In early 2017, brothers Michael Morton and David Morton will introduce an entirely new steakhouse concept at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas.
The Morton family knows steakhouses. Arnie Morton founded Morton’s The Steakhouse in 1978; and the restaurant is still perhaps the best known steakhouse in the United States. Michael reinvented the steakhouse with the opening of N9NE Steakhouse in 2001, bringing a party vibe to a dinner out.
We couldn’t be more excited to return to our steakhouse roots; and to truly reclaim the throne my father, Arnie Morton, held for so long,” said Michael. “To introduce this new concept with my brother, David, at the hotel our brother Peter built; it just feels like it was meant to be.”
David, who owns multiple restaurant venues in Chicago, echoes his brother’s sentiments. “Michael and I have long wanted to do a steakhouse together,” he said. “These plans have been percolating for years, and the time has come for the Morton brothers to, once again, reinvent the steakhouse.”
Michael and David Morton have unparalleled experience in developing innovative dining and drink destinations,” said Jody Lake, COO of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. “This new concept fits perfectly with the direction we are headed and solves a missing piece of the equation with respect to the master plan of the Hard Rock Hotel.”
The new steakhouse will occupy approximately 7,000 square feet at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with all-new construction in the southwest corner of the property.
ABOUT DAVID MORTON
David Morton is the co-founder of DMK Restaurants, among Chicago’s most iconic and fastest growing hospitality companies. Driven by his passion for quality, design and hospitality, David launched his first brand, DMK Burger Bar, in 2009. DMK Burger Bar now has locations in Chicago’s Lakeview and Lombard areas, as well as at Soldier Field and Navy Pier. In 2011, David launched Fish Bar, a celebration of the freshest sustainable fish and seafood in Chicago, which now also has locations in Lakeview and Navy Pier. In 2012, David opened Ada Street, a multi-year winner of Michelin Travel & Lifestyle’s prestigious Bib Gourmand Designation for its seasonal small plates fare and innovative cocktail program. In 2013, David introduced County Barbecue, which has been a three-year recipient of the Michelin Travel & Lifestyles Bib Gourmand designation. In 2014, DMK Restaurants introduced its first bar, Henry’s, located in the heart of Chicago’s entertainment district. Rec Room, a throwback to a 1980s basement party, opened below Henry’s in 2015, and was quickly named by Crain’s as one of the best private venues in Chicago.
DMK Restaurants is the Chicago Bears and Chicago 365 Hospitality premium restaurant partner. David is a regular speaker on business and entrepreneurship at Northwestern University and at the University of Illinois– Chicago.
ABOUT MICHAEL MORTON
Michael Morton was raised in Chicago. He got his start sweeping floors at Morton’s and Arnie’s before creating his own iconic dining and nightlife brands, including Drink!, N9NE Steakhouse, Ghostbar, Rain Nightclub, Nove Italiano and Moon Nightclub. Michael opened Drink and Eat, Too in Chicago in 1992. The psychedelic dance club featured inventive touches like a VIP bar in an elevator shaft and drinks served in baby bottles; he would later open Drink! Las Vegas, in 1995. Drink! Was followed by N9NE Steakhouse in Chicago, and then N9NE Steakhouse in Las Vegas, along with mega-club Rain, the tower-topping Ghostbar, and later Moon Nightclub, Nove Italiano and the Playboy Club, all located at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas. N9NE Steakhouse is widely credited with creating the trend of club-like restaurants that dominate the Strip today.
Michael founded Morton Group in 2010 with his wife, Jenna Morton, opening La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway, at Wynn Las Vegas in 2010. The pair followed La Cave’s success with the debut of a funky, urban Mexican Restaurant, La Comida, which opened in Downtown Las Vegas’ burgeoning Fremont East Entertainment District in 2013. They opened CRUSH, a highly social restaurant and bar serving American cuisine, at MGM Grand, also in 2013.
ABOUT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO LAS VEGAS
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is Las Vegas’ off-strip playground, just minutes and less than three miles from McCarran International Airport. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers an energetic entertainment and gaming experience with the services and amenities associated with a boutique luxury resort hotel. The property is known for its innovative nightlife and music scene where acts such as The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney, Incubus, Foo Fighters, Carlos Santana, Mötley Crüe, Guns N’ Roses and KISS have all performed. Features of the property include an 11-story Casino Tower with 640 rooms and suites, 17-story Paradise Tower with 490 rooms and suites; the 15-story HRH All-Suite Tower with 359 suites, eight spa villas and seven penthouse suites; 60,000 square feet of casino space featuring Peacock High-Limit gaming and Asian gaming amenities; 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting and convention space; more than $4 million in rare music memorabilia; Reliquary Water Sanctuary, Spa & Salon; 4.8 acres of tropical pool paradise, which was voted as the No. 1 “Best Hotel Pool” in the 2015 USA Today 10Best Readers Choice contest; the world-famous pool party REHAB Beach Club; live music/entertainment venues The Joint and Vinyl; Hart & Huntington Tattoo Co.; restaurants Culinary Dropout, Nobu, 35 Steaks + Martinis, Pink Taco, Mr. Lucky’s Café and 福Fú; a fitness center; and trendsetting retailers John Varvatos, Affliction and Rocks The Jewelers. For room availability and additional information call 800.HRD.ROCK (800.473.7625) or visit hardrockhotel.com. Follow Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and updates.
