<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF DECEMBER 18, 1996 AND THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE TWELVE WEEKS ENDED DECEMBER 18, 1996
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-24-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-26-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-18-1996
<CASH>                                         710,781<F1>
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                3,672,849
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  3,913,392
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            14,151,516
<PP&E>                                     172,867,311
<DEPRECIATION>                              49,050,035
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             143,290,311
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       36,854,190
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     7,728,285
<OTHER-SE>                                  53,483,273
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               143,290,311
<SALES>                                     54,344,458
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            55,599,303
<CGS>                                       14,501,691
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               38,789,764<F2>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             4,838,176<F3>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             798,370
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              5,169,205
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,940,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          3,229,205
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 3,229,205
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .21
<FN>
<F1>CASH INCLUDES CASH EQUIVALENTS OF $160,000
<F2>INCLUDES RESTAURANT OPERATING COSTS OF $24,288,073
<F3>INCLUDES DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION AND RENT OF $3,036,163 AND
$1,802,013, RESPECTIVELY.
</FN>