Midtown St. Louis is about to get a new excuse to linger over dinner instead of racing the check. All R&B Restaurant & Love, a music-driven dining and lounge concept from Cornell Boone, is gearing up for a soft opening in late July, promising sharable plates, a tight cocktail list and live R&B that is meant to keep guests in their seats.
What to expect
Boone has spent the past two years shaping the concept, centered on an intimate main dining room with space for about 80 guests and a private dining room that will be available by advance reservation only. In a deliberate move to slow things down, the restaurant plans just two seatings per night so parties can hang out rather than feel rushed.
The spot will open Thursdays through Saturdays and lean into sharable dishes, including flatbreads, street corn, salmon and chicken, plus a signature dry-rubbed chicken wing. Boone has also built a no-frills cocktail program that favors precision over spectacle, and one drink he has previewed is a brown sugar Old Fashioned. Once a month, the venue will host an elaborate pre-paid brunch with unlimited specialty mimosas, according to St. Louis Magazine.
Music and mood
The soundtrack is not background noise here, it is the main idea. Boone and strategic partner Antoine Thomas have built playlists designed to set the tone as soon as guests walk in, and the dining room will feature a live DJ ensemble playing alongside soft R&B tracks. "We don't have enough places for just talking," Boone says, summing up the goal of creating a room where conversation is as important as the food.
The team is planning events to match that vibe, including a Thursday-night mixer dubbed Nice to Meet You, meant to keep things warm, conversational and upscale, according to St. Louis Magazine.
Owner and local context
Boone previously opened The Corner Street Food, a build-your-own burger operation, and he brings experience in nightlife and beverage distribution to the new project. As reported by Sauce Magazine, he and his team have worked on approachable menus that translate into the sharable-plates format planned for Midtown.
All R&B Restaurant & Love's official site currently lists the project as "Coming Soon" and is set to carry updates on reservations, private-dining options and event calendars as the soft opening approaches. The team has indicated that the website and social channels will be where the public can find booking details: All R&B Restaurant & Love.
With Midtown's dining scene continuing to grow, All R&B Restaurant & Love adds a music-first option that mixes lounge energy with chef-driven private dining. Neighbors and regulars will be watching the late-July soft opening to see how the concept settles into the neighborhood.
