Analyst: More restaurant buyouts ahead

On the heels of the buyout news from Rubio’s Restaurants Inc., Keybanc Capital Markets analyst Brad Ludington has offered up three possibly tantalizing meals for the next hungry private-equity firm.

Ludington said in a report Wednesday that he is confident the market is ripe for deep-pocketed private-equity companies to swoop in on moderately priced restaurant entities.

So far in 2010, private equity deals have been announced for Rubio’s, Dave &Buster’s, CKE Restaurants, Papa Murphy’s International, Fuddruckers, Wingstop Restaurants and On the Border. Other companies that have either begun to explore corporate options or already have looked at sale offers include California Pizza Kitchen, Benihana, Kona Grill and Hooter’s of America.

Ludington picked three more to add to the mix: Bob Evans Restaurants Inc.;Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc.;and Ruby Tuesday Inc.