DALLAS, Aug. 20 / Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc. today filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an initial public offering of common stock.

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide develops, operates or franchises casual dining restaurants globally. Its T.G.I. Friday's(R) system, with over 500 restaurants, is one of the largest global casual dining companies. Carlson Restaurants is a wholly-owned subsidiary of privately-held Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, which will maintain a majority stake following the offering. Carlson Hospitality Worldwide is part of Minneapolis, Minn.- based Carlson Companies, Inc.

The lead managing underwriter is Banc of America Securities LLC. Merrill Lynch & Co. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter are co-managers.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sales of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of any such state or other jurisdiction. Copies of the preliminary prospectus, when available, may be obtained from Banc of America Securities LLC, 600 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 94111, 415-627-2000.

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc. Backgrounder

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a global restaurant company and considered to be an important innovator in the development of emerging brands in both the casual and sophisticated dining segments.

Carlson Restaurants currently owns, operates and franchises more than 560 restaurants worldwide, including T.G.I. Friday'sÒ , Front RowÒ Sports Grill and Friday's American BarÒ . Included in the company's emerging brands division are Italianni'sÒ , Samba Roomsm, Star Canyon®, Taqueria Cañonitasm, Timpanosm Italian Chophouse and AquaKnoxsm.

The company's roots date back 34 years to the opening of the first T.G.I. Friday's restaurant in New York on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Since then, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide has reached more than $1.5 billion in systemwide revenues.

T.G.I. Friday's

T.G.I. Friday's, the first American casual dining chain, has become a favorite pastime for millions of guests since 1965. The first T.G.I. Friday's was located at First Avenue and 63rd Street in New York City and featured red and white awnings, a blue-exterior and its name - T.G.I. Friday's. Inside, the décor glowed with wooden floors, Tiffany-style lamps, bentwood chairs and red-and-white stripes. The bar area, with its brass rails and stained glass, contributed to the ambiance.

T.G.I. Friday's is a leader in the industry in innovation, not only in creating a unique atmosphere, but in food and beverage presentation as well. T.G.I. Friday's has popularized many items, including potato skins and frozen drinks. Staying on top of current trends, Friday'sÒ offers a wide selection of appetizers, entrée salads, pasta dishes and innovative entrées such as Friday's Jack Daniel'sÒ Grill and Friday's Chop House Classics.

Realizing that an important part of a restaurant's appeal is its atmosphere, T.G.I. Friday's offers a comfortable, relaxing environment in which guests can truly enjoy quality food and drink.

There are currently more than 520 T.G.I. Friday's in 46 countries.

Front Row Sports Grill

Front Row Sports Grill was designed to combine two of America's greatest loves - food and sports - in one location. Front Row Sports Grill's appeal extends to many people - children, women, men, singles and families alike, and is a popular gathering place for great food, good times and non-stop games and activities. Designed for major markets, Front Row Sports Grill combines a complete entertainment and dining experience in a single location that is a true destination point worldwide.

One of the ideas that makes Front Row Sports Grill unique to its category is its full menu and its extensive beverage selection. In April 1994, Texans celebrated the opening of a 17,000 square-foot Front Row Sports Grill inside The Ballpark in Arlington (Texas) - the first ever full-service, casual dining chain restaurant to open in a professional ballpark in the U.S. In May 1995, the largest Front Row Sports Grill to date, measuring nearly 23,000 square-feet, opened in Orlando. In September of 1997, the first international Front Row Sports Grill opened in Jakarta, Indonesia and in March 1998, a Front Row Sports Grill opened at the Bank One Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The menu at Front Row Sports Grill ranges from Dugout Nachos and Front Row Burgers to Jack Daniel'sÒ Grilled Salmon. For the beverage selection, Front Row Sports Grill offers over 20 domestic, import and specialty beers on tap, as well as bottled beers from around the world, along with a wide selection of wines, liquors and non-alcoholic beverages.

