<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF JANUARY 24, 1999 AND APRIL 26, 1998
(unaudited) AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE
THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED JANUARY 24, 1999 AND JANUARY 25, 1998 (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-25-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                                       APR-27-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                         JAN-24-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                             1.00
<CASH>                                                                 1,715,923
<SECURITIES>                                                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                             39,070
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                                              231,672
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                       2,082,423
<PP&E>                                                                 5,844,953
<DEPRECIATION>                                                         2,463,857
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                         6,785,939
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                    910,327
<BONDS>                                                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                                  70,242
<OTHER-SE>                                                             3,368,125
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                           6,785,939
<SALES>                                                                9,237,834
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                       9,241,548
<CGS>                                                                  1,934,217
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                          8,851,861
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       243,816
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          201,604
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                            0
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             201,604
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                .03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                .03
        

</TABLE>