10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 25, 2016

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                       to                      

Commission File Number 000-51485

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	72-1060618
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1030 W. Canton Avenue, Suite 100, Winter Park, FL	32789
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

(407) 333-7440

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

None

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):

Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☒
Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of October 26, 2016 was 31,888,363, which includes 1,249,169 shares of unvested restricted stock.

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
Part I — Financial Information		3
Item 1	Financial Statements:	3
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015	3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the Thirteen and Thirty-nine Week Periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Thirty-nine Week Periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015	5
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Thirty-nine Week Periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015	6
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	7
Item 2	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	15
Item 3	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	22
Item 4	Controls and Procedures	23
Part II — Other Information		23
Item 1	Legal Proceedings	23
Item 1A	Risk Factors	23
Item 2	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	24
Item 3	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	24
Item 4	Mine Safety Disclosures	24
Item 5	Other Information	24
Item 6	Exhibits	24
Signatures		25

2

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

RUTH’S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets—Unaudited

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

	September 25,			December 27,
	2016			2015
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,954		$	3,095
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 2016 - $733; 2015 - $732		8,738			18,501
Inventory		7,138			7,479
Assets held for sale		-			250
Prepaid expenses and other		3,272			1,259
Total current assets		23,102			30,584
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 2016 - $132,033; 2015 - $125,362		95,874			87,984
Goodwill		24,293			24,293
Franchise rights		32,200			32,200
Other intangibles, net of accumulated amortization 2016 - $1,157; 2015 - $1,090		2,917			3,011
Deferred income taxes		13,244			19,309
Other assets		703			1,216
Total assets	$	192,333		$	198,597
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	7,556		$	10,018
Accrued payroll		11,544			17,064
Accrued expenses		6,595			9,280
Deferred revenue		23,466			35,202
Current portion of long-term debt		38,000			-
Other current liabilities		6,109			6,308
Total current liabilities		93,270			77,872
Long-term debt		-			-
Deferred rent		21,253			20,275
Other liabilities		2,370			2,548
Total liabilities		116,893			100,695
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)		-			-
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 30,881,668 shares issued and outstanding at September 25, 2016; 33,145,687 shares issued and outstanding at December 27, 2015		309			331
Additional paid-in capital		98,679			135,403
Accumulated deficit		(23,548	)		(37,832	)
Treasury stock, at cost; 71,950 shares at September 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015		-			-
Total shareholders' equity		75,440			97,902
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	192,333		$	198,597

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

RUTH’S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income—Unaudited

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

	13 Weeks Ended						39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenues:
Restaurant sales	$	78,760		$	75,249		$	261,941		$	253,085
Franchise income		3,928			3,965			12,463			12,103
Other operating income		1,086			1,078			3,914			3,497
Total revenues		83,774			80,292			278,318			268,685
Costs and expenses:
Food and beverage costs		23,723			23,709			78,022			77,971
Restaurant operating expenses		40,549			39,321			127,026			121,286
Marketing and advertising		2,546			2,312			7,134			6,352
General and administrative costs		7,346			7,442			22,068			21,334
Depreciation and amortization expenses		3,435			3,241			9,907			9,347
Pre-opening costs		574			112			1,665			627
Total costs and expenses		78,173			76,137			245,822			236,917
Operating income		5,601			4,155			32,496			31,768
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net		(333	)		(188	)		(799	)		(588	)
Other		(92	)		9			60			40
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense		5,176			3,976			31,757			31,220
Income tax expense		1,668			1,338			10,410			10,145
Income from continuing operations		3,508			2,638			21,347			21,075
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		75			(73	)		(94	)		(582	)
Net income	$	3,583		$	2,565		$	21,253		$	20,493
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.11		$	0.08		$	0.67		$	0.62
Discontinued operations		-			-			-			(0.02	)
Basic earnings per share	$	0.11		$	0.08		$	0.67		$	0.60
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.11		$	0.08		$	0.66		$	0.61
Discontinued operations		-			-			-			(0.02	)
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.11		$	0.08		$	0.66		$	0.59
Shares used in computing net income (loss) per common share:
Basic		31,305,952			33,989,364			32,023,814			34,183,137
Diluted		31,737,036			34,338,440			32,437,142			34,537,553
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.07		$	0.06		$	0.21		$	0.18

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

RUTH’S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity—Unaudited

for the Thirty-nine Weeks ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015

(Amounts in thousands)

	Common Stock						Additional Paid-in			Accumulated			Treasury Stock				Shareholders'
	Shares			Value			Capital			Deficit			Shares		Value		Equity
Balance at December 27, 2015		33,146		$	331		$	135,403		$	(37,832	)		72	$	-	$	97,902
Net income		-			-			-			21,253			-		-		21,253
Cash dividends		-			-			-			(6,969	)		-		-		(6,969	)
Repurchase of common stock		(2,477	)		(25	)		(39,948	)		-			-		-		(39,973	)
Shares issued under stock compensation plan net of shares withheld for tax effects		213			3			(1,430	)		-			-		-		(1,427	)
Excess tax benefit from stock based compensation		-			-			395			-			-		-		395
Stock-based compensation		-			-			4,259			-			-		-		4,259
Balance at September 25, 2016		30,882		$	309		$	98,679		$	(23,548	)		72	$	-	$	75,440
Balance at December 28, 2014		34,334		$	343		$	155,455		$	(59,487	)		72	$	-	$	96,311
Net income		-			-			-			20,493			-		-		20,493
Cash dividends		-			-			-			(6,280	)		-		-		(6,280	)
Repurchase of common stock		(752	)		(7	)		(11,674	)		-			-		-		(11,681	)
Shares issued under stock compensation plan net of shares withheld for tax effects		293			3			(1,165	)		-			-		-		(1,162	)
Excess tax benefit from stock based compensation		-			-			703			-			-		-		703
Stock-based compensation		-			-			2,833			-			-		-		2,833
Balance at September 27, 2015		33,874		$	339		$	146,152		$	(45,274	)		72	$	-	$	101,217

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

RUTH’S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—Unaudited

(Amounts in thousands)

	39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	21,253		$	20,493
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		9,907			9,347
Deferred income taxes		6,065			11,289
Non-cash interest expense		315			315
Gain on the disposal of property and equipment, net		(128	)		-
Stock-based compensation expense		4,259			2,833
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		9,793			6,896
Inventories		341			141
Prepaid expenses and other		(2,012	)		(521	)
Other assets		198			90
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(10,731	)		(9,912	)
Deferred revenue		(11,736	)		(10,751	)
Deferred rent		978			355
Other liabilities		623			(1,070	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		29,125			29,505
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment		(19,094	)		(14,594	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		802			-
Proceeds from sale of Mitchell's Restaurants		-			10,000
Net cash used in investing activities		(18,292	)		(4,594	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal borrowings on long-term debt		47,000			26,000
Principal repayments on long-term debt		(9,000	)		(34,000	)
Repurchase of common stock		(39,973	)		(11,681	)
Tax payments from the vesting of restricted stock and option exercises		(1,503	)		(1,392	)
Excess tax benefits from stock compensation		395			703
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		76			230
Cash dividend payments		(6,969	)		(6,280	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(9,974	)		(26,420	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		859			(1,509	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		3,095			4,301
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	3,954		$	2,792
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest, net of capitalized interest	$	461		$	276
Income taxes	$	2,223		$	114
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Accrual-based acquisition of property and equipment	$	389		$	861

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

RUTH’S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Unaudited

(1) The Company and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) as of September 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 and for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015 have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. is a restaurant company focused on the upscale dining segment. Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. operates Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants and sells franchise rights to Ruth’s Chris Steak House franchisees giving the franchisees the exclusive right to operate similar restaurants in a particular area designated in the franchise agreement. As of September 25, 2016, there were 149 Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants, including 68 Company-owned restaurants, one restaurant operating under a management agreement and 80 franchisee-owned restaurants, including 20 international franchisee-owned restaurants in Aruba, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. All Company-owned restaurants are located in the United States. New Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants opened in El Paso, TX in August 2016 and in Albuquerque, NM in May 2016 and a new franchisee-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant opened in Jakarta, Indonesia in February 2016. Subsequent to September 25, 2016, new franchisee-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants opened in Odenton, MD and Greenville, SC. A Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Columbus, OH closed in February 2016.

The Company previously operated eighteen Mitchell’s Fish Markets and three Mitchell’s/Cameron’s Steakhouse restaurants (collectively, the Mitchell’s Restaurants), located primarily in the Midwest and Florida. On January 21, 2015, the Company sold the Mitchell’s Restaurants to a third party (see Note 2). For financial statement reporting purposes, the Mitchell’s Restaurants are classified as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.

The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals and adjustments), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the operating results for the respective periods. The interim results of operations for the periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally presented in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the SEC’s rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2015.

The Company operates on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Sunday in December. The fiscal quarters ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015 each contained thirteen weeks and are referred to herein as the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 and the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, respectively. Fiscal years 2016 and 2015 are both 52-week years.

Estimates

Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reporting of revenue and expenses during the periods to prepare these condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amounts of property and equipment, goodwill, franchise rights, and obligations related to gift cards, incentive compensation, workers’ compensation and medical insurance. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements for Future Application

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (Topic 606), as amended by multiple standards updates. The ASU requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers, and will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

7

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330).” The pronouncement was issued to simplify the measurement of inventory and changes the measurement from lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. This pronouncement is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases” (Topic 842). This update requires a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments and a corresponding right-of-use asset. The guidance also requires certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, which will require us to adopt these provisions in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 using a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting but expects that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will result in an increase to its long-term assets and liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718).” This update was issued as part of the FASB’s simplification initiative and affects all entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. The amendments in this update cover such areas as the recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies, the classification of those excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, an accounting policy election for forfeitures, the amount an employer can withhold to cover income taxes and still qualify for equity classification and the classification of those taxes paid on the statement of cash flows. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016, which will require us to adopt these provisions in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. This guidance will be applied either prospectively, retrospectively or using a modified retrospective transition method, depending on the area covered in this update. Early adoption is permitted. We will adopt the new standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. We anticipate that the primary impact to our financial statements will be the recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies as income tax benefits or expense on our income statement in the period they are deducted on the income tax return. In addition, the cash flows related to excess tax benefits and deficiencies will be recorded as an operating activity on our statement of cash flows.

(2) Mitchell’s Restaurants  

In November 2014, the Company, Landry’s, Inc. and Mitchell’s Entertainment, Inc., an affiliate of Landry’s Inc. (together with Landry’s Inc., Landry’s), entered into an asset purchase agreement (the Agreement). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company agreed to sell the Mitchell’s Restaurants and related assets to Landry’s for $10 million. The sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants closed on January 21, 2015. The assets sold consisted primarily of leasehold interests, leasehold improvements, restaurant equipment and furnishings, inventory, and related intangible assets, including brand names and trademarks associated with the 21 Mitchell’s Restaurants. The results of operations of the Mitchell’s Restaurants have been classified as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of income for all periods presented. No amounts for shared general and administrative costs or interest expense were allocated to discontinued operations. Substantially all direct cash flows related to operating these restaurants were eliminated on the closing date of the sale. The Company’s continuing involvement was limited to the provision of transition services for four months with minimal impact on cash flows.

Under the terms of the Agreement, Landry’s assumed the Mitchell’s Restaurants’ facility lease obligations and the Company reimbursed Landry’s for gift cards that were sold prior to the closing date and were used at the Mitchell’s Restaurants during the eighteen months following the closing date. In the Agreement, the Company and Landry’s made customary representations and warranties and agreed to customary covenants relating to the sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants. The Company and Landry’s agreed to indemnify each other for losses arising from certain breaches of the Agreement and for certain other liabilities.

The Company guaranteed Landry’s lease obligations aggregating $36.0 million under nine of the Mitchell’s Restaurants’ leases. The Company did not record a financial accounting liability for the lease guarantees, because the likelihood of Landry’s defaulting on the lease agreements was deemed to be remote. Landry’s also indemnified the Company in the event of a default under any of the leases.

