Greenwood Village, CO  (RestaurantNews.com)  While for some, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to go out with your sweetheart, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is inviting ladies everywhere to round up their girlfriends and come in on Feb. 14 for Girls’ Night Out to enjoy half price bottles of wine and dessert. What could be better on Valentine’s Day than wine, chocolate and your closest girlfriends?

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, and to honor all of the ladies out there who prefer to spend the holiday with their friends, on Feb. 14 Red Robin^® restaurants* will debut their newest dessert full of chocolaty goodness, the Gooey Chocolate Brownie Cake – decadent chocolate cake topped with hot fudge and vanilla ice cream, and served with sweet strawberries – available for just $1.99 on Feb. 14 with the purchase of a burger, entrée or salad. To accompany dessert, Red Robin is also offering half-price bottles of wine on Valentine’s Day ranging from $7.50 to $12.50.

“Red Robin wants to support all the women who don’t have a significant other to dine out with,” said Denny Marie Post, Red Robin’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “Red Robin’s Girls’ Night Out is about celebrating the ever important bond between friends. Don’t stay home. Grab a girlfriend and head to Red Robin to enjoy a great meal, wine and chocolate together on Valentine’s Day.”

For more information about Red Robin and to find a restaurant location near you, visit www.redrobin.com.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., is the gourmet burger expert, famous for serving more than two dozen craveable, high-quality burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries^® in a fun environment welcoming to guests of all ages. In addition to its many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts and signature Mad Mixology® Beverages. There are more than 460 Red Robin^® restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including corporate-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM^®! Connect with Red Robin on Facebook and Twitter.

*Available in participating restaurants.

 Contact

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Jamie Winter
303-846-6108
jwinter@redrobin.com

Greenwood Village, CO  (RestaurantNews.com)  Alert your taste buds! Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin) is just weeks away from bringing even more craveable gourmet burgers to the Los Angeles area, with the opening of their newest Red Robin located at 400 S. Baldwin Ave. at the Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia on the second story of the Promenade Shops near Macy’s, on Monday, Jan. 9, at 11 a.m. Red Robin – known as the gourmet burger expert – offers more than two dozen high-quality gourmet burgers served with Bottomless Steak Fries^® (which means free refills!) as well as a variety of salads, entrees, soups and wraps made with the freshest ingredients, many of which are made in-house.

Red Robin’s gourmet burgers start with a fresh, never frozen, ground beef patty that is fire-grilled to a perfect juiciness. Red Robin also offers a chicken breast, turkey patty, fish sandwich or a vegetarian or vegan burger patty for those guests who are craving something other than beef. Layered on top, from more than 100 different topping options, is a tasty combination of ingredients with a variety of flavor profiles. Some of the most popular burgers are the Whiskey River^® BBQ Burger with signature BBQ sauce and hand-battered crispy onion straws; the signature Royal Red Robin Burger^® which has been a guest favorite for more than 40 years and is topped with a fresh fried egg; and the Banzai Burger with a teriyaki-glazed beef patty and a grilled pineapple ring, to name a few.

Red Robin guests across the country have come to love Red Robin for its:

• Welcoming and fun restaurant experience
• High-quality menu items, including signature gourmet burgers, entrees, salads and beverages made from fresh, Honest to Goodness^® ingredients that are customizable to fit guests taste and dietary preferences
• Signature Bottomless Steak Fries^® and Beverages, which means free refills, as well as Limited Time Offer (LTO) menu items
• Happy hour specials on appetizers and beer in the bar area from 3-6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to close during the week
• Red Royalty, a new loyalty program that provides its members with rewards, including a FREE birthday burger and various additional incentives for dining at Red Robin, as well as other rewards to “surprise and delight” members throughout the year
• A kids’ menu for guests under age 10 which includes healthier fruit and vegetable side options
• Detailed allergen information that is easy to understand
• A unique Unbridled culture that inspires Red Robin team members to consistently put guests’ needs first and perform random acts of kindness for others

For more information about Red Robin and to find additional restaurant locations, please visit www.redrobin.com.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., is the gourmet burger expert, famous for serving more than two dozen craveable, high-quality burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries^® in a fun environment welcoming to guests of all ages. In addition to its many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts and signature Mad Mixology® Beverages. There are more than 460 Red Robin^® restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including corporate-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM^®!

Greenwood Village, CO  (RestaurantNews.com) Of all the first names in the U.S. today, “Jim” is by far the most abundant, with more than 5 million people sharing Jim, James, Jimmy or some variation of the moniker. On Tuesday, Dec. 6, all the Jims of America will have more in common than their name when they’re eligible for a free Sweet Jim Beam® Bacon Swiss Burger at participating Red Robin® restaurants nationwide on that day.

Red Robin teamed up with one of the most well-known Jims, Jim Beam® – the best-selling brand of bourbon in the world – to create this mouth-watering burger complete with a bourbon-glazed beef patty, applewood smoked bacon, caramelized bourbon onions and melted Swiss cheese on a garlic-butter toasted brioche bun. To celebrate this limited-time burger, Red Robin designated tomorrow as “Jim Day” and any guests who verify their “Jim” status with a photo I.D. on Tuesday, Dec. 6, will have the opportunity to indulge in the Sweet Jim Beam® Bacon Swiss Burger’s perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors for free.*

“We’re betting there are lots of ‘Jims’ out there who would enjoy a burger with bourbon and bacon so we’re giving them the chance to try one on us,” said Denny Post, Red Robin’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “And if your name isn’t ‘Jim,’ invite one of the millions of ‘Jims’ in the U.S. to visit Red Robin with you on December 6, and make sure they offer you a bite of their Jim Beam burger, of course.”

The Sweet Jim Beam® Bacon Swiss Burger, along with a perennial holiday favorite, the Gingerbread Shake, which is blended with graham cracker crumbs and topped with a gingersnap cookie, is only available for a limited time through December 24. For an adult version of the shake, guests 21 years of age or older can add a shot of Jim Beam to the Gingerbread Shake.

For more information about Red Robin and to find a restaurant location near you, visit www.redrobin.com.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., is the gourmet burger expert, famous for serving more than two dozen craveable, high-quality burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries® in a fun environment welcoming to guests of all ages. In addition to its many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts and signature Mad Mixology® Beverages. There are more than 460 Red Robin^® restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including corporate-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM^®!

* Free burger does not include Bottomless Steak Fries.

A Katy man employed as a waiter at a local restaurant has been charged with fraud in connection with the theft of customers’ credit card account numbers.

Brandon Levar Harris, 28, a waiter at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers restaurant, 23318 Mercantile Parkway, is accused of using a “skimmer” to read and store credit card information, according to court documents.

A Houston police officer assigned to the U.S. Secret Service Fraud Task Force conducted an investigation Oct. 13 at an apartment in the 5900 block of FM 1960, resulting in the arrest of the resident Eric Carr, also 28.

Continue reading . . .

Just in time for the bustling holiday season, Red Robin introduced a new burger to their holiday promo line-up, the Sweet Jim Beam Bacon Swiss Burger. The bourbon-glazed beef patty is topped with Applewood smoked bacon, caramelized bourbon onions and melted Swiss cheese on a garlic butter toasted brioche bun. The burger is only available for a limited time through December 24.

“This burger is truly the epitome of sweet meets savory,” said Dave Woolley, Red Robin’s executive chef. “The bourbon is cooked down with molasses and caramelized onions so there is no alcohol in the burger, and is paired with a buttery brioche bun, Swiss cheese and Applewood smoked bacon to make the perfect, craveable holiday treat for burger lovers of all ages.”

Red Robin is also bringing back a perennial holiday favorite, the Gingerbread Shake, which is blended with tasty graham cracker crumbs and topped with a gingersnap cookie. For an adult version, guests 21 years of age or older can add a shot of Jim Beam to the Gingerbread Shake.

Additionally, to honor the season of giving, Red Robin is thanking guests for purchasing Red Robin gift cards. For each Red Robin gift card purchased, in increments of $25 to $45, now through Saturday, Dec. 24, guests will receive a FREE $5 Bonus Buck. The Bonus Buck can be used at Red Robin after the holidays, from Sunday, Jan. 1 – Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, to enjoy any of Red Robin’s more than two dozen gourmet burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and entrees or any other menu item.

Get out your best lederhosen and prepare for a one-of-kind Oktoberfest-inspired feast. Now through November 6, Red Robin – the gourmet burger expert for more than 40 years – is featuring The Oktoberfest Bürger – a toasted pretzel bun slathered with beer mustard and topped with a fire-grilled beef patty, melted Swiss cheese, beer-mustard sautéed onions, Black Forest ham and green leaf lettuce. Pair that with Sweet Potato Fries served with sweet and spicy ketchup for dipping, and this Bavarian feast just piles on the YUMMM.

“The upcoming fall season was the inspiration behind this burger because the flavors are reminiscent of fall days and tailgating – grilling at a football game, eating hot pretzels with mustard, and enjoying a beer,” said Red Robin’s executive chef Dave Woolley. “I took those flavors and made that into a burger that would be a perfect option for our burger-loving guests.”

