R&I Special Report: Top 100 Independents

The nature as well as the sales volume of R&I’s Top 100 Independent Restaurants continue to evolve. In 2006, the 100 largest nonchain restaurant locations had aggregate food-and-beverage revenue of nearly $1.46 billion, a shocking 8.7% increase from the previous year.

By Scott Hume, Executive Managing Editor -- Restaurants & Institutions, 4/15/2007

The nature as well as the sales volume of R&I’s Top 100 Independent Restaurants continue to evolve. In 2006, the 100 largest nonchain restaurant locations had aggregate food-and-beverage revenue of nearly $1.46 billion, a shocking 8.7% increase from the previous year.

While 2006 certainly was an upbeat year for these restaurants, most of which enjoyed sales gains, much of that year-over-year increase is due to the arrival of Tao Las Vegas Restaurant & Nightclub and its staggering $55.3 million in F&B revenue. Open only since September of 2005, it makes its debut in the No. 1 spot. Six other Las Vegas restaurants—including five in Wynn Las Vegas—also make premiere appearances, indicating the continuing shift of Top 100 membership away from long-running dining institutions toward stylish, high-end dining experiences. Read more in High Rolling.

Many familiar names remain, of course: Tavern on the Green, Joe’s Stone Crab, Old Ebbitt Grill, Gibsons Bar Steakhouse and ‘21’ Club defended their slots among the top 10. But when $10 million in sales isn’t enough to crack the Top 100, it’s clear the definition of success is being altered.