Local couple Linda and Craig Cheatham opened family-owned and operated Stem & Stone Kitchen and Bar in late 2019 to provide quality food and drinks in a friendly environment, in addition to supporting fellow business owners.

What’s special about it?

Linda Cheatham said the team offers speed-scratch food, which blends ready-made and fresh ingredients.

“We use minimally processed, high-quality ingredients,” Linda Cheatham said. “If we can make it ourselves, we do. If it can’t be done in-house, we buy the highest quality products we can find.”

Thursdays through Saturdays, Stem & Stone offers charcuterie boards. (Courtesy Stem & Stone)
Stem & Stone offers charcuterie boards Thursdays through Saturdays. (Courtesy Stem & Stone)

In addition to housemade sauces, dressings and smoked meats, the Cheathams partner with other Bastrop restaurant owners to increase their local offerings at Stem & Stone, including using:

The smoked turkey sandwich is made with focaccia from The Bearded Baking Company, and comes with mozzarella, field greens, sundried tomato pesto and Roma tomatoes. (Courtesy Stem & Stone)
The smoked turkey sandwich is made with focaccia from The Bearded Baking Company, and comes with mozzarella, field greens, sundried tomato pesto and Roma tomatoes. (Courtesy Stem & Stone)



What’s different?

Linda Cheatham said Stem & Stone has undergone a few changes this year with an increased emphasis on their food.

Some of the changes include:

  • Monthly wine tastings, offering a range of varietals, producers and regions
  • Featured Easts & Cheesecake of the Month, with homemade pasta and mint chocolate chocolate chip cheesecake on the menu for August
  • Sunday brunch and market, with food and local vendors
On Sundays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., guests can choose from a variety of brunch items such as homemade chicken and waffles, Cajun latkes, brunch burgers and more. (Courtesy Stem & Stone)
On Sundays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., guests can choose from a variety of brunch items such as homemade chicken and waffles, Cajun latkes, brunch burgers and more. (Courtesy Stem & Stone)

Other offerings include:

  • 15% discount for first responders and those in the military
  • “Pour it Forward,” where customers can buy a beverage for a first responder or military member

What else?

Linda Cheatham said the name Stem & Stone comes from going out to eat with Craig Cheatham and having trouble finding a spot that offered great choices for both beer and wine.

“If they had great wine, the beer selection wasn’t much to speak of,” she said. “If we found some great craft beer, the wine choices were basically red or white. We wanted to have a place where you can get both along with the food we love to eat.”

From that idea, Linda Cheatham said they created Stem & Stone—stem signifying wine, and stone for beer.

Linda and Craig Cheatham opened family-owned and operated Stem & Stone Kitchen and Bar in late 2019. (Courtesy Stem & Stone)
Linda and Craig Cheatham opened family-owned and operated Stem & Stone Kitchen and Bar in late 2019. (Courtesy Stem & Stone)