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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                             CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT

                          TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE

                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)          September 13, 1996
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                         American Restaurant Group, Inc.
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             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


                                    Delaware
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                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

          33-48183                                         33-0193602
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   (Commission File Number)                (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

450 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA            92660
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(Address of Principal Executive Officer)             (Zip Code)

                                 (714) 721-8000
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              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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ITEM 2.        ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

On September 13, 1996 the Company, through two of its subsidiaries, completed a
sale/leaseback transaction under which it sold the real property relating to 24
Stuart Anderson's Black Angus and Stuart Anderson's Cattle Company restaurants
for an aggregate sales price of $48.1 million and simultaneously executed
long-term leases under which it will continue to operate the restaurants. The
leases call for aggregate annual rent payments of $5.8 million which will
increase every five years by the lesser of the increase in the consumer price
index or 10%. With the exception of one property, the leases are for initial
terms of 25 years with three, five-year renewal options. One of the leases is
for a maximum term of three years, during which the Company intends to seek and
develop an alternate location in the same market.

The proceeds of the transaction have been applied in accordance with the
requirements of the Company's debt instruments, as follows: to redeem at par
principal and interest thereon of its senior secured notes in the amount of
$34.3 million; to repay bank debt and to partially cash collateralize
outstanding letters of credit in a combined amount of $4.8 million; for fees and
expenses of this transaction as well as the Company's recently completed consent
solicitation in a total amount of $4.6 million; and $4.4 million retained by the
Company to be invested in productive assets within six months.

The effect of this transaction on a pro forma basis, had it occurred as of the
beginning of the year ended December 25, 1995, would be to increase rent expense
by $5.4 million, decrease depreciation expense by $1.5 million, increase
amortization of debt costs by $0.5 million, decrease interest expense by $2.6
million and record a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.9 million.

The pro forma effect on the twenty-six weeks ended June 24, 1996 would be to
increase rent expense by $2.7 million, decrease depreciation expense by $0.8
million, increase amortization of debt costs by $0.4 million, decrease interest
expense by $1.4 million and record a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.4
million.

On a pro forma basis as of June 24, 1996, the Company's cash would increase by
$5.2 million, net property and equipment would decrease by $41.2 million, net
other assets would increase by $3.7 million, accrued liabilities would increase
by $0.5 million, a deferred gain of $5.8 million would be added, short-term debt
would decrease by $5.0 million, long-term debt would decrease by $32.4 million
and its accumulated deficit would increase by $1.2 million reflecting the loss
on extinguishment of debt.

ITEM 7.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

         (b)      Pro forma condensed financial statements. See narrative
                  description in Item 2. above.
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         (c)      List of Exhibits

EXHIBIT NO.          DESCRIPTION

         2.1      Purchase Agreement dated as of September 11, 1996 by and
                  between ARG Property Management Corporation and ARG
                  Enterprises, Inc. and ARG Properties I, LLC.

         2.2      Master lease dated September 11, 1996 between ARG Properties
                  I, LLC, as Landlord and ARG Enterprises, Inc. as Tenant.
        
         2.3      Lease #06152 dated September 11, 1996 between Captec Net Lease
                  Realty, Inc. and ARG Enterprises, Inc. as Tenant for
                  Bloomington, Minnesota.

         2.4      Lease #06153 dated September 11, 1996 between Captec Net
                  Lease Realty, Inc. and ARG Enterprises, Inc. as Tenant for
                  Fridley, Minnesota.

         2.5      Lease #06154 dated September 11, 1996 between Captec Net
                  Lease Realty, Inc. and ARG Enterprises, Inc. as Tenant for
                  Minnetonka, Minnesota.

         2.6      Lease #06155 dated September 11, 1996 between Captec Net
                  Lease Realty, Inc. and ARG Enterprises, Inc. as Tenant for
                  Roseville, Minnesota.

         2.7      Lease dated September 11, 1996 between Safeway Inc., as
                  Landlord and ARG Enterprises, Inc., as Tenant.

         2.8      Guaranty of Lease dated September 11, 1996 by ARG
                  Enterprises, Inc. as Tenant to ARG Properties I, LLC as
                  Landlord.

         2.9      A Guaranty of Lease dated September 11, 1996 by ARG
                  Enterprises, Inc. as Tenant to Captec Net Lease Realty, Inc.
                  as Landlord for each of four Minnesota restaurants.

         2.10     Guaranty of Lease dated September 11, 1996 by ARG Enterprises,
                  Inc. as Tenant and Safeway Inc. as Landlord.
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                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                             AMERICAN RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
                                                        (Registrant)



Date:  September 30, 1996                    By:    /s/William J. McCaffrey, Jr.
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                                                    William J. McCaffrey, Jr.
                                                    Chief Financial Officer