Adorning the walls of each Front Row Sports Grill are pieces of sports memorabilia, recalling the glory days of some of America's favorite pastimes. For sports entertainment pleasure, each Front Row Sports Grill maintains state-of-the-art technology with multiple television screens so each guest can enjoy a variety of sporting events from the best seat in the house, which is any seat in the restaurant. Other attractions at Front Row Sports Grill include an assortment of games for adults and children ranging from billiards, video and boardwalk games, to interactive television.

Friday's American Bar

Friday's American Bar was designed to be a small neighborhood corner bar providing a social gathering place for people to enjoy themselves with food and drink. The atmosphere is uniquely American - casual and fun, with great drinks, food and music.

Friday's American Bar's beverage menu includes an extensive range of alcoholic, non-alcoholic, coffee and specialty drinks, which are presented with the flair of a classic T.G.I. Friday's restaurant by the best bartenders in the world.

The food menu at Friday's American Bar includes Friday's original Loaded Potato Skins, Friday's Wrappers™, Chicken Fingers, and of course, Friday's great hamburgers, as well as some local favorites.

There are currently 12 Friday's American Bar units – five in the United States and seven international locations.

Italianni's

Italianni's was designed to create a lunch and dinner house experience distinguished by creative recipes and served in large portions by a friendly, knowledgeable staff.

The Italianni's menu was built on a wide selection of classic Italian favorites, inspired Italian fare and signature dishes unique to Italianni's. From traditional favorites such as Spaghetti and Meatballs, to more original creations like Salmon Oreganato and Veal Saltimbocca, everything is prepared with the finest and freshest ingredients. All sauces, like our rich and robust marinara sauce, are made fresh every day, in every restaurant.

There are currently 18 Italianni's restaurants – seven in the United States and 11 international locations.

Timpano Italian Chophouse

Timpano Italian Chophouse, a restaurant reminiscent of the classic restaurants and clubs of Chicago and New York in the mid-fifties to early-sixties, is located in Rockville, Maryland. The restaurant revives the big city dining experience with big flavor steaks and chops matched by full-bodied red wines and intimate torch songs and ballads played over the sound system.

With feature dishes including Bone-In New York Strip, Grilled Swordfish Steak and One-Pound Center-Cut Pork Chops, Executive Chef Peter Heise designed a menu that marries the All-American flavor of chargrilled large-cut steaks and bone-in chops with classic Italian flavors.

In addition to the steak and chop dishes, Heise emphasizes classic Italian dishes like Linguini with Clams in a White Sauce, Veal Scaloppine, Baked Ziti and Scampi-Style Shrimp with Angel Hair Oreganata.

This sophisticated 340-seat, multi-level chophouse is decorated with velvet draperies, big booths, white tablecloths and large chandeliers. An exhibition kitchen allows chefs to display their culinary creativity.

Samba Room - A Cuban Bar and Latin Café

Evoking memories of a 1960s jet-set Rio de Janeiro get-away, Samba Room revives the lost rhythms of Cuban, Brazilian, Peruvian, Argentine and Caribbean style in an upscale, white-linen Latin café where Bossa Nova dance rhythms carry chilé-laden and mango-infused aromas through a palm-tree accented dining room and a serpentine, cocktail bar area.

The Caribbean-influenced menu was designed by award-winning Chef Philip Butler, a South Florida native, and introduces the city to Latin Fusion cuisine, an updated fusion of traditional South American with fresh seafood, spiced rums, grilled meats, exotic fruits and rare spices.

Returning to Mambo-dancing pacific days, the Cuban Bar serves fresh exotic juices, a highly-caffeinated Café Cubano and Cuban cocktails like the elegant Mojito, a mint-, lime-, rum-based sweet sipping concoction.

Samba Room is located in Dallas, Texas.

Star Canyon

A truly Texas creation from renowned Chef Stephan Pyles, Star Canyon not only has a unique menu featuring New Texas Cuisine but has a décor that echoes the Texas cowboy heritage and natural resources of the Lone Star State.

The unique recipes that create the New Texas Cuisine are adapted from the many cultures and historical eras of Texas. All items on the menu reflect the seasonal offerings found on the markets. One of the most popular items is the Bone-In Cowboy Ribeye with Pinto Bean-Wild Mushroom Ragout and Red Chile Onion Rings.

