Raw Data Report: Restaurants

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The Cowboy Ribeye Steak is the Most Popular Item at Ruth's Chris Steak House (RUTH), Survey says

Ruth's Chris Steak House, Inc., the US's largest fine-dining steakhouse company, is reporting earnings of $0.17 - $0.19 per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 and in spite of some executive resignations, the company seems to be doing well.

Tickermine surveyed 33 locations across the US and asked about which time of day was busiest, which were the most popular menu items, whether the business seemed up or down compared with last year, how much their customers spend and what they think lures them back?

29 respondents, or 88% of those we polled, said that dinner was their busier shift and four, or 12%, reported it as lunch. Three respondents, or 3%, said their location was new, meaning less than a year old, and 30, or 97%, said their location was older than a year. 22 people, or 67%, said that it was particular menu items that attracted their customers back to their location. Nine, or 27%, felt it was the atmosphere that did it, and location and then prices were cited by one person each or 3% of respondents.

The Cowboy Ribeye steak was the most popular menu item and cited by 40% of those we polled. The New York strip steak gathered 30% of the responses. The Petite Fillet and Shrimp was mentioned four times, or by 12% of respondents, and the following menu items each were cited by one person or 3%: the Louisiana Seafood Gumbo, the Lobster Bisque, the Lamb Chops and the Crabtini. Two people, or 6% of those interviewed, cited the Porterhouse Steak as most popular. The average bill for a party of two was $77, our survey says, and on business, 16, or 48%, said business was just the same as this time last year. 10, or 30%, felt it was busier and six, or 18%, thought that customer levels had dropped.

Firecracker Shrimp and Coconut Shrimp are the Most Popular Menu Items at Bahama Breeze Restaurants (DRI)

Bahama Breeze, a casual dining restaurant within the Darden Restaurants (DRI) chain, was surveyed this month. Tickermine researchers asked whether the location was older than a year, what were their customers' most popular menu items, how much it costs for a party of two and the cost of ingredients.

31 restaurants were polled nationally. Six restaurants, or 19% of those approached, were new, i.e., less than a year old. 25, or 81%, of the locations were older than a year. 15 of the restaurants, or 48%, had no similar or competing restaurants nearby. 16, or 52%, of those polled reported competition. Two of our respondents said that appetizers were ordered less than 50% of the time. 29 respondents said that customers order appetizers over half to most of the time.

At Bahama Breeze restaurants, the most popular menu item is currently the Firecracker Shrimp, our survey says, according to nine, or 29%, of respondents. Coconut shrimp was most popular, according to five respondents, or 16%. Three, or 10%, said the fresh fish feature. Barbecued Chicken, Jamaica chicken, Seafood Paella and the lobster and shrimp dishes each got two mentions, or by 6% of those polled. Seared Tuna Steak, Jerk Chicken Pasta, Santa Fe spinach dip, specialty drinks and the West Indie ribs were each cited once, or by 3% of those polled.

We asked whether the cost of fish had risen in the past year. Seven, or 23%, said "no" and 24, or 77%, said "yes." Finally, the cost of a meal for a party of two was predominantly $31-$40. This was the choice cited by 12 respondents, or 39%, of those we called. Other amounts included $20-$30 (seven respondents, or 23%), $41-$50 (six respondents or 19%), $51-$60 (three respondents, or 10%), $60-$70 (two respondents, or 6%), and one person, or 3%, said $80.

Business Is Up from Last Year for Forty-one Percent of Tropical Pollo Restaurants

Tropical Pollo restaurants cite fajitas as their most popular menu item, according to TickerMine's latest poll. Thirty-seven percent of respondents named fajitas their most popular item. Boneless chicken breast (22%) and the one-half chicken (19%) are also popular. The chain, which operates restaurants in Florida and New Jersey, attracts customers primarily for its prices (41%), and atmosphere (37%), as well as for its menu (22%). Fifty-six percent of restaurants surveyed said that dinner is their busiest time. Ninety-three percent of the restaurants have been in operation for more than one year. The average tab for a party of two is between $21 and $30 for 41% of restaurants; 37% said it's less than $20. Less than one quarter of Tropical Pollo restaurants are located in a mall near other restaurants. Forty-eight percent of restaurants surveyed said business is the same as last year; 41% said it's busier.