To support the new burger, Red Robin will launch its latest advertising campaign based on the casual dining chain’s popular and memorable mnemonic, “Red Robin, YUMMM,” from Sept. 19 through Oct. 17. During this time, the Oktoberfest Bürger will be available for $6.99. As part of the campaign, consumers will experience “YUMMM” through the following mediums:

• A TV ad, airing during shows, including “Good Morning America,” “Entertainment Tonight” and “Inside Edition” as well as on cable television networks such as Comedy Central, TBS and USA that features a police captain arriving at a busy crime scene. Police have been unable to locate a fugitive, and the police captain successfully finds the suspect by yelling into a megaphone, “Red Robin,” to which the fugitive pops out from a manhole and responds, “YUMMM.”
• Digital Video Ads to educate viewers about The Oktoberfest Bürger and additional LTO items. The ads will run on a combination of video sites and mobile video apps, like ABC news and USA Today.

Red Robin will also be releasing the latest edition of their Drinks and Desserts Menu featuring Sam Adams Seasonal beers as well as introducing a regional beer program across the country where a local beer – in eight U.S. regions – will be featured on the menu. For example, all Colorado, Nevada and Arizona corporate-owned restaurants are featuring Ranger IPA from New Belgium Brewing Company. The menu will also include Red Robin’s newest dessert, the Nestlé Toll House Cookie Sundae. The sundae includes a warm chocolate chip cookie and scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel and gooey hot fudge with a helping of whipped cream and a cherry on top and is available for $3.49.

For more information on the Oktoberfest Bürger and Red Robin’s other limited time offer items, or to find the restaurant location nearest you, visit www.redrobin.com.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is just weeks away from bringing craveable gourmet burgers to Thousand Oaks, with the opening of their newest Red Robin located at 170 W. Hillcrest in the Thousand Oaks Shopping Center on Monday, Aug. 8, at 11 a.m. Red Robin – known as the gourmet burger expert – offers more than two dozen high-quality gourmet burgers served with Bottomless Steak Fries (which means free refills!) as well as a variety of salads, entrees, soups and wraps made with the freshest ingredients, many of which are made in-house.

To celebrate Red Robin’s grand opening and demonstrate its commitment to the community, the new restaurant has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to host a Burgers With A Heart fundraiser. During grand opening week, from Aug. 8 to 14, Red Robin will donate 50 cents from every gourmet burger sold to support NCMEC’s child safety initiatives. In addition, Red Robin will give away FREE* Child ID Kits.

“Child ID Kits are a simple, yet effective method to help parents and guardians maintain a current photograph and other descriptive details about their children,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. “We want to thank Red Robin for helping us spread the word about child safety to help make communities across the country safer.”

Red Robin’s gourmet burgers start with a fresh, never frozen, ground beef patty that is fire-grilled to a perfect juiciness. Red Robin also offers a chicken breast, turkey patty, fish sandwich or a vegetarian or vegan burger patty for those guests who are craving something other than beef. Layered on top, from more than 100 different topping options, is a tasty combination of ingredients with a variety of flavor profiles. Some of the most popular burgers are the Whiskey River BBQ Burger with signature BBQ sauce and hand-battered crispy onion straws; the signature Royal Red Robin Burger which has been a guest favorite for more than 40 years and is topped with a fresh fried egg; and the Banzai Burger with a teriyaki-glazed beef patty and a grilled pineapple ring, to name a few.

Red Robin guests across the country have come to love Red Robin for its:

• Welcoming and fun restaurant experience
• High-quality menu items, including signature gourmet burgers, entrees, salads and beverages made from fresh, Honest to Goodness ingredients that are customizable to fit guests taste and dietary preferences
• Signature Bottomless Steak Fries and Beverages, which means free refills, as well as Limited Time Offer (LTO) menu items
• Happy hour specials on appetizers and beer in the bar area from 3-6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to close during the week
• Red Royalty, a new loyalty program that provides its members with rewards, including a FREE birthday burger and various additional incentives for dining at Red Robin, as well as other rewards to “surprise and delight” members throughout the year
• A kids’ menu for guests under age 10 which includes healthier fruit and vegetable side options, along with balloons, coloring pages and crayons, and a game area
• Detailed allergen information that is easy to understand
• A unique Unbridled culture that inspires Red Robin team members to consistently put guests’ needs first and perform random acts of kindness for others

For more information about Red Robin and to find additional restaurant locations, please visit www.redrobin.com.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin) is just weeks away from bringing even more craveable gourmet burgers to the Los Angeles-area in Lakewood, with the opening of their newest Red Robin located at 112 Lakewood Center Mall, located off of Lakewood Blvd. at the Lakewood Center Mall next to Macy’s, on Monday, July 25, at 11 a.m. Red Robin – known as the gourmet burger expert – offers more than two dozen high-quality gourmet burgers served with Bottomless Steak Fries (which means free refills!) as well as a variety of salads, entrees, soups and wraps made with the freshest ingredients, many of which are made in-house.

To celebrate Red Robin’s grand opening and demonstrate its commitment to the community, the new restaurant has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to host a Burgers With A Heart fundraiser. During grand opening week, from July 25 to 31, Red Robin will donate 50 cents from every gourmet burger sold to support NCMEC’s child safety initiatives. In addition, Red Robin will give away FREE* Child ID Kits.

“Child ID Kits are a simple, yet effective method to help parents and guardians maintain a current photograph and other descriptive details about their children,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. “We want to thank Red Robin for helping us spread the word about child safety to help make communities across the country safer.”

Red Robin’s gourmet burgers start with a fresh, never frozen, ground beef patty that is fire-grilled to a perfect juiciness. Red Robin also offers a chicken breast, turkey patty, fish sandwich or a vegetarian or vegan burger patty for those guests who are craving something other than beef. Layered on top, from more than 100 different topping options, is a tasty combination of ingredients with a variety of flavor profiles. Some of the most popular burgers are the Whiskey River BBQ Burger with signature BBQ sauce and hand-battered crispy onion straws; the signature Royal Red Robin Burger which has been a guest favorite for more than 40 years and is topped with a fresh fried egg; and the Banzai Burger with a teriyaki-glazed beef patty and a grilled pineapple ring, to name a few.

Red Robin guests across the country have come to love Red Robin for its:

• Welcoming and fun restaurant experience
• High-quality menu items, including signature gourmet burgers, entrees, salads and beverages made from fresh, Honest to Goodness ingredients that are customizable to fit guests taste and dietary preferences
• Signature Bottomless Steak Fries and Beverages, which means free refills, as well as Limited Time Offer (LTO) menu items
• Happy hour specials on appetizers and adult beverages in the bar area from 3-6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to close during the week
• Red Royalty, a new loyalty program that provides its members with rewards, including a FREE birthday burger and various additional incentives for dining at Red Robin, as well as other rewards to “surprise and delight” members throughout the year
• A kids’ menu for guests under age 10 which includes healthier fruit and vegetable side options, along with balloons, coloring pages and crayons, and a game area
• Detailed allergen information that is easy to understand
• A unique Unbridled culture that inspires Red Robin team members to consistently put guests’ needs first and perform random acts of kindness for others

For more information about Red Robin and to find additional restaurant locations, please visit www.redrobin.com.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is just weeks away from bringing craveable gourmet burgers to the Providence area in Warwick, with the opening of their first Red Robin in Rhode Island located at 400 Bald Hill Road directly off Exit 2 from 295 in the Warwick Mall Plaza, on Monday, June 27 at 11 a.m. Red Robin – known as the gourmet burger expert – offers more than two dozen high-quality gourmet burgers served with Bottomless Steak Fries (which means free refills!) as well as a variety of salads, entrees, soups and wraps made with the freshest ingredients, many of which are made in-house.

To celebrate Red Robin’s grand opening and demonstrate its commitment to the community, the new restaurant has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to host a Burgers With A Heart fundraiser. During grand opening week, from June 27 to July 3, Red Robin will donate 50 cents from every gourmet burger sold to support NCMEC’s child safety initiatives. In addition, Red Robin will give away FREE* Child ID Kits.

“Child ID Kits are a simple, yet effective method to help parents and guardians maintain a current photograph and other descriptive details about their children,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. “We want to thank Red Robin for helping us spread the word about child safety to help make communities across the country safer.”

Red Robin’s gourmet burgers start with a fresh, never frozen, ground beef patty that is fire-grilled to a perfect juiciness. Red Robin also offers a chicken breast, turkey patty, fish sandwich or a vegetarian or vegan burger patty for those guests who are craving something other than beef. Layered on top, from more than 100 different topping options, is a tasty combination of ingredients with a variety of flavor profiles. Some of the most popular burgers are the Whiskey River BBQ Burger with signature BBQ sauce and hand-battered crispy onion straws; the signature Royal Red Robin Burger which has been a guest favorite for more than 40 years and is topped with a fresh fried egg; and the Banzai Burger with a teriyaki-glazed beef patty and a grilled pineapple ring, to name a few.

