Daily Light report

WAXAHACHIE From the vineyards of Texas to the breweries of the Metroplex, one Waxahachie couple is providing downtown patrons an opportunity to kick back, relax and indulge in the finer spirits and brews that the state has to offer.

He dreamt of a barbecue restaurant. She wanted a winery. So, naturally, they settled on a wine bar.

Work began to transform a vacant ground floor studio at the historic Rogers Hotel just after the New Year and wrapped with an April 22 soft opening before officially cutting the ceremonial ribbon Wednesday, May 17 to announce the opening of Cork and Keg the newest wine-bar-and-craft-beer venue in Waxahachie.

I was in the natural gas energy sector for 39 years in Houston and I married a young lady here in Waxahachie three years ago. I commuted for two years and last year my company was sold. So for the last year, I was trying to decide what to do, said Mark Hillegeist, who co-owns the wine bar with his wife, Phyllis Hyatt. I have always wanted to have a restaurant. I always thought I would have a barbecue place or a steak house. My wife always wanted a wine bar. We love to go to wine bars and wineries, so we came up with the idea to open up a wine bar.

The restaurant features wine, craft beers, and small plate items on its menu like crab cakes, hot wings, flatbread, and bruschetta. Already on tap are beers from Deep Ellum Brewing Company in Dallas, Rahr and Sons Brewing Company in Fort Worth and Revolver Brewing out of Granbury.

"We went to the grand opening and had a great time. Because of how crowded it was we sat outside," wrote Bentley Beck on the Cork and Keg Facebook page. "Great beer choices, and for being "bar" food it was really good! [The] atmosphere was very laid back, even when it was packed, we could still carry on a conversation with everyone who joined us. Gold star service from Samantha our waitress, she checked in on us and paid attention anytime someone joined our party to get them drinks. All around five stars, we need more places like this in Waxahachie!"

Laurie Burrow Muirhead also gave the new venue a five-star Facebook review and stated the Cork and Keg is "exactly what Waxahachie needed."

"Upscale but relaxing environment. The staff is great and the food is really good," Muirhead stated. "We are excited for them to have a larger menu and live music which the owners said is coming soon. We usually drive to Bishop Arts when we want this kind of atmosphere so it's great that we can stay in town to have that now."

Beers range from $3-8 for a 16-ounce glass and wine runs between $6-7 a glass. Wine options include keg and bottles from California, Washington, France, and Australia, among others. As of Friday afternoon, beers on tap included Rahr and Sons Dadgum, Saint Arnold Summer Pils, Revolver Blood and Honey, Shiner Bock and Lizard Scorcher.

Specials change daily and are posted to the Cork and Keg Facebook page, which can be found by searching "Cork & Keg."

We are going to focus on a relaxing atmosphere with some good music and some TV monitors in case the game is on. It is going to be a place that people can come to relax, have a drink, learn a little bit about wine and wine pairings. We are also going to serve some craft beers. So they can learn about craft beers and have some really good small plate foods, Hillegeist said. Instead of a place that you can go in and leave, it will be more of a place that you can go to sit back and relax and casually talk to people. I hope to have a little bit of live music once or twice a month and would also like to bring in a comedian once a month.

The restaurant is open 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Cork and Keg can also be rented out for private parties.

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Newest craft beer and wine bar, Cork and Keg, opens its doors as a member of the Waxahachie Chamber - Waxahachie Daily Light