<ARTICLE>               5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the balance
sheet and income statment for the 13 weeks of Ark Restaurants Corp. and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                              1000

                                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                            3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                        JAN-1-2000
<CASH>                                                     276
<SECURITIES>                                                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                                            4,079
<ALLOWANCES>                                                 0
<INVENTORY>                                              2,187
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                         8,103
<PP&E>                                                  55,245
<DEPRECIATION>                                          18,949
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          43,046
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                    8,536
<BONDS>                                                 19,339
<COMMON>                                                    52
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                  0
<OTHER-SE>                                              28,531
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                            57,920
<SALES>                                                 26,957
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                        26,957
<CGS>                                                    7,060
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            7,060
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                        19,363
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          93
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                            441
<INCOME-TAX>                                               160
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                        281
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                                91
<EPS-BASIC>                                                .03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              .03