Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.          )

 

---

Table of Contents

RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC.
6312 South Fiddler's Green Circle, Suite 200N
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
(303) 846-6000

---

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held On May 28, 2015

---

To our Stockholders:

        The annual meeting of stockholders of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. will be held at 8:00 a.m. MDT, on Thursday, May 28, 2015, at our corporate headquarters, located at 6312 South Fiddler's Green Circle, Suite 200N, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111, for the following purposes:

1)

To elect Robert B. Aiken, Stephen E. Carley, Cambria W. Dunaway, Lloyd L. Hill, Richard J. Howell, Glenn B. Kaufman, Pattye L. Moore, and Stuart I. Oran, as directors of the Company for one-year terms;



2)

To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers;



3)

To approve the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. Cash Incentive Plan;



4)

To approve an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the authorized common stock of the Company from 30,000,000 shares, par value $0.001 per share, to 45,000,000 shares, par value $0.001 per share;



5)

To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 27, 2015; and



6)

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

        We direct your attention to the proxy statement, which includes information about the matters to be considered at the annual meeting and certain other important information and which we encourage you to carefully review. Our board of directors recommends that you vote FOR the board's nominees for director, FOR approval of our executive compensation, FOR approval of the Cash Incentive Plan, FOR approval of the amendment to increase the authorized shares of common stock of the Company, and FOR ratification of the independent auditor. Your vote is important.

        Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 30, 2015 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. This Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and related proxy materials are being distributed or made available to stockholders beginning on or about April [    ], 2015.

        This year, we have again elected to provide access to our proxy materials on the Internet under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's "notice and access" rules. Our proxy materials are available at the following website:

http://www.redrobin.com/eproxy

        We cordially invite you to attend the annual meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. Please refer to your proxy card or Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for more information on how to vote your shares at the meeting and return your voting instructions as promptly as possible.

        Thank you for your support.

Greenwood Village, Colorado
April [    ], 2015

---

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

i

---

Table of Contents

ii

---

Table of Contents

iii

---

Table of Contents

1

---

Table of Contents

2

---

Table of Contents

3

---

Table of Contents

4

---

Table of Contents

5

---

Table of Contents

PROXY STATEMENT

        The Board of Directors ("board" or "board of directors") of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. ("Red Robin" or the "Company") is providing this proxy statement to stockholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies on its behalf to be voted at our annual meeting of stockholders. The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2015, beginning at 8:00 a.m. MDT, at our corporate headquarters, located at 6312 South Fiddler's Green Circle, Suite 200N, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111. The proxies may be voted at any time and date to which the annual meeting may be properly adjourned or postponed.

PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

General

        As of the date of this proxy statement, our board of directors consists of eight directors, all of whom are independent except our CEO. The board of directors may decide at a later time to add one or more directors who possess skills and experience that may be beneficial to our board and the Company. All of our directors are elected on an annual basis for a one-year term.

        The directors elected at this annual meeting will serve in office until our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified, or until the earlier of their respective deaths, resignations, or retirements. Each nominee has consented to serve if elected and we expect that each of them will be able to serve if elected. If any nominee should become unavailable to serve as a director, our board of directors can name a substitute nominee, and the persons named as proxies in the proxy card, or their nominees or substitutes, will vote your shares for such substitute nominee unless an instruction to the contrary is written on your proxy card.

Selecting Nominees for Director

        Our board has delegated to the nominating and governance committee the responsibility for reviewing and recommending nominees for director. The board determines which candidates to nominate or appoint, as appropriate, after considering the recommendation of the committee.

        In evaluating a director candidate, the nominating and governance committee considers the candidate's independence, character, corporate governance skills and abilities, business experience, industry specific experience, training and education, commitment to performing the duties of a director, and other skills, abilities, or attributes that fill specific needs of the board or its committees. While there is no policy with regard to consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees, the nominating and governance committee considers diversity in business experience, professional expertise, gender, and ethnic background, along with various other factors when evaluating director nominees. The nominating and governance committee will use the same criteria in evaluating candidates suggested by stockholders.

        The nominating and governance committee is authorized under its charter to retain, at our expense, outside search firms and any other professional advisors it deems appropriate to assist in identifying or evaluating potential nominees for director. During fiscal year 2014, a third-party director search firm retained by the nominating and governance committee recommended Ms. Dunaway as a candidate for our board.

Directors and Nominees

        Below, you can find the principal occupation and other information about each of the director nominees standing for re-election at the annual meeting. Information related to each director nominee's key attributes, experience, and skills, as well as their recent public company board service is included with each director's biographical information.

6

---

Table of Contents

7

---

Table of Contents

8

---

Table of Contents

9

---

Table of Contents

10

---

Table of Contents

Vote Required

        Proposal No. 1 requires the approval of a majority of the votes cast for each director.

Board Recommendation

        Our board of directors recommends that you vote FOR the election of each of the nominees for director.

11

---

Table of Contents

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS

Governance Principles

        The board of directors seeks to ensure that good governance and responsible business practices are part of our culture and values. To ensure that we achieve this goal, the board of directors has previously established corporate governance guidelines that it follows with respect to corporate governance matters, which are available on the investor relations section of our website at www.redrobin.com. The board of directors reviews the governance guidelines annually to ensure that they are timely, effective, and supportive of the board's oversight and other responsibilities.

Executive Development and Management Succession

        Executive development and succession is an important responsibility of the board of directors. Under the Company's corporate governance guidelines, the board maintains an ongoing policy and plan for the development and succession of the CEO and other senior officers. The board has delegated some of this responsibility to the nominating and governance committee. As provided in our corporate governance guidelines, the succession policy and plan has a multi-year focus that encompasses, among other things, the following attributes:

•

criteria that reflect the Company's ongoing business strategies,



•

identification and development of potential internal candidates,



•

formal assessment processes to evaluate such potential internal candidates and their development, and



•

an emergency succession component to address the unforeseen loss of the CEO or other key executives through death, disability, or other similar emergency.

        The nominating and governance committee and the board work closely with management to ensure that development and succession are anticipated, planned for, and addressed in a timely manner. Under the guidance of the committee, Mr. Carley and each of the executive officers conduct annual succession planning activities. This process includes annual performance reviews, evaluations, and development plans of the CEO and executive officers, who also conduct evaluations and development of their direct reports.

        Mr. Carley regularly meets with the full board on his performance, and his annual performance evaluation is conducted under the oversight of the compensation committee. Mr. Carley conducts annual and interim performance and development evaluations of the other senior executives and reviews these evaluations with the compensation committee or full board.

        At least annually, and when otherwise necessary, the nominating and governance committee reviews, makes recommendations for, and reports to the board on programs that have been implemented by management for executive and leadership team development and succession planning.

