Childhood friends
Angad and Darren met almost twenty years ago, at school, long before either of them had any notion of running a bar together. Angad grew up on a farm near Valpoi, where his parents ran an eco-resort. "I have been around guests, so I guess the love comes from there," he says. Darren took a different road into hospitality, working his way up from ODC to become a restaurant manager over more than fifteen years.
What eventually pulled them into business together, Angad says, was simple: "Darren's dream of starting a bar before 30, and my confidence in his ability and skill to work with people, knowledge, and experience." He laughs off the other half of the equation, what Darren saw in him, but settles on it anyway: "I guess it's the ability to think outside the box, for lack of a better word."
Preserving legacy
That shared dream eventually led them to Surya Bar & Restaurant.
The place did not begin with them. It has stood for two decades as a local thali joint and feni bar, named after its late proprietor, Mr Suryakant. When Angad and Darren took it over, keeping the name wasn't just sentiment; it was also their landlord's family's wish.
"We joke about how it's called Surya because we want to shine brighter than the sun," Angad says. Underneath the joke is something more deliberate: an ambition to make Surya the seafood dining destination of Nerul, built on a tight, unshowy menu, six preparations of seafood, and a rice plate, nothing more.
Hidden tavern
But even as they leaned into legacy, the itch for something new stayed with them. "Having a bar is something we wanted to do, and that was the driving force behind starting a new place," Angad says. He wasn't immediately sold on Surya's location or its old-world look. It took one particular night, sitting inside the space, for the shift to happen: "I have the space; I can do whatever I want."
That thought became Pisso.
Originally imagined as a speakeasy, the concept evolved into an intimate tavern tucked behind a heavy wooden door that appears permanently locked until someone shows guests the hidden entrance.
Two concepts
Creating two completely different personalities within the same property wasn't easy.
"It took us time to understand how both concepts could coexist," Angad says.
Today, the transition happens almost effortlessly. The outdoor area hosts Surya's daytime dining, while the hidden indoor tavern opens later with its own menu, atmosphere and identity.
The evening menu shifts towards dishes designed for sharing, all carrying unmistakable Goan influences. Every cocktail is built around feni and incorporates at least one local ingredient.
Beyond dining
At Pisso, entertainment is never treated as an afterthought. Taco Tuesdays feature a piñata packed with surprises. Saturdays belong to the delightfully chaotic Bad Karaoke Club, where themed music nights and quirky props encourage even the shyest guests to sing along. A new quiz night blending trivia with games is also on the cards.
"We always ask ourselves how we can do something differently," Angad says. "We want people to feel comfortable here. It's a small space where people can genuinely connect over food, music and conversations."
Customer response
The response has been encouraging.
Old patrons appreciate that Surya still feels familiar despite its refreshed interiors.
"They're pleasantly surprised," Angad says. “They love that the Konkani music is still there and that the food and feni remain true to what they remember."
New visitors, meanwhile, often discover Pisso almost by accident.
"The hidden door catches everyone by surprise," he smiles. "Some fall in love with the cocktails, some with the food, and others with the karaoke or simply the atmosphere. Everyone finds their own reason to come back."
Looking ahead
The journey is still unfolding. Pop-up barbecues are expected to return after the monsoon, collaborations with guest chefs are in the works, and fresh weekly concepts continue to take shape.
Angad is the first to admit they don't have everything figured out. "With Surya, we've found our identity. With Pisso, we're still discovering it," he says. "It's a learning curve. You have to keep taking chances because if you never try, you'll never know."
As the evening deepens in Nerul, another guest reaches for the hidden wooden door, unsure of what waits on the other side. That moment of curiosity is exactly what Angad and Darren hoped to create.
