<ARTICLE>                     5


<CIK>                         0000883976
<NAME>                        RARE HOSPITALITY INTERNATIONAL, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     blank

                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 DEC-27-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUL-02-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         6,418
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  4,559
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    10,049
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               33,530
<PP&E>                                         198,555
<DEPRECIATION>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 247,481
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          43,621
<BONDS>                                        52,732
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       115,241
<OTHER-SE>                                     31,350
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   247,481
<SALES>                                        230,834
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               231,031
<CGS>                                          82,510
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  191,887
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               17,299
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               1,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,047
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                17,661
<INCOME-TAX>                                   5,850
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            11,811
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   11,811
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0.98
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.93


<F1> ASSET VALUES REPRESENT NET AMOUNTS.