Stockholder Engagement

        The board and management believe that the Company's relationships with our stockholders and other stakeholders are an important part of our corporate governance responsibility, and recognize the value of continuing communications. Among other things, engagement with our stockholders helps us to:

•

understand and consider the issues that matter most to our stockholders,



•

learn about expectations for our performance, and

12

---

Table of Contents

•

assess stockholder feedback and any emerging issues related to our governance practices, business, operations, or compensation.

        This approach has helped us to identify mutual perspectives and goals and to adopt a collaborative approach to these relationships, which has resulted in our receiving essential input from our stockholders. To this end, we regularly engage with our stockholders through attendance at investor conferences, issuance of press releases and other stockholder communications, and individual meetings throughout the year.

        We also recognize the connection between good corporate governance and our ability to create and sustain value for our stockholders. In response to evolving governance practices, regulatory changes, and concerns of our stockholders, the Company has made a number of changes to our corporate governance practices over the past few years.

        Highlights of our governance program include:

•

Fully declassified board of directors.



•

Independent chair of the board of directors.



•

All director nominees are independent other than our CEO.



•

All committee members are independent.



•

Frequent engagement by management with institutional investors.



•

Majority voting standard for uncontested director elections.



•

Annual review of our succession plan and talent development plan.



•

Limits on outside board service.



•

Formal policy prohibiting hedging and pledging of Company securities by executive officers and directors.



•

Directors regularly engage in in-boardroom and outside director education.

Board Leadership Structure

        The board recognizes that one of its key responsibilities is to evaluate and determine the optimal leadership structure so as to provide independent oversight of management. Accordingly, at this time, we believe it is appropriate for our board to maintain the separation of the roles of board chair and chief executive officer. Pattye L. Moore currently serves as chair of the board due to, among other things, her prior experience on public company boards of directors, as well as her extensive leadership experience within the restaurant industry.

        We believe that having a non-executive, independent board chair is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders at this time. The separation of the roles of board chair and chief executive officer allows Mr. Carley to focus on managing the Company's business and operations, and allows Ms. Moore to focus on board matters, especially in light of the high level of regulation and scrutiny of public company boards. Further, we believe that the separation of these roles ensures the independence of the board in its oversight role of evaluating and assessing the chief executive officer and management generally.

Role in Risk Oversight

        Our executive officers have the primary responsibility for enterprise risk management within our Company. Our board actively oversees the Company's risk management and regularly engages in discussions of the most significant risks that the Company faces and how these risks are being

13

---

Table of Contents

managed. The board receives regular reports on enterprise risk areas from senior officers of the Company. The board delegates certain risk oversight functions to the audit committee. Under its charter, the audit committee is responsible for oversight of the enterprise risk assessment and management process framework and ensures that the board or a designated committee is monitoring the identification, assessment, and mitigation of significant enterprise risks. The audit committee oversees policies and guidelines that govern the process by which major financial and accounting risk assessment and management may be undertaken by the Company. The audit committee also oversees our corporate compliance programs and the internal audit function. In addition, the other board committees receive reports and evaluate risks related to their areas of focus. The committees regularly report to the full board on the assessment and management of these risks. The board believes that the work undertaken by the audit committee, together with the work of the other committees, the full board, and the senior officers of the Company, enables the board to effectively oversee the Company's risk management.

Board Membership and Director Independence

        Our board of directors has determined that each of our directors, except our CEO, Mr. Carley, qualifies as an independent director under the rules promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and The NASDAQ Stock Market® ("NASDAQ") listing standards. Only independent directors are appointed to the board's audit committee, compensation committee, and nominating and governance committee. All members of each of our board committees are independent in accordance with SEC rules and NASDAQ listing standards. There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers, directors, or nominees for directors.

Director Attendance

        The board of directors held nine meetings in 2014, including four in-person meetings. Each of our current directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate total of meetings of the board of directors and committees during their period of service in 2014. The non-management directors of the Company meet at least quarterly throughout the year and as necessary or appropriate in executive sessions at which members of management are not present.

        The board of directors strongly encourages each of the directors to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. All of our current directors who were directors at the time attended our 2014 annual meeting.

Committees of the Board of Directors

        Our board of directors has four standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee, a finance committee, and a nominating and governance committee. Each of our standing committees generally meets at least once each quarter. In addition, other regular and special meetings are scheduled as necessary and appropriate depending on the responsibilities of the particular committee. Each committee regularly meets in executive session without management present.

        Each board committee operates pursuant to a written charter. The charter for each committee is available on the corporate governance section of the investor relations tab of our website at www.redrobin.com. The committee charters are reviewed at least annually by the respective committee to revise and update the committee duties and responsibilities as necessary.

14

---

Table of Contents

15

---

Table of Contents

Stockholder Submission of Director Nominees

        A stockholder may submit the name of a director candidate for consideration by the nominating and governance committee by writing to: Nominating and Governance Committee, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., 6312 South Fiddler's Green Circle, Suite 200N, Greenwood Village, CO 80111.

        The stockholder must submit the following information in support of the candidate: (a) all information relating to such person as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominees as directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and such person's written consent to serve as a director if elected; (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Company's books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class and number of shares of the Company that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of such stockholder's notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder and such beneficial owner, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Company, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or such beneficial owner, with respect to shares of stock of the Company, and (iv) whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of the Company's voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders of the Company's voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees.

16

---

Table of Contents

Communications with our Board of Directors

        You may communicate with any director, the entire board of directors, the independent directors, or any committee by sending a letter to the director, the board of directors, or the committee addressed to: Board of Directors, 6312 South Fiddler's Green Circle, Suite 200N, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, or by sending an e-mail to: Board@redrobin.com. The Company's chief legal officer will review all communications, categorize them, and forward them to the appropriate board member(s). Messages pertaining to administrative matters, ordinary business matters, personal grievances, and similar issues will be forwarded to the appropriate member of management.

        With respect to issues arising under the Company's Code of Ethics, you may also communicate directly with the chair of the audit committee, vice president of internal audit, or the compliance officer in the manner provided in the Company's Problem Resolution and Whistleblower Policy and Reporting Procedures. Both the Code of Ethics and the Problem Resolution and Whistleblower Policy and Reporting Procedures may be found on the corporate governance section of the investor relations tab of our website at: www.redrobin.com.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Transactions with Related Persons

        For 2014, we had no material related party transactions which were required to be disclosed in accordance with SEC regulations.

