get at Cubata’s as well as The Bridge Street Brewery’s “Patas Bravas” who in my  and the Baronesses’ opinion  will take a huge effort to beat. 

As already mentioned, on a weekend evenings a bonfire is lit (weather permitting of course) and braai packs are available, I personally can’t wait to take the all of the team to do a full review on an evening like that as I have a feeling that some “interesting characters” will emerge from the surrounding bush and that the Tequila Spider men will make themselves at home.

All in all the venue is well worth a visit and on a lekker sunny day either parking off out the back under the trees or on the very small front patio area.

 Some positive points for us  regards Monkee Bizniz are

·         Reasonably priced ( Quarts are R22 each) and cold J

·         The service is suitable without being in your face

·         Pet friendly (so I am allowed in)

·         Children friendly (I know for some that this may be a disadvantage)

·         Cigarettes are sold (for those that run out)

·         Relaxed atmosphere

·         Biker friendly

Some negative points

·         Does not sell Millers (but the  reasonably  priced cold Castle Lite made up for that)

·         Use’s frozen seafood.

·         Don’t have sport on full time, so may not be the best place to watch if that’s what your into when you go to a pub. On a plus side though Odette likes Sons of Anarchy and Vikings, so if your into those series and have missed a couple I am sure you could persuade her to play for while you have a drink or two.

·         From a ladies perspective the ladies are not the best, come to think of it the gents are also very basic, but generally men are very “rustig” about where they. So if you go to a pub and base them on the toilets, then M B is not for you.

·         Cash only at the moment so make sure you take enough Moolah with you, otherwise you could find yourself selling your body or a body part or having the hassle to go across the road to the Willows resort and draw cash or if they can’t help you drive into while the someone is held hostage until you get back with the cash.

The Monkee Bizniz is definitely on my and The Baronesses, “let’s go again” list and on a scale of 1 to 10 on the TSM barometer of lekkerness,  The Baroness and I give the venue a 6, but this may change with a full review from the team.