8

(3) Discontinued Operations

The Company accounts for its closed restaurants in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 360-10, “Property, Plant and Equipment.” As of December 29, 2014, the Company adopted ASU 2014-08, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity,” which changed the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and requires additional disclosures about discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 requires that an entity report as a discontinued operation only a disposal that represents a strategic shift in operations that has a major effect on its operations and financial results. Therefore, individual restaurants which are closed after December 28, 2014 will not be classified as discontinued operations. Prior to the Company’s adoption of ASU 2014-08, when a restaurant was closed or the restaurant was either held for sale or abandoned, the restaurant’s operations were eliminated from the ongoing operations. Accordingly, the operations of such restaurants, net of applicable income taxes, are presented as discontinued operations and prior period operations of such restaurants, net of applicable income taxes, were reclassified. For the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015, all restaurant sales, direct costs and expenses and income taxes attributable to restaurants classified as discontinued operations have been aggregated to a single caption entitled income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes in the condensed consolidated statements of income for all periods presented. Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes is comprised of the following (in thousands):

	13 Weeks Ended						39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenues
Mitchell's Restaurants	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	4,343
Other Restaurants		-			-			-			(3	)
Total revenues		-			-			-			4,340
Costs and expenses
Mitchell's Restaurants		(448	)		90			(408	)		5,227
Other Restaurants		325			34			562			148
Total costs and expenses		(123	)		124			154			5,375
Income (loss) before income taxes		123			(124	)		(154	)		(1,035	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		48			(51	)		(60	)		(453	)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$	75		$	(73	)	$	(94	)	$	(582	)

Cash flows from discontinued operations are combined with the cash flows from continuing operations within each of the categories on our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The income in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 was primarily attributable to a $466 thousand benefit from the extinguishment of a liability related to Mitchell’s Restaurant gift cards. The Other Restaurant expense is primarily attributable to occupancy costs of $335 thousand from a closed Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant. We do not anticipate that the sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants or any of our closed restaurants reported as discontinued operations will have a material impact on the Company’s cash flow during fiscal year 2016.

(4) Long-term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands):

	September 25,		December 27,
	2016		2015
Senior Credit Facility:
Revolving credit facility	$	38,000	$	-
Less current maturities		38,000		-
	$	-	$	-

As of September 25, 2016, the Company had $38.0 million of outstanding indebtedness under its senior credit facility with approximately $57.9 million of borrowings available, net of outstanding letters of credit of approximately $4.1 million. As of September 25, 2016, the weighted average interest rate on the Company’s outstanding indebtedness was 2.66%. In addition, the fees on the Company’s unused senior credit facility and outstanding letters of credit were 0.2% and 2.1%, respectively.

On February 14, 2012, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, as administrative agent, and certain other lenders (the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement allows for loan advances plus outstanding letters of credit of up to $100 million to be outstanding at any time that the conditions for borrowings are met. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement has a maturity date of February 14, 2017. The Company is currently negotiating with lenders to refinance its senior credit facility prior to its maturity. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement sets the interest rates applicable to borrowings based on the Company’s actual leverage ratio, ranging (a) from 2.00% to 2.75% above the applicable LIBOR rate or (b) at the Company’s option, from 1.00% to 1.75% above the applicable base rate.

9

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains customary covenants and restrictions, including, but not limited to: (1) prohibitions on incurring additional indebtedness and from guaranteeing obligations of others; (2) prohibitions on creating, incurring, assuming or permitting to exist any lien on or with respect to any property or asset; (3) limitations on the Company’s ability to enter into joint ventures, acquisitions, and other investments; (4) prohibitions on directly or indirectly creating or becoming liable with respect to certain contingent liabilities; and (5) restrictions on directly or indirectly declaring, ordering, paying, or making any restricted junior payments. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25:1.00 and the maximum leverage ratio of 2.50:1.00. The agreement was amended in September 2016 to reset the limit applicable to junior stock payments, which include both cash dividend payments and repurchase of common and preferred stock. Under the amended agreement, junior stock payments made subsequent to December 30, 2012 through the end of the agreement are limited to $140 million; $105.9 million of such payments had been made as of September 25, 2016. The Company’s obligations under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are guaranteed by each of its existing and future subsidiaries and are secured by substantially all of its assets and a pledge of the capital stock of its subsidiaries. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement includes customary events of default. As of September 25, 2016, the Company was in compliance with the covenants under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.

(5) Shareholders’ Equity

In April 2016, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program under which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to $60 million of outstanding common stock from time to time. The new share repurchase program replaces the previous share repurchase program announced in November 2014, which has been terminated. During the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016, 2,476,865 shares were repurchased at an aggregate cost of $40.0 million, or an average cost of $16.14 per share. Share repurchases were accounted for under the cost method and all repurchased shares were retired and cancelled. The excess of the purchase price over the par value of the shares was recorded as a reduction in additional paid-in capital.

The Company’s Board of Directors declared the following dividends during the periods presented (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

Declaration Date	Dividend per Share		Record Date	Total Amount		Payment Date
Fiscal Year 2016:
February 12, 2016	$	0.07	February 25, 2016	$	2,350	March 10, 2016
April 28, 2016	$	0.07	May 12, 2016	$	2,338	May 26, 2016
July 29, 2016	$	0.07	August 11, 2016	$	2,282	August 25, 2016
Fiscal Year 2015:
February 13, 2015	$	0.06	February 26, 2015	$	2,082	March 12, 2015
April 21, 2015	$	0.06	May 14, 2015	$	2,090	May 28, 2015
July 22, 2015	$	0.06	August 13, 2015	$	2,108	August 27, 2015

Subsequent to the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per common and restricted share, or approximately $2.2 million in the aggregate based on the number of shares currently outstanding, payable on November 23, 2016 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 10, 2016.

Outstanding unvested restricted stock is not included in common stock outstanding amounts. Restricted stock outstanding as of September 25, 2016 aggregated 1,249,169 shares.

(6) Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, prepaid expenses, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities are reasonable estimates of their fair values due to their short duration. Borrowings classified as current and long-term debt as of September 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 have variable interest rates that reflect currently available terms and conditions for similar debt. The carrying amount of this debt is a reasonable estimate of its fair value (Level 2).

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As of September 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, the Company had no assets or liabilities measured on a recurring or nonrecurring basis subject to the disclosure requirements of “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” FASB ASC Topic 820.

(7) Segment Information

The Company has two reportable segments – the Company-owned steakhouse segment and the franchise operations segment. The Company does not rely on any major customers as a source of revenue. The Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants, all of which are located in North America, operate within the full-service dining industry, providing similar products to similar customers. Revenues are derived principally from food and beverage sales. As of September 25, 2016, (i) the Company-owned steakhouse restaurant segment included 68 Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants and one Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant operating under a management agreement and (ii) the franchise operations segment included 80 franchisee-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants. Segment profits for the Company-owned steakhouse restaurant segments equal segment revenues less segment expenses. Segment revenues for the Company-owned steakhouse restaurants include restaurant sales, management agreement income and other restaurant income. Gift card breakage revenue is not allocated to operating segments. Not all operating expenses are allocated to operating segments. Segment expenses for the Company-owned steakhouse segment include food and beverage costs and restaurant operating expenses.  No other operating costs are allocated to the segments for the purpose of determining segment profits because such costs are not directly related to the operation of individual restaurants. The accounting policies applicable to each segment are consistent with the policies used to prepare the consolidated financial statements. The profit of the franchise operations segment equals franchise income, which consists of franchise royalty fees and franchise opening fees. No costs are allocated to the franchise operations segment.

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Segment information related to the Company’s two reportable business segments follows (in thousands):

	13 Weeks Ended						39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenues:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	79,360		$	75,815		$	263,907		$	254,819
Franchise operations		3,928			3,965			12,463			12,103
Unallocated other revenue and revenue discounts, net		486			512			1,948			1,763
Total revenues	$	83,774		$	80,292		$	278,318		$	268,685
Segment profits:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	15,088		$	12,785		$	58,859		$	55,562
Franchise operations		3,928			3,965			12,463			12,103
Total segment profit		19,016			16,750			71,322			67,665
Unallocated operating income		486			512			1,948			1,763
Marketing and advertising expenses		(2,546	)		(2,312	)		(7,134	)		(6,352	)
General and administrative costs		(7,346	)		(7,442	)		(22,068	)		(21,334	)
Depreciation and amortization expenses		(3,435	)		(3,241	)		(9,907	)		(9,347	)
Pre-opening costs		(574	)		(112	)		(1,665	)		(627	)
Interest expense, net		(333	)		(188	)		(799	)		(588	)
Other income		(92	)		9			60			40
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	$	5,176		$	3,976		$	31,757		$	31,220
Capital expenditures:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	5,238		$	6,376		$	18,351		$	13,646
Corporate assets		387			97			743			723
Mitchell's Restaurants		-			-			-			225
Total capital expenditures	$	5,625		$	6,473		$	19,094		$	14,594

	September 25,		December 27,
	2016		2015
Total assets:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	168,661	$	165,353
Franchise operations		1,954		2,444
Corporate assets - unallocated		8,474		11,241
Deferred income taxes - unallocated		13,244		19,309
Mitchell's Restaurants		-		250
Total assets	$	192,333	$	198,597

(8) Stock-Based Employee Compensation

Under the Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, at September 25, 2016, there were 162,303 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of currently outstanding options, 1,249,169 currently outstanding unvested restricted stock awards and 1,876,196 shares available for future grants. During the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016, the Company issued 376,423 restricted stock awards to directors, officers and other employees of the Company. Of the 376,423 restricted stock awards issued during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016, 45,211 shares will vest in fiscal year 2017, 191,002 shares will vest in fiscal year 2018 and 140,210 shares will vest in fiscal year 2019. Total stock compensation expense recognized during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal years 2016 and 2015 was $4.3 million and $2.8 million, respectively.

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(9) Income Taxes 

Income tax expense differs from amounts computed by applying the federal statutory income tax rate to income from continuing operations before income taxes as follows:

	39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015
Income tax expense at statutory rates		35.0	%		35.0	%
Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		4.2	%		4.5	%
Federal employment tax credits		(7.1%	)		(7.2%	)
Other		0.7	%		0.2	%
Effective tax rate		32.8	%		32.5	%

The Company utilizes the federal FICA tip credit to reduce its periodic federal income tax expense. A restaurant company employer may claim a credit against the company’s federal income taxes for FICA taxes paid on certain tip wages (the FICA tip credit). The credit against income tax liability is for the full amount of eligible FICA taxes. Employers cannot deduct from taxable income the amount of FICA taxes taken into account in determining the credit.

Income taxes applicable to discontinued operations are comprised of (a) taxes calculated at the composite federal and state statutory tax rate times the pre-tax loss plus (b) the FICA tip credit benefit attributable to the restaurant sales of the Mitchell’s Restaurants. A reconciliation of the U.S. statutory tax rate to the effective tax rate applicable to discontinued operations for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal years 2016 and 2015 follows:

	39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015
Income tax benefit at statutory rates	$	(54	)	$	(362	)
Decrease in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		(6	)		(47	)
Other, primarily federal FICA tip credit net benefit		-			(44	)
Income tax benefit	$	(60	)	$	(453	)
Effective tax rate		38.9	%		43.7	%

The Company files consolidated and separate income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and many state jurisdictions, respectively. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal or state income tax examinations for years before 2011.

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(10) Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of earnings per share (amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

	13 Weeks Ended					39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,		September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016		2015			2016			2015
Income from continuing operations	$	3,508	$	2,638		$	21,347		$	21,075
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		75		(73	)		(94	)		(582	)
Net income	$	3,583	$	2,565		$	21,253		$	20,493
Shares:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic		31,305,952		33,989,364			32,023,814			34,183,137
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted		31,737,036		34,338,440			32,437,142			34,537,553
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.67		$	0.62
Discontinued operations		-		-			-			(0.02	)
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.67		$	0.60
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.66		$	0.61
Discontinued operations		-		-			-			(0.02	)
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.66		$	0.59

Diluted earnings per share for the third quarters of fiscal year 2016 and 2015 excludes stock options and restricted shares of 31,845 and 33,853, respectively, which were outstanding during the period but were anti-dilutive. The weighted average exercise prices of the anti-dilutive stock options for the third quarters of fiscal years 2016 and 2015 were $19.14 per share and $18.92 per share, respectively. Diluted earnings per share for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal years 2016 and 2015 excludes stock options and restricted shares of 24,981 and 65,367, respectively, which were outstanding during the period but were anti-dilutive. The weighted average exercise prices of the anti-dilutive stock options for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal years 2016 and 2015 were $19.04 per share and $18.77 per share, respectively.

(11) Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is subject to various claims, possible legal actions and other matters arising in the normal course of business. Management does not expect disposition of these other matters to have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company. The Company expenses legal fees as incurred.

The legislation and regulations related to tax and unclaimed property matters are complex and subject to varying interpretations by both government authorities and taxpayers. The Company remits a variety of taxes and fees to various governmental authorities, including excise taxes, property taxes, sales and use taxes, and payroll taxes. The taxes and fees remitted by the Company are subject to review and audit by the applicable governmental authorities which could assert claims for additional assessments. Although management believes that the tax positions are reasonable and consequently there are no accrued liabilities for claims which may be asserted, various taxing authorities may challenge certain of the positions taken by the Company which may result in additional liability for taxes and interest. These tax positions are reviewed periodically based on the availability of new information, the lapsing of applicable statutes of limitations, the conclusion of tax audits, the identification of new tax contingencies, or the rendering of relevant court decisions. An unfavorable resolution of assessments by a governmental authority could negatively impact the Company’s results of operations and cash flows in future periods.