Red Robin guests across the country have come to love Red Robin for its:

• Welcoming and fun restaurant experience
• High-quality menu items, including signature gourmet burgers, entrees, salads and beverages made from fresh, Honest to Goodness ingredients that are customizable to fit guests’ taste and dietary preferences
• Signature Bottomless Steak Fries and Beverages, which means free refills, as well as Limited Time Offer (LTO) menu items
• Specially priced “Happytizers” in the bar area from 3-6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to close during the week
• Red Royalty, a new loyalty program that provides its members with rewards, including a FREE birthday burger and various additional incentives for dining at Red Robin, as well as other rewards to “surprise and delight” members throughout the year
• A kids’ menu for guests under age 10 which includes healthier fruit and vegetable side options, along with balloons, coloring pages and crayons, and a game area
• Detailed allergen information that is easy to understand
• A unique Unbridled culture that inspires Red Robin team members to consistently put guests’ needs first and perform random acts of kindness for others

For more information about Red Robin and to find additional restaurant locations, please visit www.redrobin.com.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., a casual dining restaurant chain focused on serving an innovative selection of high-quality gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere, today announced that it is pursuing a test of a smaller prototype restaurant as a complement to its current 5,600-square-foot casual dining format. The square footage of the smaller prototype restaurant will be between 2,000 and 4,000 square feet and allows for additional flexibility, including a modified menu and service format. Over time, the reduced footprint could enable Red Robin to accelerate development into non-traditional locations that have not been previously available based on space requirements of the current prototype, as well as further leverage its brand as the gourmet burger experts.

In addition to the 10 full-sized restaurants that the Company has previously announced it plans to open in fiscal 2011, the Company expects to have at least one smaller prototype location open before the end of the year. Several locations suitable for the smaller prototype have already been identified, primarily in the Denver area. The Company will evaluate the operating performance and unit level economics of this smaller prototype before deciding on expansion plans.

As disclosed on the May 19^th earnings conference call, the Company plans to continue the growth of its casual dining restaurants using the current 5,600-square-foot format. The Company is pleased with the recent performance of its new restaurant opening results, and therefore is in the process of considering the expansion of its fiscal 2012 development plans. The Company plans to provide a fiscal 2012 development update on its second fiscal quarter 2011 earnings conference call on August 11, 2011.

Based on the ongoing review of the Company’s capital allocation strategy, which includes investment in new restaurant development, opportunistic repurchases of the Company’s stock, and the paydown of debt, the Company does not anticipate further reductions, beyond scheduled amortization payments, in the outstanding balance of the Company’s term loan for the remainder of fiscal 2011. Accordingly, the Company expects to record approximately $1.5 million of interest expense per quarter for the balance of fiscal 2011, excluding any interest income recorded on available cash balances.

As of May 15, 2011, the Company held $34.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and had a total outstanding debt balance of $161.1 million, including $150.0 million of borrowings under its $150 million term loan, no borrowings under its $150 million revolving credit facility and $11.1 million outstanding for capital leases. There were $7.0 million of letters of credit issued under its revolving credit facility.

 McDonald’s is showing strong momentum as they continue to grow. The company reported a 6% increase in comparable sales growth across the world, with 4% growth in America and both Europe and Asia up 6.5%. Optimizing each country’s menu and incorporating higher quality ingredients has helped the giant corporation continue to see growth in slow economic times.

Buzzy’s BBQ, an iconic Texas barbecue restaurant, has signed a franchise agreement to develop a new restaurant in Houston. Charter Franchise Group will be responsible for the new expansion. This is the first Buzzy’s brand franchise agreement. The original restaurant was opened 18 years ago in Kerrville.

Smashburger is running a number of promotions at their restaurants to celebrate National Hamburger Month. Every Tuesday in May is Double Fry Day and guests can get two orders of fries for the price of one. A special Nutter Butter shake has also been release for a limited time to celebrate at all national Smashburger locations.

Applebee’s has developed a new Facebook application to help women make time for a “Girls Night Out” with friends despite busy schedules. The app lets anyone send a customized invitation to their Facebook friends inviting them to a night out at Applebee’s. Women can also submit their photos from their “Girls Night Out” to enter to win a $50 gift card.

T.G.I. Friday’s new summer menu features the tastes of craft beer with beer flavored and inspired dishes. The chain already carries Magic Hat and Fat Tire brews and will add more craft beers to their drink menu throughout the summer. The Black Angus Brewhouse Steak is marinated in beer and the Ale House Shrimp & Chips is served with a beer flavored remoulade.

Hot, cheesy and affordable pizza remains a consumer favorite in these hard economic times. Many first time and experienced restaurant owners are opening pizza locations to take advantage of the trend. This is especially true in the Triangle Area of North Carolina. New pizza restaurants are popping up in Durham, Raleigh and Charlotte every day.

Gijon Robinson may already be the tight end for the Indianapolis Colts, but he’s also expanding as an entrepreneur by opening his own Dickey’s Barbecue Pit location in St. Robert, Montana. Dickey’s is America’s largest barbecue chain and is growing rapidly this year with plans for 60 new locations. Robinson plans to oversee the restaurant and manage it during the off-season.

Damon and Shantell Owens are also becoming franchisees with the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit brand and are opening their first location in Brentwood. They already have plenty of business experience from running a realty business, but this will be their first foray into the restaurant world. They chose Dickey’s because of its quality food and a great franchise agreement.

Red Robin has secured a new $250 million dollar credit agreement with Wells Fargo and Bank of America. The new agreement has a maturity date of June 2016 and the company will be able to request up to an additional $100 million if lenders agree to participate. The chain plans to use the funding for stock repurchasing and long term growth.

High-end burger chains that focus on quality over bargain pricing or fast food speed are growing in popularity. Chains like Five Guys Burgers and Fries charge more and require a longer wait than McDonald’s or Burger King, but some believe customers receive a much better burger. Five Guys has opened over 700 locations and is continuing to grow.

Applebee’s is in the process of adding new grilled Sizzling Entrees to their national menu. Options will include Cajun Steak and Shrimp and the Smokehouse Chicken Stack. The chain first introduced sizzling fajitas to their menu in the mid 1980s. The two new Sizzling Entrees will join the existing sizzling meals to bring the total offered by the chain to 5.

Starbucks is known for their brand innovation, and their next marketing move involves appealing to the consumers who have sworn to never step foot in a Starbucks’ store. The company has done so through careful management of their Seattle’s Best Coffee chain, which appeals to a different group of customers. President Michelle Gass instituted re-designed coffee bags and hooked partnerships with airlines and cruise ships.

Max’s Grille, a staple of South Florida cuisine, is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year. Founder Dennis Max says that the restaurant’s success relied on its focus towards welcoming service, attention to quality and regular consistency. The menu is a unique combination of Asian and Latin flavors that still has little competition.

The McCormick & Schmick’s buyout offer, started by Tillman J. Fertitta and his company LSRI Holdings, has been extended despite the Board of Director’s disapproval. All outstanding shares in the restaurant company will be purchased by LSRI for $9.25 each in cash. The Board of Directors intends to hold onto the company despite any similar offers.

Red Robin has released a new iPhone App for customers that allow you to customize your meals according to the nutritional value of each menu items. You can use the fun application to plan healthy lunch or dinner ideas, and then save the meals for inspiration when you visit a Red Robin location. The app is free and can be downloaded through the iTunes store.

The National Restaurant Association has decided on the winners of their first Food & Beverage Product Innovations Awards. ConAgra Foodservice won with their new healthy pizza designed for cafeteria use, DrybagSteak was honored for created a safe way to dry age steak in any cold food storage unit and Food Market Merchandising won with the Magic Milk straws that encourage milk drinking.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers has rolled out the red carpet for its new Red Royalty guest frequency and reward card program that goes unmatched against its casual-dining competition by providing guests with more than just discounts on food. Through Red Royalty, card holders will receive the royal treatment for dining at Red Robin throughout the year with various incentives and fun “Surprise & Delight” Rewards. Consumers can receive a Red Royalty card at any of the 316 participating U.S. Red Robin locations, and register it online at www.redrobin.com/redroyalty to receive their inaugural royal benefit – a free appetizer.

As the first Red Royalty “Surprise & Delight” of the year, Red Robin, in partnership with Coca-Cola and Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., today launched the Rockin’ Red Royalty Giveaway. Now through Sunday, May 29, guests who use their registered Red Royalty cards while dining at any participating U.S. Red Robin restaurant will be automatically entered into the Rockin’ Red Royalty Giveaway for a chance to win free music downloads from Live Nation or the grand prize – an ultimate concert experience.

As the grand-prize winner, one lucky person will receive a trip for two to the Live Nation concert of the winner’s choice, including: roundtrip airfare for two, two concert tickets, hotel accommodations, a $250 American Express gift card and limo transportation to and from the concert.

Red Royalty is an evolution of Red Robin’s former eClub program, which kept more than 2 million members updated on various restaurant promotions and provided them with free or discounted dining offers, like its industry differentiating free birthday burger. Since the roll-out of the program earlier this year, more than 1.2 million consumers have become Red Royalty card holders. Through Red Royalty, Red Robin can target guests with messages most relevant to their individual dining preferences and habits.

