<Page> EXHIBIT 10.4(a) WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, INC. 2450 COLORADO AVENUE SUITE 3000 WEST SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA 90404 As of July 11, 2003 MORTON'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC. 333 New Hyde Park Road, New Hyde Park, NY 11042 Attn: Thomas Baldwin Fax No. 516-627-1898 Re: Extension of Time Reference is made to the Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of July 7, 2003 (the "LOAN AGREEMENT"), by and between Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc., a California corporation ("LENDER") and Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Borrower"). Capitalized terms used in this letter agreement without definition have the meanings ascribed to them in the Loan Agreement. SECTIONS 3.2(a) THROUGH (h) of the Loan Agreement provide as follows: "(a) within 10 days of the Closing Date, Lender shall have received a Cash Management Agreement with respect to the Concentration Account; (b) within 10 days of the Closing Date, Lender shall have received a Control Agreement for any Securities Account or any Deposit Account of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that contains cash, Cash Equivalents, deposit account balances, or Investment Property in an aggregate amount in excess of $100,000 outstanding as of such date; (c) within 10 days of the Closing Date, Lender shall have received the Credit Card Agreements, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, duly executed, and in full force and effect, (d) within the earlier of (i) 10 days from the date of the making of the initial Advance (or other extension of credit) hereunder, and (ii) 15 days from the Closing Date, Lender shall have received the Mortgage on that certain Real Property owned by Morton's of Chicago/Jacksonville LLC commonly known as 1510 Riverplace Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL, 32207, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, duly executed, and in full force and effect; (e) within the earlier of (i) 10 days from the date of the making of the initial Advance (or other extension of credit) hereunder, and (ii) 15 days from the Closing Date, Lender shall have received a mortgagee title insurance policy (or marked commitment to issue the same) for the Real Property Collateral issued by a title insurance company satisfactory to Lender (each a "MORTGAGE POLICY" and, collectively, the "MORTGAGE POLICIES") in amounts reasonably satisfactory to Lender up to 125% of the appraised value of such Real Property <Page> Collateral assuring Lender that the Mortgage on such Real Property Collateral is a valid and enforceable first priority mortgage Lien on such Real Property Collateral free and clear of all defects and encumbrances except Permitted Liens, and such Mortgage Policy otherwise shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender; (f) within 30 days of the Closing Date, Lender shall have received certified copies of the policies of insurance, together with the endorsements thereto, as are required by SECTION 6.8, the form and substance of which shall be satisfactory to Lender and its counsel; (g) within 30 days of the Closing Date, Lender shall have received searches reflecting the filing of all financing statements described in SECTION 3.1(b); (h) within the time specified in SCHEDULE 3.2(h), each of the conditions subsequent set forth in SCHEDULE 3.2(h) shall be fulfilled." Borrower has requested that the deadlines for the deliveries set forth in SECTIONS 3.2(a) THROUGH (g) of the Loan Agreement and the deadlines for the deliveries and obligations set forth in Items 3, 5.a, 10 and 14 of SCHEDULE 3.2(h) of the Loan Agreement be extended to the dates set forth below. Lender is willing to grant the requested extensions. Accordingly, Lender and Borrower hereby agree as follows: (1) The deadline for delivering the Cash Management Agreement pursuant to SECTION 3.2(a) of the Loan Agreement hereby is extended to September 26, 2003. (2) The deadline for delivering a Control Agreement for any Securities Account or any Deposit Account of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to SECTION 3.2(b) of the Loan Agreement hereby is extended to September 26, 2003. (3) The deadline for delivering the Credit Card Agreements pursuant to SECTION 3.2(c) of the Loan Agreement hereby is extended to September 26, 2003. (4) The deadline for delivering the Mortgage pursuant to SECTION 3.2(d) of the Loan Agreement hereby is extended to September 26, 2003. (5) The deadline for delivering the Mortgage Policies pursuant to SECTION 3.2(e) of the Loan Agreement hereby is extended to September 26, 2003. (6) The deadline for delivering the certified copies of the policies of insurance, together with the endorsements thereto, pursuant to SECTION 3.2(f) of the Loan Agreement hereby is extended to October 31, 2003. (7) The deadline for delivering the searches reflecting the filing of all financing statements pursuant to SECTION 3.2(g) of the Loan Agreement hereby is extended to September 26, 2003. -2- <Page> (8) The deadline for fulfilling certain of the conditions subsequent set forth in SCHEDULE 3.2(h) of the Loan Agreement hereby is extended as set forth below: (a) The deadline for delivering the termination statements and other documentation evidencing the termination of all Liens other than Permitted Liens pursuant to Item 3 of SCHEDULE 3.2(h) of the Loan Agreement hereby is extended to September 5, 2003. (b) The deadline for delivering the stock power in connection with Item 5.a of SCHEDULE 3.2(h) of the Loan Agreement hereby is extended to September 5, 2003. (c) The deadline for delivering evidence satisfactory to Lender in connection with Item 10 of SCHEDULE 3.2(h) of the Loan Agreement that the UCC-l Financing Statement filed by Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, as Trustee for the Registered Holders of CNL Franchise Loan-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1 against Morton's of Chicago, Inc. has been terminated, or that the definition of Permitted Purchase Money has been amended, hereby is extended to September 5, 2003. (d) The deadline for delivering evidence in connection with Item 14 of SCHEDULE 3.2(h) of the Loan Agreement that the litigation identified within paragraph 13 of Schedule 5.10 (civil action in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in New Castle County commenced by BFMA Holding Corporation against Borrower, members of Borrower's board of directors, and Castle Harlan, Inc. and a number of its affiliates) shall not limit, impair or otherwise affect in any manner any Liens of Lender on the Collateral hereby is extended to September 5, 2003. (9) The Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, shall be and remain in full force and effect in accordance with its respective terms and hereby is ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as expressly set forth herein, the execution, delivery, and performance of this letter agreement shall not operate as a waiver of or as an amendment of, any right, power, or remedy of Lender under the Loan Agreement, as in effect prior to the date hereof. (10) This letter agreement is a Loan Document. Upon and after the effectiveness of this letter agreement, each reference in