The Company is subject to unclaimed or abandoned property (escheat) laws which require the Company to turn over to certain state governmental authorities the property of others held by the Company that has been unclaimed for specified periods of time. The Company is subject to audit by individual U.S. states with regard to its escheatment practices.

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The Company sells a considerable number of gift cards, which are issued and administered by a third party gift card issuer and service provider, consistent with common retail industry practice. The third party gift card issuer is paid a net fee for its services by the Company. The third party gift card issuer and service provider, as well as a number of other restaurant companies, retailers and gift card issuers, were named as defendants in an action filed under seal in June 2013 by William French on behalf of the State of Delaware in the Superior Court of Delaware in and for New Castle County. The complaint alleges that the Company and other defendants intentionally failed to report and remit money with respect to unused gift cards to the State of Delaware under the Delaware Escheats Law, and knowingly made, used or caused to be made or used, false statements and records to conceal, avoid or decrease an obligation to pay or transmit such money to Delaware in violation of the Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act (DFCRA). The complaint further alleges that the amount of money that the Company should have escheated to Delaware is approximately $30 million. The complaint seeks monetary damages (including treble damages under the DFCRA), penalties, and attorneys’ fees and costs. The case was unsealed in March 2014, at which time the court also granted the State of Delaware’s motion to intervene. All parties to the case are now in the process of seeking discovery. Mediation between all defendants and the State of Delaware was held in mid-October 2016. The Company filed a motion to dismiss in August 2016, and a hearing on the motion to dismiss was held in late October 2016. The motion to dismiss is currently pending. The Company believes it is in compliance with the Delaware Escheats Law and has not violated the DFCRA. The Company has been vigorously defending the action, and intends to continue to do so.

The Company currently buys a majority of its beef from two suppliers. Although there are a limited number of beef suppliers, management believes that other suppliers could provide similar product on comparable terms. A change in suppliers, however, could cause supply shortages and a possible loss of sales, which would affect operating results adversely.

ITEM 2.      MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” that reflect, when made, the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements frequently are identified by the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project,” “targeting,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” or other similar words and phrases. Similarly, statements herein that describe the Company’s objectives, plans or goals, including with respect to new restaurant openings, capital expenditures and the impact of healthcare inflation and minimum wage legislation, also are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected, implied or anticipated by the Company’s forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ include: reductions in the availability of, or increases in the cost of, USDA Prime grade beef, fish and other food items; changes in economic conditions and general trends; the loss of key management personnel; the effect of market volatility on the Company’s stock price; health concerns about beef or other food products; the effect of competition in the restaurant industry; changes in consumer preferences or discretionary spending; labor shortages or increases in labor costs; the impact of federal, state or local government regulations relating to Company employees, the sale or preparation of food, the sale of alcoholic beverages and the opening of new restaurants; harmful actions taken by the Company’s franchisees; a material failure, interruption or security breach of the Company’s information technology network; repeal or reduction of the federal FICA tip credit; unexpected expenses incurred as a result of the sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants; the Company’s ability to protect its name and logo and other proprietary information; an impairment in the financial statement carrying value of our goodwill, other intangible assets or property; the impact of litigation; the restrictions imposed by the Company’s Amended and Restated Credit Agreement; and changes in, or the discontinuation of, the Company’s quarterly cash dividend payments or share repurchase program. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2015, which is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. You should not assume that material events subsequent to the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have not occurred.

Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references in this report to the “Company,” “Ruth’s,” “we,” “us”, “our” or similar words are to Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation formerly known as Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Inc., and was founded in 1965.

Overview

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. is a restaurant company focused on the upscale dining segment. Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. operates Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants and sells franchise rights to Ruth’s Chris Steak House franchisees giving the franchisees the exclusive right to operate similar restaurants in a particular area designated in the franchise agreement. As of September 25, 2016, there were 149 Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants, including 68 Company-owned restaurants, one restaurant operating under a management agreement and 80 franchisee-owned restaurants.

15

We previously operated eighteen Mitchell’s Fish Markets and three Mitchell’s/Cameron’s Steakhouse restaurants (collectively, the Mitchell’s Restaurants), located primarily in the Midwest and Florida. On January 21, 2015, we sold the Mitchell’s Restaurants to a third party for $10 million. The assets sold consisted primarily of leasehold interests, leasehold improvements, restaurant equipment and furnishings, inventory, and related intangible assets, including brand names and trademarks associated with the 21 Mitchell’s Restaurants. For financial reporting purposes, the Mitchell’s Restaurants are classified as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.

The Ruth’s Chris menu features a broad selection of USDA Prime- and high quality steaks and other premium offerings served in Ruth’s Chris’ signature fashion—“sizzling” and topped with butter—complemented by other traditional menu items inspired by our New Orleans heritage. The Ruth’s Chris restaurants reflect the 50 year commitment to the core values instilled by our founder, Ruth Fertel, of caring for our guests by delivering the highest quality food, beverages and service in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

All Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants are located in the United States. The franchisee-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants include 20 international franchisee-owned restaurants in Aruba, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. New Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants opened in El Paso, TX in August 2016 and in Albuquerque, NM in May 2016 and a new franchisee-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant opened in Jakarta, Indonesia in February 2016. Subsequent to September 25, 2016, new franchisee-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants opened in Odenton, MD and Greenville, SC. A Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Columbus, OH closed in February 2016.

Our business is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Historically, our first and fourth quarters have tended to be the strongest revenue quarters due largely to the year-end holiday season and the popularity of dining out during the fall and winter months.Consequently, results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any other quarter or for any year and comparable restaurant sales for any particular period may decrease.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2015 provides additional information about our business, operations and financial condition.

16

Results of Operations

The table below sets forth certain operating data expressed as a percentage of total revenues for the periods indicated, except as otherwise noted. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that may be expected in the future.

	13 Weeks Ended						39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenues:
Restaurant sales		94.0	%		93.7	%		94.1	%		94.2	%
Franchise income		4.7	%		4.9	%		4.5	%		4.5	%
Other operating income		1.3	%		1.3	%		1.4	%		1.3	%
Total revenues		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Costs and expenses:
Food and beverage costs (percentage of restaurant sales)		30.1	%		31.5	%		29.8	%		30.8	%
Restaurant operating expenses (percentage of restaurant sales)		51.5	%		52.3	%		48.5	%		47.9	%
Marketing and advertising		3.0	%		2.9	%		2.6	%		2.4	%
General and administrative costs		8.8	%		9.3	%		7.9	%		7.9	%
Depreciation and amortization expenses		4.1	%		4.0	%		3.6	%		3.5	%
Pre-opening costs		0.7	%		0.1	%		0.6	%		0.2	%
Total costs and expenses		93.3	%		94.8	%		88.3	%		88.2	%
Operating income		6.7	%		5.2	%		11.7	%		11.8	%
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net		(0.4%	)		(0.2%	)		(0.3%	)		(0.2%	)
Other		(0.1%	)		-			-			-
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense		6.2	%		5.0	%		11.4	%		11.6	%
Income tax expense		2.0	%		1.7	%		3.7	%		3.8	%
Income from continuing operations		4.2	%		3.3	%		7.7	%		7.8	%
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		0.1	%		(0.1%	)		-			(0.2%	)
Net income		4.3	%		3.2	%		7.7	%		7.6	%

Third Quarter Ended September 25, 2016 (13 Weeks) Compared to Third Quarter Ended September 27, 2015 (13 Weeks)

Overview. Operating income increased by $1.4 million, or 34.8%, to $5.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 from the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 was favorably impacted by a $3.5 million increase in restaurant sales offset by a $1.2 million increase in restaurant operating expenses and a $462 thousand increase in pre-opening costs. Income from continuing operations increased from the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 by $870 thousand to $3.5 million. Net income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 increased from the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 by $1.0 million to $3.6 million.

Segment Profits. Segment profitability information is presented in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Not all operating expenses are allocated to operating segments. The Ruth’s Chris Steak House Company-owned restaurants, which are all located in the United States, are managed as an operating segment. The Ruth’s Chris concept operates within the full-service dining industry, providing similar products to similar customers. The franchise operations are reported as a separate operating segment. No costs are allocated to the franchise operations segment. Segment profits for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 for the Company-owned steakhouse restaurant segment increased by $2.3 million to $15.1 million from the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. The increase was driven primarily by a $3.5 million increase in restaurant sales offset by a $1.2 million increase in restaurant operating expenses. Franchise income was flat in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2015.

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Restaurant Sales. Restaurant sales increased by $3.5 million, or 4.7%, to $78.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 from the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. The increase was attributable to a $1.5 million increase in Company-owned comparable sales and a $2.5 million increase in restaurant sales at new restaurants, partially offset by a $544 thousand decrease in sales from a closed restaurant. Excluding discontinued operations, total operating weeks during the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 increased to 877 from 858 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. Company-owned comparable restaurant sales increased 2.1%, driven by an average check increase of 3.6% partially offset by a traffic decrease of 1.5%.

Franchise Income. Franchise income was flat in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2015.

Other Operating Income. Other operating income was flat in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. Other operating income includes our share of income from a managed restaurant, gift card breakage revenue and miscellaneous restaurant income.

Food and Beverage Costs. Food and beverage costs were flat in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. As a percentage of restaurant sales, food and beverage costs decreased to 30.1% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 from 31.5% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. The decrease in food and beverage costs as a percentage of restaurant sales was primarily due to a 6.3% decrease in beef costs and an increase in average check of 3.5%.

Restaurant Operating Expenses. Restaurant operating expenses increased $1.2 million, or 3.1%, to $40.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 from the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. Restaurant operating expenses, as a percentage of restaurant sales, decreased to 51.5% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 from 52.3% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. The decrease in restaurant operating expenses as a percentage of restaurant sales was primarily due to a $335 thousand benefit related to the settlement of disputed rent costs.

Marketing and Advertising. Marketing and advertising expenses increased $234 thousand to $2.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 from the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. The increase in marketing and advertising expenses in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 was primarily attributable to a planned increase in advertising spending.

General and Administrative Costs. General and administrative costs decreased $96 thousand to $7.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 from the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. The decrease in general and administrative costs was primarily attributable to a decrease in performance-based compensation.

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $194 thousand to $3.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 from the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 primarily due to depreciation on new restaurant assets placed in service within the last twelve months.

Pre-opening Costs. Pre-opening costs were $574 thousand in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 primarily due to the opening of a Ruth’s Chris Steak House Restaurant in El Paso, TX, which opened in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. Pre-opening costs were $112 thousand in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 primarily due to a new Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant in Dallas, TX that opened in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $145 thousand to $333 thousand in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 from the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 due to a higher average debt balance during the third quarter of fiscal year 2016.

Other Income and Expense. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, we recognized other expense of $92 thousand primarily due to state sales tax assessments. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 we recognized other income of $9 thousand.

Income Tax Expense. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, we recognized income tax expense of $1.7 million. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, we recognized income tax expense of $1.3 million. The effective tax rate, including the impact of discrete items, decreased to 32.2% for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 compared to 33.7% for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. The effective tax rate decreased in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 primarily due to the favorable tax impact of discrete items recognized in the quarter. Fiscal year 2016 discrete items and other unexpected changes impacting annual tax expense may cause the effective tax rate for fiscal year 2016 to differ from the effective tax rate for the third quarter 2016.

Income from Continuing Operations. Income from continuing operations of $3.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 increased by $870 thousand compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 due to the factors noted above.

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Income or Loss from Discontinued Operations, net of income taxes. Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 was $75 thousand compared to a loss of $73 thousand during the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. The income in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 was primarily attributable to a $466 thousand benefit from the extinguishment of a liability related to Mitchell’s Restaurant gift cards, partially offset by occupancy costs of $335 thousand from a closed Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant. The loss in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was primarily attributable to Mitchell’s Restaurants.

Net Income. Net income was $3.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 and increased by $1.0 million compared to $2.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. The increase was largely attributable to the factors noted above.

Thirty-nine Weeks Ended September 25, 2016 Compared to Thirty-nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015

Overview. Operating income increased $728 thousand, or 2.3%, to $32.5 million for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 from the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. Operating income for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 was impacted by a $8.9 million increase in restaurant sales, offset by a $5.7 million increase in restaurant operating expenses, a $1.0 million increase in pre-opening costs, a $782 thousand increase in marketing and advertising costs, a $734 thousand increase in general and administrative costs and a $560 thousand increase in depreciation and amortization. Income from continuing operations increased from the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015 by $272 thousand to $21.3 million. Net income for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 increased from the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015 by $760 thousand to $21.3 million.

Segment Profits. Segment profits for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 for the Company-owned steakhouse restaurant segment increased by $3.3 million to $58.9 million from the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. The increase was driven by a $9.1 million increase in revenues, which exceeded the increase in segment operating expenses. Franchise income increased $360 thousand in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016.

