The Bar is Open!

The long-awaited Papershell Bar has opened at Pecan House Grill in downtown San Saba. After many months, we launched our bar concept to the public earlier this month. The upstairs bar is part of Pecan House Grill, which will fully open on Friday, November 27, 2020.

Becoming a Destination

For many years, San Saba has been experiencing a growth in visitors to the city, and more and more the question has been asked, “What is there to do in San Saba after dinner?” Our great wineries, shops, and stores are run by local owners who have families, and so for the longest time, the city has been mostly quiet after 5pm with a handful of exceptions. With the Papershell Bar, we now have a new downtown option for people who want to socialize beyond dinner.  

Keep the Party Going!

Like most small towns, San Saba has had challenges creating destination restaurants or drinking establishments. Trying to get one started in the middle of a pandemic has been an entirely different issue! However, the demand for a solid nightlife option in San Saba is so strong, that we knew that we could pull it off. One of the most important things was to make sure we get the combination of food, drinks, and atmosphere right so that there was something for everyone. Whether you are a San Saba local, or a visitor from Houston, Austin, or Dallas, we want our bar and restaurant to be a place everyone can enjoy.

Crafted Cocktails

One of the things that was important to us was giving San Saba an upscale cocktail menu. We believe that visitors and locals will appreciate the variety, and diversity of this menu. Not to mention that it features the Augustus McCrae, which is of course named after the legendary Lonesome Dove character. It is destined to be a favorite packed with flavors including: rye, cynar, chartreuse, Tempus Fugit, Ancho Reyes, and Luxardo cherry.

Local Connection

One of the most interesting drinks from the cocktail menu is The Catkins Martini. For those who do not know, the catkins is the bloom of a pecan tree, and also well-known in San Saba as the namesake for the annual Catkins Ball, which raises funds for the San Saba County community. The drink itself is quite literally a bourbon, chocolate pecan pie in a glass!

Beers on Tap

The Papershell Bar has a variety of Texas beers on tap, and those may change over time, but currently include Axis IPA, Altstadt Hefeweizen, Karbach Love Street, and of course Shiner. The beer menu reflects some of the best of Texas-made beers from across the state. However, you can also get your domestic favorites like Bud Light and Michelob Ultra as well.

By The Bottle

We also curated a selection of beers by the bottle that covers a wide range of flavors from Irish Ale to gluten free beer. Import favorites like Corona, Dos Equis, and Heineken surround usual suspects like Budweiser, Coors Light, and Miller Lite.

Wine is a Big Deal in San Saba

We can’t forget to mention the fact that we have plans for a robust wine list. Right now we are featuring our neighbor Wedding Oak Winery on our menu and some of their fantastic blends because they helped put San Saba on the map as a destination with their award-winning wines, and the Annual Sip N’ Stroll event that brings hundreds of people to town each winter. Our menu is rounded out with a variety of red and white wines, and champagne that is available by the glass or by the bottle.

Cheers to the Future

We are just getting started with the Papershell Bar! We are looking forward to hosting events like reunions, anniversaries, wedding receptions, and so much more! We also plan to develop a happy hour menu, and once the Pecan House Grill fully opens, have menu specials, and big Sunday family-style meals planned to keep our community coming back.