Two men were arrested following a botched restaurant robbery at a shopping centre in Milnerton, Western Cape police said on Monday.

"At approximately 9.45pm [on Sunday] the two suspects entered a restaurant situated in the shopping centre, held up staff at gunpoint and demanded cash," said Superintendent Andre Traut.

"A single gunshot was fired, and a 25-year old employee of the restaurant was wounded in his neck," he said.

The two men, aged 27 and 29, then fled the restaurant in the Canal Walk shopping centre empty-handed and police were called.

Traut said police searched the area and arrested the two men.

They would be charged with armed robbery and attempted murder.

The weapon used in the armed robbery had not been recovered and police believed a third suspect was still at large.

The 25-year-old restaurant employee was taken to hospital and was in a serious but stable condition.