Restaurant Sales. Restaurant sales increased by $8.9 million, or 3.5%, to $261.9 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 from the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. The increase was attributable to a $5.8 million increase in Company-owned comparable restaurant sales, a $4.3 million increase in restaurant sales at new restaurants, partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease in sales from a closed restaurant. Excluding discontinued operations, total operating weeks during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 increased to 2,605 from 2,568 in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. Company-owned comparable restaurant sales increased 2.3%, driven by an average check increase of 3.1%, partially offset by a traffic decrease of 0.8%.

Franchise Income. Franchise income in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 increased $360 thousand compared to the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015 primarily due to higher royalties from an increase in franchise restaurant count.

Other Operating Income. Other operating income in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 increased $417 thousand compared to the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. Approximately $185 thousand of the increase was due to gift card breakage revenue and $135 thousand of the increase was from our share of income from a restaurant operated under a management agreement.

Food and Beverage Costs. Food and beverage costs were relatively unchanged in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 from the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. As a percentage of restaurant sales, food and beverage costs decreased to 29.8% in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 from 30.8% in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. The decrease in food and beverage costs as a percentage of restaurant sales was primarily due to a 5.2% decrease in beef costs and a 3.1% increase in average check.

Restaurant Operating Expenses. Restaurant operating expenses increased $5.7 million, or 4.7%, to $127.0 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 from the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. Restaurant operating expenses, as a percentage of restaurant sales, increased to 48.5% in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 from 47.9% in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. The increase in restaurant operating expenses as a percentage of restaurant sales was attributable to a $3.4 million increase in restaurant labor costs and a $1.3 million increase in occupancy costs.

Marketing and Advertising. Marketing and advertising expenses increased $782 thousand to $7.1 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 from the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. The increase in marketing and advertising expenses in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2016 was primarily attributable to a planned increase in advertising spending.

General and Administrative Costs. General and administrative costs increased $734 thousand to $22.1 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 from the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. The increase in general and administrative costs was primarily attributable to a $962 thousand increase in professional fees partially offset by a $328 decrease in compensation expense.

19

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $560 thousand to $9.9 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 from the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015 primarily due to depreciation on new restaurant assets placed in service within the last twelve months.

Pre-opening Costs. Pre-opening costs were $1.7 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 due to expenses incurred related to the anticipated opening of four new Company-owned restaurants, including the new locations in Albuquerque, NM and El Paso, TX, which opened in May and August 2016, respectively. Pre-opening costs were $627 thousand in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015 primarily due to the openings of new Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants in St. Petersburg, FL and Dallas, TX in February 2015 and November 2015, respectively.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $211 thousand to $799 thousand in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 from the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. The increase was primarily due to a higher average debt balance during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016.

Other Income. Other income remained relatively unchanged for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 compared to the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015.

Income Tax Expense. During the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016, we recognized income tax expense of $10.4 million. During the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015, we recognized income tax expense of $10.1 million. The effective tax rate, including the impact of discrete items, increased to 32.8% for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 compared to 32.5% for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. The effective tax rate increased primarily due to the unfavorable tax impact of equity compensation. Fiscal year 2016 discrete items and other unexpected changes impacting annual tax expense may cause the effective tax rate for fiscal year 2016 to differ from the effective tax rate for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016.

Income from Continuing Operations. Income from continuing operations of $21.3 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 increased by $272 thousand compared to the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015 due to the factors noted above.

Loss from Discontinued Operations, net of income taxes. Loss from discontinued operation, net of income taxes, for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 was $94 thousand compared to $582 thousand during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. The loss for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 was primarily attributable to occupancy costs of $581 thousand from a closed Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant, partially offset by a benefit of $466 thousand from the extinguishment of a liability related to Mitchell’s Restaurant gift cards. The loss for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015 was primarily attributable to Mitchell’s Restaurants.

Net Income. Net income was $21.3 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 and increased by $760 thousand compared to $20.5 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015. The increase was largely attributable to the factors noted above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Our principal sources of cash during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 were net cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under our $100 million senior credit facility. Our principal uses of cash during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 were for capital expenditures, principal repayments under our $100 million senior credit facility, common stock repurchases and dividend payments.

Cash flows from discontinued operations are combined with the cash flows from continuing operations within each of the categories on our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. We do not anticipate that any of our closed restaurants reported in discontinued operations will have a material impact on the Company’s cash flow during fiscal year 2016. The receipt of $10 million cash for the sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants and related assets during the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 was the only material impact on the Company’s cash flow during fiscal year 2015 related to the sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants or any of our closed restaurants reported in discontinued operations.

In April 2016, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program under which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to $60 million of outstanding common stock from time to time. The new share repurchase program replaces the previous share repurchase program announced in November 2014, which has been terminated. During the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016, we repurchased 2,476,865 shares at an aggregate cost of $40.0 million or an average cost of $16.14 per share. All repurchased shares were retired and cancelled. As of September 25, 2016, $31.7 million remained available for future purchases under the new program. Our ability to make future stock purchases under the new program is currently limited by our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The agreement was amended in September 2016 to reset the limit applicable to junior stock payments, which include both cash dividend payments and repurchases of common stock. Junior stock payments made subsequent to December 30, 2012 through the end of the agreement are limited to $140 million. As of September 25, 2016, $105.9 million of such payments had been made, and, as a result, as of September 25, 2016, we had $34.1 million of capacity under this limitation for both quarterly cash dividends and stock repurchases. As of September 25, 2016, we were in compliance with all the covenants under our senior credit facility.

20

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2013, we commenced paying quarterly cash dividends to holders of common and restricted stock. We paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share, or $2.3 million in the aggregate, during the first, second and third quarters of fiscal year 2016. On October 28, 2016, we announced that our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share, or approximately $2.2 million in the aggregate, to be paid on November 23, 2016 to common and restricted stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 10, 2016. Future dividends will be subject to the approval of our Board of Directors.

We have increased borrowing under our senior credit facility by $38.0 million since the end of fiscal year 2015. As of September 25, 2016, we had $38.0 million of outstanding indebtedness under our senior credit facility with approximately $57.9 million of borrowings available, net of outstanding letters of credit of approximately $4.1 million. As of September 25, 2016, the weighted average interest rate on our outstanding indebtedness was 2.66%. In addition, the fees on our unused senior credit facility and outstanding letters of credit were 0.2% and 2.1%, respectively.

The senior credit facility has a maturity date of February 14, 2017. We are currently negotiating with lenders to refinance the senior credit facility prior to its maturity.

We believe that our cash flow from operations coupled with our borrowing capacity under our senior credit facility should provide us with adequate liquidity for the next 12 months. We anticipate capital expenditures for fiscal year 2016 will total approximately $28.0 million to $30.0 million.

Sources and Uses of Cash

The following table presents a summary of our net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities (in thousands):

	39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$	29,125		$	29,505
Investing activities		(18,292	)		(4,594	)
Financing activities		(9,974	)		(26,420	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	$	859		$	(1,509	)

Operating Activities. Operating cash inflows pertain primarily to restaurant sales and franchise income. Operating cash outflows pertain primarily to expenditures for food and beverages, restaurant operating expenses, marketing and advertising, general and administrative costs and income taxes. Operating activities provided cash flow during the first thirty-nine weeks of both fiscal years 2016 and 2015 primarily because operating revenues exceeded cash-based expenses.

Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities aggregated $18.3 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 compared with $4.6 million cash used in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015 primarily due to receipt of $10 million from the sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants and related assets in fiscal year 2015. Investing cash outflows during the first thirty-nine weeks of both fiscal years 2016 and 2015 pertained primarily to capital expenditure projects. Cash used in investing projects during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016 pertained to $8.6 million for restaurant remodel and capital replacement projects and $9.5 million for new restaurants. Cash used in investing activities during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015 pertained to $8.6 million for restaurant remodel projects and $5.7 million for new restaurants.

Financing Activities. Financing activities used cash during the first thirty-nine weeks of both fiscal years 2016 and 2015. During the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016, we: used $40.0 million to repurchase common stock; increased the debt outstanding under our senior credit facility by $38.0 million; paid $1.5 million in employee taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock and the exercise of stock options; and paid dividends of $7.0 million. We paid $1.5 million in taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock and the exercise of stock options because some recipients elected to satisfy their individual minimum tax withholding obligations by having us withhold a number of vested shares of restricted stock and/or a number of shares otherwise issuable pursuant to stock options. During the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2015, we: reduced the debt outstanding under our senior credit facility by $8.0 million; used $11.7 million to repurchase common stock; paid $1.4 million in taxes related to stock based compensation; and paid dividends of $6.3 million.

21

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of September 25, 2016, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2015 includes a summary of the critical accounting policies and estimates that we believe are the most important to aid in the understanding our financial results. There have been no material changes to these critical accounting policies and estimates that impacted our reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues or expenses during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

The Company is exposed to market risk from fluctuations in interest rates. For fixed rate debt, interest rate changes affect the fair market value of such debt but do not impact earnings or cash flows. Conversely, for variable rate debt, including borrowings under the Company’s senior credit facility, interest rate changes generally do not affect the fair market value of such debt, but do impact future earnings and cash flows, assuming other factors are held constant. At September 25, 2016, the Company had $38.0 million in variable rate debt outstanding. The Company currently does not use financial instruments to hedge its risk to market fluctuations in interest rates. Ceteris paribus, a hypothetical immediate one percentage point change in interest rates would be expected to have an impact on pre-tax earnings and cash flows for fiscal year 2016 of approximately $380 thousand.

Foreign Currency Risk

The Company believes that fluctuations in foreign exchange rates do not present a material risk to its operations due to the relatively small amount of franchise income it receives from outside the U.S. During the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal years 2016 and 2015, franchise income attributable to international locations was approximately $2.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively.

Commodity Price Risk

The Company is exposed to market price fluctuations in beef and other food product prices, which in the past have been volatile and have impacted the Company’s food and beverage costs. As the Company typically sets its menu prices in advance of its beef and other food product purchases, the Company cannot quickly react to changing costs of beef and other food items. To the extent that the Company is unable to pass the increased costs on to its guests through price increases, the Company’s results of operations would be adversely affected. As of September 25, 2016, the Company has entered into negotiated set pricing for approximately 50% of its beef requirements for the remainder of fiscal year 2016. The market for USDA Prime grade beef is particularly volatile. If prices increase, or the supply of beef is reduced, operating margin could be materially adversely affected. Ceteris paribus, a hypothetical 10% fluctuation in beef prices would have an approximate impact on pre-tax earnings ranging from $0.5 million to $1.0 million for the remainder of fiscal year 2016.

From time to time, the Company enters into purchase price agreements for other lower-volume food products, including seafood. In the past, certain types of seafood have experienced fluctuations in availability. Seafood is also subject to fluctuations in price based on availability, which is often seasonal. If certain types of seafood are unavailable, or if the Company’s costs increase, the Company’s results of operations could be adversely affected.

Effects of Healthcare Inflation

The Company is exposed to market price fluctuations related to the cost of providing healthcare to its employees. Claim trends are predicted to outpace inflation throughout the upcoming year. Pharmacy costs are also rising in excess of general and medical cost inflation. If prices increase, or the Company experiences significantly more claims, operating margin could be materially adversely affected. Ceteris paribus, a hypothetical 10% fluctuation in healthcare costs would have an approximate impact on pre-tax earnings of approximately $250 thousand for the remainder of 2016.

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Effects of Inflation

The Company believes that general inflation, excluding increases in food, employee wages and employee health plan costs, has not had a material impact on its results of operations in recent years. Additionally, increases in statutory minimum wage rates may increase our operating costs. During 2016 and 2015, governmental entities acted to increase minimum wage rates in several states where Company-owned restaurants are located. The increased minimum wage rates are expected to increase employee compensation and related taxes by approximately $1.4 million in fiscal year 2016 compared to fiscal year 2015. Also, the U.S. government may consider legislation to increase the federal minimum wage rate, which, if enacted, would further increase employee compensation and related taxes.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of September 25, 2016. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 25, 2016 to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted by the Company under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that information required to be disclosed by the Company is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management to allow timely decisions regarding the required disclosure.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting

During the fiscal quarter ended September 25, 2016, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that in the Company’s judgment has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, the Company is involved in various disputes and litigation matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. While litigation is subject to uncertainties and the outcome of litigated matters is not predictable with assurance, the Company is not aware of any legal proceedings pending or threatened against it that it expects to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

The Company sells a considerable number of gift cards, which are issued and administered by a third party gift card issuer and service provider, consistent with common retail industry practice. The third party gift card issuer is paid a net fee for its services by the Company. The third party gift card issuer and service provider, as well as a number of other restaurant companies, retailers and gift card issuers, were named as defendants in an action filed under seal in June 2013 by William French on behalf of the State of Delaware in the Superior Court of Delaware in and for New Castle County. The complaint alleges that the Company and other defendants intentionally failed to report and remit money with respect to unused gift cards to the State of Delaware under the Delaware Escheats Law, and knowingly made, used or caused to be made or used, false statements and records to conceal, avoid or decrease an obligation to pay or transmit such money to Delaware in violation of the Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act (DFCRA). The complaint further alleges that the amount of money that the Company should have escheated to Delaware is approximately $30 million. The complaint seeks monetary damages (including treble damages under the DFCRA), penalties, and attorneys’ fees and costs. The case was unsealed in March 2014, at which time the court also granted the State of Delaware’s motion to intervene. All parties to the case are now in the process of seeking discovery. Mediation between all defendants and the State of Delaware was held in mid-October 2016. The Company filed a motion to dismiss in August 2016, and a hearing on the motion to dismiss was held in late October 2016. The motion to dismiss is currently pending. The Company believes it is in compliance with the Delaware Escheats Law and has not violated the DFCRA. The Company has been vigorously defending the action, and intends to continue to do so.