Review, Approval, or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons

        The board of directors recognizes that transactions between the Company and certain related persons present a heightened risk of conflicts of interest. In order to ensure that the Company acts in the best interest of our stockholders, the board has delegated the review and approval of related party transactions to the audit committee. Pursuant to our Code of Ethics and the audit committee charter, any related party transaction required to be disclosed in accordance with applicable SEC regulations must be reviewed and approved by the audit committee. In reviewing a proposed transaction, the audit committee must:

•

satisfy itself that it has been fully informed as to the related party's relationship and interest, and as to the material facts of the proposed transaction, and



•

consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances available to the committee.

        After its review, the audit committee will only approve or ratify transactions that are fair to the Company and not inconsistent with the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        During the last completed fiscal year, Robert B. Aiken, Lloyd L. Hill, Richard J. Howell, Glenn B. Kaufman, Pattye L. Moore, and James T. Rothe each served as members of the Company's compensation committee. None of the members of the compensation committee is or has been an officer or employee of the Company. None of our current executive officers serves as a director of another entity that has an executive officer who serves on our Board.

17

---

Table of Contents

Director Compensation

        Set forth below are the elements of our director compensation for 2014.

18

---

Table of Contents

2014 Director Compensation

        The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation we paid to our non-employee directors in fiscal 2014:

19

---

Table of Contents

        As of the end of the fiscal year 2014, the aggregate number of options and restricted stock units outstanding for each non-employee director is set forth below. Options are considered outstanding until exercised and restricted stock units are considered outstanding until vested and paid.

2015 Director Compensation

        In October 2014, the compensation committee voted to change the pay mix for non-employee directors effective in 2015. The committee eliminated director meeting fees, rolling the approximate $30,000 value into the annual retainer, which was increased from $40,000 to $70,000. The change was made to ease administrative burden with respect to the payment of director cash compensation and to better align the Company's practices with those of its peer group. This change was exclusive of chair retainers, which were not changed. In addition, the board voted to reduce the vesting terms for future restricted stock unit grants from three years to one year. This change was made to be consistent with the Company's decision to declassify its board of directors and move from a staggered board with three-year elected terms to a non-staggered board with annual elections for one-year terms in accordance with governance best practices. No changes were made to the vesting terms of existing awards.

Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

        The compensation committee has had stock ownership guidelines in place for non-employee directors since March 2009 (see "Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines" on page 42 for discussion of the ownership guidelines for executive officers). The current ownership guidelines require non-employee directors to own Company securities with a cumulative cost basis of at least five times the director's annual retainer. Based on the current annual retainer for non-employee directors, that dollar amount is $350,000. The value of the director's holdings is based on the cumulative cost basis of securities held, which is calculated using the price of the Company's common stock at the date of acquisition. All forms of equity owned of record or beneficially, including vested in-the-money options, are credited toward the guidelines. New non-employee directors have five years from the time the director joins the board to reach the minimum ownership threshold. Non-employee directors may not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of common stock that would decrease such director's cumulative cost basis below the ownership guideline amount. All of our directors are currently in compliance or properly on track to be in compliance with the minimum ownership threshold.

20

---

Table of Contents

        The following table sets forth the ownership guidelines and the holdings of the non-employee directors as of March 10, 2015, valued at the acquisition dates pursuant to our director stock ownership guidelines:

Indemnification of Directors

        The Company has entered into agreements to indemnify its directors, executive officers, and certain other key employees. Under these agreements, the Company is obligated to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, and settlement amounts incurred by them in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as a director or officer. The Company believes that these agreements are necessary in attracting and retaining qualified directors and officers.

21

---

Table of Contents

STOCK OWNERSHIP INFORMATION

        Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Except as indicated by footnote, and except for community property laws where applicable, the persons named in the tables below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them. The percentage of beneficial ownership for each table is based on 14,107,108 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 10, 2015.

Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

        The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common stock as of March 10, 2015. All information is taken from or based upon ownership filings made by such persons with the SEC or upon information provided by such persons to the Company.

22

---

Table of Contents

Stock Ownership of Directors and Management

        The following table contains information about the beneficial ownership (unless otherwise indicated) of our common stock as of March 10, 2015 by:

•

each of our directors, including the board's nominees for election,



•

each named executive officer set forth in the Summary Compensation Table, and



•

all directors and current executive officers as a group.

23

---

Table of Contents

24

---

Table of Contents

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

        In this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, we provide an analysis and explanation of our executive compensation program and the compensation derived from this program by our executive officers, including our "named executive officers." For 2014, our named executive officers were:

•

Stephen E. Carley, Chief Executive Officer



•

Stuart B. Brown, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer



•

Denny Marie Post, Executive Vice President and Chief Concept Officer



•

Michael L. Kaplan, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer



•

Cathy Cooney, Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer




•

Eric C. Houseman, Former President and Chief Operating Officer



•

Todd A. Brighton, Former Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer

Overview

        Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is a casual dining restaurant chain focused on serving an imaginative selection of high quality gourmet burgers in a fun environment welcoming to guests of all ages. We are committed to delivering superior experiences for our guests which we believe will lead to operating and financial results better than those of our casual dining peers. Through our engaged and motivated team members, our mission is to deliver a customized experience and create a unique connection with guests of all ages who want to enjoy craveable gourmet burgers in a fun, energetic environment with attentive and friendly service. We have identified and continue to search for opportunities that will drive strong financial performance through increasing guest traffic and revenues, improving operational efficiencies and expense management, enhancing our restaurant environments, and expanding our restaurant base. We have built short-term and long-term strategies and initiatives around these opportunities, and have optimized returns through allocation of our capital. These strategies and initiatives include:

•

Increasing guest engagement to drive profitable guest traffic and sales in our restaurants through greater frequency of visits and increasing our average guest check;



•

Improving operational efficiencies and expense management through several initiatives designed to reduce costs and improve efficiencies throughout our organization; and



•

Expanding our footprint through disciplined deployment of capital to both grow the brand and maximize long-term stockholder returns by optimizing the return on our capital investments, including development of new restaurants and restaurant remodels.

        We believe these initiatives also comprise the foundations for scalable and sustainable long-term growth, profitability, and increased stockholder value.

        Our executive compensation program supports this focus through several key objectives:

•

Attracting, retaining, and motivating the best possible executive talent who have the experience and leadership skills capable of driving performance and top-line growth in sales;



•

Creating value for our stockholders by linking executive compensation to the achievement of measurable corporate objectives and the minimization of unreasonable and excessive risk-taking; and

25

---

Table of Contents

•

Paying for superior results through a program that incents and rewards for achievement of both short-term and long-term organizational and functional objectives with a mix of compensation elements that place a significant portion of cash and equity compensation at risk.

        Accordingly, our executive compensation is comprised of three primary elements: base salaries, annual cash incentives, and long-term incentives that include both cash awards on three-year performance cycles and equity awards (stock options and restricted stock units). We also provide certain other customary health and welfare benefits and other ancillary compensation to executives, which are in line with those offered to other groups of our employees, and which comprise a modest portion of our named executive officer compensation. See "Summary Compensation Table" on page 44.

