SOUTHLAND DINING

Dining out is big business in Southern California, for restaurateurs and millions of restaurant-goers alike. Here are some quick statistics on the places that are hot and where the restaurant dollar goes.

WHAT THE AVERAGE DOLLAR SPENT IN A CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT PAID FOR: Where it went Maintenance 2.1 Advertising 2.0 Interest 1.1 Entertainment 0.6 Food cost 27.3 Payroll 23.3 Restaurant profit 10.7 Rent, property taxes and insurance 8.9 Beverage cost 5.4 Direct operating expenses 4.8 Administrative 4.3 Employee benefits 4.3 Utilities 2.6 Depreciation 2.6 1986 survey by Laventhol & Horwath THE SOUTHLAND’S BIGGEST RESTAURANTS The largest independent restaurants in Central and Southern California, by 1986 sales

Rank Rank 1986 Sales Calif. U.S. Restaurant City in millions Seating 1. 24 Hard Rock Cafe Los Angeles $7.0 210 2. 30 Junior’s Los Angeles $6.3 238 3. 45 Ritz Newport Beach $5.5 250 4. 49 Pacific Dining Car Los Angeles $5.3 185 5. 60 Spago Los Angeles $5.0 160 6. 70 Smokehouse Burbank $4.58 450 7. 75 Warehouse Marina del Rey $4.5 400 8. 77 Harris Ranch Coalinga $4.41 535 9. 89 El Cholo Los Angeles $4.0 280 10. 96 F. McLintocks Shell Beach $3.8 350 11. 99 Las Casuelas Terraza Palm Springs $3.8 210

Diners Rank served Calif. per year 1. 632,000 2. 728,000 3. 150,000 4. 226,300 5. 126,500 6. 502,000 7. 198,000 8. 571,026 9. 330,000 10. 280,000 11. 265,000

Source: Restaurants & Institutions magazine