<ARTICLE>      5
<LEGEND>
RECALCULATION OF PRIOR QUARTERS EARNINGS PER SHARE FROM PRIMARY TO BASIC
EARNINGS PER SHARE RESULTS IN NO CHANGE TO EARNINGS PER SHARE. DILUTED
EARNINGS PER SHARE IS ANTIDILUTIVE IN EACH QUARTER OF FISCAL YEARS 1995,
1996 AND 1997.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>          0000724606
<NAME>         AU BON PAIN CO., INC.
<CURRENCY>     U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-27-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-29-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-27-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                             853
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    9,427
<ALLOWANCES>                                       134
<INVENTORY>                                      9,117
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                21,368
<PP&E>                                         112,232
<DEPRECIATION>                                  75,907
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 186,516
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           21,426
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             1
<OTHER-SE>                                      92,273
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   186,516
<SALES>                                        233,212
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               250,890
<CGS>                                           90,385
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  119,537
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                33,279
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,204
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    315
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,492)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,807
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,807
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .15