Just east of the Delmar Loop, the West End neighborhood has a new restaurant and lounge serving Southern soul food with a tapas-style twist: Soul 2 Soul (5917 Delmar). The restaurant is open and currently in the soft opening phase. The ribbon cutting is scheduled for February 28 and the grand opening for March 1. (While dinner reservations via Resy are planned, they’re not yet available, but should be by March 1.) The lounge will be open nightly from 9 p.m.–1 a.m. Here’s what to know before you go.
The Atmosphere
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At first glance, the building at 5917 Delmar appears understated, with dark glass windows and subtle black-and-gold signage. Those familiar with the former Blue Ultra Lounge space, however, will quickly notice a complete transformation: Soul 2 Soul is a full-service restaurant that transitions into a full-service lounge after 9 p.m.
Co-owner and executive chef Ana Hall describes the vision as “people’s souls connecting—through soulful food, soulful music, and a soulful vibe.”
The 85-seat interior gives way to a massive, partly-shaded green space and multi-level patio in the rear, with two fire pits and a generous scatter of tables, all hidden from street view. “Driving up Delmar, you’d never know it’s there,” Hall says. “It’s fully enclosed and completely private.”
Inside, Soul 2 Soul blends elegance with intimacy, with black walls, tufted leather banquettes, and gilded mirrors setting the tone. The bar, backed by mirrored shelves, creates a striking visual display of its extensive liquor selection. Seating is designed for easy conversation, with banquettes and rounded booths lining the perimeter, keeping the central aisle open.
The venue is built for celebrations, with multiple rentable areas including the main restaurant and bar, a private lounge (that can be enclosed by an indoor garage door), and the aforementioned back patio that can be used for dining, large parties, and special events. “There aren’t many places in the city that can host over 300 people in an enclosed, outdoor space,” Hall notes.
Entertainment is a key part of the experience, with themed nights featuring DJs spinning Latin, house, and Afrobeat music, as well as live performances by small musical ensembles.
For frequent guests, Soul 2 Soul also offers Diamond Club membership, including free valet parking, discounts on food and drink, priority access for private events, and a personal locker for storing wine, glassware, and cigars.
The Menu
Hall describes the 16-item menu as “soul food tapas,” or traditional Southern dishes with an elevated twist. Many dishes are amped-up family recipes, such as smoked turkey thigh dumpling with potato gnocchi. “My family cooked chicken and dumplings, but this takes diners down a more savory road,” she says. Early menu favorites include fried sticky spare ribs with gochuchang sauce and peanuts atop a cucumber kimchi, catfish tacos, and banana cream pie cheesecake.
Soul 2 Soul opens with dinner service every night but Tuesday, with plans to expand into late night, Sunday brunch, as well as an events menu and an outdoor patio menu featuring grilled meats and vegetables.
On the beverage front, cocktails are the focus, including the classics, as well as house specialties including mango spicy margarita and a pineapple spicy margarita. Bottle service is available in the lounge area as well. Several wines will be available, in addition to a range of beers in bottles.
Guests can take advantage of discounted food and drink during happy hour from 5–6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.
The Team
With more than a decade of experience, Hall follows in the footsteps of her parents, who ran catering businesses in St. Louis. “I started cooking before I could even fully describe what I was doing,” she says. She later launched Flowers & Herbs, a catering company specializing in events and in-home chef services.
General manager Nikki Le Roy brings 20 years of hospitality experience, including management of a Capital Grille concept and a corporate trainer for another restaurant group. She relocated to St. Louis from Washington, D.C., and serendipitously crossed paths with the Soul 2 Soul team.
Le Roy sees Soul 2 Soul as “a place to unwind, a place to be yourself, a place you feel welcomed. The food is comforting—we want you to be comfortable, too.”
