Time Out Market Chicago is thrilled to add Valhalla, a unique fine dining concept by award-winning Chef Stephen Gillandersto its vendor list as the market continues to bring the best of the city under one roof. Making history as the first-ever standalone restaurant located within Time Out Market Chicago, Valhalla offers a chic yet approachable and innovative full-service dining experience surrounded by a unique, unorthodox location — making fine dining accessible within a casual environment. Reservations are taken via Tock; however, a limited number of walk-ins will be available.
When we think of Time Out Market, we look at it as a good spot for a remote work day, a grab-and-go place on a day we want good food but don’t want the planning, or a midday spontaneous meet up with friends who happen to be around. All in all, we don’t correlate Time Out Market too much with fine-dining experiences.
However, Chef Stephen Gillandersto decided to take on the challenge of transforming Time Out Market into a new fine-dining beacon. When asked why he decided to put a fine-dining concept here, Chef Stephen said:
“Rather than looking at Valhalla as an unorthodox approach, I feel like this opportunity is part of a natural restaurant progression that we are already experiencing. I’m very excited to wrap my arms around the location of Time Out Market Chicago and capture the best of the Market’s high energy in tandem with an upscale experience. Rather than saying, “I can’t do that because I’m in a market.” my ethos is, “I should absolutely do that because I’m in a market.”
Valhalla’s cuisine consists of a balanced à la carte menu and the option of a chef’s tasting menu, allowing Gillanders to lead guests on a focused and personal culinary journey. With the menu inspired by the high-level of execution Gillanders experienced while working in Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s kitchens, Valhalla’s menu is full of inventive dishes. For example, the Cured Hirame features green apple, basil, pine nut, and the Warm Egg Tofu is a divine combination of black truffle, yuzu, and mirin. Seafood lovers can dive into the Red Crab Arroz Caldo with crunchy garlic, green chili, and lime: a dish inspired by his Filipino heritage. There are also wine pairings available, accompanied by a small craft cocktail list that complements the interesting menu.
Inspired by Norse mythology, the name Valhalla describes a heavenly, great hall where heroes partake in a grand feast. Given the restaurant’s location overlooking the main floor of the Market, the name’s symbolism takes a literal context, transcending the experience as a whole. True to my cooking style, the high energy and urban vibe of Time Out Market Chicago are a part of the Valhalla experience, making it approachable and unpretentious.
The completely open kitchen, large chef’s counter, and tablecloth-adorned dining space intimately showcases Gillanders’ exceptional culinary talent while creating an intimate, personalized experience to interact with guests, as Chef himself is based there. Valhalla’s cuisine consists of a balanced à la carte menu and the option of a chef’s tasting menu, allowing Gillanders to lead guests on a focused and personal culinary journey.
Valhalla accommodates 66 guests, including the 14-seat chef’s counter. Guests have the option to order from the full menu in the dining space and the counter. Valhalla is now open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended and taken via Tock; however, a limited number of walk-ins will be available.
Featured Image: Time Out Market Chicago