The interior of Star Canyon is a sophisticated Texas ranch-look combined with contemporary décor and finished with a bit of cowboy whimsy. From the custom snake-shaped front door to the hand-etched cactus and barb wire glass wall separating the bar from the dining room, the restaurant contains artwork depicting the natural wonders of Texas.

The restaurant is focused on the exposed kitchen where diners can view and enjoy the cooking production.

There are currently two Star Canyon restaurants – Dallas, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada.

AquaKnox

From the Far East and Southern Asia to Europe, Greece, Morocco and Africa, to Mexico, Central and South America, Chef Stephan Pyles was inspired to create what he calls 'Global Water Cuisine', the featured cuisine of the contemporary seafood restaurant, AquaKnox, which is located in Dallas, Texas.

Cane Skewered Tuna with Black Beans, Coo-Coo and Pineapple-Banana Chutney and Canela-Scented Oak Roasted Lobster with Pumpkin-White Truffle Risotto.

The interior design of AquaKnox features contemporary, minimalist Asian influences and water themes, which flow into functional spaces. The 7,000 square-foot restaurant is filled with recurring sights and sound of water including a 12-foot, black granite water wall, a 400-gallon decorative aquarium and an etched glass wall of water, which separates the exhibition kitchen from the dining room.

Taqueria Cañonita

Bringing to mind the authentic taquerias of the legendary marketplaces of Mexico, Chef Stephan Pyles, known as a founding father of Southwest Cuisine, has created Taqueria Cañonita, an innovative, new concept that offers guests an unforgettable, true taste of Mexico in casual, comfortable style with a decidedly 'New American' ambiance, but done with Pyles' creative culinary imprint and dining style.

The robust menu offers a wide variety of flavorful tacos, tamales, tostadas, gorditas and rellenos made with grilled and roasted meats, vegetables and seafood. Fresh, warm, hand-made tortillas, exotic juice cocktails, fresh lime margaritas, Mexican beers and a wide variety of premium tequilas and mezcals add to the dining experience.

Taqueria Cañonita evolved over the last ten years during Pyles' many trips to Mexico and his extensive sampling of authentic neighborhood taquerias. A familiar, casual feeling is paramount to the restaurant's ambiance and the excitement of the central exhibition kitchen is felt throughout the interior dining area.

Bright, bold colors enliven the space with accents provided by authentic Mexican folk art. A high ceiling is a dramatic backdrop for quarried stone columns topped with buckskin. Mexican tiles in bright colors are used as accents throughout the restaurant.

The use of sculpted steel and wrought iron gates, amber lighting and simple tabletops inlaid with colorful tiles bring to mind the warmth of Old Mexico. Lively Mexican sounds of Salsa, Merengue and Tejano music help set the true 'south of the border' mood.

There is currently one Taqueria Canoñita restaurant open in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Backgrounder

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc., the parent company of TGI Friday's Inc., is a privately held company owned by Minneapolis-based Carlson Companies, Inc., a world leader in the hospitality, travel and marketing industries. Carlson Restaurants currently operate, franchise and license over 560 restaurants in 46 countries, including T.G.I. Friday'sÒ , Front RowÒ Sports Grill and Friday's American BarÒ restaurants. Star Concepts, a division of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide that was creatively developed by renowned Chef Stephan Pyles, is the parent company of Star Canyon, AquaKnox and Taqueria Cañonita restaurants. The emerging brands division of Carlson Restaurants operates Italianni'sÒ , Timpanosm Italian Chophouse and Samba Room. Carlson Restaurants Worldwide is included in the Carlson Hospitality Worldwide division of Carlson Companies, Inc.

Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, one of the major operating groups of Carlson Companies, Inc., operates, manages and franchises more than 1,150 hotel, resort, restaurant and cruise operations around the world. Specific brands include the Carlson Restaurant brands, as well as RegentÒ International Hotels, Radisson Hotels WorldwideÒ , Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonÒ , Carlson Vacation Ownership, Carlson Lifestyle Living (Carlson Park), Radisson Seven Seas Cruises and Provisions.

Amy Freshwater
972/450-5549