The Ocean Basket at Brookes on the Bay on the Port Elizabeth beachfront has been robbed of a large sum of money.
Police Warrant officer Alwin Labans says two men posing as customers entered the restaurant at around 11h30 on Monday morning.
Shortly thereafter, a Fidelity guard arrived to clear the weekend takings.
Labans says that while the guard was talking to the owner, the two men jumped up and drew firearms and ordered everyone to lie on the floor.
They took the safe key from the Fidelity guard and emptied the Ocean Basket's safe of an undisclosed amount of money.
The gunmen fled on foot and joined up with a third suspect who had been waiting outside the restaurant.
Labans says a 4th suspect is the driver of the getaway vehicle - a green VW golf which was seen speeding away from the scene.
No-one was injured in the incident.