2014 Performance

        Mr. Carley joined the Company in late 2010 as chief executive officer. Under Mr. Carley's direction, we have pursued a course of performance improvement designed to drive top-line growth in sales and lay the foundation for scalable and sustainable long-term growth, profitability, and increased stockholder value. Our compensation objectives are designed to link incentives and rewards with current and long-term sustained achievement of these goals. For the past four years, we have experienced significant improvement in our operating performance. Highlights of our improved performance are set forth below. Note that all of the fiscal years noted were comprised of 52 weeks except for our 2012 fiscal year, which was comprised of 53 weeks due to our fiscal calendar (we experience a 53^rd week every 5^th or 6^th fiscal year).

•

Annual revenues were $1.1 billion in 2014, which exceeded $1.0 billion in 2013, an increase of 12.7%. This follows a series of increases in annual revenues over the preceding three fiscal years: annual revenues in fiscal 2013 increased by 4.1% over total revenues for fiscal 2012 (including the 53^rd week); increased 6.8% in 2012 (including the 53^rd week) over 2011, and 5.9% in 2011 over 2010.



•

Comparable restaurant revenue grew by 3.1% in 2014 and 4.0% in 2013. Comparable restaurants are those Company-owned restaurants that have achieved five full quarters of operations during the period presented, and such restaurants are only included in our comparable metrics if they are comparable for the entirety of both periods presented.



•

We achieved consistent adjusted EBITDA growth over the past four years. In addition, net cash provided by operating activities was $123.6 million in 2014, an increase of 8.9% over 2013 and an increase of 75% over 2010.



•

For the 2014 full fiscal year, GAAP earnings per diluted share (EPS) grew to $2.25, an increase of 389% over 2010.

26

---

Table of Contents

•

As represented in the bar graph below, our stock price has steadily increased since Mr. Carley joined our Company as chief executive officer in September 2010. Since 2010, our stock price has increased from a high in the mid $20s to around $80 per share.

•

For fiscal year 2014, our guest traffic exceeded the casual dining sector by 160 basis points as reported by Black Box Intelligence, which produces a financial benchmarking report for the restaurant industry. We continue to gain market share and, based on Black Box Intelligence reports, we have outperformed the industry in traffic in 9 of the last 11 quarters.



•

We added 22 new Red Robin® restaurants and 3 new Red Robin Burger Works® to our restaurant base and acquired 36 franchised Red Robin® restaurants in fiscal 2014.



•

We remodeled 74 Company-owned Red Robin® restaurants to our new brand standards in fiscal 2014.



•

We used excess cash generated during the last four years to benefit our stockholders in the form of share repurchases. Over the past four years, we have repurchased over $89.2 million or approximately 18.0% of shares outstanding, including $26.9 million repurchased during 2014. In February 2015, our board of directors re-authorized up to $50 million in share repurchases.

27

---

Table of Contents

•

As represented in the chart below, for the past four years, our cumulative total shareholder return on our common stock has shown marked improvement and compares favorably with the cumulative total return over the same period for the Russell 3000 Index, the Bloomberg U.S. Full Service Restaurant Index, and a Peer Composite made up of our Current Peer Group restaurants (see "Benchmarking" below beginning on page 31 for a list of our peer restaurants). The comparison assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2010 in the Company's common stock and in each of the indices (including reinvestment of dividends based on calendar years ending December 31 for purposes of comparability).

Four-Year Indexed Share Price Performance

28

---

Table of Contents

Highlights of 2014 Compensation Actions

        The table below summarizes key actions taken by our compensation committee in 2014. As described below, the compensation committee did not make significant structural changes to our executive compensation program for 2014.

29

---

Table of Contents

Executive Compensation Decision-making

        The compensation committee determines target total direct compensation for named executive officers by establishing base salaries and setting long-term and annual incentive compensation targets. When appropriate, the committee also approves special awards and modest perquisites. When determining target total direct compensation, the committee considers the following:

•

Company performance and our pay for performance compensation program design.



•

Benchmarking data for our restaurant peer group at various levels between the 50^th and 75^th percentile for target total direct compensation (base salaries, short-term incentives, and long-term incentives) for the peer group, based on disclosure in peer proxies and other applicable survey data.



•

Individual performance and areas of responsibility relative to the market data.



•

Compensation relative to other executive officers in the Company.



•

Advice from the committee's independent compensation consultant.



•

The CEO's recommendations with respect to the compensation of the executives who report directly to him, including the other named executive officers.



•

Whether our compensation program encourages unnecessary or excessive risk taking.



•

Results of the Company's say-on-pay votes in prior years.

Pay for Performance Alignment

        Our compensation program is designed to pay for performance and link incentives to current and long-term sustained achievement of Company strategic goals. Accordingly, a significant portion of our named executive officers' compensation, excluding base salary, is incentive based, and is comprised of performance-based short-term and long-term awards. Such compensation therefore varies in value and is at-risk of forfeiture or reduced payout if performance goals are not achieved for cash-based incentives, or loss of value if our performance does not drive increases in our stock price. Financial measures such as EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) and ROIC (return on invested capital) used for the annual bonus and cash incentive grants are linked to the Company's strategic business plans that are reviewed and approved by our board of directors. Minimum financial targets must be achieved for any payouts of cash to be made under both the annual bonus and long-term incentive grants. Restricted stock units and stock options vest ratably over four years, the value of which is dependent, in whole or in part, on an increase in the Company's stock price.

        The compensation committee believes that the annual incentives (which are generally based on annual Company EBITDA or other financial targets) and the long-term incentives (the cash portions of which are currently based on three-year cumulative EBITDA and ROIC targets) place a large portion of the executive's pay at risk because such pay will fluctuate or vary in value based upon the level of performance achieved by the Company. Because incentive awards are performance-based, they are at risk of forfeiture or reduced payout if performance goals are not achieved. Moreover, long-term equity awards are at risk of forfeiture if the executive does not remain with the Company until the equity vests, and are at risk of reduced realized value based upon Company stock price at the date of exercise.

        Risk Profile of 2014 Named Executive Officer Compensation.    In 2014, "at-risk" pay (subject to forfeiture or partial or complete loss of value) made up 79% of total compensation for CEO Stephen Carley and 63% of total compensation for the other named executive officers as a group (including our former officers in the named executive officer group) and included short-term and long-term incentives. Short-term incentive pay, aligned with achievement of annual business results based on EBITDA, comprised 26% and 27% of our CEO's and other named executive officers' total compensation

30

---

Table of Contents

opportunity, respectively. Long-term incentive ("LTI") awards that are designed to maximize retention and to link compensation to the Company's long-term stock price performance comprised 53% and 36% of our CEO's and other named executive officers' total compensation, respectively. LTI awards are based on achievement of longer-term business goals adopted as part of our multi-year strategy.

