Exterior Of An Olive Garden Restaurant
An 11.5 Inch Long Giant Chicken Parmigiana Is Part Of Olive Garden's New Giant Italian Classics Menu
Cracker Barrel Family Meal On A Table
Cheesecake Factory Coconut Cream Pie Cheesecake
Chili's Burgers In A Lineup
Outback Steakhouse
Denny's Turkey Packs
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
Dave  & Buster's Customers Watch Sports On TV With Drinks In Their Hands
Strawberry Shortcake Pizookie
IHOP Cereal Pancakes
Exterior Of A Chuy's Restaurant
Famous Dave’s Barbecue Platter
STK Steak And Lobster
J. Alexander's Exterior Storefront
Pizza Inn Food

Cashing in

How do top executives in the casual-dining stock market stack up? 

FSR looked back at each company’s fiscal 2020 to see how these CEOs compare when it comes to base salary, bonuses, stock awards, and other compensation. 

All data was accessed from publicly available SEC filings. 

Note: This list only includes full-service restaurants.

Image credits:Olive Garden

Gene Lee, Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse)

Base salary: $829,760

Bonus: $1,916,154

Stock awards: $3,914,767

Option awards: $1,268,902

All other compensation: $759,124

Total: $8,688,707

MORE: Takeout and Curbside Customers Stick Around at Darden

Image credits:Olive Garden

Sandy Cochran, Cracker Barrel

Base salary: $982,292

Restricted stock/restricted stock unit awards: $4,265,425

Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $718,750

All other compensation: $249,974

Total: $6,216,441

MORE: Some Cracker Barrel Stores Face ‘Critical’ Labor Battle

Image credits:Cracker Barrel

David Overton, The Cheesecake Factory

Base salary: $914,635

Bonus: $109,450

Restricted stock/unit awards: $2,250,968

Option awards: $2,245,964

Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $273,625

All other compensation: $119,395

Total: $5,914,037

MORE: The Cheesecake Factory Flexes Off-Premises Muscles

Image credits:Cheesecake Factory

Wyman Roberts, Brinker International (Chili’s, Maggiano’s)

Base salary: $923,077

Stock awards: $2,849,933

Option awards: $949,992

Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $1,093,800

All other compensation: $67,148

Total: $5,883,950

MORE: Chili’s Latest Brand, Maggiano’s Italian Classics, Preps for Growth

Image credits:Chili’s

David Deno, Bloomin’ Brands (Outback)

Base salary: $695,597

Stock awards: $3,600,036

Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $1,271,700

All other compensation: $9,651

Total: $5,576,984

MORE: Outback Steakhouse’s Digital Evolution, and the Amazon Effect on Restaurants

Image credits:Outback Steakhouse

John Miller, Denny’s

Base salary: $815,386

Stock awards: $3,981,133

Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $520,787

All other compensation: $22,934

Total: $5,340,240

MORE: Denny’s Claws Back to Pre-COVID Sales with More 24/7 Operations

Image credits:Denny’s

Paul Murphy, Red Robin

Base salary: $806,539

Bonus: $387,000

Stock awards: $2,249,992

Option awards: $749,997

Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $108,000

All other compensation: $17,976

Total: $4,319,504

MORE: Red Robin’s Sales Recovery Hampered by Labor Shortages

Image credits:Red Robin

Kent Taylor, Texas Roadhouse

Base salary: $121,154

Grant date fair value of stock awards: $3,358,800

Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $7,213

All other compensation: $133,772

Total: $3,620,939

Note: Taylor passed away in March at the age of 65. Here is a look back at his legendary journey, and how he turned Texas Roadhouse into one of America’s most-admired brands.

Image credits:Texas Roadhouse

Brian Jenkins, Dave & Buster’s

Base salary: $690,000

Stock awards: $2,539,146

All other compensation: : $31,800

Total: $3,260,946

MORE: CEO: Dave & Buster’s is Back and Stronger than Ever

Image credits:Dave & Buster’s

Cheryl Henry, Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Base salary: $750,000

Stock awards: $1,096,972

Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $633,750

All other compensation: $62,147

Total: $2,542,869

MORE: Ruth’s Chris Capitalizes on the ‘Pent-Up Celebratory Occasion’

Image credits:flickr: Mike Mozart

Greg Trojan, BJ’s Restaurants

Base salary: $805,136

Stock awards: $1,069,905

Option awards: $500,260

All other compensation: $45,503

Total: $2,420,804

MORE: Labor Shortage Hampers BJ’s Growth Trajectory

Note: Greg Trojan announced his retirement in July. Greg Levin began as CEO in September. 

Image credits:BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

Stephen Joyce, Dine Brands (IHOP, Applebee’s)

Base salary: $1 million

Bonus: $500,000

All other compensation: $311,131

Total: $1,811,131

MORE: Applebee’s Meets the ‘Reinvention of the Guest Experience’ Head On

Note: Stephen Joyce left Dine Brands at the end of 2020. Current CEO John Peyton began his tenure in January. 

Image credits:IHOP

Steve Hislop, Chuy’s

Base salary: $662,745

Bonus: $282,993

Stock awards: $497,051

Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $48,380

All other compensation: $8,327

Total compensation: $1,499,496

MORE: Unlike Competitors, Chuy’s Isn’t Raising Prices

Image credits:Michael Rivera/Wikimedia Commons

Jeff Crivello, BBQ Holdings (Famous Dave’s)

Base salary: $259,615

Bonus: $120,000

Stock awards: $800,497

All other compensation: $3,942

Total: $1,184,055

MORE: Famous Dave’s Sales Continue to Beat Pre-COVID Levels

Image credits:Michel Lubbert

Manny Hilario, The ONE Group Hospitality (STK, Kona Grill)

Base salary: $466,406

Stock awards: $399,125

Non equity incentive plan compensation: $193,750

Other: $9,615

Total: $1,068,896

MORE: STK, Kona Grill Skyrocket Past Pre-Pandemic Marks

Image credits:The One Group

Mark Parkey, J. Alexander’s

Base salary: $400,000

All other compensation: $208,370  

Total: $608,370

MORE: Logan’s Roadhouse Parent to Buy J. Alexander’s for $220 Million

Image credits:J. Alexander’s

Jimmy Uba, Kura Sushi USA

Salary: $323,000

Option awards: $56,474

All other compensation: $12,376

Total: $391,850

MORE: Kura Sushi Overcomes COVID, Races to Record Unit Growth

Image credits:Kura Sushi

Brandon Solano, RAVE Restaurant Group (Pizza Inn, Pie Five)

Base salary: $230,252

Bonus: $90,257

Total: $320,509

MORE: Pizza Inn Continues to Experience COVID Difficulties

Image credits:Pizza Inn
Casual Dining, Chain Restaurants, Finance, Slideshow