In Ireland, pubs serve as a public forum for social, political and economic debates, as well as the occasional brawl. In the United Kingdom, pubs are noted for being among the few locations where edible food might actually be obtained. Dressel’s Pub, at 419 N. Euclid, offers a combination of both witty banter and hearty victuals.
Pencil, charcoal and pastel portraits line the walls in Dressel’s. One can find Beethoven and Dylan Thomas glaring at each other from across the room, as well as any number of other musicians, poets and authors watching over your meal. King Henry VIII makes an imposing sentry, hanging over the men’s toilet.
Aside from portraits, the walls also feature pieces of poetry by Jon Dressel, the pub’s namesake, in addition to other quotes and literary excerpts.
In the middle of the restaurant stands a two-sided bar with tables on either side. Space is extremely limited, with the tables almost painfully close together, creating that true friendly pub atmosphere. The coziness is unmistakable, and the food is undeniably tasty.
The way to start off any meal at Dressel’s is with their famous Bavarian chips ($3.00). Potatoes are sliced and then fried leaving you with a cross between a french fry and a potato chip.
They are crisp and not excessively greasy. A word to the wise: they are salty, so take a taste before adding anything extra.
Dressel’s offers a different stew for their stockpot special ($2.25) each night. The choice on this particular occasion was the Welsh cawl. The cawl was a savory stew, with chunks of meat, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and other vegetables. It was a fine way to warm up the body on a cool fall evening.
The soup du jour was a cream of roasted vegetable with rice ($2.00). The soup was on the spicier side and the taste of red bell peppers was evident. The strong taste of the peppers took away from the other vegetables, leaving the soup less palatable than the stew.
Dressel’s offers a wide variety of sandwiches. The grilled pork sandwich ($6.75) is an excellent choice. The pork was cooked well, leaving it tender and not dried out. It was served on Italian bread, along with a side of mustard sauce which did not mix well with the pork. A quick substitution of Grey Poupon, which was provided with other condiments on the table, was a great replacement for the mustard sauce.
A variety of hot dishes with a distinctive Welsh flavor were listed on the menu. A clear example of this is the highwayman’s lunch ($7.25), named after the lunch robbers would have after stealing from English travelers.
The lunch offers a choice of a quarter-pound frank, smoked ham, or Canadian bacon, in addition to bavarian chips and a choice of soup or salad.
The smoked ham was the winner here, with two large slabs so filling that one’s belt had to be let out. The ham was a bit on the salty side, but overall made for a rather filling and tasty meal.
Only a few choices are available for dessert. The chocolate chess pie ($3.50) was a thin brownie-like layer over a pie crust. It was topped off with whipped cream, leaving it a light and sweet way to finish off a heavy and salty meal.
The service at Dressel’s is difficult to comment on. The servers all work as a team with everyone waiting on your table. The first server of the evening was not all that friendly and seemed preoccupied.
On the flip side, the second server was friendly and attentive. This goes to prove that you can not judge the service of a restaurant by just one server.
Dressel’s is a spot of merry Wales in the heart of St. Louis. In carrying on the theme of pubs, it is a great place to hang out with friends or to grab a tasty bite. All major credit cards are accepted, and sidewalk seating is available.
The tables fill up quickly, but the staff does their best to make sure everyone gets a seat. To-go orders are not taken, ensuring that the great atmosphere will not be missed by patrons.
As the menu reads, Dressel’s is truly the place “… where the gang gets together.”
