Sanjh Restaurant & Bar in Irving, Texas, has appointed Akash Kumar Kushwaha as Manager of Mixology. He brings 15 years of hospitality experience across luxury hotels, fine dining establishments and beverage-focused operations in India and the United States.
Kushwaha’s professional background covers mixology, beverage programme development, restaurant operations, inventory and beverage cost management, vendor relations and team leadership. His experience across hotel and independent restaurant environments includes both operational and beverage-focused responsibilities.
Experience Across Hotel and Restaurant Operations
Before joining Sanjh Restaurant & Bar, Kushwaha served as Assistant Food & Beverage Manager and Restaurant Manager at Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa. His responsibilities across these positions included restaurant and beverage operations, team coordination and service delivery.
He previously worked as Restaurants and Beverage Manager with Marriott Hotels & Resorts in Indore, where his experience expanded into broader multi-venue management and food and beverage operations. Earlier, he was Assistant Restaurant Manager at JW Marriott Kolkata, adding further experience in restaurant operations within a luxury hotel environment.
Early Career in Mixology and Beverage Service
Kushwaha began developing his beverage-focused expertise through his work as a Mixologist and Bartender at Cocktails & Dreams in New Delhi.
The role gave him hands-on experience in cocktail preparation, beverage service and bar operations. It also established a foundation for his later work in beverage programme development and management within larger hospitality operations.
His career subsequently moved into broader food and beverage leadership, while retaining a focus on beverage quality, service standards and operational efficiency.
Developing Beverage Programmes
Across his career, Kushwaha has worked on beverage programme development, including responsibilities related to cocktail offerings, beverage cost management and operational processes.
His experience also includes inventory management and vendor relations, areas that form an important part of beverage operations. Managing stock levels, controlling costs and coordinating with suppliers are central to maintaining consistency and efficiency within a bar operation.
He has also been involved in team training, supporting service teams in beverage preparation, standards and guest interaction.
Multi-Venue and Pre-Opening Experience
Kushwaha’s professional background includes multi-venue management and pre-opening projects, giving him exposure to the operational planning required across different food and beverage environments.
Pre-opening assignments involve establishing workflows, preparing teams and developing operating procedures before service begins. His experience in this area complements his background in established hotel and restaurant operations.
The combination of beverage expertise and broader restaurant management experience provides a foundation for managing both the creative and operational aspects of a beverage programme.
Focus on Mixology at Sanjh
In his new role as Manager of Mixology at Sanjh Restaurant & Bar, Kushwaha will oversee the restaurant’s beverage programme.
His responsibilities will include cocktail and beverage menu development, service standards, beverage cost management and bar operations. He will also lead team training and work on improving bar workflows.
The role will involve developing the restaurant’s beverage offering while maintaining consistency in preparation and service. His previous experience across hotels, restaurants and dedicated beverage operations will support the management of these functions.
Building Beverage and Service Standards
Kushwaha’s remit extends beyond cocktail development to the operational systems supporting the bar. Inventory management, cost control, vendor coordination and team training will form part of his responsibilities as he works with the restaurant team.
His experience across India and the United States also gives him exposure to different hospitality operating environments and service approaches. At Sanjh, this background will be applied to the restaurant’s beverage programme and guest-facing operations.
Akash Kumar Kushwaha on His New Role
Speaking about his new role, Akash said,
“Joining Sanjh Restaurant & Bar as Manager of Mixology is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a dynamic hospitality environment where creativity, consistency and guest experience come together. Over the years, my journey across luxury hotels and fine dining establishments has strengthened my understanding of beverage innovation, team leadership and operational excellence. I look forward to developing distinctive beverage experiences, mentoring our team and creating memorable moments for every guest at Sanjh.”
Bringing Beverage Expertise to Sanjh
Kushwaha joins Sanjh Restaurant & Bar with 15 years of experience spanning mixology, restaurant operations and food and beverage leadership. His career progression from bartending and mixology into restaurant and beverage management has provided exposure to both specialist beverage functions and wider hospitality operations.
At Sanjh, his focus will be on managing the beverage programme, developing cocktails and menus, maintaining service and cost standards, strengthening bar workflows and training the team. The appointment adds dedicated beverage leadership to the restaurant’s operations as it develops its mixology offering.