ITEM  1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes in the risk factors included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2015. The impact of circumstances and events described in such risk factors could result in significant adverse effects on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

23

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Stock repurchase activity during the fiscal quarter ended September 25, 2016 was as follows:

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of a Publicly Announced Program		Maximum Dollar Value that May Yet be Purchased under the Program – Amounts in thousands
June 27, 2016 to July 31, 2016		—		—		—	$	40,000
August 1, 2016 to August 28, 2016		124,204	$	15.03		124,204	$	38,133
August 29, 2016 to September 25, 2016		429,137	$	15.01		429,137	$	31,694
Totals for the fiscal quarter		553,341	$	15.01		553,341	$	31,694

On April 28, 2016, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved a new share repurchase program under which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to $60 million of outstanding common stock from time to time in the open market, through negotiated transactions or otherwise (including, without limitation, the use of Rule 10b5-1 plans), depending on share price, market conditions and other factors. The new share repurchase program replaced the Company’s previous share repurchase program announced in November 2014, which was terminated. The previous share repurchase program had permitted the repurchase of up to $50 million of outstanding common stock, of which approximately $9.5 million remained unused upon its termination. The new share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any dollar amount or number of shares, and has no termination date. The Company intends to conduct any open market share repurchase activities in compliance with the safe harbor provisions of Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. During the fiscal quarter ended September 25, 2016, 553,341 shares were repurchased via open market transactions at an aggregate cash cost of $8.3 million. During the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2015, 401,689 shares were repurchased via open market transactions at an aggregate cash cost of $6.4 million. The repurchased shares were cancelled.As of September 25, 2016, $31.7 million remained available for further purchases under the new program. The Company’s ability to make future stock purchases under the new program is currently limited by our senior credit agreement. Under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, we are limited to $140 million of junior stock payments, which includes cash dividends and repurchases of common stock. As of September 25, 2016, $105.9 million of such payments had been made, and, as a result, as of September 25, 2016, we had $34.1 million of capacity under this limitation for both quarterly cash dividends and stock repurchases.

ITEM  3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM  4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

None.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM  6. EXHIBITS

10.1	Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2016, by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 16, 2016).
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document.

101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

24

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

RUTH’S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC.
By:	/s/ MICHAEL P. O’DONNELL
	Michael P. O’Donnell
	Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
	(Principal Executive Officer)

By:	/s/ ARNE G. HAAK
	Arne G. Haak
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (Principal Financial Officer)

Date: October 28, 2016

25

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Michael P. O’Donnell, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (the “Company”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: October 28, 2016

By	/s/ Michael P. O’Donnell
	Michael P. O’Donnell
	Chief Executive Officer of
	Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Arne G. Haak, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (the “Company”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: October 28, 2016

By	/s/    Arne G. Haak
	Arne G. Haak
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (Principal Financial Officer)

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarter ended September 25, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: October 28, 2016

By	/s/ Michael P. O’Donnell
	Michael P. O’Donnell
	Chief Executive Officer of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarter ended September 25, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: October 28, 2016

By	/s/ Arne G. Haak
	Arne G. Haak
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (Principal Financial Officer)

XML

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	Sep. 25, 2016	Oct. 26, 2016
Unvested Restricted Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		1,249,169
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		31,888,363
Entity Registrant Name	Ruths Hospitality Group, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001324272
Trading Symbol	ruth
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-25
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 25, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015
Franchise Rights [Member]
Current assets:
Finite-lived intangible assets	$ 32,200	$ 32,200
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Current assets:
Finite-lived intangible assets	2,917	3,011
Cash and cash equivalents	3,954	3,095
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 2016 - $733; 2015 - $732	8,738	18,501
Inventory	7,138	7,479
Assets held for sale		250
Prepaid expenses and other	3,272	1,259
Total current assets	23,102	30,584
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 2016 - $132,033; 2015 - $125,362	95,874	87,984
Goodwill	24,293	24,293
Deferred income taxes	13,244	19,309
Other assets	703	1,216
Total assets	192,333	198,597
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	7,556	10,018
Accrued payroll	11,544	17,064
Accrued expenses	6,595	9,280
Deferred revenue	23,466	35,202
Current portion of long-term debt	38,000
Other current liabilities	6,109	6,308
Total current liabilities	93,270	77,872
Long-term debt
Deferred rent	21,253	20,275
Other liabilities	2,370	2,548
Total liabilities	116,893	100,695
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 30,881,668 shares issued and outstanding at September 25, 2016; 33,145,687 shares issued and outstanding at December 27, 2015	309	331
Additional paid-in capital	98,679	135,403
Accumulated deficit	(23,548)	(37,832)
Treasury stock, at cost; 71,950 shares at September 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015
Total shareholders' equity	75,440	97,902
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 192,333	$ 198,597

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 1,157	$ 1,090
Allowance for doubtful accounts	733	732
Property and equipment, accumulated depreciation	$ 132,033	$ 125,362
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	30,881,668	33,145,687
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	30,881,668	33,145,687
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	71,950	71,950

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Revenues:
Restaurant sales	$ 78,760	$ 75,249	$ 261,941	$ 253,085
Franchise income	3,928	3,965	12,463	12,103
Other operating income	1,086	1,078	3,914	3,497
Total revenues	83,774	80,292	278,318	268,685
Costs and expenses:
Food and beverage costs	23,723	23,709	78,022	77,971
Restaurant operating expenses	40,549	39,321	127,026	121,286
Marketing and advertising	2,546	2,312	7,134	6,352
General and administrative costs	7,346	7,442	22,068	21,334
Depreciation and amortization expenses	3,435	3,241	9,907	9,347
Pre-opening costs	574	112	1,665	627
Total costs and expenses	78,173	76,137	245,822	236,917
Operating income	5,601	4,155	32,496	31,768
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(333)	(188)	(799)	(588)
Other	(92)	9	60	40
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	5,176	3,976	31,757	31,220
Income tax expense	1,668	1,338	10,410	10,145
Income from continuing operations	3,508	2,638	21,347	21,075
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	75	(73)	(94)	(582)
Net income	$ 3,583	$ 2,565	$ 21,253	$ 20,493
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.08	$ 0.67	$ 0.62
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)				(0.02)
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.11	0.08	0.67	0.60
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.11	0.08	0.66	0.61
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)				(0.02)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.08	$ 0.66	$ 0.59
Shares used in computing net income (loss) per common share:
Basic (in shares)	31,305,952	33,989,364	32,023,814	34,183,137
Diluted (in shares)	31,737,036	34,338,440	32,437,142	34,537,553
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.06	$ 0.21	$ 0.18

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2014	34,334			72
Balance at Dec. 28, 2014	$ 343	$ 155,455	$ (59,487)		$ 96,311
Net income			20,493		20,493
Cash dividends			(6,280)		(6,280)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	(752)
Repurchase of common stock	$ (7)	(11,674)			(11,681)
Shares issued under stock compensation plan net of shares withheld for tax effects (in shares)	293
Shares issued under stock compensation plan net of shares withheld for tax effects	$ 3	(1,165)			(1,162)
Excess tax benefit from stock based compensation		703			703
Stock-based compensation		2,833			2,833
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 27, 2015	33,874			72
Balance at Sep. 27, 2015	$ 339	146,152	(45,274)		101,217
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2015	33,146			72
Balance at Dec. 27, 2015	$ 331	135,403	(37,832)		97,902
Net income			21,253		21,253
Cash dividends			(6,969)		(6,969)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	(2,477)
Repurchase of common stock	$ (25)	(39,948)			(39,973)
Shares issued under stock compensation plan net of shares withheld for tax effects (in shares)	213
Shares issued under stock compensation plan net of shares withheld for tax effects	$ 3	(1,430)			(1,427)
Excess tax benefit from stock based compensation		395			395
Stock-based compensation		4,259			4,259
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 25, 2016	30,882			72
Balance at Sep. 25, 2016	$ 309	$ 98,679	$ (23,548)		$ 75,440

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 21,253	$ 20,493
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	9,907	9,347
Deferred income taxes	6,065	11,289
Non-cash interest expense	315	315
Gain on the disposal of property and equipment, net	(128)
Stock-based compensation expense	4,259	2,833
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	9,793	6,896
Inventories	341	141
Prepaid expenses and other	(2,012)	(521)
Other assets	198	90
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(10,731)	(9,912)
Deferred revenue	(11,736)	(10,751)
Deferred rent	978	355
Other liabilities	623	(1,070)
Net cash provided by operating activities	29,125	29,505
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(19,094)	(14,594)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	802
Proceeds from sale of Mitchell's Restaurants		10,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(18,292)	(4,594)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal borrowings on long-term debt	47,000	26,000
Principal repayments on long-term debt	(9,000)	(34,000)
Repurchase of common stock	(39,973)	(11,681)
Tax payments from the vesting of restricted stock and option exercises	(1,503)	(1,392)
Excess tax benefits from stock compensation	395	703
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	76	230
Cash dividend payments	(6,969)	(6,280)
Net cash used in financing activities	(9,974)	(26,420)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	859	(1,509)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3,095	4,301
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	3,954	2,792
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest, net of capitalized interest	461	276
Income taxes	2,223	114
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Accrual-based acquisition of property and equipment	$ 389	$ 861

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Note 1 - The Company and Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

(1) The Company and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) as of September 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 and for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015 have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. is a restaurant company focused on the upscale dining segment. Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. operates Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants and sells franchise rights to Ruth’s Chris Steak House franchisees giving the franchisees the exclusive right to operate similar restaurants in a particular area designated in the franchise agreement. As of September 25, 2016, there were 149 Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants, including 68 Company-owned restaurants, one restaurant operating under a management agreement and 80 franchisee-owned restaurants, including 20 international franchisee-owned restaurants in Aruba, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. All Company-owned restaurants are located in the United States. New Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants opened in El Paso, TX in August 2016 and in Albuquerque, NM in May 2016 and a new franchisee-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant opened in Jakarta, Indonesia in February 2016. Subsequent to September 25, 2016, new franchisee-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants opened in Odenton, MD and Greenville, SC. A Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Columbus, OH closed in February 2016.

The Company previously operated eighteen Mitchell’s Fish Markets and three Mitchell’s/Cameron’s Steakhouse restaurants (collectively, the Mitchell’s Restaurants), located primarily in the Midwest and Florida. On January 21, 2015, the Company sold the Mitchell’s Restaurants to a third party (see Note 2). For financial statement reporting purposes, the Mitchell’s Restaurants are classified as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.

The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals and adjustments), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the operating results for the respective periods. The interim results of operations for the periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally presented in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the SEC’s rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2015.

The Company operates on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Sunday in December. The fiscal quarters ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015 each contained thirteen weeks and are referred to herein as the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 and the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, respectively. Fiscal years 2016 and 2015 are both 52-week years.

Estimates

Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reporting of revenue and expenses during the periods to prepare these condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amounts of property and equipment, goodwill, franchise rights, and obligations related to gift cards, incentive compensation, workers’ compensation and medical insurance. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements for Future Application

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (Topic 606), as amended by multiple standards updates. The ASU requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers, and will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330).” The pronouncement was issued to simplify the measurement of inventory and changes the measurement from lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. This pronouncement is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases” (Topic 842). This update requires a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments and a corresponding right-of-use asset. The guidance also requires certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, which will require us to adopt these provisions in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 using a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting but expects that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will result in an increase to its long-term assets and liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718).” This update was issued as part of the FASB’s simplification initiative and affects all entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. The amendments in this update cover such areas as the recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies, the classification of those excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, an accounting policy election for forfeitures, the amount an employer can withhold to cover income taxes and still qualify for equity classification and the classification of those taxes paid on the statement of cash flows. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016, which will require us to adopt these provisions in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. This guidance will be applied either prospectively, retrospectively or using a modified retrospective transition method, depending on the area covered in this update. Early adoption is permitted. We will adopt the new standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. We anticipate that the primary impact to our financial statements will be the recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies as income tax benefits or expense on our income statement in the period they are deducted on the income tax return. In addition, the cash flows related to excess tax benefits and deficiencies will be recorded as an operating activity on our statement of cash flows.

