Exhibit 99.1

Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Reaffirms 2012 Outlook

Columbus, Ohio – April 26, 2012—Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBRG) (the Company) owner and operator of the BRAVO! Cucina Italiana (BRAVO!) and BRIO Tuscan Grille (BRIO) restaurant concepts, today reported financial results for the thirteen weeks ended March 25, 2012. In addition, the Company reaffirmed its 2012 outlook.

Selected First Quarter 2012 Highlights Compared to the First Quarter 2011 Include the Following:

Saed Mohseni, Chief Executive Officer and President, said, “We had a good quarter characterized by modest comparable sales growth and improved operating margins. We also incurred higher preopening expenses during the quarter as a result of the increased number of store openings compared to the prior year. For 2012, we are on track to develop nine new restaurants and remain confident that they will provide us with attractive returns on invested capital. We are also pleased to be maintaining our prior financial outlook of annualized diluted EPS growth of approximately 20% to 25%, which exceeds our long-term growth model.”

Mohseni continued, “Our 2012 initiatives are ‘guest-centric’ and designed to strengthen our connectivity and widen our appeal. In late April, both brands launched new menus that demonstrate our ability to innovate and keep our offerings fresh. Additionally over the next two quarters, we will be introducing online ordering at BRIO and catering capabilities at BRAVO! to capitalize on meal occasions outside of our four walls.”

First Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Revenues increased $8.0 million, or 8.8%, to $98.4 million in the first quarter of 2012, from $90.4 million in the first quarter of 2011. The increase in revenues was primarily due to an additional 92 operating weeks provided by three new BRIO restaurants, opened in the first quarter of 2012, and eight new restaurants, six BRIO and two BRAVO! restaurants opened in 2011. Total comparable restaurant sales increased 0.2%, which included a 0.1% increase in guest counts.

Total restaurant operating costs increased $6.6 million, or 8.8%, to $81.2 million in the first quarter of 2012, from $74.6 million in the same period last year. Total restaurant-level operating profit increased 9.0% to $17.2 million from $15.8 million in the first quarter of 2011. As a percentage of revenues, total restaurant-level operating profit increased to 17.5% in the first quarter of 2012 from 17.4% in the same period last year. This was primarily attributable to a year-over-year decrease in cost of sales and operating costs, which were partially offset by higher labor costs primarily related to new restaurant openings.

GAAP net income in the first quarter of 2012 was $3.8 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $4.5 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, and modified pro forma net income of $3.7 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, in the same period last year. Note that the Company believes modified pro forma net income offers a more useful year-over-year performance comparison. Please see the accompanying financial tables for a reconciliation from GAAP net income to modified pro forma (non-GAAP) net income.

First Quarter 2012 Brand Operating Highlights

Comparable restaurant sales at BRIO increased 0.7% in the first quarter of 2012 and average weekly sales were $99,500. Comparable restaurant sales at BRAVO! decreased 0.4% and average weekly sales were $65,400.

During the first quarter, the Company opened BRIO restaurants in Baltimore, Maryland; Bethesda, Maryland; and Yonkers, New York.

As of March 25, 2012, the Company owned and operated 47 BRAVO!, 48 BRIO and one Bon Vie restaurant across 30 states.

2012 Outlook

Based upon our results as of March 25, 2012 and projections for the remainder of the year, the Company is reaffirming its 2012 outlook as follows:

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host an investor conference call to discuss first quarter 2012 financial results today at 5:00 PM ET. Hosting the call will be Saed Mohseni, Chief Executive Officer, Jim O'Connor, Chief Financial Officer, and Brian O’Malley, Chief Operating Officer.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (888) 298-3511, or for international callers (719) 325-2249. A replay will be available one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing (877) 870-5176 or (858) 384-5517 for international callers; the conference ID is 4803755. The replay will be available until Thursday May 10, 2012.

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The call will be webcast live from the Company's investor relations website at http://investors.bbrg.com.

About Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc.

Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc. is a leading owner and operator of two distinct Italian restaurant brands, BRAVO! Cucina Italiana and BRIO Tuscan Grille. BBRG has positioned its brands as multifaceted culinary destinations that deliver the ambiance, design elements and food quality reminiscent of fine dining restaurants at a value typically offered by casual dining establishments, a combination known as the upscale affordable dining segment. Each of BBRG's brands provides its guests with a fine dining experience and value by serving affordable cuisine prepared using fresh flavorful ingredients and authentic Italian cooking methods, combined with attentive service in an attractive, lively atmosphere. BBRG strives to be the best Italian restaurant company in America and is focused on providing its guests an excellent dining experience through consistency of execution.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this release contain forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc.’s future financial performance. The Company has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 2012.

Although Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc. believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on its current knowledge of the business and operations, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change.

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Don Duffy/Raphael Gross

(203) 682-8200

investors@bbrg.com

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BRAVO BRIO RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS -

GAAP PRESENTATION WITH RECONCILIATION TO MODIFIED PRO FORMA

THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MARCH 25, 2012 AND MARCH 27, 2011

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Notes to adjustments shown above:

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BRAVO BRIO RESTAURANT GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF MARCH 25, 2012 and DECEMBER 25, 2011

(Dollars in thousands)

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