Dallas’ Reunion Tower will reopen next spring with a new restaurant featuring steak, seafood, and plant-based options.
This is the first time since before the pandemic that Reunion Tower will have a restaurant open. The previous restaurant, Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck, was at the top of Reunion Tower for 11 years before it was forced to close in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The new restaurant, called Crown Block, will be run by Elizabeth Blau and chef Kim Canteenwalla of Blau + Associates and Reunion Tower owner Hunt Realty Investments Inc.
Historic Reunion Tower opened in 1978 after the project received backing from local businessman Ray L. Hunt. The building immediately became a landmark and a well-known fixture in the Dallas skyline. Hunt’s grandson, Tyler Kleinert, will oversee Crown Block.
“Dining at Crown Block will be unequivocally as iconic as Reunion Tower itself,” said Hunt Realty CEO Chris Kleinert in a prepared statement.
According to a press release, Crown Block will feature regionally sourced ingredients from farms, ranches, and the Gulf of Mexico. It also has a “Rare Steak” program, which includes prime beef and Texas and Japanese wagyu, known for the fine intra-muscular fat in its meat.
For seafood options, there will be sushi and a chilled seafood display. Crown Block will also have a dessert bar and an impressive wine list, alongside specialty cocktails.
The restaurant will also have event space for rent on the 17th floor of the tower. The space can host receptions for up to 175 seated guests or 250 standing guests.
Married couple Blau and Canteenwalla, who co-authored Honey Salt: A Culinary Scrapbook, which was named the best cookbook of 2018 by Food & Beverage, own the Las Vegas restaurant Honey Salt. Blau was a part of the development of the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center in New York City as well as other restaurants in Las Vegas at famous locations such as the Bellagio and Wynn hotels.
Canteenwalla was formerly executive chef of the MGM Grand. According to a press release, Canteenwalla has experience heading restaurants in Singapore, Dubai, and Toronto.
“Kim and I discovered our love of Dallas and instantly felt welcome with the world-famous Texas hospitality,” Blau said in a statement. “We are excited to bring our longstanding philosophy drawing from the culture, landscape, and culinary traditions of the region to partner with the Hunt family on this exciting new endeavor for the city.”
That is fantastic! I am so excited to hear it will open soon. My husband and I got married on Dec. 17, 1982 in Mission, Texas and a month later, moved to Dallas to begin our married life. For the first year of our marriage, my husband took me for dinner every 17th of every month at the reunion tower. It was so special and romantic. Our 40th anniversary is this coming this December and was hoping to hear you would open up by then but spring is good enough also. Hopefully my husband will continue the monthly celebrations every 17th after it opens.