Earlier this month I wrote about a speculated deal for BJ’s by Darden Restaurants Inc. Such a deal has actually been rumored about for some time, and many believe that Darden could be on the lookout for another acquisition to generate revenue growth now that it’s fixed Olive Garden. But even absent any potential Darden interest, BJ’s remains a growth company and could be attractive to numerous buyers, who could help the company fix its sales issues and add units at the same time. 

This is kind of an obvious one, given that the owner of Bravo Cucina Italiana and Brio Tuscan Grille is currently exploring strategic alternatives — which means it’s likely open to a sale, at the very least. While the company operates in a difficult market, Italian casual dining, its high beverage mix and turnaround potential could make it a target for a private equity group. 

As activist investor JCP Investment Management indicated in nominating three people to the Fiesta board last month, there are “persistent” rumors of a strategic review process. Fiesta has struggled recently. It also planned to separate its two concepts, Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana, and now is operating with an interim CEO in Danny Meisenheimer.

This one won’t happen for a while — the fast casual noodle chain has to pay costs associated with the closure of 55 restaurants as well as a data breach last year. A decent sales quarter might also help. Paring losses and shifting development to stronger markets and more franchising might position the chain for a take-private deal, which might be the best option at this point.