        The charts below reflect the portion of the executives' 2014 compensation that is considered at risk, or subject to forfeiture or partial or complete loss of value.

CEO

Other Named Executive Officers

        The chart above assumes that at-risk portions of pay at the beginning of 2014 included the 2014 annual cash bonus opportunities (annual short-term bonus incentive) and the three-year long-term incentive grant (40% cash, 40% restricted stock units, and 20% options). The charts above also assumes payout of long-term cash incentives at 100% target levels.

Benchmarking

        Restaurant Peer Group.    Restaurant peer group companies are selected by the compensation committee upon recommendation of its compensation consultant, AON Hewitt, and are based on their similarity to us with respect to several criteria, including revenue, size, and scope. Specifically, peers include U.S. public companies within the restaurant industry that have similar revenue and market value.

        The current peer group used for 2014 compensation benchmarking consists of the 15 restaurants identified in the chart below. The Company ranked in the 62^nd percentile for its current peer group in sales and 24^th percentile in market value based on Aon Hewitt compensation analysis conducted in 2013.

        In connection with its review of our executive compensation program in 2014, AON Hewitt recommended changes to the Company's peer group for compensation benchmarking beginning in 2015. Specifically, AON Hewitt recommended an increase in the number of companies in the peer group to include additional companies that meet the comparability criteria and removal of companies

31

---

Table of Contents

that no longer meet the criteria. Based on that recommendation, the compensation committee added eight new companies and removed two companies. The new peer group for 2015 compensation benchmarking is comprised of the 21 restaurant companies listed below. The Company ranked in the 53^rd percentile for this new peer group in sales and 46^th percentile in market value based on the AON Hewitt compensation analysis conducted in 2014.

        2014 Compensation.    Annual total direct compensation for 2014, which is comprised of base salaries and annual bonus opportunity, together with long-term incentives, was targeted at approximately the 60^th percentile of our peer group (the sum of median total cash and 65^th percentile long-term incentives). Although total direct compensation is targeted above the median for our peer group, realization of that level of compensation occurs only upon achievement of both the short and long-term performance results.

Independent Compensation Consultant

        The compensation committee has retained AON Hewitt as its independent compensation consultant. Aon Hewitt assists with the compensation committee's annual review of our executive compensation program, cash and equity compensation practices, ongoing development of our executive compensation philosophy, and acts as an advisor to the compensation committee on compensation matters as they arise. AON Hewitt also advises the compensation committee on compensation for the board of directors. The compensation committee evaluated AON Hewitt's independence as its compensation consultant by considering each of the independence factors adopted by NASDAQ and the SEC. Based on such evaluation, the compensation committee believes that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent AON Hewitt from independently representing the compensation committee.

32

---

Table of Contents

Risk Mitigation

        The compensation committee considers, in establishing and reviewing our executive compensation program, whether the program encourages unnecessary or excessive risk taking. The factors considered by the committee include:

•

the general design philosophy of our compensation policies and practices for employees whose behavior would be most affected by the incentives established by our compensation policies and practices, as such policies and practices relate to or affect risk taking by employees on our behalf, and the manner of their implementation;



•

our risk assessment and incentive considerations in structuring our compensation policies and practices or in awarding and paying compensation;



•

how our compensation policies and practices relate to the realization of risks resulting from the actions of employees in both the short term and the long term;



•

our policies regarding adjustments to our compensation programs and practices to address changes in our risk profile; and



•

material adjustments that we have made to our compensation policies and practices as a result of changes in our risk profile.

        The compensation committee believes that it has mitigated unnecessary risk taking in both the design of the compensation plans and the controls placed upon them because:

•

payouts under our annual and long-term incentive compensation plans are capped;



•

the compensation committee has the ability to reduce payouts under our annual incentive compensation plans in its discretion;



•

executives are subject to robust stock ownership guidelines;



•

executives are subject to anti-hedging policies with respect to our common stock;



•

the performance goals under our incentive programs relate directly to the business plan approved by the board of directors; and



•

there is an appropriate balance between our annual operating achievements and longer-term value creation, with a particular emphasis on longer-term value creation for our executives.

        The compensation committee completes this evaluation annually. Accordingly, based upon the foregoing, the Company believes that the risks arising from its compensation policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Say on Pay Vote Results

        At our 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, holders of approximately 99.5% of the votes cast on such proposal approved the advisory vote on the 2013 compensation of our named executive officers. The compensation committee did not make significant structural changes to our executive compensation program for 2014. The compensation committee believes the advisory stockholder vote indicates strong support for the Company's executive compensation program. The compensation committee will continue to consider the results of the advisory vote on executive compensation in future executive compensation policies and decisions.

33

---

Table of Contents

Key Components of our Executive Compensation Program

Base Salary

        The compensation committee sets base salaries for our executives to reflect the scope of each executive's responsibilities, experience, and performance. The compensation committee reviews base salaries annually, and adjusts them from time to time to account for relevant factors such as market changes, as documented by the compensation consultant. The compensation committee also considers the CEO's evaluation of each executive's performance and reviews his salary recommendations for our executives.

Incentive-Based Compensation

        For our incentive-based compensation, the compensation committee utilizes a mix of performance metrics and time and tenure. Each type of metric serves a different purpose. The short-term (annual bonus) and the cash component of the long-term incentive awards are performance-based and require achievement of certain financial targets, measured over either one or three years. If the financial metrics are not achieved at a minimum threshold level at the end of the performance period, no payment is earned or made. The equity portion of the grants vests ratably over four years. The time-based vesting of the restricted stock units, a comparatively lesser portion of the total long-term incentive awards, is used primarily for retention purposes and to encourage stock ownership by executives, thereby aligning their interests with our stockholders. The stock options vest over time, but require improved stock price performance to realize value.

        Annual Performance-Based Incentive (Cash Bonus).    Annual performance-based cash bonuses are intended to reward achievement of short-term operating goals and financial performance that are incremental to long-term, sustained creation of stockholder value. Our annual bonuses are established with reference to the annual portion of our multi-year strategic plan and, although measured in one-year increments, are designed to tie each year's results into a long-term target. As the Company's business evolves and develops, the long-term targets may be revised with concurrent impact on each year's annual planning. Generally, the annual performance metrics are financial-based measures that the compensation committee believes are highly correlated to our strategic goals described above. The compensation committee continually evaluates the measures against which we gauge our performance and may incorporate additional or alternative metrics to incentivize executives to achieve appropriate performance targets and respond to industry changes or market forces.