“Our guests loved our previous eClub program because every member received a free burger on their birthday. The new Red Royalty program replaces our previous eClub program and not only offers a free birthday burger, but several other rewards to our guests throughout the year,” said Susan Lintonsmith, Red Robin’s chief marketing officer. “Red Royalty makes guests’ dining experiences more enjoyable, and naturally, makes them feel like royalty each time they dine with us.”

In addition to the “Surprise & Delight” rewards offered throughout the year, including the Rockin’ Red Royalty Giveaway, other Red Royalty benefits include:

• A free appetizer upon registering your Red Royalty card
• One free Gourmet Burger during the month of your birthday
• Buy nine items and get the 10^th free (mix or match Gourmet Burgers, full-sized salads, sandwiches or entrees)
• Dine at Red Robin five times in five consecutive weeks and receive $20 off your sixth visit

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is just weeks away from bringing craveable gourmet burgers to Long Island, with the opening of a Red Robin restaurant located in Nassau County in Carle Place at 125 Old Country Road in the Country Glen Center next to the Barnes & Noble, across from Roosevelt Field Mall, on Monday, May 9, at 11 a.m.

Red Robin – known as the gourmet burger expert – offers more than two dozen high-quality gourmet burgers served with Bottomless Steak Fries (which means free refills!) as well as a variety of salads, entrees, soups and wraps made with the freshest ingredients, many of which are made in-house.

To celebrate Red Robin’s grand opening and demonstrate its commitment to the community, the new restaurant has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to host a Burgers With A Heart fundraiser. During grand opening week, from May 9 to 15, Red Robin will donate 50 cents from every gourmet burger sold to support NCMEC’s child safety initiatives. In addition, Red Robin will give away FREE* Child ID Kits.

“Child ID Kits are a simple, yet effective method to help parents and guardians maintain a current photograph and other descriptive details about their children,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. “We want to thank Red Robin for helping us spread the word about child safety to help make communities across the country safer.”

Red Robin’s gourmet burgers start with a fresh, never frozen, ground beef patty that is fire-grilled to a perfect juiciness. Red Robin also offers a chicken breast, turkey patty, fish sandwich or a vegetarian or vegan burger patty for those guests who are craving something other than beef. Layered on top, from more than 100 different topping options, is a tasty combination of ingredients with a variety of flavor profiles. Some of the most popular burgers are the Whiskey River BBQ Burger with signature BBQ sauce and hand-battered crispy onion straws; the signature Royal Red Robin Burger which has been a guest favorite for more than 40 years and is topped with a fresh fried egg; and the Banzai Burger with a teriyaki-glazed beef patty and a grilled pineapple ring, to name a few.

Red Robin guests across the country have come to love Red Robin for its:

• Welcoming and fun restaurant experience
• High-quality menu items, including signature gourmet burgers, entrees, salads and beverages made from fresh, Honest to Goodness ingredients that are customizable to fit guests taste and dietary preferences
• Signature Bottomless Steak Fries and Beverages, which means free refills, as well as Limited Time Offer (LTO) menu items
• Happy hour specials on appetizers and adult beverages in the bar area from 3-6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to close during the week
• Red Royalty, a new loyalty program that provides its members with rewards, including a FREE birthday burger and various additional incentives for dining at Red Robin, as well as other rewards to “surprise and delight” members throughout the year
• A kids’ menu for guests under age 10 which includes healthier fruit and vegetable side options, along with balloons, coloring pages and crayons, and a game area
• Detailed allergen information that is easy to understand
• A unique Unbridled culture that inspires Red Robin team members to consistently put guests’ needs first and perform random acts of kindness for others

For more information about Red Robin and to find additional restaurant locations, please visit www.redrobin.com.

With Red Robin’s new Customizer iPhone app, menu items and nutritional information that are at the top of consumers’ minds are now available in the palms of their hands. Red Robin just launched a mobile meal customizer and nutritional information iPhone app that allows iPhone users to choose a Red Robin menu item; add or remove ingredients; add sides, desserts and beverages; calculate the nutritional values; and save meal creations to refer to or edit again later. To download the free Red Robin Customizer app, visit iTunes.

Whether you’re trying to count calories or just want to select among a wide variety of craveable toppings for your gourmet burger, the Red Robin Customizer app can help consumers make dining choices on the fly. The iPhone app offers a variety of features including:

• Create a meal: allows users to create and save meals including burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, sides and beverages.
• Add/remove ingredients: all menu items are displayed as they are served at the restaurant, but the app allows users to add or remove ingredients to their taste and dietary preferences.
• Customized comparison: shows a side-by-side comparison of the original order and the custom order, allowing users to adjust calories easily.
• Save feature: allows you to save customized meals within the application, so you can revisit and edit your favorite orders again and again.

“Red Robin has always encouraged guests to customize menu items to satisfy their taste and dietary preferences, and, on average, more than three-quarters of our guests tailor their order in some way,” said Susan Lintonsmith, Red Robin’s chief marketing officer. “Our online Customizer has been extremely popular since its launch five years ago, so creating a smartphone version of the Red Robin Customizer was the next logical step. We know our guests are increasingly accessing our site through their mobile devices, and we want to make it easy for them to keep their Red Robin favorites within reach. ”

The Red Robin online Customizer tool is one of the most visited pages on www.redrobin.com. Today, nearly 50,000 people access the tool each month to customize their meals.

For more information, visit www.redrobin.com or watch the instructional iPhone app video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADkmXseqFqA.

The Danish restaurant Noma was recently named as the best restaurant in the world by the San Pellegrino’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants List. Over 800 food industry experts voted for their favorites, and Noma gathered the most votes. The chef and team at the restaurant are excited but not surprised because Noma first made it to number one on last year’s list.

Red Robin restaurants will soon feature a new menu in all company owned restaurants, according to Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. More than a dozen new items will be added to the menu of gourmet burgers, chicken sandwiches and other healthy options. New appetizers, including fried mushrooms and clam strips, and new side items for combo meals.

Wingstop is already the maker of fine hot wings, but they’ve expanded their chicken offerings by adding a new sandwich. The Glider Chicken sandwich features a whole boneless chicken breast breaded and tossed in the guest’s choice of Wingstop’s famous sauces. The new Gliders are topped with pickles and served on fresh yeast rolls.

High sodium intake can lead to kidney problems, high blood pressure and heart attack, so Subway restaurants have started reducing the sodium in all of their sandwich menu items. All of the items on the Fresh Fit menu have 28% less sodium now, and the rest of the sandwiches had a reduction of 15%. Subway is now the largest restaurant chain in the world, and they want to help their customers make healthy choices.

Starbucks has released its 2010 Global Responsibility Report which outlines the amount that the company spent on environmentally friendly and consumer conscious choices. Over half of the power used by Starbucks restaurants in America came from a sustainable source, and the company engaged over 50,000 young people in community activity. Fair trade coffee purchases were also up.

Jamba Juice is working on an active refranchising campaign to update and refresh older stores. The company sold 41 stores in the Midwest recently, bringing the total of refranchising stores to 173. This frees up resources for the company to focus on their company owned locations in California and other states. Of the over 700 total locations, only 308 are now operated by the company itself.

Yum! Brands, the company that operates popular franchises like Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, has opened its 400^th  KFC location in Indonesia.  The company looks to over 1,000 locations in Indonesia by 2015.

Parents and kids can print out Easter Egg Holders from the Chuck E. Cheese’s website because the company wants families to get excited about the holiday. The Egg Holder creates a beautiful centerpiece once the child has colored and decorated it and filled it with dyed eggs. Kids can also find printable decorations for making their own Chuck E. Cheese’s egg.

Portland City Grill is bringing a new option for private dining in Portland by unveiling their new private Chef’s Table. The Chef’s Table seats 14 and guests will eat in total privacy 30 floors about the city. The restaurant presents a stunning view of the Portland skyline, and the 30^th floor location is the perfect location to view it from.

The Daily Grill is holding a new contest that involves making a 30 to 45 second commercial for the restaurant. The “If I Make a Commercial for Daily Grill” competition starts on May 1^st. The grand prize includes $4,000 cash and $1,000 worth of gift cards to the Daily Grill. Winners will be chosen based on creativity and quality, and how much the commercial motivates people to visit the grill.

Do you have what it takes to become Red Robin’s first-ever Chief Burger Officer? That’s right – an executive of Burgers. Has any job title ever sounded so delicious?! In honor of National Hamburger Month in May, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and its chief executive officer, Steve Carley, have announced the restaurant’s first-ever call for a Chief Burger Officer (CBO).

Now through May 15, interested candidates can showcase their burger brilliance and undying love for Red Robin’s gourmet burgers by submitting their credentials for the Chief Burger Officer position at http://www.chiefburgerofficer.com. Applicants will be judged on their creativity in answering questions like, “What will be your first recommendation to Red Robin as CBO?” and “Describe your favorite Red Robin burger experience.” Candidates are encouraged to campaign for themselves as Red Robin’s CBO by leveraging their robust social networks and posting fun videos and photos to their application page to encourage votes for the job.

