Landry's Restaurants, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2005 Revenues of $328.8 Million and $0.18 Earnings Per Share

HOUSTON, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Landry's Restaurants, Inc. (the "Company"), one of the nation's largest casual dining, hospitality and entertainment companies announced its earnings for the fourth quarter and for the year ended December 31, 2005, which include record revenues of $328.8 million and $1,254.8 million, respectively, and include the first full quarterly results of the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada acquired on September 27, 2005. Same store sales for the Company, excluding the Gaming division, were a positive 1.7% for the quarter. Revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2005, totaled $328.8 million, as compared to $259.8 million a year earlier. Net earnings for the quarter were $3.9 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to $13.0 million, or $0.49 per diluted share for 2004. The 2005 fourth quarter results reflect interest expense for the Company, excluding the Gaming division, of $11.4 million before taxes, as opposed to 2004 interest expense of $3.1 million. Included in the 2004 amounts are two infrequent items: a $16.6 million expense ($11.3 million after tax) associated with the Company's December refinancing and a net $18.5 million income tax benefit (income) from recognizing the remaining previously reserved tax assets related to the tax benefits acquired with the Rainforest Cafe restaurants. Excluding the effects of these infrequent items from 2004, adjusted earnings per share (diluted) for the fourth quarter 2004, were $0.22.

Tilman J. Fertitta, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are extremely pleased with the Golden Nugget results for the quarter, which included net revenues of $62.9 million and EBITDA of $11.1 million versus $5.3 million in 2004. These results demonstrate the strength of the Golden Nugget brand. We will continue to focus on the core Golden Nugget customer and delivering a high quality experience while maintaining disciplined cost controls. I am confident that the strong and seasoned Golden Nugget management team will continue to deliver exceptional results while our renovation and expansion plans will accelerate these results."

Rick H. Liem, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer stated, "We exceeded consensus estimates despite the adverse affects of Hurricane Wilma of approximately $0.02 per share (diluted) and the spike in utility costs of an additional $0.09 per share (diluted) offset by a decreased tax rate of $0.01 per share (diluted)."

Rick H. Liem also stated, "We have embarked on a program to improve the dining experience and value perception of the Joe's Crab Shack concept. In connection with the Joe's 'Evolution' program, we now provide bread and a large bowl of salad with every entree and have increased the fresh fish offerings. We have also freshened the look by adding booths, carpet, new uniforms and numerous other improvements. The implementation will result in a one-time cost during the first quarter of approximately $0.03 per share (diluted). We expect to recover that cost over the remainder of 2006 through increased traffic and higher sales."

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2005, totaled $1.3 billion, as compared to $1.2 billion a year earlier. Same store sales for the Company, excluding the Gaming division, were flat for the year. Net earnings for the year were $44.8 million, or $1.95 per share (diluted), compared to $66.5 million, or $2.46 per share (diluted) in 2004. The 2005 full year results reflect interest expense for the Company, excluding the Gaming division, of $37.7 million before taxes as opposed to 2004 interest expense of $13.1 million. Included in the 2004 earnings are the previously mentioned charges related to the refinancing and the tax benefit. Excluding these charges, comparative net earnings for 2004 were $59.3 million and adjusted earnings per share (diluted) for 2004 were $2.13.

The Company ended fiscal 2005, with 311 full service restaurants, two Golden Nugget casinos and several other hospitality and limited service outlets primarily under the trade names Joe's Crab Shack, Landry's Seafood House, The Crab House, Charley's Crab, Chart House seafood restaurants, the Rainforest Cafe and Saltgrass Steak House restaurants.

After giving effect to the impact of stock compensation expense in 2006, estimated at approximately $0.14 per share (diluted), and the non-recurring costs associated with the Evolution program at Joe's Crab Shack of $0.03 per share, the Company expects estimated 2006 earnings per share to be approximately $2.20. The Company anticipates earning $0.31 to $0.33 in the first quarter, $0.86 to $0.87 in the second quarter, $0.81 to $0.82 in the third quarter, and $0.18 to $0.19 in the fourth quarter.

