A new crop of Nacogdoches restaurants is repurposing old structures, showing off the exposed brick of buildings originally erected in the 1800s and early 1900s. Opened a couple of years ago, Maklemore’s Ale House & Bistro garnered instant popularity with its selection of draft and bottled beers and live music many nights. You can’t go wrong with Maklemore’s juicy hamburgers with the all-American works—mustard, onion, tomato, lettuce, and pickles.
Then there’s Liberty Bell, a wine bar that opened in 2013 in a brick building that dates to the 1880s. The Liberty Bell hosts frequent songwriter meet-ups and live music, but many patrons come for the food. Brunch means dishes like chicken and waffles served with eggs, maple syrup, and a side of ultra-creamy, cheddar-topped grits. Try pairing your meal with a glass of Vermentino—a fragrant white wine with pineapple notes—made by the newly opened local vineyard Naca Valley.
Dinner in yet another historic brick room, Auntie Pasta’s, within a turn-of-the-century railroad supply building, offers entrées like a beefy square of lasagna swathed in slightly spicy marinara and mozzarella, and beverages like the light and crisp Banita Blond, an ale crafted by yet another new establishment, Fredonia Brewery. The brewery, like Naca Valley Vineyard, opens to visitors, but only on Saturdays. Any day of the week, though, you can find these local products at Nacogdoches restaurants, a sign of mutual support among local establishments.