“Since May is National Hamburger Month, it’s the perfect time for us to celebrate the YUMMM in gourmet burgers,” said Carley. “Red Robin has been the gourmet burger expert for more than 40 years, and we’re now inviting our loyal guests and biggest burger fans to tell us what makes them the top gourmet burger guru. I’m looking forward to seeing what candidates bring to the table as they apply for the inaugural Red Robin Chief Burger Officer title.”

Ultimately, Steve Carley and Red Robin corporate office team members will select the most-deserving CBO applicant as the winner, and will announce him/her on Friday, May 27 – the day before National Burger Day and Memorial Day weekend – the official kick off to the burger grilling season.

The appointed CBO will receive:

• A trip for two to Denver, Colo. – Red Robin’s corporate headquarters – complete with executive-style perks
• A business lunch with CEO, Steve Carley
• Time in the Red Robin kitchen with Red Robin’s executive chef to learn just how Red Robin makes those Smiling Burgers taste oh-so good
• Their name, photo and new CBO title prominently displayed “in lights” on the NASDAQ stock exchange Marketsite Tower in New York City’s Times Square
• An Apple iPad2
• Red Robin burgers for a year*
• Red Robin swag, including: a personalized Red Robin chef coat and hat; corporate desk nameplate; Red Robin-branded pad folio and pen; an official “Job Offer Letter”; and other executive perks

Visit http://www.chiefburgerofficer.com or http://www.redrobin.com to learn more about Red Robin’s quest to find its first-ever Chief Burger Officer and to locate the Red Robin restaurant nearest you.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., has been serving up wholesome, fun dining experiences in a family-friendly environment for more than 40 years. Red Robin, the award-winning “Smiling Burger” expert, is famous for serving more than two dozen high-quality, Honest to Goodness gourmet burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries, as well as a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups, appetizers, entrees and signature Bottomless Beverages. There are more than 450 Red Robin restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including corporate-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM!

*12, $30 Red Robin gift cards

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers has introduced a new menu in all company-owned Red Robin restaurants with more than a dozen new items for guests to enjoy and a more user-friendly layout to help guests easily select from more than two dozen gourmet burgers, chicken sandwiches, entrees, appetizers, soups, salads and beverages.

New menu items include additions to the Jump Starter appetizers – fresh fried clamstrips, zucchini or mushrooms – and “perfect combos” for guests who have a hard time deciding on just one item to order, among others. These new options are available now in addition to Red Robin’s classic signature gourmet burgers, entrees and beverages, some of which have been guests’ favorites since Red Robin first opened in 1969.

The updated menu will showcase new appetizers and beverages, an increased focus on entrees, and highlight new add-on sides and substitution items, like the guest-favorite Mac ‘n’ Cheese or veggie choices like steamed broccoli. At the same time, the new menu will continue to maintain a great focus on what Red Robin does best – gourmet burgers.

“We know our guests love to customize their orders, so this new menu was created with that in mind,” said Susan Lintonsmith, Red Robin’s chief marketing officer. “The improved layout will make it easier for our guests to find a new or classic menu item to satisfy their burger, beverage or appetizer cravings, with enough variety to make their meal exactly the way they want.”

The new menu items include:

• Real Fruit Cocktails – a treat for those 21 or over and loaded with fresh fruit. Options include the Strawberry Lemon Vojito, Absolutely Absolut Freckled Lemonade and Cherry Lime Flip.
• Jump Starter additions – battered in-house and freshly fried clamstrips, zucchini or mushrooms with the choice of five dipping sauces are perfect to share before a meal.
• Triple S Riblets – tossed in your choice of Red Robin’s signature Whiskey River BBQ sauce or sweet, smoky and spicy barbeque sauce. Get them as an appetizer or an entrée.
• Grilled Chicken Alla Caprese Salad – a crisp romaine salad with made-from-scratch pesto dressing, black olives and pepperoni strips served alongside a grilled chicken breast, fresh Mozzarella cheese and bruschetta salsa drizzled with balsamic cream.
• Perfect Combos – four new combinations including: Riblets & Clucks, with Red Robin’s signature chicken strips; Clucks & Shrimp, with crispy fried shrimp; Riblets & Mac ‘n’ Cheese; and Red’s Nantucket Seafood Scatter, with hand-battered cod, crispy fried shrimp, clamstrips and Bottomless Steak Fries.
• Easy-to-Find Customizable Sides – more available add-on or substitution options for guests, like steamed broccoli or carrots, coleslaw, melon, made-in-house kettle-cooked chips, Mac ‘n’ Cheese, homemade soup, chili or a side salad.

Red Robin uses fresh produce for all of their menu items and makes many items in-house daily including select sauces, dressings and soups. The new menu also highlights Red Robin’s fresh salads, wraps, sandwiches and soups, entrees and more beverage offerings including shakes and smoothies. A separate beverage menu will be available later this spring.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., (NASDAQ: RRGB), a casual dining restaurant chain focused on serving an innovative selection of high-quality gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere, today reported financial results for the 12 and 52 weeks ended December 26, 2010.

Financial and Operational Results

Results for the 12 weeks ended December 26, 2010, compared to the 12 weeks ended December 27, 2009, are as follows:

• Restaurant revenue increased 5.4% to $189.3 million.
• Company-owned comparable restaurant sales increased 0.8%.
• Restaurant-level operating profit increased 3.2% to $32.2 million.
• GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.14 vs. $0.10 in the same period a year ago, including the effects of costs related to closing two company-owned restaurants and executive transition expense in 2010.
• Non-GAAP adjusted net income was $1.9 million, or earnings of $0.12 per diluted share, excluding the restaurant closing and executive transition costs. (See Schedule II at the end of this release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP calculations to GAAP.)
• Four new company-owned Red Robin restaurants and two new franchised restaurants opened during the fourth quarter 2010.

Results for the 52 weeks ended December 26, 2010, compared to the 52 weeks ended December 27, 2009, are as follows:

• Restaurant revenue increased 2.2% to $846.4 million.
• Company-owned comparable restaurant sales decreased 0.6%.
• Restaurant-level operating profit decreased 3.6% to $150.7 million.
• Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense increased to $88.8 million in 2010 from $76.3 million in 2009. Included in the 2010 SG&A expense is an increase in television advertising expense of $12.9 million, CEO transition expense of $2.6 million and restaurant closure costs of $0.8 million.
• GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.46, including the effects of restaurant impairment and closure charges and executive transition expenses, vs. GAAP diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2009 of $1.14.
• Non-GAAP adjusted net income was $13.4 million, or earnings of $0.85 per diluted share, excluding the effects of restaurant impairment and closure charges and executive transition expenses. (See Schedule II at the end of this release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP calculations to GAAP.)
• A total of 15 new Red Robin restaurants, 11 company-owned and four franchised locations were opened during the full fiscal year 2010.

As of the end of the fiscal year 2010, there were 314 company-owned and 136 franchised Red Robin restaurants.

“In a matter of a few short months, we have galvanized and focused the entire Red Robin Team to drive performance improvement and re-establish our company as a best-in-class restaurant operator,” said Steven Carley, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.’s chief executive officer. “We are implementing significant initiatives, which we call Project RED, to increase same store sales, reduce expenses, improve restaurant level margins and drive overall corporate profitability. We are also allocating capital prudently to maximize long-term shareholder returns.”

Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2010 Results

Comparable restaurant sales increased 0.8% for company-owned restaurants in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010 compared to the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009, driven by a 1.1% increase in guest counts, partially offset by a 0.3% decrease in the average guest check. Average weekly comparable sales from the 303 company-owned comparable restaurants were $50,565 in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010, compared to $50,249 for the 277 company-owned comparable restaurants in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009. Average weekly sales for the 13 non-comparable company-owned restaurants were $65,610 in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010, compared to $49,167 for the 29 non-comparable restaurants in the fiscal fourth quarter a year ago. For all company-owned restaurants, average weekly sales were $51,103 from 3,771 operating weeks in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010 compared to $50,148 from 3,666 operating weeks, in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009.

Total Company revenues, which include company-owned restaurant sales and franchise royalties and fees, increased 5.7% to $192.6 million in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010, versus $182.2 million last year. Franchise royalties and fees increased 21.8% to $3.1 million in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010 compared to $2.6 million for the same period in 2009.

For the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010, the Company’s U.S. franchise restaurant sales of $65.3 million were higher compared to $61.9 million in the prior year period. Comparable sales in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010 for franchise restaurants in the U.S. increased 3.4% and for franchise restaurants in Canada increased 0.9% from the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009. Average weekly comparable sales for the U.S. franchised restaurants were $47,702 from the 106 comparable restaurants in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010, compared to $45,798 for the 104 comparable restaurants in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009. Average weekly sales in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010 for the Company’s 18 comparable franchise restaurants in Canada were C$51,000 versus C$49,297 in the same period last year. Canadian results are in Canadian dollars.