Earnings per share adjusted for refinancing costs and tax benefit is not a generally accepted accounting principle ("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.

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, 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, 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. CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (000's except per share amounts) FOR THE FOR THE QUARTER ENDED QUARTER ENDED December 31, 2005 December 31, 2004 REVENUES $328,798 100.0% $259,805 100.0% COST OF SALES 77,924 23.7% 72,533 27.9% LABOR 109,263 33.2% 78,263 30.1% OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES 87,910 26.8% 67,834 26.1% UNIT LEVEL PROFIT $53,701 16.3% $41,175 15.9% GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE 14,445 4.4% 12,899 5.0% PRE-OPENING COSTS 1,265 0.4% 984 0.4% DEPRECIATION & AMORTIZATION 18,018 5.4% 14,616 5.6% ASSET IMPAIRMENT EXPENSE --- 0.0% --- 0.0% TOTAL OPERATING INCOME $19,973 6.1% $12,676 4.9% OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME) 14,694 20,559 INCOME BEFORE TAXES 5,279 (7,883) TAX PROVISION 1,362 (20,925) NET INCOME $3,917 $13,042 EARNINGS PER SHARE - (Basic) $0.18 $0.51 AVERAGE SHARES - (Basic) 21,300 25,600 EARNINGS PER SHARE - (Diluted) $0.18 $0.49 AVERAGE SHARES - (Diluted) 21,900 26,400 EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization): Total Operating Income $19,973 $12,676 Add Back: Depreciation and Amortization 18,018 14,616 Asset Impairment Expense --- --- Non Cash Charges --- 435 EBITDA $37,991 $27,727 LANDRY'S RESTAURANTS, INC. CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (000's except per share amounts) FOR THE TWELVE FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED MONTHS ENDED December 31, 2005 December 31, 2004 REVENUES $1,254,806 100.0% $1,167,475 100.0% COST OF SALES 333,028 26.5% 326,108 28.0% LABOR 377,215 30.1% 337,633 28.9% OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES 311,648 24.8% 282,412 24.2% UNIT LEVEL PROFIT $232,915 18.6% $221,322 18.9% GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE 57,694 4.6% 58,320 5.0% PRE-OPENING COSTS 4,772 0.4% 5,203 0.4% DEPRECIATION & AMORTIZATION 63,493 5.1% 57,294 4.9% ASSET IMPAIRMENT EXPENSE --- 0.0% 1,709 0.1% TOTAL OPERATING INCOME $106,956 8.5% $98,796 8.5% OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME) 41,533 28,729 INCOME BEFORE TAXES 65,423 70,067 TAX PROVISION 20,608 3,545 NET INCOME $44,815 $66,522 EARNINGS PER SHARE - (Basic) $2.01 $2.46 AVERAGE SHARES - (Basic) 22,300 27,000 EARNINGS PER SHARE - (Diluted) $1.95 $2.39 AVERAGE SHARES - (Diluted) 23,000 27,800 EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization): Total Operating Income $106,956 $98,796 Add Back: Depreciation and Amortization 63,493 57,294 Asset Impairment Expense --- 1,709 Non Cash Charges --- 508 EBITDA $170,449 $158,307

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 UNAUDITED BALANCE SHEETS ($ in Millions except per share amounts) December 31, December 31, 2005 2004 (unaudited) Cash & Equivalents $39.2 $201.4 Other Current Assets 107.2 96.1 Total Current Assets 146.4 297.5 Property & Equipment, Net 1,380.3 1,007.3 Other Assets 85.9 40.2 Total Assets $1,612.6 $1,345.0 Current Liabilities $220.5 $136.0 Long-Term Debt 816.0 559.5 Other Non-current 59.3 48.6 Total Liabilities 1,095.8 744.1 Total Stockholders' Equity 516.8 600.9 Total Liabilities & Equity $1,612.6 $1,345.0 Net Book Value per share $23.93 $23.47