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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-031036.txt : 20031114
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-031036.hdr.sgml : 20031114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031114134617
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-031036
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031113
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GATHERS THOMAS W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001242841

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19924
		FILM NUMBER:		031002774

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8215 ROSWELL RD.
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30350

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RARE HOSPITALITY INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000883976
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				581498312
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8215 ROSWELL RD
		STREET 2:		BLDG 600
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30350
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7703999595

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8215 ROSWELL ROAD
		STREET 2:		BLDG 200
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30350

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LONGHORN STEAKS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd22821.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-13</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000883976</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RARE HOSPITALITY INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>rare</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001242841</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GATHERS THOMAS W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8215 ROSWELL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>BUILDING 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30350</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP- Human Resources</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>8.528</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5750</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwne
rship></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>26.85</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2250</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>NQSO (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExerc
isePrice><value>8.528</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3500</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2000-12-27</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-12-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3500</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6250</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOw
nedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">On September 2, 2003, the common stock of RARE Hospitality International, Inc. split 3-for-2, resulting in an adjustment to the number of shares of common stock held directly by reporting person.</footnote><footnote id="F2">On September 2, 2003, the common stock of RARE Hospitality International, Inc. split 3-for-2, resulting in an adjustment to the exercise price and an increase in the number of shares of common stock covered by the options.</footnote><footnote id="F3">This grant vested in increments of 34% on 12/27/2000, 33% on 12/27/2001 and 33% on 12/27/2002.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Thomas W. Gathers, by Joia M. Johnson, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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