HOUSTON, May 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Landry's Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: LNY) (the "Company"), today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008.

Revenues from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008, totaled $294.8 million, as compared to $283.6 million a year earlier, including $69.8 million and $70.7 million, respectively from the Golden Nugget properties and an additional day due to leap year. Income from continuing operations for the quarter was $2.2 million, compared to $22.8 million reported last year. Earnings per share-diluted from continuing operations for the quarter were $0.14, compared to $1.04 reported last year. The Company's continuing operations include results from 8 additional restaurants during the three months ended March 31, 2008. Also included in the current year amount is a non-cash expense of $3.0 million after-tax, or $0.20 per share-diluted for the change in value of interest rate swaps not designated as hedges while the prior comparable period includes gains on asset sales of $13.0 million after-tax or $0.59 per share-diluted. During the first quarter of 2008, consolidated pre-tax interest expense was $20.8 million compared to $13.6 million in the comparable period last year primarily due to additional borrowings associated with the June 2007 Golden Nugget refinancing as well as the 2.0% increase in the interest rate on the $400.0 million Senior Notes effective August 2007. The Senior Note holders also have an option to require the Company to redeem the Notes beginning February 28, 2009 at 101% of face value. As a result, the Notes are reflected as current liabilities in the Company's financial statements. Same store sales for the Company's restaurants were flat for the quarter.

As a result of our 2006 sale of the Joe's Crab Shack concept and closure of certain additional locations, the results of operations for these restaurants are reflected as discontinued operations in the Company's financial statements. The loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes, for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 was $0.7 million or $0.04 per share - diluted compared to a loss of $0.7 million or $0.03 per share - diluted in the prior year. Therefore, the consolidated net income for the quarter was $1.5 million or $0.10 per share - diluted, compared to net income of $22.1 million or $1.01 per share - diluted in the comparable period in 2007.

Rick H. Liem, Executive Vice President and CFO stated, "The credit markets remain unsettled, in particular for casual dining and other consumer discretionary sectors. Nevertheless, we continue to believe we will obtain long-term financing, although likely at a higher interest rate and with more restrictive terms than our existing agreements. In addition, we have signed a contract for the construction of the new hotel tower at the Golden Nugget which is expected to be completed by the end of 2009 or early 2010 and cost approximately $160.0 million."

The Company's continuing operations include restaurants primarily under the trade names Landry's Seafood House, Chart House, Rainforest Cafe, Saltgrass Steak House and the Signature Group as well as other businesses including hotels, marinas, amusements, retail and the Golden Nugget Hotels and Casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by safe harbors created thereby. Stockholders are cautioned that all forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company's expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or are beyond the Company's control. A statement containing a projection of revenues, income, earnings per share, same store sales, capital expenditures, ability to obtain new long-term financing, or future economic performance are just a few examples of forward-looking statements. Some factors that could realistically cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements include ineffective marketing or promotions, competition, weather, store management turnover, a weak economy, higher interest rates and gas prices, construction at the Golden Nugget properties, negative same store sales, or the Company's inability to continue its expansion strategy. The Company may not update or revise any forward-looking statements made in this press release.

                          LANDRY'S RESTAURANTS, INC.

  UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (000's except per share amounts)

                                          FOR THE QUARTER    FOR THE QUARTER
                                                ENDED             ENDED
                                           March 31, 2008    March 31, 2007

    REVENUES                             $294,825   100.0%  $283,628   100.0%

    COST OF REVENUES                       63,431    21.5%    61,741    21.8%

    LABOR                                  96,160    32.6%    90,437    31.9%

    OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES               74,834    25.4%    71,743    25.3%

    UNIT LEVEL PROFIT                      60,400    20.5%    59,707    21.0%

    GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE               12,790     4.3%    12,776     4.5%

    PRE-OPENING COSTS                         466     0.2%       739     0.3%

    DEPRECIATION & AMORTIZATION            17,814     6.1%    16,254     5.6%

    TOTAL OPERATING INCOME                 29,330     9.9%    29,938    10.6%

    OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)                 26,135             (4,993)

    INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
     BEFORE TAXES                           3,195             34,931

    TAX PROVISION (BENEFIT)                   950             12,156

    INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS       2,245             22,775

    INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED
     OPERATIONS, NET OF TAXES                (723)              (659)

    NET INCOME (LOSS)                      $1,522            $22,116

    EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC:

      INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS     $0.15              $1.07

      INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED
       OPERATIONS                           (0.05)             (0.03)

      NET INCOME (LOSS)                     $0.10              $1.04

      AVERAGE SHARES                       15,260             21,300

    EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED:

      INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS     $0.14              $1.04

      INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED
       OPERATIONS                           (0.04)             (0.03)

      NET INCOME (LOSS)                     $0.10              $1.01

      AVERAGE SHARES                       15,530             21,900


    EBITDA from continuing operations (earnings before interest, taxes,
     depreciation and amortization):

    Net income                             $1,522            $22,116

    Add back:

    Loss from discontinued
     operations                               723                659

    Tax provision (benefit)                   950             12,156

    Other expense (income)                 26,135             (4,993)

    Depreciation and amortization          17,814             16,254

    EBITDA                                $47,144            $46,192

    EBITDA is not a generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")
    measurement and is presented solely as a supplemental disclosure because
    the Company believes that it is a widely used measure of operating
    performance in the restaurant industry.  EBITDA is not intended to be
    viewed as a source of liquidity or as a cash flow measure as used in the
    statement of cash flows.  EBITDA is simply shown above as it is a commonly
    used non-GAAP valuation statistic.



                          LANDRY'S RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                   ($ in Millions except per share amounts)

                                             March 31, 2008  December 31, 2007
                                                (unaudited)

    Cash & equivalents                             $45.6            $39.6

    Assets related to discontinued operations        9.4             10.0

    Other current assets                            87.0             93.9

      Total current assets                         142.0            143.5


    Property & equipment, net                    1,252.1          1,250.1

    Other assets                                   113.5            109.4

      Total assets                              $1,507.6         $1,503.0


    Current liabilities                           $687.0           $300.7

    Liabilities related to discontinued operations   3.1              4.0

    Long-term debt                                 407.4            801.4

    Other non-current                              102.9             80.0

      Total liabilities                          1,200.4          1,186.1


    Total stockholders' equity                     307.2            316.9

      Total liabilities & equity                $1,507.6         $1,503.0


    Net book value per share                      $19.03           $19.62

SOURCE Landry's Restaurants, Inc.