Chicago's Markethouse Means (Lunch) Business

While my days of executive and power lunches are long gone, I still mean business when it comes to lunch. That’s why the unique lunchtime “From the Heartland” offerings at Chicago’s Markethouse are so enticing.

Executive Chef Scott Walton’s innovative “30 Minute Executive Lunch” is what first drew my attention, with nine bucks getting you a mix and match choose-two choice of creative sandwiches, salads, and soups. 

“Where else in the area can businesspeople enjoy local, farm-fresh ingredients at a great price and still make it back to the office within their designated lunch hour?” Chef Walton asked me. “We are filling a much-needed void in the business world by being able to cater to those who are constantly on the go.”

Though I personally like to linger over lunch whenever possible, he guarantees he can get you in and out in 30 minutes if needed.

For salads, I personally like the mixed field greens with white balsamic vinaigrette, but the brie, spiced apple, and arugula also looks great. On the soup front, there’s typically a wide choice of seasonally-based options, like root vegetable, porcini mushroom, English pea, and more.

For sandwiches, the popular “Markethouse Classic” is essentially an over-the-top grilled cheese with Carr Valley white and yellow cheddar cheeses on a house made white. “It’s what everyone was raised on, but done a lot better than mom used to make,” says Chef Walton, and I have to agree (sorry mom). After a recent trip to Ireland, I also like the “Guinness Stout Cheddar” sandwich, which features a braised (in Guinness, of course) BBQ short rib and Stout cheddar cheese.

The more traditional lunch menu features an array of appetizers, soups, and sandwiches, as well as interesting salads, entrees, and “Markethouse Signature Selections” (like the Mac & Cheese Gratin). It’s likely that several of the ingredients for lunch came from the restaurant’s rooftop garden.

All of this talk about cheese makes me want to also mention that Markethouse has an incredible cheese selection: you can choose three or six--or, like me, more!

By the way, Markethouse is situated in the Doubletree Hotel Chicago-- I love the continued trend of top restaurants in hotels!

Markethouse

611 N Fairbanks Ct

Chicago, IL 60611

P. (312) 224-2200

Lynn is a member of Hilton HHonors® Dining