-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HG+iuM3bG2O7GwLe5msvFfl7LplhIsBHxP1QuycAaZ/aYnJRoogXONuHHqQ8Arky
 G8o4LLQgp7vKH8sRcWPNXQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-028100.txt : 20031030
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-028100.hdr.sgml : 20031030
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031030160843
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-028100
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031020
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031030

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GATOFF ERIC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001268467

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-03189
		FILM NUMBER:		03966843

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		24 E 22ND ST
		STREET 2:		APT 3
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10010

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATHANS FAMOUS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000069733
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				113166443
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0329

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 OLD COUNTRY RD
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163388500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 OLD COUNTRY RD
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd21237.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 FILING
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-20</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000069733</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATHANS FAMOUS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NATH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001268467</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GATOFF ERIC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>24 EAST 22ND STREET, APT. 3</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10010</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President &amp; Corp. Counsel</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>2001 Stock Option Plan (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.38</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-10-20</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-10-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options become exerciseable one-third on each of 10/20/04, 10/20/05 and 10/20/06.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSig
nature><signatureName>/s/Eric Gatoff</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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