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Note 2 - Mitchell's Restaurants

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Mitchells Restaurants [Member]

Notes to Financial Statements

Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block]

(2) Mitchell’s Restaurants

 

In November 2014, the Company, Landry’s, Inc. and Mitchell’s Entertainment, Inc., an affiliate of Landry’s Inc. (together with Landry’s Inc., Landry’s), entered into an asset purchase agreement (the Agreement). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company agreed to sell the Mitchell’s Restaurants and related assets to Landry’s for $10 million. The sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants closed on January 21, 2015. The assets sold consisted primarily of leasehold interests, leasehold improvements, restaurant equipment and furnishings, inventory, and related intangible assets, including brand names and trademarks associated with the 21 Mitchell’s Restaurants. The results of operations of the Mitchell’s Restaurants have been classified as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of income for all periods presented. No amounts for shared general and administrative costs or interest expense were allocated to discontinued operations. Substantially all direct cash flows related to operating these restaurants were eliminated on the closing date of the sale. The Company’s continuing involvement was limited to the provision of transition services for four months with minimal impact on cash flows.

Under the terms of the Agreement, Landry’s assumed the Mitchell’s Restaurants’ facility lease obligations and the Company reimbursed Landry’s for gift cards that were sold prior to the closing date and were used at the Mitchell’s Restaurants during the eighteen months following the closing date. In the Agreement, the Company and Landry’s made customary representations and warranties and agreed to customary covenants relating to the sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants. The Company and Landry’s agreed to indemnify each other for losses arising from certain breaches of the Agreement and for certain other liabilities.

The Company guaranteed Landry’s lease obligations aggregating $36.0 million under nine of the Mitchell’s Restaurants’ leases. The Company did not record a financial accounting liability for the lease guarantees, because the likelihood of Landry’s defaulting on the lease agreements was deemed to be remote. Landry’s also indemnified the Company in the event of a default under any of the leases.

Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block]

(3) Discontinued Operations

The Company accounts for its closed restaurants in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 360-10, “Property, Plant and Equipment.” As of December 29, 2014, the Company adopted ASU 2014-08, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity,” which changed the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and requires additional disclosures about discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 requires that an entity report as a discontinued operation only a disposal that represents a strategic shift in operations that has a major effect on its operations and financial results. Therefore, individual restaurants which are closed after December 28, 2014 will not be classified as discontinued operations. Prior to the Company’s adoption of ASU 2014-08, when a restaurant was closed or the restaurant was either held for sale or abandoned, the restaurant’s operations were eliminated from the ongoing operations. Accordingly, the operations of such restaurants, net of applicable income taxes, are presented as discontinued operations and prior period operations of such restaurants, net of applicable income taxes, were reclassified. For the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015, all restaurant sales, direct costs and expenses and income taxes attributable to restaurants classified as discontinued operations have been aggregated to a single caption entitled income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes in the condensed consolidated statements of income for all periods presented. Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes is comprised of the following (in thousands):

	13 Weeks Ended						39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenues
Mitchell's Restaurants	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	4,343
Other Restaurants		-			-			-			(3	)
Total revenues		-			-			-			4,340
Costs and expenses
Mitchell's Restaurants		(448	)		90			(408	)		5,227
Other Restaurants		325			34			562			148
Total costs and expenses		(123	)		124			154			5,375
Income (loss) before income taxes		123			(124	)		(154	)		(1,035	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		48			(51	)		(60	)		(453	)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$	75		$	(73	)	$	(94	)	$	(582	)

Cash flows from discontinued operations are combined with the cash flows from continuing operations within each of the categories on our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The income in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 was primarily attributable to a $466 thousand benefit from the extinguishment of a liability related to Mitchell’s Restaurant gift cards. The Other Restaurant expense is primarily attributable to occupancy costs of $335 thousand from a closed Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant. We do not anticipate that the sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants or any of our closed restaurants reported as discontinued operations will have a material impact on the Company’s cash flow during fiscal year 2016.

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Note 3 - Discontinued Operations

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Mitchells Restaurants [Member]

Notes to Financial Statements

Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block]

(2) Mitchell’s Restaurants

 

In November 2014, the Company, Landry’s, Inc. and Mitchell’s Entertainment, Inc., an affiliate of Landry’s Inc. (together with Landry’s Inc., Landry’s), entered into an asset purchase agreement (the Agreement). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company agreed to sell the Mitchell’s Restaurants and related assets to Landry’s for $10 million. The sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants closed on January 21, 2015. The assets sold consisted primarily of leasehold interests, leasehold improvements, restaurant equipment and furnishings, inventory, and related intangible assets, including brand names and trademarks associated with the 21 Mitchell’s Restaurants. The results of operations of the Mitchell’s Restaurants have been classified as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of income for all periods presented. No amounts for shared general and administrative costs or interest expense were allocated to discontinued operations. Substantially all direct cash flows related to operating these restaurants were eliminated on the closing date of the sale. The Company’s continuing involvement was limited to the provision of transition services for four months with minimal impact on cash flows.

Under the terms of the Agreement, Landry’s assumed the Mitchell’s Restaurants’ facility lease obligations and the Company reimbursed Landry’s for gift cards that were sold prior to the closing date and were used at the Mitchell’s Restaurants during the eighteen months following the closing date. In the Agreement, the Company and Landry’s made customary representations and warranties and agreed to customary covenants relating to the sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants. The Company and Landry’s agreed to indemnify each other for losses arising from certain breaches of the Agreement and for certain other liabilities.

The Company guaranteed Landry’s lease obligations aggregating $36.0 million under nine of the Mitchell’s Restaurants’ leases. The Company did not record a financial accounting liability for the lease guarantees, because the likelihood of Landry’s defaulting on the lease agreements was deemed to be remote. Landry’s also indemnified the Company in the event of a default under any of the leases.

Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block]

(3) Discontinued Operations

The Company accounts for its closed restaurants in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 360-10, “Property, Plant and Equipment.” As of December 29, 2014, the Company adopted ASU 2014-08, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity,” which changed the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and requires additional disclosures about discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 requires that an entity report as a discontinued operation only a disposal that represents a strategic shift in operations that has a major effect on its operations and financial results. Therefore, individual restaurants which are closed after December 28, 2014 will not be classified as discontinued operations. Prior to the Company’s adoption of ASU 2014-08, when a restaurant was closed or the restaurant was either held for sale or abandoned, the restaurant’s operations were eliminated from the ongoing operations. Accordingly, the operations of such restaurants, net of applicable income taxes, are presented as discontinued operations and prior period operations of such restaurants, net of applicable income taxes, were reclassified. For the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015, all restaurant sales, direct costs and expenses and income taxes attributable to restaurants classified as discontinued operations have been aggregated to a single caption entitled income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes in the condensed consolidated statements of income for all periods presented. Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes is comprised of the following (in thousands):

	13 Weeks Ended						39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenues
Mitchell's Restaurants	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	4,343
Other Restaurants		-			-			-			(3	)
Total revenues		-			-			-			4,340
Costs and expenses
Mitchell's Restaurants		(448	)		90			(408	)		5,227
Other Restaurants		325			34			562			148
Total costs and expenses		(123	)		124			154			5,375
Income (loss) before income taxes		123			(124	)		(154	)		(1,035	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		48			(51	)		(60	)		(453	)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$	75		$	(73	)	$	(94	)	$	(582	)

Cash flows from discontinued operations are combined with the cash flows from continuing operations within each of the categories on our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The income in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 was primarily attributable to a $466 thousand benefit from the extinguishment of a liability related to Mitchell’s Restaurant gift cards. The Other Restaurant expense is primarily attributable to occupancy costs of $335 thousand from a closed Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant. We do not anticipate that the sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants or any of our closed restaurants reported as discontinued operations will have a material impact on the Company’s cash flow during fiscal year 2016.

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Note 4 - Long-term Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

(4) Long-term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands):

	September 25,		December 27,
	2016		2015
Senior Credit Facility:
Revolving credit facility	$	38,000	$	-
Less current maturities		38,000		-
	$	-	$	-

As of September 25, 2016, the Company had $38.0 million of outstanding indebtedness under its senior credit facility with approximately $57.9 million of borrowings available, net of outstanding letters of credit of approximately $4.1 million. As of September 25, 2016, the weighted average interest rate on the Company’s outstanding indebtedness was 2.66%. In addition, the fees on the Company’s unused senior credit facility and outstanding letters of credit were 0.2% and 2.1%, respectively.

On February 14, 2012, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, as administrative agent, and certain other lenders (the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement allows for loan advances plus outstanding letters of credit of up to $100 million to be outstanding at any time that the conditions for borrowings are met. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement has a maturity date of February 14, 2017. The Company is currently negotiating with lenders to refinance its senior credit facility prior to its maturity. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement sets the interest rates applicable to borrowings based on the Company’s actual leverage ratio, ranging (a) from 2.00% to 2.75% above the applicable LIBOR rate or (b) at the Company’s option, from 1.00% to 1.75% above the applicable base rate.

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains customary covenants and restrictions, including, but not limited to: (1) prohibitions on incurring additional indebtedness and from guaranteeing obligations of others; (2) prohibitions on creating, incurring, assuming or permitting to exist any lien on or with respect to any property or asset; (3) limitations on the Company’s ability to enter into joint ventures, acquisitions, and other investments; (4) prohibitions on directly or indirectly creating or becoming liable with respect to certain contingent liabilities; and (5) restrictions on directly or indirectly declaring, ordering, paying, or making any restricted junior payments. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25:1.00 and the maximum leverage ratio of 2.50:1.00. The agreement was amended in September 2016 to reset the limit applicable to junior stock payments, which include both cash dividend payments and repurchase of common and preferred stock. Under the amended agreement, junior stock payments made subsequent to December 30, 2012 through the end of the agreement are limited to $140 million; $105.9 million of such payments had been made as of September 25, 2016. The Company’s obligations under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are guaranteed by each of its existing and future subsidiaries and are secured by substantially all of its assets and a pledge of the capital stock of its subsidiaries. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement includes customary events of default. As of September 25, 2016, the Company was in compliance with the covenants under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.

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Note 5 - Shareholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

(5) Shareholders’ Equity

In April 2016, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program under which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to $60 million of outstanding common stock from time to time. The new share repurchase program replaces the previous share repurchase program announced in November 2014, which has been terminated. During the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016, 2,476,865 shares were repurchased at an aggregate cost of $40.0 million, or an average cost of $16.14 per share. Share repurchases were accounted for under the cost method and all repurchased shares were retired and cancelled. The excess of the purchase price over the par value of the shares was recorded as a reduction in additional paid-in capital.

The Company’s Board of Directors declared the following dividends during the periods presented (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

Declaration Date	Dividend per Share		Record Date	Total Amount		Payment Date
Fiscal Year 2016:
February 12, 2016	$	0.07	February 25, 2016	$	2,350	March 10, 2016
April 28, 2016	$	0.07	May 12, 2016	$	2,338	May 26, 2016
July 29, 2016	$	0.07	August 11, 2016	$	2,282	August 25, 2016
Fiscal Year 2015:
February 13, 2015	$	0.06	February 26, 2015	$	2,082	March 12, 2015
April 21, 2015	$	0.06	May 14, 2015	$	2,090	May 28, 2015
July 22, 2015	$	0.06	August 13, 2015	$	2,108	August 27, 2015

Subsequent to the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per common and restricted share, or approximately $2.2 million in the aggregate based on the number of shares currently outstanding, payable on November 23, 2016 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 10, 2016.

Outstanding unvested restricted stock is not included in common stock outstanding amounts. Restricted stock outstanding as of September 25, 2016 aggregated 1,249,169 shares.

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Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Text Block]

(6) Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, prepaid expenses, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities are reasonable estimates of their fair values due to their short duration. Borrowings classified as current and long-term debt as of September 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 have variable interest rates that reflect currently available terms and conditions for similar debt. The carrying amount of this debt is a reasonable estimate of its fair value (Level 2).

As of September 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, the Company had no assets or liabilities measured on a recurring or nonrecurring basis subject to the disclosure requirements of “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” FASB ASC Topic 820.

