<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains Summary Financial Information extracted from the Quarterly Report for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 of Carrols Corporation and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statement. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> $ 2,109,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 753,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 2,973,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 11,212,000 <PP&E> 147,021,000 <DEPRECIATION> 67,370,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 220,970,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 23,880,000 <BONDS> 172,934,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 10 <OTHER-SE> 18,058,990 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 220,970,000 <SALES> 207,113,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 207,113,000 <CGS> 59,600,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 166,144,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 10,578,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,059,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 902,000 <INCOME-TAX> 181,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 721,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 721,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0