Dinner -- 6/7/08

Morton's The Steakhouse
626 West Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202

502.584.0421

http://www.mortons.com/

6:30 to 8:15 PM

Ramona: Morton's salad, single-cut filet, baked potato with butter, sour cream, bacon, decaf coffee, Morton's hot chocolate cake with Haagen Daz's vanilla ice cream

Jim: Morton's salad, double-cut prime rib, baked potato with butter, sour cream, cappuccino, raspberry souffle with Haagen Daz's vanilla ice cream

Shared: Colossal shrimp cocktail, Chateau Bouscasse, 2003 (France)

One of the finest meals we have had since our journey began. Our server, James J. K., III was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. A good server ALWAYS enhances a fine dining experience. James even took our picture, and presented us with a copy before we left. Since this was my birthday dinner, Morton's provided us with personalized menus. The background music -- Sinatra, Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith, Lou Rawls and others -- was exactly our kind of music.

The "colossal" shrimp cocktail was exactly that! Those babies were the size of my hand, and Morton's cocktail sauce was sweet and complimented them well. We actually shared a baked potato, and neither of us could finish our half.

Ramona's filet was perfectly prepared and the tenderest steak I have ever eaten. Likewise, my prime rib was perfect in every way. James explained to us that Morton's served only corn fed, Midwestern, prime cuts, and that makes all the difference in the taste, texture, and juiciness.

We made a mistake in ordering two desserts (oops! I did not hear James say the souffle was for two) but this is one of those mistakes we love to make. The souffle was light and airy and delicious as any we have had anywhere. Chocolate lover's alert: Morton's Hot Chocolate Cake will not disappoint in the slightest. We wonder what the chocolate souffle was like. Three desserts? Maybe next time!

The wine. One of our favorite things is page through a wine list in a binder with 20-30 pages. There was plenty to choose from, and the list of French reds was extensive. The Chateau Bouscasse, 2003 was full-bodied, with a slight oak flavor and complimented our steaks well.

This was our second experience at this Morton's. We ate here on my birthday in 2007, so there was no question of coming here for the occasion. We are already looking forward to 2009.

A must stop on any trip to Louisville, Kentucky.

-Jim