[LANDRY'S LETTERHEAD APPEARS HERE]

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                LANDRY'S RESTAURANTS, INC. ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION
             OF SALTGRASS STEAK HOUSE RESTAURANTS FROM METRONATIONAL
             Company Acquires Popular Casual Texas Steakhouse Chain

HOUSTON, September 11/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Landry's Restaurants, Inc.
(NYSE:LNY - News) announced today that it has entered into a definitive
agreement to acquire the 27 unit Texas-based Saltgrass Steak House and Seafood
restaurants from MetroNational Corporation for $75 million. The acquisition is
expected to close within 30 days.

MetroNational, a privately held real estate investment, development and
management company headquartered in Houston, Texas, is active in commercial,
healthcare, land development, retail, hospitality and residential projects, and
is the owner/developer of such premier projects as Memorial City and Memorial
City Mall, Memorial-Hermann-Memorial City Hospital, Spring Showdows, Stablegate,
Centerfield, Pine Crest Golf and Baseball USA. In 1995, MetroNational became the
financial partner of Saltgrass which allowed for its accelerated growth.

According to Tilman J. Fertitta, Landry's Restaurants, Inc. Chairman, President
and CEO, "We believe that the Saltgrass Steak House concept has the potential to
perhaps be the best strategic acquisition since we purchased the original Joe's
Crab Shack restaurant in 1994. That is how confident and excited we are with
this transaction. The Saltgrass Steak House restaurants are well known for their
fun atmosphere and quality steaks. Since they are based in our home market, we
have closely watched their successful expansion in the key Texas markets. The
high unit volumes and casual energetic concept works well in proximity to our
Joe's Crab Shack restaurants. In fact, four of the Saltgrass locations are
closely situated to our Joe's Crab Shacks. The steak concept complements
Landry's existing portfolio and offers potential future development of Joe's
Crab Shacks and Saltgrass Steak Houses at mutual locations."

Mr. Fertitta further noted that the popularity of steakhouses remains strong. Of
the 50 top growth chains, 13 of them, including Saltgrass Steak House,
specialize in beef, with check averages ranging from $8.99 to over $70.
Saltgrass restaurants' check average is approximately $19.

The Saltgrass Steak House restaurant chain has become well known in Texas for
its fun, casual decor, excellent steaks and seafood, and it's friendly,
attentive service. Saltgrass Steak House has also garnered the attention of the
restaurant industry, rising to inclusion among Restaurant Hospitality's 50
fastest growing full service restaurant chains in America, and inclusion in the
top 10 highest average unit sales volumes.

"The quality of the Saltgrass Steak House operations exceeds in every measurable
category," said Richard Ervin, Executive Vice President of Operations. "Those
managing the Saltgrass business have truly excelled and developed an outstanding
reputation for quality and consistency. We look forward to participating in
their ongoing success, and together growing and expanding the concept."

Mr. Wayne Hays, Chief Operating Officer for MetroNational expressed his support
of the transaction as well. "Saltgrass Steak House is one of the best performing
steakhouse concepts in the country," he said. "Under





MetroNational's ownership, we have grown the Company to 27 successful high
volume restaurants throughout Texas. Now it is time to transition ownership from
a financial to a strategic owner. Landry's, under the leadership of Tilman
Fertitta, is the right company to take the Saltgrass concept forward to become a
national chain."

In the purchase, Landry's will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of
Saltgrass and certain real estate. Landry's expects the Saltgrass restaurants to
add approximately $100 million of annual sales and $13 million in annual cash
flow, after corporate general and administrative overhead, but before financing
costs and taxes. In addition, Landry's expects the acquisition to be accretive
to the Company's 2003 earnings by up to $.08 per share.

The acquisition of Saltgrass Steak House restaurants is Landry's third
acquisition this year. In February, Landry's bought the Detroit based 16-unit
Charley's Crab seafood chain, and in July, Landry's purchased the 35-unit Chart
House seafood chain with their spectacular waterfront locations on the east and
west coasts. With the closing of these acquisitions, the Company's revenues for
2003 are expected to be approximately $1.1 billion.

Landry's Restaurants, Inc., is the nation's second largest casual dining,
full-service seafood restaurant chain. With the addition of Saltgrass, the
Company will own and operate approximately 275 restaurants, including Landry's
Seafood House, Joe's Crab Shack, The Crab House, Rainforest Cafe, Charley's
Crab, and The Chart House, as well as the Kemah Boardwalk, a magnificent
30-acre, family-oriented themed entertainment dining destination. The Company
employs 27,000 workers in 34 states.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual events or
Landry's results may differ materially from their results discussed in the
forward-looking statements. Landry's does not expect to update forward-looking
statements continually as conditions change.

CONTACT:  Tilman J. Fertitta           or             Paul S. West
          Chairman, President                         Executive Vice President
          and CEO                                     and CFO
          (713) 850-1010                              (713) 850-1010