<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