<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF APRIL 8, 1998 AND THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE SIXTEEN AND TWENTY-EIGHT WEEKS
ENDED APRIL 8, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-25-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-08-1998
<CASH>                                       2,310,078<F1>
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                6,578,741
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  4,278,792
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            22,234,635
<PP&E>                                     211,806,944
<DEPRECIATION>                              60,640,261
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             177,309,186
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       35,617,813
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    10,504,572
<OTHER-SE>                                  92,791,122
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               177,309,186
<SALES>                                    153,111,574
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           156,019,022
<CGS>                                       39,234,300
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              110,118,330<F2>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            11,469,481<F3>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,487,469
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             13,858,477
<INCOME-TAX>                                 5,060,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          8,798,477
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 8,798,477
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .42
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .42
<FN>
<F1>Cash includes cash equivalents of $1,205,000.
<F2>Includes restaurant operating costs of $70,884,030.
<F3>Includes depreciation and amortization and rent of $6,501,527 and
$4,967,954, respectively.
</FN>