MIAMI Benihana Inc. reported a 29-percent tumble in its fiscal 2008 fourth quarter profit as higher restaurant opening costs, soft sales and one fewer operating week ate into the multiconcept operator's bottom line. For the 12-week quarter...

WASHINGTON Restaurant operators are changing tomato varieties and sources to get the fruit back on their menus in a raw form, even as a salmonella outbreak related to three popular types continues to spread. Health officials said Wednesday...

WICHITA Kan. Papa John’s Pizza franchisees Frank Carney and Terry Newman have started offering table service at one of their restaurants here, though corporate officials said the unit is not part of a companywide test. Carney, who founded...

PLANO Texas Bennigan’s Grill & Tavern, the 310-unit casual-dining division of Metromedia Restaurant Group here, has rolled out a Spanish-language menu nationwide. Jennifer Gamble, director of marketing for Bennigan’s, said, “The U.S...

MARYVILLE Tenn. Ruby Tuesday Inc. has converted the Asian fast-casual concept it bought last summer for $1 million into a full-service operation, according to a securities filing. The revamped restaurant retained the name Wok Hay, a Chinese...

DALLAS The same consumer who last week filed a class-action lawsuit against Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar for allegedly misrepresenting the nutritional content of its health-oriented menu choices has filed a similar suit against Brinker...

...

NEW YORK Gavin Kaysen, executive chef of Café Boulud in New York City, was named “Rising Star Chef” of the year by the James Beard Foundation at its annual ceremony, held this year at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. The award, given to chefs...