Outback Steakhouse, Inc. reports comparable store sales

 TAMPA, Fla., Sept 29, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ --

Outback Steakhouse, Inc. today reported that comparable store sales and average unit volumes for the Company's restaurant brands for the five-week period ended September 24, 2005 compared with the same five-week period in 2004 changed by approximately: Franchise and Company- development System-wide owned joint venture Five weeks ended September 24, 2005 Domestic comparable store sales (stores open 18 months or more) Outback Steakhouses -4.4 % -1.5 % -4.0 % Carrabba's Italian Grills 3.8 % n/a 3.8 % Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bars 13.5 % n/a 13.5 % Roy's 9.9 % n/a 9.9 % Bonefish Grills 7.0 % 1.8 % 6.5 % Domestic average unit volumes Outback Steakhouses -4.6 % -0.8 % -4.0 % Carrabba's Italian Grills 1.8 % n/a 1.8 % Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bars 4.2 % n/a 4.2 % Roy's 13.5 % n/a 13.5 % Bonefish Grills 5.0 % 1.8 % 4.8 % 

The Company noted that lost revenues at its Company-owned restaurants resulting from mandatory evacuations and power and water outages caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the five-week period ended September 24, 2005 totaled approximately $2,200,000. The Company sustained losses of 236 restaurant operating days at 54 of its Company-owned restaurants and 57 restaurant operating days at five of its franchise locations. The Company is responsible for the first $5,000,000 in losses, damages or expenses arising from the hurricanes and estimates that its losses will not exceed that amount. The Company also noted that sales were affected by Hurricanes Frances and Ivan during the comparable five-week period last year.

STORE INFORMATION Restaurants opened/(closed) Restaurants during the month open ended as of September 30, September 30, 2005 2005 Outback Steakhouses Company-owned - domestic -- * 661 Company-owned - international 2 87 Franchised and development joint venture - domestic -- ** 105 Franchised and development joint venture - international (2) 51 Total -- 904 Carrabba's Italian Grills Company-owned 2 189 Bonefish Grills Company-owned 1 ** 78 Franchised -- 4 Total 1 82 Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bars Company-owned 1 34 Roy's Company-owned -- 19 Cheeseburger in Paradise Company-owned 2 21 Paul Lee's Chinese Kitchens Company-owned -- 4 Lee Roy Selmon's Company-owned -- 3 System-wide total 6 1,256 * - Includes one restaurant closing. ** - Includes one restaurant closing due to severe damage resulting from Hurricane Katrina. 

The Outback Steakhouse, Inc. restaurant system operates in 50 states and 21 countries internationally.

SOURCE Outback Steakhouse, Inc.

Lisa Hathcoat, Outback Steakhouse, Inc., +1-813-282-1225