2014 RH 25: DMK Restaurants

Headquarters: Chicago

Annual Sales: $20 million

Units: 8

Key Personnel:
• David Morton, partner
• Michael Kornick, chef/partner
• Jenn Novacek, director of operations
• Michael Rubel, beverage director

SINGLE CONCEPTS:
• Fish Bar (a fast-casual place serving sustainable seafood, tater tots and craft beers/cocktails)
• Ada St. (Kornick and Chef Zoe Schor have teamed up to create a menu of sharable plates and tavern fare)
• DMK Burger & Fish (a marriage of Burger Bar and Fish Bar)
• County Barbeque (Kornick and Chef Erick Williams team up to create authentic barbeque fare)
• Henry’s Swing Club (a throwback casual bar)

MULTIPLE CONCEPTS:
• DMK Burger Bar (gourmet burgers, house-made fries and craft beers in two neighborhood locations and at Soldier Field)

UPCOMING PROJECTS:
• DMK Burger & Fish at Soldier Field
• County Barbeque at Soldier Field
• DMK Dog & Ale House

WHY IT’S COOL: Partner David Morton is a member of a royal restaurant family that includes his father, Arnie Morton (founder of Morton’s Steakhouse) and his brother Peter Morton (founder of Hard Rock Café). Kornick was the culinary force behind several restaurants before opening his eponymous restaurant, MK, the Restaurant, which Conde Nast Traveler named one of the “Hottest Restaurants in the World.” Kornick has repeatedly been nominated for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef in the Midwest. With Morton’s business skill (he has successfully launched hospitality, real estate, music and finance companies) and Kornick’s culinary acumen, their five-year-old company has been on a mission to redefine casual dining, and they’ve done just that with their aforementioned projects. Great food in a casual hip environment is a hard combination to beat, and so is the union of Morton and Kornick.

Next: Foodshed
Previous: Rocket Farm Restaurants