<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q FOR QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 29, 2000 </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001061588 <NAME> NE RESTAURANT COMPANY, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-03-2001 <PERIOD-START> DEC-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-29-2000 <CASH> 2,868 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,298 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,855 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 15,425 <PP&E> 149,278 <DEPRECIATION> 30,755 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 181,463 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 32,203 <BONDS> 100,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 37 <OTHER-SE> 6,017 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 181,463 <SALES> 67,035 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 67,035 <CGS> 17,563 <TOTAL-COSTS> 65,538 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,674 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,177) <INCOME-TAX> (705) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,472) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,472) <EPS-BASIC> (0.49) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.49)