Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. First Quarter Earnings and News Release


WICHITA, Kan., April 13, 2000 (PRIMEZONE) -- Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. (Nasdaq:STAR) announced first quarter earnings and revenues for the twelve week quarter ended March 21, 2000. Net income in the first quarter declined to $7,102,000 from $7,781,000 compared to the same period last year. Earnings per share, compared to the same period last year, increased to $ .25 ($.25 diluted) per share from $ .21 ($.21 diluted) per share. First quarter revenues decreased .5% to $139,254,000 compared with $139,938,000 for the same period last year.

Comparable store sales, by concept, increased 0.04% for domestic Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon restaurants, 5.66% for Sullivan's Steakhouses, and 11.51% for Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House restaurants.

Australian Lone Star's comparable store sales declined 3.74%.

As previously announced, the Company closed 24 domestic Lone Star restaurants and one Mexican restaurant on January 4, 2000.

During the first quarter the Company purchased 2,970,600 shares of its common stock. The total number of shares repurchased by the Company since the announcement of its stock buy back program is 14,312,605.

The Board of Directors declared the Company's initial quarterly cash dividend of $.125 per share payable May 10, 2000 to shareholders of record on April 24, 2000.

The Company opened its New York Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House restaurant on March 7, 2000.

Lone Star owns and operates 241 domestic and 40 international Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon restaurants; fourteen Sullivan's Steakhouse restaurants; and four Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House restaurants.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although the Company believes the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein, including the development plans of the Company, are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in the press release will prove to be accurate.


              Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc.
 Unaudited Summary Financial Data for the First Quarter 2000
       ( $ in thousands except for per share amounts )
 
 
                                      March 21,      Dec. 28,
                                        2000          1999
                                       _______       _______
 Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents          $  40,282      $ 50,673
  Other current assets                  18,409        18,696
                                       _______       _______
                                        58,691        69,369
 Property and equipment, net           433,811       430,482
 Intangibles and other assets           35,337        33,682
                                       _______       _______
                                     $ 527,839     $ 533,533
                                       _______       _______
                                       _______       _______
 
 Total current liabilities           $  55,779     $  49,154
 Noncurrent liabilities                  8,750          -
 Stockholders' equity                  463,310       484,379
                                       _______       _______
                                     $ 527,839     $ 533,533
                                       _______       _______
                                       _______       _______
 
 
                    
                                     For the twelve weeks ended
 
                                   Mar. 21, 2000   Mar. 23, 1999
                                         $     %         $     %
                                      _______ ____    _______ ____
 Net Sales                           $139,254        $139,938
 Costs and expenses:
  Costs of sales                       47,657 34.2     50,386 36.0
  Restaurant operating expenses        63,109 45.3     61,630 44.0
  Depreciation and amortization         6,550  4.7      7,232  5.2
                                       _______ ____    _______ ____
   Restaurant costs and expenses      117,316 84.2    119,248 85.2
                                      _______ ____    _______ ____
 Restaurant operating income           21,938 15.8     20,690 14.8
 General and administrative expenses   11,341  8.2      8,289  5.9
                                      _______ ____    _______ ____
 Income from operations                10,597  7.6     12,401  8.9
 Other                                    416  0.3        247  0.2
                                      _______ ____    _______ ____
 Income before taxes                   11,013  7.9     12,648  9.1
 
 Provision for income taxes             3,911  2.8      4,867  3.5
 
                                       _______ ____    _______ ____
 Net Income                          $  7,102  5.1   $  7,781  5.6 
                                      _______ ____    _______ ____
                                      _______ ____    _______ ____
 
 Basic earnings per share             $   0.25        $  0.21
                                        _____           _____
                                        _____           _____
 
 Diluted earnings per share           $   0.25        $  0.21
                                        _____           _____
                                        _____           _____
 
 
 Average Shares outstanding-Basic       28,376         37,514
  
 Average shares outstanding-Diluted     28,567         37,681
 
 Restaurants included at end of period     300            324
 
 Comparable store sales growth             0.5%         (10.3)%
CONTACT:  Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc.
          John D. White
          316-264-8899