In the 70's, a handful of hippies and visionaries decided the CWE needed a breath of life, and they delivered. You don't have to be a CWE old timer to remember Duff's, Kopperman's, Llewellyn's, and the Balaban derivatives that were gone well before COVID.

Luckily, we still have one remaining "OG" establishment: Dressel's Public House. In 1980, the fascinating Jon Dressel opened Dressel's in the likeness of pubs he had enjoyed during his extensive time in Wales - places where folks could discuss things like art, music, and literature while enjoying food and drink of the highest quality. When his son Ben took over 20 years ago, he elevated this identity as Dressel's menu evolved to include now-legendary items like the Porchetta Louie. Provel cheese, pepperoncini, AND citrus-herb roasted pork? Yeah, sign me up.

Watch Guy Fieri tell Dressel's executive chef to tear up the rest of the menu (2:55) after trying the Porchetta Louie.

Jon Dressel passed in 2024. On my historical tours, I refer to him as the world's only St. Louis-born Welsh poet. He was a lot more than that, as beautifully captured by Ben's memoir that prefaces his last posthumously-published book of poetry.

Oh yeah, Ben also brews amazing beers at Dressel's in-house Rock & Horse Brewery - every one of them is unique and delicious!