Restaurant-level operating profit margins at company-owned restaurants were 17.0% in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010 compared to 17.3% in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009. As a percentage of restaurant revenue, fiscal fourth quarter 2010 restaurant-level operating profit margins were negatively impacted by a 0.6% increase in food and beverage costs and a 0.2% increase in labor costs, partially offset by a 0.3% decrease in occupancy costs and 0.2% decrease in other operating costs.

Schedule I of this earnings release defines restaurant-level operating profit and reconciles this metric to income from operations and net income for all periods presented. The Company’s restaurant-level operating profit metric is designed to afford management and investors with a basis for considering and comparing restaurant performance. It is not calculated in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). It is intended to supplement, rather than replace GAAP results. Restaurant-level operating profit is useful to management and to the Company’s investors because it is widely regarded in the restaurant industry as a meaningful metric by which to evaluate restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $19.2 million in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010 and $17.1 million in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009, which were 9.9% and 9.4% of total revenue, respectively. Included in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010 was a $2.1 million investment in the Company’s television media campaign, compared to $833,000 in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009. Also included in fiscal fourth quarter 2010 SG&A expense was approximately $47,000 in executive transition costs, as well as $767,000 in costs related to closing two company-owned restaurants.

Interest expense was $0.8 million in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010, compared to $1.8 million in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009.

Net income for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010 was $2.2 million or $0.14 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.6 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009. Included in fiscal fourth quarter 2010 results were costs related to executive transition and the closing of two company-owned restaurants. Excluding the executive transition expense and restaurant closing costs, and using a normalized annual tax provision of 6.2%, the Company’s fiscal fourth quarter 2010 earnings would have been $0.12 per diluted share. Schedule II of this earnings release reconciles the impact on the net income and earnings per share as reported on a GAAP basis to adjusted amounts excluding certain charges in the fiscal fourth quarter and full year of 2010 and 2009.

The Company had an effective tax benefit of $1.1 million in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010, compared to a $422,000 tax benefit in the fourth quarter 2009. Our full-year 2010 tax is a benefit of $2.6 million, which equates to a full-year tax rate benefit of 54.3%, since general business tax credits, primarily the FICA tip tax credit, significantly exceeded the combined Federal and state statutory provision on a lower income before taxes for 2010.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

On December 26, 2010, the Company held $17.9 million in cash and cash equivalents and had a total outstanding debt balance of $158.5 million, including $104.0 million of borrowings under its $150 million term loan, $43.0 million of borrowings under its $150 million revolving credit facility and $11.6 million outstanding for capital leases. The Company has also issued $6.6 million of outstanding letters of credit under its revolving credit facility. In the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010, the Company paid down $2.2 million in debt.

The Company is subject to a number of customary covenants under its credit agreement, including limitations on new credit facilities, acquisitions, dividend payments, and requirements to maintain certain financial ratios. As of December 26, 2010, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants, and the Company expects to remain in full compliance with its current credit agreement during the 2011 fiscal year.

Outlook

In 2011, the Company’s strategic focus will be around efforts to support the “Project RED” initiatives. These initiatives support revenue growth, expense management and deployment of capital. Revenue driving initiatives include the implementation of a guest loyalty program called “Red Royalty,” a focus on targeting adult guests and improving alcohol beverage sales, and using a Limited Time Offer strategy supported with television advertising. In addition, the Company plans to take a price increase of 1.5% in April of this year to help mitigate commodity cost increases it expects to incur in 2011. With regard to expense management, the initiatives will be focused on reducing SG&A expense and restaurant costs. The SG&A expense reductions were supported by actions taken early in the year to reduce administrative headcount, which resulted in $3 million in annualized savings. The Company is also in the process of identifying $16 million to $18 million in annualized savings from a reduction in restaurant costs, which it expects to be realized over the next 12 to 24 months. Deployment of capital will focus on the Company’s investment in new restaurant development, the investment in an overhaul of its data infrastructure, the repurchase opportunity related the Company’s stock, as well as future refinancing activities. The Company representatives will be discussing these initiatives in further detail on their earnings conference call scheduled for later today. See below in the “Investor Conference Call and Webcast” section of this release for information on how to access the call and webcast.

The Company’s fiscal first quarter of 2011 is a 16-week quarter. Seven new company-owned restaurants are currently under construction. One new company-owned restaurant opened in the fiscal first quarter. Two new franchised restaurants are currently under construction, with one of these franchised restaurants expected to open later in the first quarter of 2011 and the other in the second quarter of 2011. During fiscal year 2011, the Company expects to open 10 new company-owned restaurants, one of which opened early in the first quarter of 2011, and franchisees are expected to open three to four new restaurants.

Through February 14, 2011, company-owned comparable restaurant sales decreased 0.4%, compared to a year-over-year company-owned comparable restaurant sales decrease of 7.8% for the same period of 2010. Removing the impact of weather so far in 2011 and the timing of Valentine’s Day, the comparable restaurant sales would have been an increase of 0.4%.

Next week the Company will begin TV advertising support for its spring limited time offer (LTO) promotion. The cost of the TV advertising support is expected to be approximately $4.4 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2011. The Company also expects to spend another $9 million on TV advertising during the balance of the year to support LTO promotions in the summer and fall of 2011. Television advertising spending during the full fiscal year 2010 was $15.4 million. The Company’s total marketing expense in 2011 is expected to be about $27.5 million compared to $28.8 million spent in fiscal 2010, which is included in selling, general and administrative expense in both years.

Based on the Company’s development plans and other infrastructure and maintenance costs, the Company expects total fiscal year 2011 capital expenditures to be between $39 million and $41 million, which the Company expects to continue funding entirely out of operating cash flow. The Company also intends to make scheduled quarterly payments of $4.7 million required by the term loan portion of its existing credit facility from free cash flow after capital expenditures and expects to use its remaining free cash flow to make payments on the Company’s revolving credit facility and maintain flexibility to opportunistically repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company expects to refinance its current debt in the first half of 2011. The terms of this refinancing may affect the debt reduction discussed above. In addition, the Company’s Board had previously authorized up to $50 million for the opportunistic repurchases of the Company’s stock, of which the Company intends to spend up to $25 million from operating cash flow and available credit in the next six months commencing immediately, subject to appropriate valuation of the Company’s shares and other standard considerations.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

Red Robin will host an investor conference call to discuss its fiscal fourth quarter and year-end 2010 results today at 5:00 p.m. ET. The conference call number is (888) 264-8954, or for international callers (913) 312-1468. To access the webcast, please visit www.redrobin.com and select the “Investors” link from the menu. The financial information that the Company intends to discuss during the conference call is included in this press release and will be available on the “Investors” link of the Company’s website at www.redrobin.com following the conference call.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., serves up wholesome, fun, feel-good experiences in a family-friendly environment. Red Robin restaurants are famous for serving more than two dozen insanely delicious, high-quality gourmet burgers in a variety of recipes with Bottomless Steak Fries, as well as salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and signature Mad Mixology Beverages. There are more than 450 Red Robin restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including company-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin) – known as the gourmet burger expert that offers craveable, high-quality menu items for families and burger-lovers alike since 1969 – will open a new Red Robin^® restaurant in Manteca, located at 873 Lifestyle St., at Union Road and Highway 120 in the Orchard Valley Shopping Center on Monday, March 29, at 11 a.m.

To celebrate Red Robin’s grand opening and demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the Manteca community, the new restaurant has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to host a Burgers With A Heart^® fundraiser during grand opening week from March 29 to April 4. Red Robin will donate 50 cents from every gourmet burger sold during this time to NCMEC to support its child safety initiatives. In addition, because Red Robin is all about families, Red Robin will give away Child ID Kits for FREE* during grand opening week. According to NCMEC, Child ID Kits are a simple, yet effective method in helping parents and guardians maintain a current photograph and other descriptive details about their children.

“We look forward to serving even more craveable gourmet burgers in California, while also continuing to support child safety efforts in Manteca through our Child ID Kit program,” said Eric Houseman, Red Robin president and chief operating officer. “We invite everyone to come to Red Robin to enjoy one of our more than two dozen gourmet burgers, learn more about child safety, and help us support the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children during grand opening week.”

The 5,735-square-foot Manteca Red Robin^® restaurant will seat 186 guests and offers:

• A welcoming and fun restaurant experience
• High-quality menu items, including signature gourmet burgers, entrees, salads and beverages made from fresh, Honest to Goodness® ingredients that are customizable to fit our guests taste and dietary preferences
• Signature Bottomless Steak Fries® and Beverages, which means free refills, as well as Limited Time Offer (LTO) menu items
• A dedicated kids’ menu for guests under age 10 which includes healthier fruit and vegetable side options, along with balloons, coloring pages and crayons, and a game area
• Detailed allergen information that is easy to understand
• A unique Unbridled culture that inspires Red Robin team members to consistently put guests’ needs first and perform random acts of kindness for others
• Community-focused programs that promote the health, welfare and education of children, families and citizens in the community

For more information about Red Robin and to find additional restaurant locations, please visit www.redrobin.com.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., has been serving up wholesome, fun dining experiences in a family-friendly environment for more than 40 years. Red Robin, the “Smiling Burger^®” expert, is famous for serving more than two dozen high-quality, Honest to Goodness^® gourmet burgers in a variety of recipes with Bottomless Steak Fries^®, as well as salads, soups, appetizers, entrees and signature Bottomless Beverages^™. There are more than 430 Red Robin^® restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including corporate-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM™!

