Exhibit 99.1


                Ark Restaurants Announces Declaration of Dividend


CONTACT:
Robert Towers
(212) 206-8800
bob@arkrestaurants.com


NEW YORK, New York - October 12, 2004 -- Ark Restaurants Corp. (NASDAQ:ARKR)
announced today that the Board of Directors instituted a dividend policy by
declaring a regular quarterly dividend of 35 cents per share on the Company's
outstanding common stock beginning on November 1, 2004 to shareholders of record
at the close of business on October 22, 2004.

Ark Restaurants owns and operates 22 restaurants and bars, 26 fast food
concepts, catering operations and wholesale and retail bakeries. Nine
restaurants are located in New York City; nine in Las Vegas, Nevada; and four in
Washington, DC. The Las Vegas operations include three restaurants within the
New York-New York Hotel & Casino Resort and operation of the Resort's room
service, banquet facilities, employee dining room and nine food court concepts;
four restaurants and bars within the Venetian Casino Resort as well as four food
court concepts. In Las Vegas, the Company also owns and operates one restaurant
within the Forum Shops at Caesar's Shopping Center and one restaurant at the
Neonopolis Center at Fremont Street. The Florida operations include five fast
food facilities in Tampa, Florida and eight fast food facilities in Hollywood,
Florida, each at a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino operated by the Seminole Indian
Tribe at these locations.

Forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, involve unknown risks,
and uncertainties that may cause the company's actual results or outcomes to be
materially different from those anticipated and discussed herein. Important
factors that might cause such differences are discussed in the Company's
fillings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.