The four girls had come with a solitary man, who was sponsoring their drinks, and was red-faced with embarrassment when one of the Filipino singers brought him to the dance floor to join his four girlfriends. Meanwhile, at our table, the two men in our foursome, had more than their fill of the spirits and looking at the girls. The mood was built up for them to take their wives of 10 years to the floor for some quickjigs.

The Bar and Lounge has some bizarre names for the cocktails. There was `Sex on the Beach' with vodka, peach schnapps and some other fruit juice mixed in it. The concoction was good, despite the overbearing name. The bar manager was also very helpful in choosing a cocktail for you and was even willing to prepare the one we wanted. Like Mai Tai, with rum and coconut milk, which was made on special request from one of my companions.

The Bar and Lounge opens at 4 pm when it caters to more of an office crowd, with the white collar guys wanting to send a few down the hatch, before the sun sets and they head for home. And the atmosphere continues to be somber until late. But suddenly around 10 pm, the scene perks up with the drinkers making the most of the Filipino band, which will be playing there until the end of September, and dancing their blues away.

A group of four could end up blowing up a cool three grands plus for cocktails and snacks but could also wash away their blues.

--VidyaDeshpande