THE LEWIS COMBINES THE ’70S AND SIGNATURE DRINKS By Patti MacMillan | Photos provided by The Lewis, taken by Rena Captures Photography
n avocado-green phone complete with cord, wood-paneled walls and beer cans perched upon a mounted display. If these sound like the trappings of a dated family rec room, it may surprise you to learn they are in fact the deliberate decor choices of St. Charles newcomer The Lewis.
When business partners Rick Muermann and Brandon Andriola decided to open a cocktail bar, they believed it was important to set themselves apart from others in the industry. At the Main Street establishment, kitsch and sophistication somehow manage an easy coexistence. Named for the city’s first mayor, James K. Lewis, the bar executes a vintage vibe for its modern clientele to savor along with their drinks. “We wanted to make the space stand out.
We wanted to do something interesting,” says Muermann of the aesthetic he describes as upscale ’70s-inspired. The two also own nearby craft beer bar Bogart’s. But while the bygone era is showcased in ways both big — a large-scale mural of Lewis outfitted in a pale blue leisure suit greets people as they enter — and small —checks are delivered on repurposed album covers for bands such as Sly and the Family Stone — the bar puts equal care and attention into its cocktails. “We do all the classic cocktails, signature and three specials a month,” Muermann says. “If a special is popular enough, it’s moved to the main menu.” Seven standing signature cocktails include The Lewis Sidecar aka Disco Inferno, which combines Hennessy, Grand Marnier, peach and citrus fruits; and the Blitzkrieg Bop, a beverage featuring Hendrick’s gin, sweet vermouth, cherry liqueur and bitters. The No. 1 spot goes to the bar’s OldFashioned. Other concoctions such as Manhattans and whiskey sours hobnob with martinis while a blood orange daiquiri
24
DINING & ENTERTAINING JULY 2022