the Loan Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereunder", "herein", "hereof" or words of like import referring to the Loan Agreement, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to "the Loan Agreement", "thereunder", "therein", "thereof" or words of like import referring to the Loan Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Loan Agreement as modified and amended hereby. (11) The validity of this letter agreement, its construction, interpretation and enforcement, the rights of the parties hereunder, shall be determined under, governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. -3- <Page> (12) This letter agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original's but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this letter agreement by telefacsimile shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this letter agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this letter agreement by telefacsimile shall also deliver an original executed counterpart of this letter agreement, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of this letter agreement. Very truly yours, WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, INC. By: /s/ Lisa Cooley ------------------ Title: Vice President ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO BY: MORTON'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation By: /s/ Thomas J. Baldwin -------------------------- Title: EVP & CFO <Page> PORTERHOUSE, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ADDISON, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ BALTIMORE, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/BUCKHEAD, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ CINCINNATI, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ CLEVELAND, INC., an Illinois corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/DALLAS, INC., an Illinois corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/DETROIT, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO /HOUSTON, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ MINNEAPOLIS, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/NORTH MIAMI BEACH, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/PALM BEACH INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ PHILADELPHIA, INC., an Illinois corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ PITTSBURGH, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/PUERTO RICO, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO, INC., an Illinois corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ATLANTA, INC., an Illinois corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/BOCA RATON, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/CHICAGO, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/CLAYTON, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/COLUMBUS, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/DENVER, INC., an Illinois corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/FIFTH AVENUE, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/FLAMINGO ROAD CORP., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/MIAMI, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/NASHVILLE, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ORLANDO, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ PALM DESERT, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/PHOENIX, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/PORTLAND, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ROSEMONT, INC., an Illinois corporation By: /s/ Thomas J. Baldwin ---------------------------- Name: Thomas J. Baldwin Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the above entities <Page> MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ SACRAMENTO, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/SAN DIEGO, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/SANTA ANA, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/SEATTLE, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ WASHINGTON D.C. INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ WESTBROOK, INC., an Illinois corporation MOCGC CORP., a Virginia corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/BOSTON LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ CHARLOTTE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/CRYSTAL CITY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ARNIE MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/FIGUEROA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ HACKENSACK LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/HONOLULU LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ JACKSONVILLE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/KING OF PRUSSIA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/NEW ORLEANS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/SAN ANTONIO, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/SAN FRANCISCO, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ SCOTTSDALE, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/VIRGINIA, INC., an Illinois corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ WASHINGTON SQUARE, INC., a Delaware corporation PORTERHOUSE OF LOS ANGELES, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO HOLDING, INC., a Delaware corporation ARNIE MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ BURBANK LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/DENVER CRESCENT TOWN CENTER, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/GREAT NECK LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/HARTFORD LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ INDIANAPOLIS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/KANSAS CITY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/LOUISVILLE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ PITTSBURGH LLC, a Delaware limited liability company By: /s/ Thomas J. Baldwin ------------------------------------------- Name: Thomas J. Baldwin Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the above entities -6- <Page> MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/RESTON LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ SCHAUMBURG LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/WHITE PLAINS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ITALIAN RESTAURANTS HOLDING CORP., a Delaware corporation BERTOLINI'S OF CIRCLE CENTRE, INC., a Delaware corporation BERTOLINI'S OF LAS VEGAS, INC., a Delaware corporation MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/RICHMOND LLC, a Delaware limited liability company MORTON'S OF CHICAGO/ STAMFORD LLC, a Delaware limited liability company BERTOLINI'S RESTAURANTS, INC., a Delaware corporation BERTOLINI'S/KING OF PRUSSIA, INC., a Delaware corporation BERTOLINI'S AT VILLAGE SQUARE, INC., a Delaware corporation By: /s/ Thomas J. Baldwin ---------------------------- Name: Thomas J. Baldwin Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the above entities -7- <Page> ADDISON STEAKHOUSE, INC., a Texas corporation CHICAGO STEAKHOUSE, INC., a Texas corporation HOUSTON STEAKHOUSE, INC., a Texas corporation SAN ANTONIO STEAKHOUSE, INC., a Texas corporation By: /s/ Darryl Steadman ------------------------- Name: Darryl Steadman Title: President and Executive Vice President of the above entities -8-