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since it was established by Congress in 1984, the organization has operated the toll-free 24-hour national missing children’s hotline which has handled more than 2,447,000 calls. It has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 148,400 children. The organization’s CyberTipline has handled more than 810,170 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 31,699,000 pornography images and videos. The organization works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice’s office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit its Web site at www.missingkids.com.

*ID Kits available while supplies last.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (RRGB) is forming a committee to replace Chief Executive Dennis Mullen, according to an agreement reached between the company and two activist investors.

In a filing of the agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission Friday, Red Robin said its board will form a search committee by next week to identify a new head for the casual-dining chain. If a successor isn’t announced by Dec. 31, the committee will need to provide a quarterly update on the search until a new CEO is named.

Mullen, who has come under fire by activist investors Clinton Group Inc. and Spotlight Advisors LLC, has a contract that runs through 2012, so it’s unclear if he will be replaced before then. Pattye Moore, chair of Red Robin’s board of directors, said the committee is part of the company’s ongoing succession planning.

“This has been an ongoing process and Dennis Mullen is under contract through December 2012, so we look forward to a seamless transition when we find a great candidate,” Moore said in a statement. Mullen is 66 years old.

The investors have been pushing Red Robin to change the company’s board and executive leadership, among other actions, since taking an activist position in December. Since then, Red Robin has announced several changes to its board structure and made other moves in line with the investors’s concerns.

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Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., (NASDAQ: RRGB) today announced the appointment of Robert Aiken, Lloyd Hill and Stuart Oran to its Board of Directors.

“As we have previously announced, the Company’s Board of Directors has been proactively taking steps to enhance governance and has been reviewing new board member candidates with industry expertise. Today, I’m pleased to welcome Bob, Lloyd and Stuart to the Board of Directors. Each individual possesses a significant amount of foodservice experience and I look forward to their future contributions to Red Robin and the Board of Directors,” said Pattye Moore, Red Robin’s recently appointed independent Board Chair. “In addition, we are seeking to add one additional experienced director in the future.”

Robert Aiken is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Foodservice, Inc., one of the country’s premier foodservice distributors, with annualized revenue of approximately $20 billion and an array of services to more than 250,000 customers. Under his leadership, U.S. Foodservice has developed an integrity-based culture committed to helping customers win, and promoted industry-leading food safety and quality assurance standards around the world. Mr. Aiken joined U.S. Foodservice in 2004 and held several senior executive positions including President and Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Sales/Marketing and Supply Chain, before being named CEO in 2007. Prior to joining U.S. Foodservice, Mr. Aiken held numerous executive positions in the food processing and distribution industry. He began his career as an attorney. He holds accounting and law degrees from Georgetown University.

Lloyd Hill is the former Chairman and CEO of Applebee’s International, Inc. Mr. Hill joined Applebee’s in January 1994 and served in numerous executive and board positions including chief executive officer and chairman of the board until his retirement in September 2006. Under his leadership, Applebee’s grew into the largest casual dining concept in the world, with nearly 1,900 restaurants in 49 states and 17 countries. In 2005, Hill was named by Institutional Investor magazine as one of America’s Best CEOs and as one of the top-performing CEOs within the restaurant industry. He also was named 2005 Operator of the Year by the operators-readers of Nation’s Restaurant News. Prior to joining Applebee’s, Hill served in executive positions at Kimberly Quality Care and Marion Health and Safety. Mr. Hill is on the board of numerous professional and community organizations.

Stuart Oran is the Managing Member of Roxbury Capital Group LLC, a merchant banking firm he founded in 2002, and a co-founder of Bond Street Holdings LLC, formed to acquire failed banks in FDIC-assisted transactions. Mr. Oran has served on the Boards of Directors of a number of public and private companies, including Wendy’s International, Inc. (WEN), Deerfield Capital Corp. (DFR), and United Air Lines, Inc. (operating airline subsidiary of UAL Corporation). During his tenure at Wendy’s, Mr. Oran was an active participant on the Strategic Planning Committee overseeing development of a new strategic plan, brand reinvigoration, and a new marketing focus; was actively involved on the Finance Advisory Committee, overseeing major asset dispositions; and was Chairman of the Franchisee Relations Committee, established to improve communication with Wendy’s franchisees. From 1994 to 2002, Mr. Oran held a number of senior executive positions at UAL Corporation, including Senior Vice President-International, with responsibility for United’s $6 billion International Division. Prior to joining UAL, Oran was a corporate partner at the New York law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.

The Company will increase the size of the Board to 11 members with the appointment of Mr. Aiken as a Class I director, and Mr. Hill and Mr. Oran as Class II directors. The terms of Edward Harvey and Gary Singer, who have decided not to stand for re-election, shall expire at the 2010 Annual Meeting.

The Company will be proposing that shareholders approve a majority voting standard for uncontested director elections at the upcoming 2010 annual meeting. The Board has also approved an amendment to the Company’s equity incentive plan to prohibit actions such as option re-pricings and option cash tender offers, without shareholder approval.

The Company also announced that it had reached an agreement with institutional shareholder Clinton Group, Inc. (“Clinton”) and Spotlight Advisors, LLC (“Spotlight”) under which, among other things, Clinton and Spotlight have agreed not to take certain actions during a “standstill” period that expires on December 31, 2010, or under certain circumstances, such earlier date as defined under the agreement.

“We appreciate the Board’s swift and thoughtful response to our concerns on behalf of all shareholders,” said Gregory P. Taxin, Managing Member of Spotlight. “We believe the changes the Company is announcing today lay the foundation for future success and growth and for the creation of significant shareholder value.”

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., serves up wholesome, fun, feel-good experiences in a family-friendly environment. Red Robin® restaurants are famous for serving more than two dozen insanely delicious, high-quality gourmet burgers in a variety of recipes with Bottomless Steak Fries®, as well as salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and signature Mad Mixology® Beverages. There are more than 430 Red Robin® restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including company-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements.

The original Red Robin restaurant, the storied student hangout at the south end of Seattle’s University Bridge, is closing March 21, its historic building deemed too expensive to maintain.

“We’ve decided not to renew our lease,” said Jessi Klein, general manager of the eatery famed for its big burgers and beer.

According to a company news release, the “decision was driven by the need for considerable investment to maintain the building and make the restaurant more efficient from an operations perspective.”

As the restaurant to launch the brand more than 40 years ago, the first Red Robin location at 3272 Fuhrman Ave. E. “has a rich history associated with it,” said Eric Houseman, company president and chief operating officer.

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Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin) – known as the gourmet burger expert that offers craveable, high-quality menu items for families and burger-lovers alike since 1969 – will open a new Red Robin^® restaurant in Port Orange, located at 5537 S. Williamson Blvd., at the intersection of Williamson Blvd. and Taylor Road, 1/4 mile east of I-95, on Monday, March 15, at 11 a.m.

To celebrate Red Robin’s grand opening and demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the Port Orange community, the new restaurant has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to host a Burgers With A Heart^® fundraiser during grand opening week from March 15 to 21. Red Robin will donate 50 cents from every gourmet burger sold during this time to NCMEC to support its child safety initiatives. In addition, because Red Robin is all about families, Red Robin will give away Child ID Kits for FREE* during grand opening week. According to NCMEC, child ID Kits are a simple, yet effective method in helping parents and guardians maintain a current photograph and other descriptive details about their children.

“We look forward to serving even more craveable gourmet burgers in Florida, while also continuing to support child safety efforts in Port Orange through our Child ID Kit program,” said Eric Houseman, Red Robin president and chief operating officer. “We invite everyone to come to Red Robin to enjoy one of our more than two dozen gourmet burgers, learn more about child safety, and help us support the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children during grand opening week.”

The 6,004-square-foot Port Orange Red Robin^® restaurant will seat 202 guests and offers:

• A welcoming and fun restaurant experience
• High-quality menu items, including signature gourmet burgers, entrees, salads and beverages made from fresh, Honest to Goodness® ingredients that are customizable to fit our guests taste and dietary preferences
• Signature Bottomless Steak Fries® and Beverages, which means free refills, as well as Limited Time Offer (LTO) menu items
• A dedicated kids’ menu for guests under age 10 which includes healthier fruit and vegetable side options, along with balloons, coloring pages and crayons, and a game area
• Detailed allergen information that is easy to understand
• A unique Unbridled culture that inspires Red Robin team members to consistently put guests’ needs first and perform random acts of kindness for others
• Community-focused programs that promote the health, welfare and education of children, families and citizens in the community

For more information about Red Robin and to find additional restaurant locations, please visit www.redrobin.com.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., has been serving up wholesome, fun dining experiences in a family-friendly environment for more than 40 years. Red Robin, the “Smiling Burger^®” expert, is famous for serving more than two dozen high-quality, Honest to Goodness^® gourmet burgers in a variety of recipes with Bottomless Steak Fries^®, as well as salads, soups, appetizers, entrees and signature Bottomless Beverages^™. There are more than 430 Red Robin^® restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including corporate-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM™!

