Morton's Announces National Partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation to Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Morton's Steakhouses

CHICAGO, March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. NYSE: MRT today announced plans to host a series of special events at Morton's steakhouses across the United States to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Morton's and raise at least $250,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation(R). Morton's is partnering nationally with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to launch 30 Wishes for 30 Years, the largest charitable initiative in the company's history. Funds raised through the Morton's events will make it possible to grant the wishes of 30 children who are living with life- threatening medical conditions.

"To celebrate our three decades of leadership in fine dining, Morton's is proudly partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation on 30 Wishes for 30 Years, a program we are introducing to brighten the lives of 30 children," said Thomas J. Baldwin, Chairman, CEO and President of Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. "I can't think of a more meaningful way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Morton's, which has grown from one restaurant in 1978 to the world's largest operator of company-owned upscale steakhouses, with 79 Morton's steakhouses and more on the way." Mr. Baldwin added: "When the first Morton's opened in Chicago in 1978, co-founders Klaus Fritsch and Arnie Morton turned their dream into reality by creating a steakhouse that offered great food and great service. They also shared a commitment to being active in their local community. Thirty years later, we are just as committed to giving back to all the communities where our Morton's steakhouses are located, through programs like 30 Wishes for 30 Years."

"I'm very excited that Morton's has chosen to team up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to celebrate Morton's 30th anniversary," said David Williams, Make- A-Wish Foundation of America President and Chief Executive Officer. "Through 30 Wishes for 30 Years, 30 courageous children will have their wishes granted as a result of the caring people of Morton's. On behalf of these children and their families, I want to express my profound thanks to Morton's for choosing such a generous manner to celebrate their 30 years of growth and success."

In just a few weeks, Morton's has already raised nearly $50,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, including $40,000 from live and silent auctions at the inaugural March 6th event at the grand opening of the newest Morton's steakhouse in Naperville, Illinois. To reach the national goal of $250,000, Morton's steakhouses across the United States will be hosting exciting special events featuring Morton's legendary cuisine and hospitality and world-class wines to raise funds for the children served by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The special events at Morton's steakhouses will include:

    --  Charles Krug Wine dinners in select markets, which will be hosted by
        Peter Mondavi, Jr., Proprietor of Charles Krug Winery, and Tylor Field
        III, Morton's Vice President of Wine and Spirits. During the dinner, a
        27-liter etched bottle of Charles Krug's Vintage Selection Cabernet
        Sauvignon will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the Make-A
        Wish Foundation. A 27-liter bottle of wine serves 144 people and is
        the equivalent of 36 bottles of wine.

    --  Most of Morton's steakhouses in the U.S. will auction 27-liter
        limited-edition bottles of Charles Krug's Vintage Selection Cabernet
        Sauvignon at their restaurants in October.

    --  Every Sunday from July through September, Morton's guests will have a
        chance to indulge in the '$19.78 Million Dollar Make-A-Wish Prime
        Sirloin Burger,' with a portion of the proceeds going to the Make-A
        Wish Foundation. This isn't just any hamburger -- it's the burger that
        started it all at Morton's. When Morton's co-founders Klaus Fritsch
        and Arnie Morton first worked together at the Playboy Club, Fritsch
        made his signature hamburger and sent it out for Arnie Morton to
        taste. Morton proclaimed it the best hamburger he'd ever tasted. From
        that day, they started the business partnership that has become
        Morton's The Steakhouse.

As part of its yearlong celebration, Morton's has launched its 30 Wishes for 30 Years Web site at www.mortons.com/30wishes. The site shares wishes from Make-A-Wish children, allows Morton's guests to share their own memories over the past 30 years and provides ways for people to contribute to the 30 Wishes for 30 Years program.

About Morton's

Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. is the world's largest operator of company-owned upscale steakhouses. Morton's steakhouses have remained true to our founders' original vision of combining generous portions of high quality food prepared to exacting standards with exceptional service in an enjoyable dining environment. As of March 31, 2008, the Company owned and operated 79 Morton's steakhouses located in 67 cities in 28 states and Puerto Rico and five international locations (Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Toronto and Vancouver), as well as three Italian restaurants. Please visit our Morton's Web site at www.mortons.com.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life- threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 67 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 161,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish(R).

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for the historical information contained in this news release, the matters addressed are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, written, oral or otherwise made, represent the Company's expectation or belief concerning future events. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes," "thinks," "anticipates," "plans," "expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, or otherwise, from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks of the restaurant industry, including a highly competitive environment and industry with many well-established competitors with greater financial and other resources than the Company, the impact of changes in consumer tastes, local, regional and national economic and market conditions, restaurant profitability levels, expansion plans, timely construction and opening of new restaurants, demographic trends, traffic patterns, employee availability, benefits and cost increases, product safety and availability, government regulation, the Company's ability to maintain adequate financing facilities and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm the Company's results. Consequently, there can be no assurance that actual results or developments anticipated by the Company will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.