Vlad V.
Yelp
As the self-appointed king of speakeasies, I'm back at it with one of Houston's newest speakeasies: Endless Bummer. And I'll start off by saying that spending time here was far from an endless bummer. Located in Montrose, Endless Bummer is inside Betelgeuse Betelgeuse. If you've been to Betelgeuse, you know it's a little quirky and that they have good pizza. You'll see this same quirkiness come through at Endless Bummer. There's a complimentary lot in the back of the bar and restaurant.
Ambiance (4.5/5): To enter, find an unmarked door with a tropical theme close to Betelgeuse. Ring the doorbell. And now you have arrived. Endless Bummer is relatively small. It can seat 30 people or so. Because of that, if you're coming on a weekend, you should probably make a reservation. If you come on a Thursday, as I did, you'll be in the clear. I prefer laid back experiences when I'm at a speakeasy, so I'm happy I came on a weekday. Endless Bummer has a tropical theme going. You'll see bright colors. It's dimly lit. Exactly what I hope for in a speakeasy. Well done.
Service (3/5): The service was efficient and friendly throughout. I was given recommendations when I asked. Why wasn't I fully satisfied? Endless Bummer charges 22% gratuity for all bills. Really?! Service techniques and tipping pressure has gotten out of control lately. I certainly understand wanting to make sure the staff is taken care of. But at the same time, giving a fat tip regardless of the service I receive, and forcing me to do so, seems to be against everything America is all about. I'll get off my soapbox now, but this policy was certainly a turn off.
Food (N/A): I had dinner prior, but regardless, I don't think they serve food anyways. If you're hungry, go to Betelgeuse right next door and get yourself a tavern-style pizza.
Drinks (4.5/5): Given the tropical theme, as you would expect, there are a lot (not all) tiki-style drinks. When I'm at a speakeasy, I look for creative craft cocktails with an interesting blend of flavors and ingredients. If I'm at a speakeasy and I see an Espresso Martini on the menu, I'm going to be upset. This is not what you'll find here. The menu is carefully curated and has nice descriptions of each beverage. I had quite a few throughout the evening and they were all quality. They even have a few group drinks, which are always fun.
Overall, Endless Bummer is one of the best speakeasies I've been to in Houston. I love both speakeasies and tiki bars, so it's the perfect fusion for me. Other than than the service policy, it was an A+ experience.