Here’s the beef: Morton’s celebrates 30 years

A lot has happened in the 30 years since Arnie Morton opened the first Morton’s The Steakhouse on the Near North Side of Chicago in 1978.

The restaurant, which is known for serving juicy steaks and massive potatoes, has swelled to more than 80 locations in the U.S. and abroad and the Morton’s Restaurant Group has become the world’s largest owner and operator of company-owned upscale restaurants, according to Wikipedia.

This week, Morton’s Las Vegas is celebrating its birthday as it always has, with prime-aged, melt in your mouth beef, cooked to perfection. On Sunday, December 21 from 5 to 6 p.m., diners at the bar can chow on free prime sirloin sliders. Party hats not included.

The celebration is especially noteworthy in Las Vegas, where the Morton last name is virtually synonymous with successful dining and entertainment concepts. Arnie Morton’s sons Peter and Michael have both made major contributions to the Vegas landscape –Peter as the owner of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino from its opening in 1995 until its sale to the Morgans Hotel Group in 2006 and Michael as a co-founder of N9NE Group, responsible for seven restaurants and nightclubs in the Palms Hotel and Casino. Even Arnie’s grandson, Harry, has scored big in Vegas as the CEO of the Mexican eatery Pink Taco.

The Mortons may not run this town, but they certainly feed and water it. Of course, there’s one more very Vegas reason to partake in some high quality beef this weekend – Morton’s was a favorite stop of Frank Sinatra. It was good enough for Ol’ Blue Eyes, and that’s good enough for us.