BJ's Restaurant (BJRI) is as Busy or Busier than Last Year, Survey says

BJ's Restaurant, Inc. has seen its stock fall this spring due to high costing wheat and dairy prices. A late April Tickermine survey polled 33 locations nation-wide and asked respondents about their busiest times, their most popular menu items, how business compares to last year, cost of bills for parties of two and what they think attracts their existing clientele?

Dinner was overwhelmingly busier than lunch and the choice of 23 respondents, or 70%. Lunch was cited by 10 people, or 30%. Thirty one respondents, or 94%, said their location was older than one year and 2, or 6%, said theirs was new.

Contrary to financial reports, most of those polled felt that business was the same as last year (17 or 52%). Thirteen, or 39%, said it was busier and only one person, or 3%, felt that business had dropped. Most stated that both the atmosphere and the menu were what lured their customers back (45% each, or 15 respondents) and 3, or 9%, said it was the prices. Forty two % of those polled, or 14 respondents, said the average cost for a party of two was $20-$30. The same amount of people cited $31-$40. Four respondents, or 12%, said their bills averaged $41-$50 and one person, or 3%, said their's averaged at $65.

Seventeen respondents, 52% of those interviewed, said their location was not near a competing chain and 16, or 48%, said it was. And the most popular menu item was, hands down, the Barbecue Chicken Pizza (the choice of 11 respondents, or 33%). Halibut Fish Tacos were cited by 5 respondents, or 15%, sandwiches and then chicken wings were next popular (3 respondents, or 9%), Baby Back Pork Ribs, Chicken Pot Stickers, Pizooki and Four Cheese Pizza were each cited twice, or by 6%, and BJ's Burger, the Blackened New York Steak and Fish and Chips were each cited once, or 3%.

37% of Red Lobster (DRI) Customers Order Lobster less than Before, Survey says

Darden Restaurants Inc. is famous for its casual dining chains: Olive Garden, Red Lobster and Bahama Breeze casual dining restaurants. A recent Tickermine survey polled 35 Red Lobster restaurants and asked whether their locations were new, whether there are similar restaurants nearby, whether lobster is being ordered as much this year as it was last year, what is their most popular menu item, has the price for lobster risen since last year and what is the average bill for a party of two?

One hundred percent, or all 35 respondents, reported that their location was not new. 22 respondents, or 66%, reported that there were competing, similar restaurants nearby and 13, or 37%, said there were not.

Thirteen respondents, or 37%, said that their customers now ordered lobster less than before. Six, or 17%, said customers ordered it more and 16, or 46%, said it was the same. Lobster Lover's Dream, however, was the most popular menu item being ordered, cited by nine respondents, or 26%. Fire Grilled Lobster Chops was cited 5 times, or 14%, as was Shrimp Scampi. The Ultimate Feast was stated as best selling for three respondents, or 9%, and the following were each cited twice, or by 6%, of those we polled: Admiral's Feast, Dungeoness Crab and the Seaside Shrimp Trio. Fish and Chips, Popcorn Shrimp and Parrot Bay Coconut Shrimp were each cited once or by 3%.

24 respondents, or 69%, of those interviewed felt that the price of lobster had risen and 11, or 31%, said it had not. The average bill for a party of two was mostly between $41-$50 (9 respondents, or 26%). Other prices included $31-$40 (8 or 23%), $20-$30 (6, or 17%), $51-$60 and then $61-$70 (4 or 11%), $71-$80 (3 or 9%) and one person, or 3%, stated $90.

Comments

[Swingline]

If all Red Lobsters are company-owned (no franchisees w/ side hedge contracts). Shouldn't the issue of lobster price increases be binary? I mean, like oil, either prices are up or they are not. To me, the fact that the hostesses that you interviewed were split on the issue calls the other findings into question.

By the way, as of 4/24/08 it appears from this article that lobter prices were off significantly from last year. The opposite of your survey findings. See below.

www.thewesternstar.com...