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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
     We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January 29, 1996 relating
to the financial statements of Cooker Restaurant Corporation, which appears in
such Prospectus. We also consent to the references to us under the headings
"Experts" and "Selected Financial Data" in such Prospectus. However, it should
be noted that Price Waterhouse LLP has not prepared or certified such "Selected
Financial Data."
 
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Columbus, Ohio
April 18, 1996