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The 29 Biggest Full-Service Restaurants in the U.S.

The list provides a look at restaurants that were set up well entering the pandemic and also those that were already weathering a storm.

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Plate Of Eggs, Toast, And Bacon From IHOP

Waffle House Exterior

Stack Of Pancakes At IHOP

Applebee’s Classic Bacon Cheeseburger

Denny's Platter Of Food

Chili's Burgers In A Lineup

Buffalo Wild Wings Chicken Wings In A Plastic Baseball Cap

Olive Garden's Lasagna Mia

Outback Steakhouse

Red Lobster Shrimp Fest Platter

Red Robin Introduces The Bacon Curry Burger, Zen Chicken Burger And Sparkling Berry Twist To Its Menu For A Limited Time

The Exterior Of A Texas Roadhouse Restaurant

The Exterior Of A Golden Corral Restaurant

Bob Evans' Dinner Plates

Fajitas At Ruby Tuesday

Two Skewers Of Three Large Jumbo Shrimp, Wrapped In Hardwood Smoked Bacon And Brushed With A Parmesan Butter Sauce

First Watch Exterior Of Restaurant

Plate Of Buffalo Chicken Wings From Hooters

Carrabba's Italian Grill

Strawberry Shortcake Pizookie

Oreo Slice From The Cheesecake Factory

California Pizza Kitchen's Take And Bake Mushroom Pepperoni Sausage Pizza

Logan's Roadhouse

Bonefish Grill Lobster And Shrimp Roll

Village Inn

Prime Rib Served Up At O'Charley's

Casual dining in an evolving industry

With the onset of COVID and the subsequent closure of dining rooms, full-service chains were forced to adapt—and quickly. Brands across the industry pivoted operations to simplify menus, reduce labor costs, implement online ordering platforms, curbside, and delivery, roll out family meal deals, and much more.

The FSR 50 dives into the performance of the biggest casual-dining chains in the U.S. prior to COVID, including changes in sales, AUV, and unit count.

The list provides a look at restaurants that were set up well entering the pandemic and also those that were already weathering a storm.

Note: The unit counts are by U.S. restaurants as of 2019 year end.

1. Waffle House

Unit Count: 1,900

Total change in units from 2018: –10

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,500

Average sales per unit (thousands): $787

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

2. IHOP

Unit Count: 1,700

Total change in units from 2018: 5

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $3,300

Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,933

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

3. Applebee's

Unit Count: 1,665

Total change in units from 2018: –38

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $4,085

Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,433

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

4. Denny's

Unit Count: 1,559

Total change in units from 2018: –19

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,710

Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,728

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

5. Chili's

Unit Count: 1,240

Total change in units from 2018: –10

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $3,550

Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,851

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

6. Buffalo Wild Wings

Unit Count: 1,215

Total change in units from 2018: 7

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $3,700

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,054

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

7. Olive Garden

Unit Count: 867

Total change in units from 2018: 9

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $4,351

Average sales per unit (thousands): $5,045

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

8. Outback Steakhouse

Unit Count: 725

Total change in units from 2018: –8

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,630

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,608

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

9. Red Lobster

Unit Count: 670

Total change in units from 2018: –5

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,350

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,494

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

10. Cracker Barrel

Unit Count: 662

Total change in units from 2018: 7

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,525

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,834

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

11. Red Robin

Unit Count: 561

Total change in units from 2018: 7

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,675

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,004

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

12. Texas Roadhouse

Unit Count: 544

Total change in units from 2018: 11

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,886

Average sales per unit (thousands): $5,359

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

13. LongHorn Steakhouse

Unit Count: 518

Total change in units from 2018: 8

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,864

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,626

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

14. Golden Corral

Unit Count: 475

Total change in units from 2018: –14

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,635

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,392

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

15. Bob Evans

Unit Count: 460

Total change in units from 2018: –20

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $810

Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,723

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

16. Ruby Tuesday

Unit Count: 450

Total change in units from 2018: –40

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $660

Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,404

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

17. TGI Fridays

Unit Count: 388

Total change in units from 2018: –30

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,120

Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,779

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

18. First Watch

Unit Count: 365

Total change in units from 2018: 71

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $500

Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,517

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

19. Hooters

Unit Count: 344

Total change in units from 2018: 3

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $900

Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,628

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

20. Perkins

Unit Count: 306

Total change in units from 2018: –66

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $600

Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,770

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

21. Carrabba's Italian Grill

Unit Count: 225

Total change in units from 2018: –2

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $645

Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,854

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

22. P.F. Chang's

Unit Count: 216

Total change in units from 2018: 1

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $890

Average sales per unit (thousands): $4,130

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

23. BJ's Restaurants

Unit Count: 208

Total change in units from 2018: 6

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,150

Average sales per unit (thousands): $5,610

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

24. The Cheesecake Factory

Unit Count: 204

Total change in units from 2018: 3

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,180

Average sales per unit (thousands): $10,765

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

25. California Pizza Kitchen

Unit Count: 200

Total change in units from 2018: –5

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $635

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,136

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

26. Logan's Roadhouse

Unit Count: 199

Total change in units from 2018: –1

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $515

Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,581

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

27. Bonefish Grill

Unit Count: 197

Total change in units from 2018: 0

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $585

Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,970

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

28. Village Inn

Unit Count: 185

Total change in units from 2018: –35

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $330

Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,671

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

29. O'Charley's

Unit Count: 175

Total change in units from 2018: –30

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $430

Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,263

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

FSR Staff

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