<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 1997 AND THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE FIFTY-TWO WEEKS ENDED SEPTEMBER 24,
1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-24-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-26-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-24-1997
<CASH>                                       2,668,232<F1>
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                4,906,798
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  4,592,570
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            19,992,127
<PP&E>                                     199,200,464
<DEPRECIATION>                              56,360,238
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             167,266,414
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       38,474,403
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    10,433,738
<OTHER-SE>                                  82,516,408
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               167,266,414
<SALES>                                    262,668,556
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           268,184,406
<CGS>                                       69,241,320
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              187,070,300<F2>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            22,596,253<F3>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           3,558,098
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             25,573,831
<INCOME-TAX>                                 9,425,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         16,148,831
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                16,148,831
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .81
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .81
<FN>
<F1>CASH INCLUDES CASH EQUIVALENTS OF $2,300,000.
<F2>INCLUDES RESTAURANT OPERATING COSTS OF $117,828,980.
<F3>INCLUDES DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION AND RENT OF $14,166,138 AND $8,430,115,
RESPECTIVELY.
</FN>