Morton's, The Steakhouse

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Story That Started With a Hamburger

Morton's The Steakhouse traces its origins to an unlikely moment: co-founders Arnie Morton and Klaus Fritsch, both working at the Playboy Club in Montreal, connected over what Arnie called the best hamburger he had ever tasted — a bite that would eventually be dubbed the "Million-Dollar Hamburger." That chance encounter sparked a partnership that opened the first Morton's on State Street in Chicago in 1978. Today, the brand spans more than 65 locations worldwide, and the Northbrook outpost on Skokie Boulevard carries the same founding principles: quality, consistency, and genuine hospitality.

The Steakhouse Standard

At Morton's, the steakhouse identity is built on a single, non-negotiable commitment: USDA prime-aged beef, representing the top two percent of beef available in the United States. The same suppliers have been used since day one, and if a cut doesn't meet Morton's standards, it doesn't make it to the plate. Alongside the prime beef, the menu extends into fresh seafood — think Chilean Sea Bass, Oysters on the Half Shell, Colossal Shrimp, and Red King Crab Legs — as well as seasonal additions like Prime Bavette Steak Frites, Wagyu Beef Stroganoff, and Oysters Rockefeller. The kitchen also rotates in limited-time dishes to keep regulars returning.

Wine Worth Lingering Over

The wine program at the Northbrook location is serious enough to have earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, a recognition that speaks to both the depth and curation of the list — more than 300 wines spanning exclusive vintages, cult favorites, and sommelier selections. An on-site Wine Locker program lets dedicated guests store their own bottles, and the team includes trained sommeliers available to guide pairings through every course. Morton's has also introduced a private label, "State & Rush," honoring its Chicago roots with a Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir sourced from Oak Ridge Winery in Lodi, California.

The Full Experience

The atmosphere moves fluidly between a lively bar scene — anchored by hand-crafted cocktails and the Bar 12-21 program — and the quieter sophistication of the dining room, where business dinners and special occasions are equally at home. Private dining rooms accommodate events of all scales, supported by catering options and dedicated event planning. For a steakhouse that has refined its approach over four decades, the Northbrook location delivers exactly what the name promises.