Restaurants had "sluggish" sales in July, according to data the National Restaurant Association released Friday.

Fall's cool winds could make eating out cheap a breeze — depending, that is, on what you order.

After a second quarter of too many empty tables and falling profits, restaurant companies are planning to woo diners back with lower-priced dishes as the weather grows colder.

Fitch Ratings on Wednesday revised its outlook for Darden Restaurants Inc. to "Negative" and affirmed an investment-grade rating for the company's debt.

Shares of Darden Restaurants Inc. dropped sharply Tuesday, after same-store sales weakness at Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse chains caused the restaurant operator to forecast a softer-than-expected fiscal first-quarter profit.

Shares of restaurant chains fell Tuesday after Olive Garden operator Darden Restaurants Inc. offered a softer-than-expected first-quarter profit outlook.

Among the earnings projection stories for Tuesday, Aug. 26, from AP Financial News:

Darden Restaurants Inc. on Tuesday forecast fiscal first-quarter profit below Wall Street estimates and trimmed its full-year guidance, citing a more challenging economic and consumer environment.

Among the earnings projection stories for Tuesday, Aug. 26, from AP Financial News:

_ The National Restaurant Association spent $700,000 in the second quarter to lobby on economic stimulus payment legislation and other issues, according to a recent disclosure report.

Darden Restaurants, parent of the Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurant chains, posted a higher quarterly profit on Tuesday, boosted by its recently purchased LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille chains.

Most business news this week took a back seat to oil's relentless climb, but there were still some notable moments. And CNBC guests had plenty of stocks to recommend for worried investors.

Stocks slid Tuesday in response to disappointing earnings announcements, but that doesn’t mean investors portfolios have to take a hit.  CNBC asked market experts how investors could protect their portfolios and their profits, and here are some of their suggestions.

U.S. chief executives have lowered their expectations for domestic growth this year, but held their overall business outlook steady.