Montrose’s mini boom of new pizzerias has added another establishment to its roster. Betelgeuse Betelgeuse officially opens to the public Friday, September 1.
Photo by Sergio Trevino
Betelgeuse Betelgeuse has opened its Montrose location with a karaoke-ready back room.
Located in the former Bamboo/Kam’s Wok space at 4500 Montrose Blvd., the Montrose location of Betelgeuse Betelgeuse builds on the success of its original Washington Avenue outpost that opened last year. Whereas the first location utilizes a food truck to prepare its pizzas and bar snacks, the Montrose location has a full kitchen.
That means owner Chris Cusack has been able to expand the menu a bit with additions such as Spaghetti Squares (deep fried spaghetti balls with cheese and tomato sauce) and more wings flavors. The Montrose location also offers a personal-sized, 10-inch version of the bar’s signature “ironclad pizzas” that are baked on cast iron pans to give each slice a crispy edge. Dishes such as loaded fries, Space Balls (pizza dough that’s brushed with garlic butter), and a cheeseburger carry over from the original location.
Also making the trip south is Betelgeuse’s extensive cocktail offerings. The menu includes an Appletini, the “Mommy, What’s a Funkadelic?” (tepache, mezcal, lime, pineapple, and vanilla), an espresso martini, and the Watermelon Fresca that’s been a staple of La Grange’s menu since it opened.
All that eating and drinking happens in a space-themed environment that fits an establishment named for a red supergiant star in the Orion constellation. A 900-square-foot back room has been wired for karaoke and will also serve as a venue for private events.
“Betelgeuse Betelgeuse Montrose has been a labor of love and is my tribute to this amazing neighborhood,” Cusack said in a statement. “I can’t wait to welcome customers through our doors for great cocktails, amazing food, and weird vibes.”
While Cusack is opening the Montrose location, he’s also in the process of sourcing a replacement for the original location’s food truck that was damaged in a fire. The proprietor tells CultureMap he could have a solution in place as soon as next week. In the meantime, guest food trucks are filling the gap.
This summer has been a busy time for new pizzerias in Montrose. In addition to Betelgeuse, the neighborhood has welcomed ElRo Pizza & Crudo, a new concept from chef Terrence Gallivan (The Pass & Provisions), and Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern, the latest project from Nobie's owners Sara and Martin Stayer.