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Note 7 - Segment Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

(7) Segment Information

The Company has two reportable segments – the Company-owned steakhouse segment and the franchise operations segment. The Company does not rely on any major customers as a source of revenue. The Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants, all of which are located in North America, operate within the full-service dining industry, providing similar products to similar customers. Revenues are derived principally from food and beverage sales. As of September 25, 2016, (i) the Company-owned steakhouse restaurant segment included 68 Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants and one Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant operating under a management agreement and (ii) the franchise operations segment included 80 franchisee-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants. Segment profits for the Company-owned steakhouse restaurant segments equal segment revenues less segment expenses. Segment revenues for the Company-owned steakhouse restaurants include restaurant sales, management agreement income and other restaurant income. Gift card breakage revenue is not allocated to operating segments. Not all operating expenses are allocated to operating segments. Segment expenses for the Company-owned steakhouse segment include food and beverage costs and restaurant operating expenses.  No other operating costs are allocated to the segments for the purpose of determining segment profits because such costs are not directly related to the operation of individual restaurants. The accounting policies applicable to each segment are consistent with the policies used to prepare the consolidated financial statements. The profit of the franchise operations segment equals franchise income, which consists of franchise royalty fees and franchise opening fees. No costs are allocated to the franchise operations segment.

Segment information related to the Company’s two reportable business segments follows (in thousands):

	13 Weeks Ended						39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenues:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	79,360		$	75,815		$	263,907		$	254,819
Franchise operations		3,928			3,965			12,463			12,103
Unallocated other revenue and revenue discounts, net		486			512			1,948			1,763
Total revenues	$	83,774		$	80,292		$	278,318		$	268,685
Segment profits:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	15,088		$	12,785		$	58,859		$	55,562
Franchise operations		3,928			3,965			12,463			12,103
Total segment profit		19,016			16,750			71,322			67,665
Unallocated operating income		486			512			1,948			1,763
Marketing and advertising expenses		(2,546	)		(2,312	)		(7,134	)		(6,352	)
General and administrative costs		(7,346	)		(7,442	)		(22,068	)		(21,334	)
Depreciation and amortization expenses		(3,435	)		(3,241	)		(9,907	)		(9,347	)
Pre-opening costs		(574	)		(112	)		(1,665	)		(627	)
Interest expense, net		(333	)		(188	)		(799	)		(588	)
Other income		(92	)		9			60			40
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	$	5,176		$	3,976		$	31,757		$	31,220
Capital expenditures:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	5,238		$	6,376		$	18,351		$	13,646
Corporate assets		387			97			743			723
Mitchell's Restaurants		-			-			-			225
Total capital expenditures	$	5,625		$	6,473		$	19,094		$	14,594

	September 25,		December 27,
	2016		2015
Total assets:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	168,661	$	165,353
Franchise operations		1,954		2,444
Corporate assets - unallocated		8,474		11,241
Deferred income taxes - unallocated		13,244		19,309
Mitchell's Restaurants		-		250
Total assets	$	192,333	$	198,597

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Note 8 - Stock-based Employee Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]

(8) Stock-Based Employee Compensation

Under the Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, at September 25, 2016, there were 162,303 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of currently outstanding options, 1,249,169 currently outstanding unvested restricted stock awards and 1,876,196 shares available for future grants. During the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016, the Company issued 376,423 restricted stock awards to directors, officers and other employees of the Company. Of the 376,423 restricted stock awards issued during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal year 2016, 45,211 shares will vest in fiscal year 2017, 191,002 shares will vest in fiscal year 2018 and 140,210 shares will vest in fiscal year 2019. Total stock compensation expense recognized during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal years 2016 and 2015 was $4.3 million and $2.8 million, respectively.

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Note 9 - Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

(9) Income Taxes

Income tax expense differs from amounts computed by applying the federal statutory income tax rate to income from continuing operations before income taxes as follows:

	39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015
Income tax expense at statutory rates		35.0	%		35.0	%
Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		4.2	%		4.5	%
Federal employment tax credits		(7.1%	)		(7.2%	)
Other		0.7	%		0.2	%
Effective tax rate		32.8	%		32.5	%

The Company utilizes the federal FICA tip credit to reduce its periodic federal income tax expense. A restaurant company employer may claim a credit against the company’s federal income taxes for FICA taxes paid on certain tip wages (the FICA tip credit). The credit against income tax liability is for the full amount of eligible FICA taxes. Employers cannot deduct from taxable income the amount of FICA taxes taken into account in determining the credit.

Income taxes applicable to discontinued operations are comprised of (a) taxes calculated at the composite federal and state statutory tax rate times the pre-tax loss plus (b) the FICA tip credit benefit attributable to the restaurant sales of the Mitchell’s Restaurants. A reconciliation of the U.S. statutory tax rate to the effective tax rate applicable to discontinued operations for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal years 2016 and 2015 follows:

	39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015
Income tax benefit at statutory rates	$	(54	)	$	(362	)
Decrease in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		(6	)		(47	)
Other, primarily federal FICA tip credit net benefit		-			(44	)
Income tax benefit	$	(60	)	$	(453	)
Effective tax rate		38.9	%		43.7	%

The Company files consolidated and separate income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and many state jurisdictions, respectively. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal or state income tax examinations for years before 2011.

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Note 10 - Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Earnings Per Share [Text Block]

(10) Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of earnings per share (amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

	13 Weeks Ended					39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,		September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016		2015			2016			2015
Income from continuing operations	$	3,508	$	2,638		$	21,347		$	21,075
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		75		(73	)		(94	)		(582	)
Net income	$	3,583	$	2,565		$	21,253		$	20,493
Shares:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic		31,305,952		33,989,364			32,023,814			34,183,137
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted		31,737,036		34,338,440			32,437,142			34,537,553
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.67		$	0.62
Discontinued operations		-		-			-			(0.02	)
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.67		$	0.60
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.66		$	0.61
Discontinued operations		-		-			-			(0.02	)
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.66		$	0.59

Diluted earnings per share for the third quarters of fiscal year 2016 and 2015 excludes stock options and restricted shares of 31,845 and 33,853, respectively, which were outstanding during the period but were anti-dilutive. The weighted average exercise prices of the anti-dilutive stock options for the third quarters of fiscal years 2016 and 2015 were $19.14 per share and $18.92 per share, respectively. Diluted earnings per share for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal years 2016 and 2015 excludes stock options and restricted shares of 24,981 and 65,367, respectively, which were outstanding during the period but were anti-dilutive. The weighted average exercise prices of the anti-dilutive stock options for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal years 2016 and 2015 were $19.04 per share and $18.77 per share, respectively.

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Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

(11) Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is subject to various claims, possible legal actions and other matters arising in the normal course of business. Management does not expect disposition of these other matters to have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company. The Company expenses legal fees as incurred.

The legislation and regulations related to tax and unclaimed property matters are complex and subject to varying interpretations by both government authorities and taxpayers. The Company remits a variety of taxes and fees to various governmental authorities, including excise taxes, property taxes, sales and use taxes, and payroll taxes. The taxes and fees remitted by the Company are subject to review and audit by the applicable governmental authorities which could assert claims for additional assessments. Although management believes that the tax positions are reasonable and consequently there are no accrued liabilities for claims which may be asserted, various taxing authorities may challenge certain of the positions taken by the Company which may result in additional liability for taxes and interest. These tax positions are reviewed periodically based on the availability of new information, the lapsing of applicable statutes of limitations, the conclusion of tax audits, the identification of new tax contingencies, or the rendering of relevant court decisions. An unfavorable resolution of assessments by a governmental authority could negatively impact the Company’s results of operations and cash flows in future periods.

The Company is subject to unclaimed or abandoned property (escheat) laws which require the Company to turn over to certain state governmental authorities the property of others held by the Company that has been unclaimed for specified periods of time. The Company is subject to audit by individual U.S. states with regard to its escheatment practices.

The Company sells a considerable number of gift cards, which are issued and administered by a third party gift card issuer and service provider, consistent with common retail industry practice. The third party gift card issuer is paid a net fee for its services by the Company. The third party gift card issuer and service provider, as well as a number of other restaurant companies, retailers and gift card issuers, were named as defendants in an action filed under seal in June 2013 by William French on behalf of the State of Delaware in the Superior Court of Delaware in and for New Castle County. The complaint alleges that the Company and other defendants intentionally failed to report and remit money with respect to unused gift cards to the State of Delaware under the Delaware Escheats Law, and knowingly made, used or caused to be made or used, false statements and records to conceal, avoid or decrease an obligation to pay or transmit such money to Delaware in violation of the Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act (DFCRA). The complaint further alleges that the amount of money that the Company should have escheated to Delaware is approximately $30 million. The complaint seeks monetary damages (including treble damages under the DFCRA), penalties, and attorneys’ fees and costs. The case was unsealed in March 2014, at which time the court also granted the State of Delaware’s motion to intervene. All parties to the case are now in the process of seeking discovery. Mediation between all defendants and the State of Delaware was held in mid-October 2016. The Company filed a motion to dismiss in August 2016, and a hearing on the motion to dismiss was held in late October 2016. The motion to dismiss is currently pending. The Company believes it is in compliance with the Delaware Escheats Law and has not violated the DFCRA. The Company has been vigorously defending the action, and intends to continue to do so.

The Company currently buys a majority of its beef from two suppliers. Although there are a limited number of beef suppliers, management believes that other suppliers could provide similar product on comparable terms. A change in suppliers, however, could cause supply shortages and a possible loss of sales, which would affect operating results adversely.

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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) as of September 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 and for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015 have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. is a restaurant company focused on the upscale dining segment. Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. operates Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants and sells franchise rights to Ruth’s Chris Steak House franchisees giving the franchisees the exclusive right to operate similar restaurants in a particular area designated in the franchise agreement. As of September 25, 2016, there were 149 Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants, including 68 Company-owned restaurants, one restaurant operating under a management agreement and 80 franchisee-owned restaurants, including 20 international franchisee-owned restaurants in Aruba, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. All Company-owned restaurants are located in the United States. New Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants opened in El Paso, TX in August 2016 and in Albuquerque, NM in May 2016 and a new franchisee-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant opened in Jakarta, Indonesia in February 2016. Subsequent to September 25, 2016, new franchisee-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants opened in Odenton, MD and Greenville, SC. A Company-owned Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Columbus, OH closed in February 2016.

The Company previously operated eighteen Mitchell’s Fish Markets and three Mitchell’s/Cameron’s Steakhouse restaurants (collectively, the Mitchell’s Restaurants), located primarily in the Midwest and Florida. On January 21, 2015, the Company sold the Mitchell’s Restaurants to a third party (see Note 2). For financial statement reporting purposes, the Mitchell’s Restaurants are classified as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.

The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals and adjustments), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the operating results for the respective periods. The interim results of operations for the periods ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally presented in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the SEC’s rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2015.

The Company operates on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Sunday in December. The fiscal quarters ended September 25, 2016 and September 27, 2015 each contained thirteen weeks and are referred to herein as the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 and the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, respectively. Fiscal years 2016 and 2015 are both 52-week years.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Estimates

Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reporting of revenue and expenses during the periods to prepare these condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amounts of property and equipment, goodwill, franchise rights, and obligations related to gift cards, incentive compensation, workers’ compensation and medical insurance. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements for Future Application

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (Topic 606), as amended by multiple standards updates. The ASU requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers, and will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330).” The pronouncement was issued to simplify the measurement of inventory and changes the measurement from lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. This pronouncement is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases” (Topic 842). This update requires a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments and a corresponding right-of-use asset. The guidance also requires certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, which will require us to adopt these provisions in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 using a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting but expects that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will result in an increase to its long-term assets and liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718).” This update was issued as part of the FASB’s simplification initiative and affects all entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. The amendments in this update cover such areas as the recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies, the classification of those excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, an accounting policy election for forfeitures, the amount an employer can withhold to cover income taxes and still qualify for equity classification and the classification of those taxes paid on the statement of cash flows. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016, which will require us to adopt these provisions in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. This guidance will be applied either prospectively, retrospectively or using a modified retrospective transition method, depending on the area covered in this update. Early adoption is permitted. We will adopt the new standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. We anticipate that the primary impact to our financial statements will be the recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies as income tax benefits or expense on our income statement in the period they are deducted on the income tax return. In addition, the cash flows related to excess tax benefits and deficiencies will be recorded as an operating activity on our statement of cash flows.

