<TABLE> <S> <C>
                                                                          
<ARTICLE> 5                                                                     
<LEGEND>                                                                        
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF JANUARY 25, 1998 AND APRIL 27, 1997 (audited)
AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THIRTY-NINE WEEKS
ENDED JANUARY 25, 1998 AND JANUARY 26, 1997 (unaudited) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>                                                          
<CIK>          0000926295                                                   
<NAME>         BOSTON RESTAURANT ASSOCIATES, INC.                          
<MULTIPLIER>   1                                                     
<CURRENCY>     U.S. DOLLARS                                            
                                                                                
<S>                                                     <C>                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                           9-MOS                   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    APR-26-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                       APR-28-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                         JAN-25-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                             1.00
<CASH>                                                                   243,129
<SECURITIES>                                                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                             28,863
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                                              226,829
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                         588,690
<PP&E>                                                                 4,809,302
<DEPRECIATION>                                                         2,005,011
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                         4,719,339
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                  1,114,095
<BONDS>                                                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                                  50,157
<OTHER-SE>                                                             1,435,937
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                           4,719,339
<SALES>                                                                8,654,253
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                       8,658,792
<CGS>                                                                  1,747,761
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                          8,309,816
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       222,046
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          145,807
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                            0
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             145,807
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                .03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                .03
                                                                                

</TABLE>