RESTAURANTS

Bobbing Along: Red Robin International Inc., which runs Red Robin family-style restaurants, has become the only Orange County-based company included by Restaurant Business on the magazine’s list of the nation’s 50 fastest-growing chains of eateries.

The trade magazine reported that Red Robin, based in Irvine, had the 29th-highest gain in sales between 1990 and 1991 among major restaurant companies. Red Robin’s sales rose to $147.3 million for 1991, a 21.6% increase over $121.1 million the previous year.

The chain has been opening new restaurants at a clip of 20 to 25 a year. With the opening last month of a franchise in Olympia, Wash., there are now 88 Red Robins.

“You have to be smart enough to scout out consumer demands,” said Bill Miller, president of the company. “We’ve identified a niche that has led us to a surprisingly vibrant market: kids.”