Luke Johnson Joins TAM Restaurants, Inc. Board.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2000

TAM Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ: TAMR) announced today that Luke Johnson has been elected to TAM Restaurants, Inc. Board of Directors. Mr. Johnson is currently the Chairman of Belgo Group PLC, a publicly traded restaurant group (London Stock Exchange) with operations in the UK and US and a current market value of approximately $90 million.

Among it holdings in the UK, Belgo Group operates two of London's highest rated restaurants, The Ivy and Le Caprice. Mr. Johnson commented, "I am very impressed with the restaurants that TAM operates, they all have excellent reputations for high quality dining with both critics and consumers. I believe that Lundy Bros. Restaurant affords an exciting growth vehicle for the Company."

Kenneth Harris, TAM's Chairman remarked: "Luke Johnson is a dynamic addition to our board. He provides a wealth of experience in building restaurant companies and enhancing shareholder value. In addition to accepting a Board Seat, Mr. Johnson has assembled a consortium of investors that on February 8, 2000 purchased $2 million of new equity in TAM which represents 22% of TAM Restaurants, Inc. outstanding Common Stock."

Mr. Johnson was previously Chairman of PizzaExpress PLC, a publicly traded restaurant group in the UK. During his six year involvement with PizzaExpress PLC, its stock rose from 40p to over 800p ($.68/share to $13.53/share US). Currently PizzaExpress PLC has a market value of approximately $900 million. Mr. Johnson is also a director of NewMedia SPARK plc, one of Europe's leading internet incubators and Nightfreight plc, a transport company. Mr. Johnson received his degree from Oxford University.

"For a small cap company we have been able to assemble a Board of Directors with a track record of building successful companies" commented Frank Cretella, TAM's Founder, President and CEO. "In addition to Mr. Johnson, Barry Krantz was President and COO of the $1.2 billion Family Restaurants, Inc. and currently serves on the boards of Sizzler and Fresh Choice; our Chairman Ken Harris was CEO of WR Grace's $500 million Restaurant Dinnerhouse Group; and Peter Salvatore was a Managing Director of Speer, Leeds and Kellog, a NASD member firm. I look forward to drawing upon the Board's collective experience and expertise as we pursue additional sites for expansion as TAM's growth accelerates."

On an unrelated issue, the Company also stated that as previously noted it has not been designated by the Parks Department for renewal of the license agreement for the Boathouse in Central Park. The Company intends to contest the recommendation of another licensee before the Franchise and Concession Review Committee on April 10, 2000. The Franchise and Concession Review Committee is the New York City body charged with the responsibility of awarding concession contracts to potential licensees. Mr. Harris commented "As I previously stated we are disappointed that we were not the Parks Departments designee, however we are working with our advisors and are hopeful that when the full review committee meets we will achieve a favorable outcome. Regardless of the outcome, we are very excited to have begun construction of the Times Square Lundy's and will continue to look for additional expansion opportunities of the Lundy's concept."

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" with the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the Company's ability to negotiate new leases, the opening of new restaurants, the Company's capital requirements, availability of financing, continued popularity of existing and new restaurants, seasonality and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made.

TAM Restaurants, Inc. operates Lundy Bros. Restaurant in Brooklyn, NY; The Boathouse Complex in New York's Central Park; and American Park at the Battery in New York's Historic Battery Park. TAM recently announced the commencement of construction of a Lundy Bros. Restaurant in New York's Time Square with a fall 2000 projected opening. TAM is a public company traded on the NASDAQ Small Cap market under the symbol TAMR.

For further information or to arrange an interview please contact Jeanne Cretella at 718-720-5959 ext 16.

For financial information please contact Anthony B. Golio, Vice President at 718-720-5959 ext 12.