Anderson’s Black Angus Restaurants Rated America’s Favorite by Survey : RETAILING

James Garner isn’t the only beef lover around.

In fact, if the results of a new survey are to be believed, a lot of hungry diners don’t have any beef with beef--or at least with Stuart Anderson’s Black Angus & Cattle Co. restaurants.

The chain, owned by Newport Beach-based American Restaurant Group, was chosen as America’s favorite dinner-house chain for the fifth time in six years, according to a study released Monday by Restaurants & Institutions, a trade publication.

The eighth annual “Choice in Chains” survey examined consumers’ reactions to 74 restaurant chains across the United States. There were 1,404 responses from 2,000 households.

Los Altos-based Stuart Anderson’s Black Angus swept the survey by scoring at the top in three categories: food quality, service and ambiance.

The 24-year-old Stuart Anderson’s chain has 85 restaurants in 11 states across the West and Midwest. The menu includes prime rib, beef, seafood and chicken plates.

It was purchased in late 1986 by American Restaurant Group from the restaurant division of W.R. Grace & Co.

American Restaurant Group’s chief executive is Orange County entrepreneur Anwar Soliman. Soliman made news early this month when he confirmed that a second company that he heads is buying Del Taco and Naugles, two of the best-known names for Mexican fast-food in California.

American Restaurant Group operates 360 restaurants. In addition to Stuart Anderson’s Black Angus, they include the Velvet Turtle and Grandy’s chains, Spoons and a cluster of trendy restaurants that include Prego and Harry’s Bar & Grill.