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since it was established by Congress in 1984, the organization has operated the toll-free 24-hour national missing children’s hotline which has handled more than 2,447,000 calls. It has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 148,400 children. The organization’s CyberTipline has handled more than 793,980 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 31,206,750 pornography images and videos. The organization works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice’s office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit its Web site at www.missingkids.com.

*ID Kits available while supplies last.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin) – known as the gourmet burger expert that offers craveable, high-quality menu items for families and burger-lovers alike since 1969 – will open a new Red Robin^® restaurant in Florence, located at 7250 Houston Road, on the corner of Houston Road and KY 18, on Monday, March 8, at 11 a.m.

To celebrate Red Robin’s grand opening and demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the Florence community, the new restaurant has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to host a Burgers With A Heart^® fundraiser during grand opening week from March 8 to 14. Red Robin will donate 50 cents from every gourmet burger sold during this time to NCMEC to support its child safety initiatives. In addition, because Red Robin is all about families, Red Robin will give away Child ID Kits for FREE* during grand opening week. According to NCMEC, child ID Kits are a simple, yet effective method in helping parents and guardians maintain a current photograph and other descriptive details about their children.

“We look forward to serving even more craveable gourmet burgers in Kentucky, while also continuing to support child safety efforts in Florence through our Child ID Kit program,” said Eric Houseman, Red Robin president and chief operating officer. “We invite everyone to come to Red Robin to enjoy one of our more than two dozen gourmet burgers, learn more about child safety, and help us support the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children during grand opening week.”

The 5,928-square-foot Florence Red Robin^® restaurant will seat 200 guests and offers:

• A welcoming and fun restaurant experience
• High-quality menu items, including signature gourmet burgers, entrees, salads and beverages made from fresh, Honest to Goodness® ingredients that are customizable to fit our guests taste and dietary preferences
• Signature Bottomless Steak Fries® and Beverages, which means free refills, as well as Limited Time Offer (LTO) menu items
• A dedicated kids’ menu for guests under age 10, which includes healthier fruit and vegetable side options, along with balloons, coloring pages and crayons, and a game area
• Detailed allergen information that is easy to understand
• A unique Unbridled culture that inspires Red Robin team members to consistently put guests’ needs first and perform random acts of kindness for others
• Community-focused programs that promote the health, welfare and education of children, families and citizens in the community

For more information about Red Robin and to find additional restaurant locations, please visit www.redrobin.com.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., has been serving up wholesome, fun dining experiences in a family-friendly environment for more than 40 years. Red Robin, the “Smiling Burger^®” expert, is famous for serving more than two dozen high-quality, Honest to Goodness^® gourmet burgers in a variety of recipes with Bottomless Steak Fries^®, as well as salads, soups, appetizers, entrees and signature Bottomless Beverages^™. There are more than 430 Red Robin^® restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including corporate-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM™!

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since it was established by Congress in 1984, the organization has operated the toll-free 24-hour national missing children’s hotline which has handled more than 2,447,000 calls. It has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 148,400 children. The organization’s CyberTipline has handled more than 793,980 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 31,206,750 pornography images and videos. The organization works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice’s office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit its Web site at www.missingkids.com.

*ID Kits available while supplies last.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin), known for its high-quality gourmet burgers and family-friendly atmosphere, announced the launch of a new national online, television and radio marketing campaign beginning on Monday, Feb. 22, based on the casual dining chain’s popular and memorable mnemonic, “Red Robin… YUMMM™”.

The campaign was designed to increase awareness for Red Robin’s quality, variety and value and drive guest traffic by capitalizing on the already widely recognizable catch phrase, “Red Robin… YUMMM™,” while also promoting Red Robin’s latest limited time offer menu items, the Prime Chophouse Burger and Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad, each available for $5.99.

Created by Periscope, a Minneapolis-based advertising firm and Red Robin’s agency of record, the campaign was developed after focus group research found that many consumers could easily recall and recite Red Robin’s mnemonic – “Red Robin… YUMMM.” Throughout the campaign, promotion of the “YUMMM” mnemonic will help keep Red Robin^® restaurants a top-of-mind choice for dining out among consumers.

“We realized Red Robin’s popular mnemonic – YUMMM – could function as a modern-day Pavlovian bell which, when sounded, would cause people to immediately think of our craveable gourmet burgers,” said Susan Lintonsmith, Red Robin chief marketing officer. “So, we’re leveraging this already well-known asset to engage our guests and encourage them to try one of our value-priced limited time offers this spring.’”

Red Robin’s marketing campaign is appearing online; on cable television, including USA Network, TBS, TLC, Comedy Central and Food Network; and on local television and radio stations in approximately 30 markets nationwide, including Denver, Colo.; Seattle, Wash.; St. Louis, Mo.; and Phoenix, Ariz.

To educate consumers about Red Robin’s irreverent and fun brand personality, the ads feature various tongue-in-cheek scenarios where unlikely subjects – including a baby, a lawyer and even the normally elusive Yeti – literally answer the Red Robin call by saying “YUMMM.” As part of the campaign, consumers will experience the popular “YUMMM” mnemonic through the following mediums:

• TV ads – Airing beginning Monday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, March 28, on various local and cable stations, the ads feature two YUMMM scenarios. Paying tribute to Red Robin’s Colorado hometown, one scenario depicts a man climbing a mountain and looking out onto Mt. Evans, one of Colorado’s famous 14,000-foot peaks and shouting “Red Robin” only to be answered by a Yeti saying “YUMMM.” The other shows a mother soothing her crying baby with a soft lullaby that includes “Red Robin,” words that comfort the baby and allow the baby to answer “YUMMM.” Both scenarios are followed by details about and delectable images of Red Robin’s new, limited time offer items.
• Online shorts – Currently appearing on a variety of Web sites, ranging from Hulu to iVillage, the online spots are thematically similar to the TV ads, but highlight different “Answer the Call” scenarios in a shorter format. One shows a man pumping gas and humming a tune that incorporates “Red Robin.” In this scene, a voice from the gas pump speaker answers “YUMMM.” The other features two people playing Scrabble. One person spells “Red Robin” on the game board, and the other “answers the call” by spelling “YUMMM.”
• Online parody ads – In synched display creative format, a Red Robin branded ads calls, through a thought bubble, “Red Robin,” followed by a parody ad featuring a fictitious lawyer answering with a corresponding “YUMMM.”
• “YUMMM Builder” game – A play off the 1980’s game, “Burger Time,” the goal of YUMMM Builder is to build a gourmet burger before everyday kitchen items like utensils “eat” the player. YUMMM Builder winners have the opportunity to immediately download the “Red Robin…YUMMM” ringtone. Please click here for the iPhone YUMMM ringtone and here to download the ringtone to all other phones.

To leave guests wanting more YUMMM, Red Robin created the following new limited time offer items available now through Sunday, April 11, that highlight what Red Robin is all about – craveable food made with fresh, Honest to Goodness^® ingredients:

• Prime Chophouse Burger – This juicy burger is layered with horseradish-sautéed mushrooms, gourmet steak sauce, melted Provolone cheese and piled high with crispy onion straws. Served on an onion bun with Dijon Spread, available for $5.99.
• Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad – An ancho-grilled chicken breast, avocado slices and fresh-fried jalapeño rings on top of crisp greens tossed in salsa-ranch dressing and layered with diced red and green bell peppers and onions, chipotle black beans, cheddar and pepper-jack cheeses and crunchy tortilla strips, also available for $5.99.
• Chili Chili™ Con Queso – Served hot, garnished with fresh cilantro and salsa, paired with corn tortilla chips and Red Robin’s own jalapeño-cheese flour tortilla chips.
• Freckled Lemonade^® Shake – Creamy soft serve blended with sweet strawberries and tart lemonade syrup. Finished with extra strawberries at the bottom and whipped cream and a lemon wedge on top.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., has been serving up wholesome, fun dining experiences in a family-friendly environment for more than 40 years. Red Robin, the “Smiling Burger^®” expert, is famous for serving more than two dozen high-quality, Honest to Goodness^® gourmet burgers in a variety of recipes with Bottomless Steak Fries^®, as well as salads, soups, appetizers, entrees and signature Bottomless Beverages^™. There are more than 430 Red Robin^® restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including corporate-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM™!

About Periscope

Periscope, the largest independent agency in the Twin Cities with offices in Minneapolis, Hong Kong and Delhi, has 240 employees and $260 million in capitalized billings. Periscope’s broad range of services includes Insight & Innovation, print and broadcast advertising, digital marketing, design, social media, direct marketing, brand advocacy, graphic services and media planning and buying. Periscope’s diverse client roster includes leading local, national and international clients across a wide range of industries. For more information, visit www.periscope.com.

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