MANILA -- It doesn’t get wilder than this.

One of the signature cocktails of the fairly new Wyld Kitchen x Bar is the Flora x Fauna, a mix of gin, grapefruit juice, lemon juice and rose foam, and garnished with basil, butterfly pea flower and a worm.

The worm is actually a chichaworm, a crispy snack of deep-fried superworm that's popular in Bohol.

“It comes from a supplier,” explained chef and owner Kenn Gonzales. “We tell them the worms have to have a specific diet, so it’s all organic, walang trash, all greens, so the taste doesn’t get affected. Then they marinate it and fry it and use it as a garnish.”

The chichaworm is not the only item that’s bound to raise eyebrows in Wyld’s cocktail menu. Its other drinks feature unusual bar ingredients such as camote tops, local mulberry, pickled radish, curry powder, and caramelized ampalaya.

Located just across the ABS-CBN compound on Mother Ignacia Avenue, Wyld is Gonzales’s “thank you to nature.”

In setting up Wyld, Gonzales said he was inspired by his stint up in the mountains of Colorado. “It’s very isolated, there are no cities, so we feel the vibe of the nature talaga, the forest. I wanted to bring that vibe to Quezon City,” he told ABS-CBN News.

Originally, Gonzales wanted to have actual plants in the split-level bar-restaurant but was worried that they might die.

"We didn’t want to use naman fake plants, so went for a more abstract approach, modern, minimalist."

Wyld boasts of a rustic vibe, with recycled wood standing in for the trees, while metal rods were designed to look like stylized branches.

"All the lights are dimmable, so it feels like you’re in a forest. The shadows help simulate the forest," he said.

The ambience is ideal for a night out with friends and Wyld recently came up with a couple of promotions to help seal the deal. Fridays and Saturdays are dubbed Wyld Nights with guests DJs with a bottle promo where the second bottle of liquor purchased is at 50% off.

Unlimited wine and sangria, meanwhile, are offered on Sundays to Wednesdays. Add P350 for a cheese board to complete the experience.

The wilderness theme is carried over to the regular food offerings, which feature touches like edible flowers and microgreens.

Here's what you can order at Wyld (aside from the worm-topped cocktail):

The creamy Spinach Dip comes with freshly made vegetable chips, organic house-made tortilla chips, crudites, and parmesan. ABS-CBN News

The Wyld Beef Burger features a hefty patty of house-blend ground beef and served with mulberry streak sauce, poached egg, yellow cheddar, lettuce, tomato and onion in a brioche bun. ABS-CBN News

The pretty Pesto Pasta is garnished with edible flowers and microgreens. ABS-CBN News

The Grilled Hern Marinated Flank Steak is a good choice and served with Brussels sprouts, herb butter and potato wedges. ABS-CBN News