Live jazz and delectable food: mixologist Sandeep Verma’s new cocktail bar offers more than great drinks

Celebrated Indian mixologist Sandeep ‘Sandy’ Verma has had an impressive career. An alumnus of Wines & Spirits Education Trust, UK, Sandeep has been associated with the top stars of the hospitality industry–The Oberoi, Hyatt Regency, and Le Meridien, among others, and runs Delhi-based Institute of Bar Operations and Management. 

After successfully running SANDYS Cocktails & Kitchen in Gurugram along with his wife Valerie Rosebud Verma, Sandy has moved back to Goa. “I have played football here, been part of all the dance balls, gone fishing in the sea, and jammed at musical festivals. The Goan culture has had a great influence in my life and we have been coming to Goa four times a year…It is a good place to live and retire,” Verma, an alumnus of IHM Goa, tells YS Life.

Nestled in a buzzing alley of Anjuna Beach under coconut trees, Verma’s new cocktail bar, The Howling Wolves, overlooks the Arabian Sea in Goa. Known for his passion for bartending and always playing a warm host, Verma recently invited YS Life for a cocktail pairing event. 

Sun, sand, and music

Curious about the name, I ask Verma the significance of it. He says, “I am mesmerised by Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. I am always intrigued by the unity of the wolf pack!” But more importantly, Verma is inspired by American blues singer Chester Arthur Burnett, also popularly known as Howlin’ Wolf.

True to the philosophy, music forms an integral part of the cocktail bar and restaurant. The walls are adorned with images of music legends, and the owners, who are music lovers, have immense respect for artists who put their heart and soul into their performances. With every meal at the Howling Wolves, guests get to enjoy live band performances. During my visit, Goan band Still Waters (Danielle, Jason, and legendary drummer Lester) performed complex yet harmonical jazz, with founder Valerie performing a special number for her guests. 

Verma himself has designed and converted the barren land with sea sand into what Howling Wolves is today. The flooring has been inspired by sea waves, and is fluid and curved at the floor level. The deck, also offering a dining area, overlooks the Arabian sea and makes for the perfect sundowner spot. The high-rise bamboo ceiling and munda railing add to the rustic charm of the property. 

Howling Wolves’ decor is largely dominated by the colours brown and blue, and the bar, furniture, and lights have been handcrafted locally. 

What we ate 

Valerie and Verma have thoughtfully curated an expansive menu. “We wanted to offer a sensual yet casual dining experience,” Verma says. 

Owing to the breath-taking view from the deck, the owners offer a breakfast menu between 9: 30 AM and 12: 30 PM, featuring smoothie bowls, waffles, and pancakes. The mains range from egg-specials to local sea-food favourites, dimsums, fresh pizzas, salads, and an exquisite range of roasts and grills.

For the cocktail pairing event, Verma presented the best from the menu. The service started with juicy and succulent dimsums–chicken, chives and peanuts; prawns and mixed seafood, paprika and lemongrass. The dimsums were paired with elderflower tea martini made using Darjeeling tea, my absolute personal favourite. 

Then came the chicken wings, paired with Goa’s urrak aampana palamo. The glazed wings were served with charred lime and herbs and cooked in BBQ sauce. The cocktail, made using homemade grapefruit cordial, along with aam panna cut the greasiness of the chicken wings, and the roasted paprika salt and green chilly sat just right with the appetiser. 

Next came in golden fried king prawns–crispy outside and flavourful and juicy inside! The prawns were served with soy sauce and wasabi mayo dip. Verma paired with a jalapeno-infused tequila cocktail, Last Tango in Modena, which I respectfully refused as I continued enjoying the freshness of the urrak aampana palamo. 

Before getting to the main course, guests were presented with creamy malai chicken tikkas that were charred to perfection! It was paired with a deliciously fresh spicy guava cilantro martini, made using vodka, mint, guava juice, spice sauce, and the star of the drink–cilantro! 

For mains, I went with the grilled sea bass with mushroom, broth, and dill butter. The pan seared sea bass was cooked to perfection, and the baby potatoes were flavoured with herbs and were tender and melted in the mouth! 

For desserts, Valerie treated the guests to brownie and tawny–a rich chocolate brownie served on a bed of raspberry coulis, and a side of coffee ice cream–an enjoyable sin! 

There was espresso martini to be paired with the dessert and Benaras paan mojito to end with, but content with what I already had, I ended my meal with the gooey brownie. 

Last word 

I left Howling Wolves with a full stomach and warmth from Verma and Valerie. Visit the cocktail bar if you miss home, for the owners ensure that every guest feels at home. And if you are lucky enough, Verma will join you for a drink and share tales of his golden years, and Valerie will entertain you with her melodious voice, and a secret dessert (for me, it was a poached pear!).  

The cocktail bar also offers a five-course Sunday brunch menu, available between 11 AM and 4 PM. It starts with classic favourites like egg benedict and smoothie bowls, followed by a pan-asian or mediterranean brunch, as per the guests’ choices. It also features delectable mocktails, cocktails, and wines.  

Address: Dmello Vaddo, Anjuna

Time: 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM 

Cost for two: Rs 2,500 for two (including alcohol)