Morton's, The Steakhouse

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Morton's The Steakhouse on S.W. Clay Street in Portland carries a story that begins, improbably, with a hamburger. Co-founders Arnie Morton and Klaus Fritsch first crossed paths at the Playboy Club in Montreal, where Klaus cooked a burger that stopped Arnie in his tracks. He burst into the kitchen demanding to know who made it — and when Klaus stepped forward, Arnie called it the best he'd ever tasted. That encounter became the "Million-Dollar Hamburger," and the foundation of a partnership that opened the first Morton's on State Street in Chicago in 1978.

More than four decades later, the Portland location carries that same founding philosophy: quality, consistency, and genuine hospitality. The steakhouse sources USDA Prime-aged beef — representing the top 2% of beef available in the United States — from the same suppliers Morton's has used since the beginning. If the cut doesn't meet Morton's standards, it doesn't reach the plate.

The Food

The steakhouse menu extends well beyond beef. Alongside the prime cuts, the kitchen offers Chilean Sea Bass, Oysters on the Half Shell, Colossal Shrimp, and Red King Crab Legs. Seasonal additions rotate in regularly — recent features have included Prime Bavette Steak Frites, Wagyu Beef Stroganoff, and Oysters Rockefeller, alongside a Lobster & Crab Cocktail.

The Wine Program

The Portland location holds a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, a recognition that reflects a list of more than 300 wines spanning exclusive vintages, cult favorites, and sommelier selections. An on-site Wine Locker program allows guests to store personal bottles, and the team — General Managers and Sommeliers alike — is available to guide pairings for any course. Morton's has also introduced a private label, "State & Rush," honoring its Chicago roots with Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir sourced from Oak Ridge Winery in Lodi, California.

The Setting

The dining rooms are designed to accommodate the full range of occasions — cocktails at the bar, a quiet dinner, or a business function in one of the private dining rooms. Morton's also partners with athletes and their foundations for charity events, seasonal wine dinners, and exclusive one-of-a-kind menus hosted in those same intimate spaces. Every guest, the restaurant maintains, is treated like a VIP.