Exhibit 99

(O'CHARLEY'S INC. LOGO)
NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:    Meg Bayless                   Tripp Sullivan
            Public Relations Manager      Corporate Communications, Inc.
            (615) 782-8940                (615) 254-3376


              O'CHARLEY'S INC. COMMENTS ON IMPACT OF HURRICANE IVAN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 22, 2004) -- O'Charley's Inc. (NASDAQ/NM: CHUX)
today announced that a total of 62 O'Charley's restaurants, or 28% of its store
base, were affected by Hurricane Ivan in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

      Based on the loss of revenues, the cost of boarding up stores in
preparation for the storm and the expected repair costs to those restaurants
affected, the Company estimates it lost net earnings of approximately $0.02 per
diluted share in the third quarter due to Hurricane Ivan. The Company's estimate
includes those restaurants that were closed as well as the estimated loss of
revenue from slower sales at the restaurants that remained open in these markets
both during and immediately after the storm. The Company sustained minor damage
to several of its restaurants, and all but one location is currently open.

      O'Charley's Inc. operates 219 company-owned O'Charley's restaurants in 16
states in the Southeast and Midwest with one franchised O'Charley's restaurant
in Michigan. The menu, with an emphasis on fresh preparation, features several
specialty items such as hand-cut and aged steaks, a variety of seafood and
chicken, freshly-baked yeast rolls, fresh-cut salads with special-recipe salad
dressings and signature caramel pie. The Company also operates Ninety Nine
Restaurant & Pub in 93 locations throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Ninety Nine has earned a
strong reputation for providing generous portions of high-quality food at
moderate prices in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. The menu features a wide
selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, entrees and desserts. In
addition, the Company operates six Stoney River Legendary Steaks restaurants in
Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. The dinner-only steakhouse concept
appeals to both upscale casual dining and fine dining customers by offering
high-quality food and attentive customer service typical of high-end steakhouses
at more moderate prices.

This press release and statements made by or on behalf of the Company relating
hereto may be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These forward-looking statements may be affected by certain risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks described in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of the
significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included
herein, you should not regard the inclusion of such information as a
representation by us that our objectives, plans and projected results of
operations will be achieved and the Company's actual results could differ
materially from such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake
any obligation to publicly release any revisions to the forward-looking
statements contained herein to reflect events and circumstances occurring after
the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.


                                      -END-

            3038 Sidco Drive - Nashville, TN 37204 - (615) 256-8500