Morton's: The Dark Horse

After a bye month to enjoy time with family and friends, the PST gave our stomachs and livers no rest as we rejoined the tour the first week in January with a trip to Morton's, which is located directly across the street from our last stop, The Palm.  I had a friend in High School whose father went to Morton's everyday for lunch. His penchant for Morton's is either a testament to a bygone business era or he was on to something.  After visiting Morton's, I think it is the later.  Morton's far exceeded expectations and this dark horse candidate has rocketed to the top of the PST's leader board.

1.  Decor

If there was one area in which Morton's underwhelmed, it is with its decor.  Morton's is located in the original Philadelphia Stock Exchange.  An impressive Romanesque structure that still bears "Philadelphia Stock Exchange" on its cornice.  Sadly, Morton's incorporates none of what are surely impressive details that existed from the exchange.  Presumably, they have been covered up by drywall.  Instead, Morton's looks like a 70's disco.

Rating:  Two of Five Steers.

2.  The Bar

A great bar will make for any lack of decor and Morton's bar does that and then some.  The bartender was first class.  Cocktails were spot on and he took our wine to have it brought out to our table later. The scene at the Morton's bar is all business as in, there is no see and be 'scene.'  Just how we like it.

Rating:  Five of Five Steers.

3.  The Scene

What scene?  There is none, which is a huge plus.  Morton's could almost be a private club.

Rating:  Four of Five Steers.

4.  The Service

From the front of the front of the house, through the bartender, to the servers, Morton's service is what steakhouse service - heck any restaurant service - should be: welcoming, attentive, and courteous.  Our corkage fee was waived which went right back into our servers tip - win win.  I would go back to Morton's just for the service.

Rating:  Five of Five Steers.

5.  The Steak

Great bar, great service, but if the steak comes up short it does not matter.  Here, Morton's again hit it out of the park.  The steak was perfect and was the best sampled thus far.

Rating: Five of Five Steers.

Next Up: Del Friscos.