Rattlesnake Beefs Up Its Steakhouse Concept.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 1998--Outback Steakhouse and Morton's Restaurant Group veterans added to management team.

-- The Rattlesnake Holding Company, Inc. (RTTL:OTC) announced today

that it had entered into a relationship with Sandy Rappaport, former president of American Restaurants of South Florida, Inc., the original multi-franchisee and joint venture partner of Outback Steakhouse; as well as with Peter Danza, most recently with Morton's Restaurant Group--New York executive chef/Bertolini's Division.

-- Mr. Rappaport's multi-year consulting arrangement with The

Rattlesnake Holding Company, Inc. will have immediate and specific focus on fine tuning the Company's new Ottomanelli New York Steakhouse concept in areas of prototype design, theme, systems and controls. Mr. Rappaport has agreed to become a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Danza has become the Company's corporate chef, with immediate responsibilities tocomplete the structure of and then to hands-on implement the Ottomanelli New York Steakhouse menu, now in final stage of development. Specific terms were not disclosed.

-- According to Stephan A. Stein, Chairman, "We are very pleased to

have attracted the participation of industry pros such as Messrs. Rappaport and Danza as we move from the 'clean-up' cycle of the Rattlesnake turn around into the growth phase. These management additions, combined with our core group and our quality branded products in a growing segment, should give us quite a boost as we begin the Ottomanelli New York Steakhouse roll-out to compliment our Rattlesnake Grill and Ottomanelli Cafe themes."

-- Nick Ottomanelli, CEO and President, added, "We especially look

forward to the upcoming openings of the restaurants in Manhattan and Greenwich, CT, which are under contract, now that Sandy and Peter have come aboard. Outback and Morton's are benchmark roll-out concepts in the steakhouse arena, and the experience base brought by these gentlemen as we complete the foundation for the mid-priced, top quality, Company owned and franchise development of our Ottomanelli New York Steakhouse concept, especially on the 100th anniversary of the Ottomanelli food service business, is very exciting!"

-- The Rattlesnake Holding Company, Inc., recently merged with the

former Ottomanelli operations, is a diversified food service company with Rattlesnake Southwestern Grill(R) casual dining restaurants in South Norwalk and Danbury, CT and Flemington, NJ and two Ottomanelli Cafe(R) restaurants in Paramus, NJ, franchised restaurant operations in New York City (five Ottomanelli Cafe(R) restaurants), in addition to previously announced plans to develop, for roll-out expansion, the Ottomanelli New York Steakhouse prototype at the Manhattan and Greenwich, CT sites being acquired.

The forward looking statements included in this news release are based on management's current expectations. In light of the assumptions and uncertainties inherent in forward looking information, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the plans of the Company will be realized or that positive trends in financial results will occur.

    CONTACT: Stephan A. Stein, Chairman
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                     or
              Nicolo Ottomanelli, President
              FAX: [phone]
              PHONE: [phone]