Went home for an early Thanksgiving, and my parents and I had dinner at Morton's downtown.

Restaurant is lighted well, giving intimacy to a room full of tables. The restaurant is too loud, however. Service is good, but I felt rushed. The live lobster was fun, but what's with the plastic-wrapped steaks on the tray? Startling, in a word.

I had oysters on the half-shell (BIG oysters), Caesar salad (so-so), and Porterhouse steak.

I don't mean to be completely negative, but the steak was not to my liking, frankly. I asked for rare (seared brown on the outside, red, meaty and juicy on the inside), but what I got was medium rare, even maybe medium. The outside was a wimpy gray color. Good tasting (if a bit bland), but for the money, go for Ruth's Chris or Capitol Grille, or even Eli's.

Dessert (Godiva torte) was outstanding!

Had I paid, I would have been disappointed.