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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FnVeM3PNPUqtc+skWz/CGV7y6XkohjgS3X8+qkm7KQsw8Sfsq+OuzRBW0o5OCiep
 9NZZq5UkfyjjhN9gvu9xkg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-09-056023.txt : 20091210
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-09-056023.hdr.sgml : 20091210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091210181719
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-09-056023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091210
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Howell Richard J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001338359

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-49916
		FILM NUMBER:		091234752

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6312 S FIDDLERS GREEN CIRCLE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200 N
		CITY:			GREENWOOD VILLAGE
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80111

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001171759
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				841573084
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6312 FIDDLER'S GREEN CIRCLE
		CITY:			GREENWOOD VILLAGE
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3038466000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6312 FIDDLER'S GREEN CIRCLE
		CITY:			GREENWOOD VILLAGE
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80111
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd259441.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001171759</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RRGB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001338359</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Howell Richard J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6312 S. FIDDLER'S GREEN CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200 N</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWOOD VILLAGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.6499</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7375</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The purchased shares will be held by the reporting person in joint tenancy with his wife.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes (a) 625 shares of common stock held directly by the reporting person, and (b) 750 shares of restricted stock that are subject to vesting and were issued to the reporting person under the issuer's Amended and Restated 2007 Performance Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 6,000 shares of common stock held by the reporting person in joint tenancy with his wife.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Attorney-in-Fact Annita M. Menogan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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