Former Fearing’s chef Eric Dreyer leaves Hall Hotel to head new Monarch restaurant in downtown’s The National

Eric Dreyer, the former lead chef at Fearing’s restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and, more recently, Ellie’s at the Hall Hotel, has a sweet, new gig. He’s now the top chef at Monarch, the fancy new restaurant set to open this spring at The National (1401 Elm St.) in downtown Dallas

The restaurant joins four other dining venue at the renovated downtown building. Monarch, a wood-fired modern Italian restaurant sits on the 49th floor. Kessaku, a Japanese-inspired sushi restaurant, will occupy the hotel’s 50th floor. The redeveloped building also houses the Thompson Hotel, whose two restaurants, Catbird and Nine, are already open.

Monarch and Kessaku will be overseen by Chicago-base chef and restaurant operator Danny Grant, who earned Michelin stars for his work in the Windy City.

Dreyer says he and Grant are working on Monarch’s menu now. The menu will be seasonally focused and updated regularly. March 3 is Monarch’s targeted opening date.