        Each of our executives is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus based on achievement of certain performance objectives, predominantly based on annual EBITDA. The EBITDA measure was selected because we believe it best captures our operating results without reflecting the impact of decisions related to our growth, non-operating factors, and other matters. The EBITDA goal is intended to be a "stretch" goal, or challenging target, and is meant to encourage superior performance. The 2007 Plan permits the compensation committee to adjust, in its discretion, EBITDA for non-cash, non-recurring, or unusual items. The compensation committee approves the annual bonus program based on achievement of a predetermined range of minimum threshold, target, and maximum-level EBITDA and approves payout of the bonuses, if any, following review of actual results. Bonuses are based on a percentage of the executive's salary and are set based on market and peer comparisons, and the corresponding dollar payout value varies up or down depending on the actual EBITDA performance level. Bonuses are not payable at all if the minimum threshold of EBITDA is not achieved. The compensation committee sets the EBITDA ranges each year based on performance expectations and other factors. The compensation committee may add or substitute performance measures in future plans. The compensation committee may also use various factors to exercise negative discretion when evaluating performance for purposes of awarding annual incentive compensation. Cash incentive awards are currently paid pursuant to the 2007 Plan. It is anticipated that future cash awards would be paid

34

---

Table of Contents

pursuant to the proposed Cash Incentive Plan (see Proposal 3—Approval of the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. Cash Incentive Plan beginning on page 60).

        In addition, the compensation committee may approve special bonuses on an individual or group basis in recognition of extraordinary achievements, or to address other special situations.

        Long-Term Performance-Based Incentives.    The compensation committee determines the long-term incentive grants for the executive officers, including the named executive officers, pursuant to market data and with respect to comparisons to peer restaurant compensation practices. The compensation committee believes that a mix of performance and time-based cash and equity incentives provides an element of performance risk for executives and encourages equity ownership, thereby aligning the interests of executive officers with our stockholders.

        Long-term incentive grants consist of equity awards, typically in the form of restricted stock units and stock options, and a long-term cash incentive component. They are designed to focus management on our strategy of driving consistent, sustainable achievement of long-term goals, both incrementally and over long performance periods. The annual granting of multi-year performance compensation (including three-year performance targets) is designed to ensure that the execution of our strategic plan considers appropriate risks and returns and allows for initiatives that span several fiscal years.

        Currently, the long-term incentive awards for executives consist of an equity component comprised of 40% stock options and 20% restricted stock units (both of which vest ratably over four years), and a 40% performance-based cash component. We use stock options to align the interests of our executive officers with stockholders because value is realized only if the stock price appreciates (stock price performance). We use restricted stock units to help retain our executives and further align their interests with our stockholders. The cash component is payable if cumulative EBITDA or ROIC targets are achieved over a three-year performance period. The cumulative EBITDA and ROIC long-term incentive cash metrics are independent of each other. The compensation committee selected a target earnings metric (cumulative EBITDA) and a return metric (ROIC) in the design of the long-term incentive cash design to achieve a balance between profitability and growth, and to effectively reward both. Both the EBITDA goal and the ROIC goal are intended to be "stretch" goals, or challenging targets, and are meant to encourage superior performance. The 2007 Plan permits the compensation committee to adjust, in its discretion, EBITDA or ROIC for non-cash, non-recurring, or unusual items. While there is some overlap with a metric in our annual performance-based cash bonuses and long-term incentive cash awards (EBITDA), the compensation committee believes this is appropriate because the annual performance-based cash bonus is focused on earnings in a particular year, whereas the three-year cumulative EBITDA used in the long-term incentive program is focused on progress over the three-year performance period and can be measured at any point in the performance period. The longer term nature of the long-term incentive cash program links performance to our multi-year strategic plan and growth objectives and encourages management's collaboration on strategic initiatives. Incentive awards of both cash and equity are currently paid pursuant to the 2007 Plan. It is anticipated that future cash awards would be paid pursuant to the proposed Cash Incentive Plan (see Proposal 3—Approval of the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. Cash Incentive Plan beginning on page 60).

Modest Perquisites

        We offer relatively few perquisites to our executives, but we do provide certain benefits such as car allowances and meal allowances to our named executive officers and certain other employees. In addition, where appropriate, we offer usual and customary relocation expense reimbursements including related tax reimbursements.

35

---

Table of Contents

Summary of 2014 Compensation Activity

Base Salary

        During 2014, the compensation committee did not make any changes to named executive officer salaries. Named executive officer salaries for 2014 are set forth below. The compensation committee considers various factors when setting base salaries including peer compensation practices, Company performance, individual contributions, CEO recommendations for his direct reports, and other relevant matters.

        Each of Mr. Carley, Mr. Brown, Ms. Post, and Mr. Kaplan has an employment agreement with the Company, the terms of which are discussed below under "Executive Employment Agreements."

Incentive-Based Compensation

        2014 Annual Performance-Based Cash Incentives.    For 2014, annual performance-based cash bonuses were contingent upon achievement of an annual Company EBITDA target to focus our efforts on continuing to improve performance and maximizing stockholder returns. In fiscal year 2014, we continued to realize significant movement toward these goals, reporting increased revenues and net income in fiscal 2014 over 2013 and 2012 and sustainable cost reductions. We view these achievements as progress toward establishing best in class operations, profitability, and brand value.

        Target bonus opportunities under our annual performance-based cash incentive program are equal to a pre-established percentage of the employee's base salary. Bonuses are determined by comparing the Company's fiscal year EBITDA to a target level of EBITDA for the year established by our compensation committee. For 2014, the EBITDA target was $117.9 million, and preliminary bonus amounts based on achievement of EBITDA targets range from 85% to 115% of the executive's target bonus opportunity. For 2014 we achieved 100.2% of the EBITDA target based on our 2014 EBITDA of approximately $118.1 million, which resulted in a payout of 100.8%. For purposes of calculating our 2014 bonus, EBITDA, as defined in the Company's earnings releases filed with the SEC on Form 8-K, is adjusted for unusual or nonrecurring items including acquisitions, executive transition, changes to the

36

---

Table of Contents

chief executive officer's retirement provisions, and impairments. Such adjustments were approved by the compensation committee.

        The 2014 annual performance-based cash bonus incentive also included a feature, if EBITDA of at least 100% of the target level was achieved, that allows for an increase in the amount up to 120% of the preliminary bonus amount based on achievement of guest traffic outcomes favorable to our casual dining peers as reported by Black Box Intelligence, a financial benchmarking report for the restaurant industry. Due to our achievement of above-target EBITDA performance goals in 2014, and above-target guest traffic increases, eligible employees, including our executive officers, earned a bonus payout of 114.9% of target, as reflected in the tables below.

