Downtown Dining

Hall Arts Hotel in downtown Dallas to open restaurant with acclaimed chef

The hotel will open in the fall.

Rendering courtesy of Hall Arts

An exciting new restaurant is coming to the Dallas Arts District with a name-brand chef: Called Ellie's, it will open at Hall Arts Hotel, which is opening in the Dallas Arts District in fall 2019.

According to a release, executive chef will be Eric Dreyer, former executive chef at Fearing's at The Ritz-Carlton. The restaurant is named for Ellie Hall, the late mother of hotel owner and Hall Group Founder Craig Hall.

Dreyer says in a statement that he's "elated" to be collaborating with Hall Arts Hotel on a menu that will be Napa-inspired, as well as approachable, relatable, refined, and locally sourced.

Craig and Kathryn Hall have deep roots in Napa, where they own Hall Wines winery, known for its finely crafted wines.

This marks a return to Dallas for Dreyer, who most recently served as executive chef of Promised Land, the luxury estate in Montecito, California, belonging to Oprah Winfrey.

Dreyer was born in Houston and raised in Dallas. He worked for several high-end catering firms and restaurants in California, then enrolled at the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena.

His career in luxury hospitality began in 1999 at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, where he was eventually promoted to sous chef at Jer-Ne Restaurant, with James Beard award-winning Chef Troy Thompson at the helm.

He returned to Texas in 2005 as chef de cuisine of The Grand Hyatt Dallas/Fort Worth, then joined Fearing's at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas in 2007.

Chef Dreyer's many accolades during his 11 years at Fearing's included the 2014 CultureMap Tastemaker award for Best Rising Star Chef, and then again in 2018, when he earned a spot on CultureMap's 2018 Top Ten Best Chefs list.

Dreyer co-authored The Texas Food Bible cookbook, and is dedicated to supporting and raising awareness of farmers and artisans.

The release says that Ellie's will fuse the dedication that Craig Hall's mother had to art and authenticity into a dining experience that satisfies all the senses without pretense.

downtown

Ramen News

Dallas' acclaimed Ten Ramen to open in Cru Wine spot in West Village

Ten Ramen

A highly acclaimed ramen spot is coming to Dallas' West Village: Ten Ramen, one of Dallas' most celebrated ramen spots, will open a location in the former Cru Food & Wine Bar space at 3699 McKinney Ave. #107.

According to a release, Ten Ramen will open in spring 2026.

In related news, the concept was acquired by Vandelay Companies (Hudson House, Jack & Harry's, East Hamption Sandwich Co., El Molino), led by CEO Hunter Pond, who counts himself a big Ten Ramen fan.

“I’ve been a longtime fan of who is arguably one of Texas’ most respected chefs — founder and creator Teiichi Sakurai — and what Ten Ramen embodies,” says Pond.

Vandelay also owns Tei An, the award-winning authentic Japanese restaurant and Ten Ramen sibling which Sakurai opened at One Arts Plaza in 2008.

Ten Ramen debuted in March 2015 at the Sylvan | Thirty mixed-use project in West Dallas — a pioneering concept at the time, and one that quickly earned a devoted following with its tiny 10-seat setup and uncompromisingly authentic flavors.

Back then, it was a ground-breaking concept for Dallas and is still one of the most beloved ramen spots in the city. Diners flocked to wait in long lines for its menu of Mazemen, Shoyu, Tonkotsu, and Lobster Ramen — recipes that will remain intact, Pond says.

“We haven’t touched the recipes, they’re perfect just as they are,” he says. “After many months under our ownership already, it remains clear that the magic is in the food, the service, and the experience. Our goal with this new location is simple: bring what we feel is the best ramen in Dallas to more people, in a space that feels both fresh and familiar.”

Ooooooh, so Vandelay has owned it for many months. Well well well.

“When the opportunity came to bring this incredible concept into our family of restaurants, I jumped at it," Pond says.

He's the one shepherding it into the West Village — a location he says will give more diners the chance to experience the concept.

The location has an impressive track record: Cru Wine Bar closed in August 2025 after an unparalleled 23 years at that address.

The new 1,480-square-foot space will be a fresh take on the Ten Ramen experience, with a full-service bar that seats 7, and an intimate dining room seating 28 — versus the impromptu stand-up situation at Sylvan Thirty.

Their goal is to make a space that feels approachable and lively while staying true to the dishes that made Ten Ramen a local favorite.

openings