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Note 3 - Discontinued Operations (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes Tables

Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Table Text Block]

	13 Weeks Ended						39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenues
Mitchell's Restaurants	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	4,343
Other Restaurants		-			-			-			(3	)
Total revenues		-			-			-			4,340
Costs and expenses
Mitchell's Restaurants		(448	)		90			(408	)		5,227
Other Restaurants		325			34			562			148
Total costs and expenses		(123	)		124			154			5,375
Income (loss) before income taxes		123			(124	)		(154	)		(1,035	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		48			(51	)		(60	)		(453	)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$	75		$	(73	)	$	(94	)	$	(582	)

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Note 4 - Long-term Debt (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes Tables

Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]

	September 25,		December 27,
	2016		2015
Senior Credit Facility:
Revolving credit facility	$	38,000	$	-
Less current maturities		38,000		-
	$	-	$	-

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Note 5 - Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes Tables

Schedule of Dividends Payable [Table Text Block]

Declaration Date	Dividend per Share		Record Date	Total Amount		Payment Date
Fiscal Year 2016:
February 12, 2016	$	0.07	February 25, 2016	$	2,350	March 10, 2016
April 28, 2016	$	0.07	May 12, 2016	$	2,338	May 26, 2016
July 29, 2016	$	0.07	August 11, 2016	$	2,282	August 25, 2016
Fiscal Year 2015:
February 13, 2015	$	0.06	February 26, 2015	$	2,082	March 12, 2015
April 21, 2015	$	0.06	May 14, 2015	$	2,090	May 28, 2015
July 22, 2015	$	0.06	August 13, 2015	$	2,108	August 27, 2015

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Note 7 - Segment Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes Tables

Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]

	13 Weeks Ended						39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenues:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	79,360		$	75,815		$	263,907		$	254,819
Franchise operations		3,928			3,965			12,463			12,103
Unallocated other revenue and revenue discounts, net		486			512			1,948			1,763
Total revenues	$	83,774		$	80,292		$	278,318		$	268,685
Segment profits:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	15,088		$	12,785		$	58,859		$	55,562
Franchise operations		3,928			3,965			12,463			12,103
Total segment profit		19,016			16,750			71,322			67,665
Unallocated operating income		486			512			1,948			1,763
Marketing and advertising expenses		(2,546	)		(2,312	)		(7,134	)		(6,352	)
General and administrative costs		(7,346	)		(7,442	)		(22,068	)		(21,334	)
Depreciation and amortization expenses		(3,435	)		(3,241	)		(9,907	)		(9,347	)
Pre-opening costs		(574	)		(112	)		(1,665	)		(627	)
Interest expense, net		(333	)		(188	)		(799	)		(588	)
Other income		(92	)		9			60			40
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	$	5,176		$	3,976		$	31,757		$	31,220
Capital expenditures:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	5,238		$	6,376		$	18,351		$	13,646
Corporate assets		387			97			743			723
Mitchell's Restaurants		-			-			-			225
Total capital expenditures	$	5,625		$	6,473		$	19,094		$	14,594

Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated [Table Text Block]

	September 25,		December 27,
	2016		2015
Total assets:
Company-owned steakhouse restaurants	$	168,661	$	165,353
Franchise operations		1,954		2,444
Corporate assets - unallocated		8,474		11,241
Deferred income taxes - unallocated		13,244		19,309
Mitchell's Restaurants		-		250
Total assets	$	192,333	$	198,597

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Note 9 - Income Taxes (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Discontinued Operations [Member]

Notes Tables

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

	39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015
Income tax benefit at statutory rates	$	(54	)	$	(362	)
Decrease in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		(6	)		(47	)
Other, primarily federal FICA tip credit net benefit		-			(44	)
Income tax benefit	$	(60	)	$	(453	)
Effective tax rate		38.9	%		43.7	%

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

	39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,			September 27,
	2016			2015
Income tax expense at statutory rates		35.0	%		35.0	%
Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		4.2	%		4.5	%
Federal employment tax credits		(7.1%	)		(7.2%	)
Other		0.7	%		0.2	%
Effective tax rate		32.8	%		32.5	%

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Note 10 - Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2016

Notes Tables

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

	13 Weeks Ended					39 Weeks Ended
	September 25,		September 27,			September 25,			September 27,
	2016		2015			2016			2015
Income from continuing operations	$	3,508	$	2,638		$	21,347		$	21,075
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		75		(73	)		(94	)		(582	)
Net income	$	3,583	$	2,565		$	21,253		$	20,493
Shares:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic		31,305,952		33,989,364			32,023,814			34,183,137
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted		31,737,036		34,338,440			32,437,142			34,537,553
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.67		$	0.62
Discontinued operations		-		-			-			(0.02	)
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.67		$	0.60
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.66		$	0.61
Discontinued operations		-		-			-			(0.02	)
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.08		$	0.66		$	0.59

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Note 1 - The Company and Basis of Presentation (Details Textual)	1 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2016	May 31, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Sep. 25, 2016	Dec. 28, 2014
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Entity Operated Units [Member] | Albuquerque, NM [Member]
Number of Restaurants Opened During Period		1
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Entity Operated Units [Member] | Columbus, OH [Member]
Number of Restaurants Closed During Period			1
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Entity Operated Units [Member]
Number of Restaurants				68
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Franchised Units [Member] | Jakarta, Indonesia [Member]
Number of Restaurants Opened During Period			1
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Franchised Units [Member] | Odenton, MD [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Number of Restaurants Opened During Period	1
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Franchised Units [Member] | Greenville, SC [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Number of Restaurants Opened During Period	1
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Franchised Units [Member] | International [Member]
Number of Restaurants				20
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Franchised Units [Member]
Number of Restaurants				80
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Managed [Member]
Number of Restaurants				1
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member]
Number of Restaurants				149
Mitchells Fish Market [Member] | Company-owned Fish Market Restaurants [Member]
Number of Restaurants					18
Camerons Mitchell Steak house [Member] | Company-owned Steakhouse Restaurants [Member]
Number of Restaurants					3

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Note 2 - Mitchell's Restaurants (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 21, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Mitchells Restaurants [Member]
General and Administrative Expense					$ 0
Interest Expense					$ 0
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration							$ 10,000,000
Number of Restaurants						21
General and Administrative Expense	$ 7,346,000	$ 7,442,000	$ 22,068,000	$ 21,334,000
Interest Expense	333,000	$ 188,000	799,000	$ 588,000
Lease Obligations Guaranteed	$ 36,000,000		$ 36,000,000

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Note 3 - Discontinued Operations (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 25, 2016
Mitchells Restaurants [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Gift Card Liability	$ (466)	$ (466)
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member]
Occupancy Costs	$ 335	$ 335

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Note 3 - Discontinued Operations - Summary of Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Mitchells Restaurants [Member]
Revenues				$ 4,343
Recurring costs and expenses	(448)	90	(408)	5,227
Other Restaurants [Member]
Revenues				(3)
Recurring costs and expenses	325	34	562	148
Revenues				4,340
Recurring costs and expenses	(123)	124	154	5,375
Income (loss) before income taxes	123	(124)	(154)	(1,035)
Income tax expense (benefit)	48	(51)	(60)	(453)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$ 75	$ (73)	$ (94)	$ (582)

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Note 4 - Long-term Debt (Details Textual) $ in Millions		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 14, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 25, 2016 USD ($)
Senior Credit Facility [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Amended And Restated Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.00%
Senior Credit Facility [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Amended And Restated Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.75%
Senior Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Amended And Restated Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.00%
Senior Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Amended And Restated Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.75%
Senior Credit Facility [Member]
Long-term Line of Credit		$ 38.0
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity		$ 57.9
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.20%
Letter of Credit [Member]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		$ 4.1
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate		2.66%
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End		2.10%
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 100.0
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio		1.25
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Maximum Leverage Ratio		2.5
Debt Instrument Covenants on Cash Dividend Payments and Repurchases of Common or Preferred Stock		$ 140.0
Debt Covenant Limit Used for Cash Dividends and Repurchases of Common or Preferred Stock		$ 105.9

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Note 4 - Long-term Debt - Summary of Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015
Revolving credit facility	$ 38,000
Current portion of long-term debt	$ 38,000

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Note 5 - Shareholders' Equity (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 10, 2016	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Nov. 23, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016
The 2016 Share Repurchase Plan [Member]
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount							$ 60.0
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares				2,476,865
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value				$ 40.0
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Average Cost per Share				$ 16.14
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.07
Dividends Payable, Current						$ 2.2
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number		1,249,169		1,249,169
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared		$ 0.07	$ 0.06	$ 0.21	$ 0.18

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Note 5 - Shareholders' Equity - Dividends Declared (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Dividend Declared 1 [Member]
Declaration date	Feb. 12, 2016	Feb. 13, 2015
Dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.06
Record date	Feb. 25, 2016	Feb. 26, 2015
Total amount	$ 2,350	$ 2,082
Payment date	Mar. 10, 2016	Mar. 12, 2015
Dividends Declared 2 [Member]
Declaration date	Apr. 28, 2016	Apr. 21, 2015
Dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.06
Record date	May 12, 2016	May 14, 2015
Total amount	$ 2,338	$ 2,090
Payment date	May 26, 2016	May 28, 2015
Dividends Declared 3 [Member]
Declaration date	Jul. 29, 2016	Jul. 22, 2015
Dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.06
Record date	Aug. 11, 2016	Aug. 13, 2015
Total amount	$ 2,282	$ 2,108
Payment date	Aug. 25, 2016	Aug. 27, 2015

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Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) - USD ($)	Sep. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	$ 0	$ 0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Nonrecurring	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure, Nonrecurring	$ 0	$ 0

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Note 7 - Segment Information (Details Textual)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Entity Operated Units [Member]
Number of Restaurants	68
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Managed [Member]
Number of Restaurants	1
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member] | Franchised Units [Member]
Number of Restaurants	80
Ruths Chris Steak House [Member]
Number of Restaurants	149
Number of Reportable Segments	2

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Note 7 - Segment Information - Operating Profit (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Operating Segments [Member] | Company-owned Steakhouse Restaurants [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 79,360	$ 75,815	$ 263,907	$ 254,819
Segment profits:
Gross profit	15,088	12,785	58,859	55,562
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditure	5,238	6,376	18,351	13,646
Operating Segments [Member] | Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	3,928	3,965	12,463	12,103
Segment profits:
Gross profit	3,928	3,965	12,463	12,103
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	486	512	1,948	1,763
Segment profits:
Gross profit	19,016	16,750	71,322	67,665
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditure	387	97	743	723
Mitchells Restaurants [Member]
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditure				225
Revenues	83,774	80,292	278,318	268,685
Unallocated operating income	486	512	1,948	1,763
Marketing and advertising expenses	(2,546)	(2,312)	(7,134)	(6,352)
General and administrative costs	(7,346)	(7,442)	(22,068)	(21,334)
Depreciation and amortization expenses	(3,435)	(3,241)	(9,907)	(9,347)
Pre-opening costs	(574)	(112)	(1,665)	(627)
Interest expense, net	(333)	(188)	(799)	(588)
Other income	(92)	9	60	40
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	5,176	3,976	31,757	31,220
Capital expenditure	$ 5,625	$ 6,473	$ 19,094	$ 14,594

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Note 7 - Segment Information - Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015
Operating Segments [Member] | Company-owned Steakhouse Restaurants [Member]
Assets	$ 168,661	$ 165,353
Operating Segments [Member] | Franchise Operations [Member]
Assets	1,954	2,444
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Assets	8,474	11,241
Deferred income taxes - unallocated	13,244	19,309
Mitchells Restaurants [Member]
Assets		250
Assets	$ 192,333	$ 198,597

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Note 8 - Stock-based Employee Compensation (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Long-term Equity Incentive Plan 2005 [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number	1,249,169
Long-term Equity Incentive Plan 2005 [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross	45,211
Long-term Equity Incentive Plan 2005 [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross	191,002
Long-term Equity Incentive Plan 2005 [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Three [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross	140,210
Long-term Equity Incentive Plan 2005 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number	162,303
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	1,876,196
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross	376,423
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number	1,249,169
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 4.3	$ 2.8

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Note 9 - Income Taxes - Reconciliation of the U.S. Statutory Rate to the Effective Rate (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Income tax expense at statutory rates	35.00%	35.00%
Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	4.20%	4.50%
Federal employment tax credits	(7.10%)	(7.20%)
Other	0.70%	0.20%
Effective tax rate	32.80%	32.50%

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Note 9 - Income Taxes - Income Tax Reconciliation Applicable to Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income tax benefit at statutory rates			$ (54)	$ (362)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit			(6)	(47)
Other, primarily federal FICA tip credit net benefit				(44)
Income tax benefit			$ (60)	$ (453)
Effective tax rate			38.90%	43.70%
Income tax benefit	$ 1,668	$ 1,338	$ 10,410	$ 10,145
Effective tax rate			32.80%	32.50%

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Note 10 - Earnings Per Share (Details Textual) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	31,845	33,853	24,981	65,367
Weighted Average Exercise Prices Anti Dilutive Stock Options	$ 19.14	$ 18.92	$ 19.04	$ 18.77

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Note 10 - Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Income from continuing operations	$ 3,508	$ 2,638	$ 21,347	$ 21,075
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	75	(73)	(94)	(582)
Net income	$ 3,583	$ 2,565	$ 21,253	$ 20,493
Shares used in computing net income (loss) per common share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	31,305,952	33,989,364	32,023,814	34,183,137
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	31,737,036	34,338,440	32,437,142	34,537,553
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.08	$ 0.67	$ 0.62
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)				(0.02)
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	0.11	0.08	0.67	0.60
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.11	0.08	0.66	0.61
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)				(0.02)
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.08	$ 0.66	$ 0.59

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Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual)	1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 25, 2016
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value	$ 30,000,000
Number of Suppliers		2