The Barn’s doors are open in Highland Park

A new Highland Park restaurant is bringing diners back to the mid-20th century, using its name, atmosphere and speakeasy (eventually) to get the job done.

The Barn Steakhouse, 1900 First St., showed off the vibe for the first time Monday, Feb. 16, during its grand opening.

The restaurant offers a Manhattan feel. Curved red banquettes, low-profile lighting of sconces and opal glass, a zinc bar, and wooden and brick walls greet diners. The rustic elements are chic, like the ladder climbing the liquor-filled bar wall.

Amy Morton is a restaurateur, following in the footsteps of her father, Arnie Morton, of Morton’s Steakhouse.

The Barn, which like Morton’s also offers Angus steaks, has been highly anticipated in Highland Park since word got out in early 2025 that Amy Morton was opening the second location (the other in Evanston).

“It seems to be important to people that a Morton is coming back to town,” Amy Morton said.

She calls The Barn a meat-centric hideaway with a supper-club vibe. It offers steak cuts, seafood, a 12-seat zinc bar and, soon (April 2), a 25-seat speakeasy named 1898.

Outdoor dining will also be available in June.

“We are so excited about being here,” Amy Morton said on opening night Feb. 16. “The talent level of our team is incredibly high. Even though it’s only our first night, the guest feedback has been very good.”

One of those guests, Leanne Bruhn, had no complaints.

She came to The Barn with her family for dinner and thought everything ran smoothly.

“For the first night, we thought that there would be glitches but there weren’t,” she said, adding that the place felt “cozy and warm.”

Another opening-nighter, C.J. Nicely, came to the bar solo and as a bartender himself, noted that the bar team was “really cool.”

He thought the food came fast and staff were accommodating. Nicely also noted that the steak was “amazing” and that he would be back the next day for the oysters.

As for any improvements, Nicely only mentioned that the new restaurant’s hours were difficult to find with a Google search.

The name, The Barn, is in reference to an old stable that once housed the horses for Borden’s Horse and Buggy Milk Delivery Service, which was a milk delivery service in the early 20th century. Amy Morton said The Barn won out over “Maple Muse,” with muse being the old English name for alley. She opened Evanston’s The Barn 10 years ago.

The speakeasy, 1898, will be a hidden addition to the community; though, another one, Yana’s Speakeasy, does exist at 465 Roger Williams Ave.

Amy Morton hopes the restaurant will bring the community together by creating a welcoming, hospitable and inviting atmosphere, which was also the goal of the City incentive that helped attract Morton.

She admitted that opening the Highland Park location cost her a lot of money, but those costs were partially offset via a $750,000 city incentive to draw celebrated chefs and restaurants.

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