 

37

---

Table of Contents

        The actual amounts of our 2014 annual performance-based cash incentives paid to our named executive officers in February 2015 for fiscal 2014 performance are as follows.

        2014 Long-Term Incentive ("LTI") Program.    The 2014 LTI grants made to named and other executive officers followed the same program design implemented in 2011 and used in 2012 and 2013. For our executives, the program consists of an equity component comprised of 40% stock options and 20% restricted stock units (both of which vest ratably over four years), and a 40% long-term cash incentive component measured by company performance over three years. The LTI program grants are made under the 2007 Plan. It is intended that this program will continue annually in overlapping cycles.

        2014 Incentive Grants.    In February 2014, the Company made the following annual grants to our named executive officers in the form of LTI cash award, options, and restricted stock units under the 2007 Plan. As described above, an executive's total target incentive is comprised of 40% long-term performance-based cash, 40% stock options, and 20% restricted stock units.

        The estimated fair value of each option granted is calculated using the Black-Scholes multiple option-pricing model. The fair value of the restricted stock units is based on the grant date market value of the common shares.

        Long-Term Cash Portion.    The long-term cash portion of the performance plan is focused on operational metrics with a three-year performance period. The awards cliff vest at the end of a three-year performance cycle. Performance is measured over the three years based on a range of minimum threshold, target, and maximum level. There are two independent metrics used that provide an appropriate balance between capital efficiency and operational results. The first metric is cumulative

38

---

Table of Contents

EBITDA, which allows progress toward the EBITDA goal to be measured over three years. The second metric is three-year average ROIC, which recognizes that capital-related returns may take time to manifest. The goals are equally weighted and the payouts may be different depending on the achievement level of each metric.

        The same LTI cash award metrics and methodology were implemented for years 2011 through 2014. It is currently intended that each subsequent annual plan will have similar three-year performance periods and vesting.

        At the end of 2014, the Company completed a three-year performance cycle for the long-term cash incentive portion of the LTI plan. The performance period covered fiscal 2012 through fiscal 2014. The 2012 LTI cash awards represented 40% of the executive's total 2012 LTI award. Based on achievement of EBITDA and ROIC performance goals, our executive officers earned a LTI cash payout, as reflected in the summary compensation table and the tables below.

        For the 2012-2014 LTI cash incentive, our target (100%) level EBITDA objective was approximately $338.7 million. The range of EBITDA objectives to achieve a LTI cash payout based on EBITDA was 90% of target EBITDA for the minimum threshold level, and 120% of target EBITDA for the maximum level (which corresponds to a 50% to 200% target payout range). Our EBITDA achievement for 2012-2014 was $321.8 million, which was 95.0% of the target EBITDA level, and generated a corresponding payout multiple of 75.0%. For purposes of calculating our 2012-2014 LTI cash payout, EBITDA, as set forth in the Company's earnings releases filed with the SEC on Form 8-K, is adjusted for unusual or non-recurring items including acquisitions, executive transition, changes to the chief executive officer's retirement provisions, the 2013 special discretionary bonus, the 2012 variance in the number of operating weeks, and impairments, and is calculated using cumulative EBITDA for the years 2012-2014. Such adjustments were approved by the compensation committee.

        Our target (100%) level ROIC objective for the 2012-2014 performance period was approximately 10.37%. The range of ROIC objectives to achieve a LTI cash payout based on ROIC was 95.18% of target ROIC for the minimum threshold level, and 104.82% of target ROIC for the maximum level, with a corresponding multiple range that decreased or increased the payout of the executive's target LTI cash incentive. Our ROIC achievement for 2012-2014 was 10.29%, which was 99.2% of the target ROIC level, and generated a corresponding payout multiple of 83.4%. For purposes of calculating our 2012-2014 LTI cash payout, ROIC is calculated by dividing the income from operations plus interest income, each as reported in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and is adjusted for unusual or non-recurring items including acquisitions, executive transition, changes to the chief executive officer's retirement provisions, the 2013 special discretionary bonus, the 2012 variance in the

39

---

Table of Contents

number of operating weeks, and impairments, for the years 2012-2014 by our average invested capital over the three years. Such adjustments were approved by the compensation committee.

        The actual amounts of our LTI cash incentive paid to our named executive officers in February 2015 for fiscal 2012 through fiscal 2014 performance are as follows. Together, the overall performance of the EBITDA and ROIC metrics averaged a payout percentage of 79.2%.

        Stock Options.    The stock options that were granted in 2014 vest ratably over four years on each anniversary date of the grant, which is designed to align incentives with longer-term achievement of objectives.

        Restricted Stock Units.    The restricted stock units that were granted in 2014 vest ratably over four years on each anniversary date of the grant.

        D. Post Special Equity Award.    In addition to the amounts reflected above, the compensation committee awarded a special equity award to Ms. Post in October 2014 based on her expanded role at the Company, including oversight of Canadian and franchise operations, and the recommendation of the committee's compensation consultant. Ms. Post received a restricted stock unit award with a value of $200,000, which is scheduled to vest over four years.

40

---

Table of Contents

        S. Carley Amendments to Restricted Stock Unit and Stock Option Award Agreements.    In July of 2014, the compensation committee approved certain amendments to Mr. Carley's existing and future restricted stock unit and stock option award agreements. The amendments provide for the non-forfeitability of such awards upon Mr. Carley's death, disability, or retirement. Following such death, disability, or retirement, stock options would become exercisable in accordance with their existing, normal vesting schedules and would remain outstanding for the duration of their original terms. Affected restricted stock units would similarly be paid out in accordance with their original vesting schedules. Retirement, for purposes of these changes, means Mr. Carley's voluntary resignation when his age and whole years of service with the company equals or exceeds 67, provided that he is at least 58 years of age and has a minimum of 5 full years of service. The changes to Mr. Carley's restricted stock units and stock options are designed to maintain incentives for Mr. Carley as he approaches retirement age and to provide market competitive protections to Mr. Carley in the event of his death or disability. The compensation committee considered carefully these changes after soliciting input from the consultant, and concluded that the existing award structure (which would result in the forfeiture of awards upon retirement) may not provide a meaningful incentive to Mr. Carley as his career with the Company progresses, given that awards issued close in proximity to his expected retirement may be perceived as having little value based on their expected forfeiture. The committee believes that the amended structure, which provides for the non-forfeiture and the extended payout of such awards for several years following retirement, will appropriately incentivize and retain Mr. Carley (as the awards will become non-forfeitable upon his retirement), and will align Mr. Carley's interests with those of our stockholders, both during employment and thereafter, as his ability to garner value from these awards upon retirement will be directly linked not only to the Company's success during his continued tenure as chief executive officer, but also in subsequent years. The committee believes this alignment will encourage Mr. Carley's continued efforts toward the Company's long-term financial and business health, and to pursue appropriate succession planning activities if and when appropriate.

