Celestina Blok
Special to the Business Press
The bar and restaurant scene on West Magnolia Avenue will get a little hairier when The Bearded Lady opens in July. Located at 1229 Seventh Ave., just across from Ellerbe Fine Foods, the new tavern will offer a long street-side patio with a view of Magnolia Avenue that can seat nearly 60 patrons at chunky wooden picnic tables. There’ll be seating for 44 more customers inside. The 1,750-square-foot structure is owned by local commercial realtor Eric Clayton (Caprock Group), who’s partnered with longtime bartender Shannon Osbakken to open the late-night dining and drinking establishment. Osbakken, who admits to being intrigued with circus sideshow acts, was formerly part owner of two area bars, Ozzie Rabbit Lodge and Cave’s Lounge, and has been looking to open a venue in the Near Southside. “There’s a lot of camaraderie here,” she said, noting that she was visited by several West Magnolia Avenue restaurant owners during the Near Southside’s ArtsGoggle event in May. Cheryl Westbrook, a former sushi chef at Piranha Killer Sushi and 7th Haven bartender, will lead The Bearded Lady kitchen in her first executive chef gig. The menu will focus on handmade, Texas-inspired pub fare using local craft beer. So far, mustard will be infused with Martin House Brewing’s new pretzel-based stout beer, and mussels will be steamed in the brewery’s Day Break four-grain breakfast beer. A preliminary menu includes beer-battered cactus stuffed with goat cheese and olives, burgers and sandwiches including a braised pork belly sandwich with gruyere cheese and caramelized onions, and a pecan porter-infused cheesecake. Prices range from $4 for a side of mac’n cheese served in a bacon bowl to $17 for three jalapeno-stuffed, bacon-wrapped quail breasts. The Bearded Lady will be open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. A mid- to late July opening is anticipated.