Restaurant results show consumers dining out again

First-quarter reports from public restaurant companies rolled in this week and have highlighted a long-awaited return of guest traffic after nearly two years of eateries losing customers who have been reluctant to spend.

Restaurant executives from McDonald’s, Chipotle, The Cheesecake Factory and Brinker International all said they have begun to see increased traffic trends, leading to same-store sales improvements and increased bottom lines.

“Guest traffic improved significantly from fourth-quarter levels,” said David Overton, chairman and chief executive of The Cheesecake Factory Inc., “and we believe that as consumers become more comfortable with discretionary spending, they are returning to their favorite restaurants first.”

Jack Hartung, chief financial officer at Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., said during a conference call this week that it appears consumers are out spending again.

“It looks like consumer confidence, from all the different resources we’ve seen, consumers are more confident today,” he said.