2015 Compensation Program

        Our 2015 compensation program has substantially the same key components and elements as our 2014 program.

Deductibility of Executive Compensation

        Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits the deductibility for tax purposes of compensation over $1 million paid by a publicly traded company to certain executive officers, unless such compensation qualifies as "performance-based compensation." The policy of the compensation committee is to establish and maintain a compensation program that maximizes the creation of long-term stockholder value. The compensation committee generally attempts to structure most compensation approaches to preserve deductibility. The compensation committee, however, reserves the right to adopt programs giving consideration to factors other than deductibility where the compensation committee believes stockholder interests are best served by retaining flexibility. In such cases, the compensation committee may consider various alternatives to preserving the deductibility of compensation payments and benefits to the extent reasonably practicable and to the extent consistent with its compensation objectives.

        As discussed above, annual performance-based bonuses are generally paid under the 2007 Plan and thus are intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, such amounts are intended to be deductible by the Company even if in excess of the $1 million statutory limit. Non-qualified stock options and long-term performance-based cash awards are also granted under the 2007 Plan and are also intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m). Such amounts are also intended to be deductible by the Company even if in excess of the $1 million statutory limit. Time-based vesting RSUs

41

---

Table of Contents

do not satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m). Consequently, a portion of that compensation is expected to not be deductible in fiscal 2014 and in future years based on certain executives' aggregate non-performance-based compensation being in excess of statutory limits. Nonetheless, we believe time-based vesting RSUs are an appropriate component of our executive compensation program for the reasons discussed above in this CD&A.

Executive Compensation Policies and Guidelines

Executive Employment Agreements

        Each of Mr. Carley, Mr. Brown, Ms. Post, and Mr. Kaplan has an employment agreement with the Company, described below under "Executive Employment Agreements." The employment agreements have indefinite terms, terminating on discontinuance of employment in accordance with the terms of the agreement. The agreements provide for severance payments upon termination and after a change of control of the Company. The compensation committee believes that the terms of these agreements are in line with market standards and are an important means to allow management to continue to focus on running the business of the Company in the event of a pending or actual change of control event or other event potentially affecting their employment. More detailed information concerning these severance payments appears below under the caption "Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control."

Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines

        Stock ownership guidelines have been in effect for the Company's executive officers and directors since March 2009. (See "Director Stock Ownership Guidelines" beginning on page 20 for ownership guidelines for directors). The compensation committee believes that executive stock ownership requirements increase alignment of executive interests with those of stockholders with respect to long-term ownership risk. The guidelines require executive officers to hold during the term of the executive's employment a dollar value of Company's securities based on a multiple of base salary. In 2014, the ownership guideline values were increased to five times base salary for our CEO, Mr. Carley, and three times base salary for the other executive officers. Pursuant to the guidelines, the value of the executive's holdings is based on the cumulative cost basis of Company securities held, which is calculated using the price of the Company's common stock at the date of acquisition. All forms of equity owned of record or beneficially, including vested in-the-money options, are credited toward the guidelines. The executive officers have five years to achieve the guidelines from their effective date of employment. An executive officer may receive additional time to achieve his or her minimum requirement if the officer's requirement is increased, calculated based on the additional incremental amount. The compensation committee periodically reviews the guidelines and receives guidance and market data from its advisors.

42

---

Table of Contents

        The following table sets forth the ownership guidelines and the holdings of the named executive officers as of March 10, 2015, valued at the acquisition dates pursuant to our executive stock ownership guidelines(1):

Compensation Clawback Policy

        In March 2012, the Company's board of directors adopted a compensation clawback policy for its executive officers that provides for the recoupment by the Company of certain excess incentive compensation paid to the officers under certain circumstances. In the event of a restatement of the Company's previously issued financial statements as a result of either (i) material non-compliance with financial reporting requirements under the securities law or (ii) intentional misconduct by an executive, the Company may recover, to the extent permitted by law, certain incentive compensation received by the executive that was in excess of what would have been paid in the absence of the incorrect financial statements.

Pledging and Hedging Transactions in Company Securities

        In 2014, the board adopted a formal policy prohibiting hedging and pledging of Company securities by executive officers and directors. The policy is set forth in the Company's Insider Trading Policy. All directors and executive officers are currently in compliance with the policy.

43

---

Table of Contents

2014 Executive Compensation Tables

Summary Compensation Table

        The following table sets forth summary information concerning compensation awarded to, earned by, or accrued for services rendered to the Company in all capacities by our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and each of our three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of fiscal year 2014, as well as two former officers (collectively, the named executive officers), for fiscal years 2012 through 2014:

44

---

Table of Contents

45

---

Table of Contents

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

        The following table provides additional information about equity awards and non-equity incentive plan awards granted to our named executive officers during fiscal 2014:

46

---

Table of Contents

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2014 Fiscal Year-End

47

---

Table of Contents

Options Exercises and Stock Vested

        The following table contains information with respect to the named executive officers concerning option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units during fiscal year 2014:

48

---

Table of Contents

Non-qualified Deferred Compensation

        The following table shows information about the amount of contributions, earnings, and balances for each named executive officer under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan as of December 28, 2014.

        Company employees who are generally considered "highly compensated" pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 414(q) are not permitted to participate in the Company's 401(k) program. To permit these employees to save for retirement, the Company has established the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan. The plan permits executives and other eligible employees to defer portions of their compensation. In 2014 the Company paid all administrative expenses of the plan. Under this plan, eligible employees may elect to defer up to 75% of their base salary and up to 100% of incentive compensation and commissions each plan year. The Company may make matching contributions in an amount determined by the compensation committee. For the 2014 plan year, the compensation committee authorized matching contributions equal to 25% of the first 4% of compensation that is deferred by the participant.

        The Company invests the deferred compensation plan assets through a rabbi trust. Assets in the rabbi trust are invested in certain mutual funds that cover an investment spectrum ranging from equities to money market instruments and are available to satisfy the claims of the Company's creditors in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency.

        When participants elect to defer amounts into the plan, they also select when the amounts ultimately will be distributed. Participants can elect to have deferrals for a particular year paid in a

49

---

Table of Contents

future year if the participant is still employed at that time. Such in-service distributions are made in the form of a lump sum or, if the participant's total account balance at the time of the in-service distribution is at least $25,000, the participant can elect to receive payment in up to 5 annual installments. The participant can elect up to 15 annual installments. Otherwise, payment of a participant's account is made the later of (i) in the February following the participant's termination of employment or (ii) six months from participant's termination of employment in the form of a lump sum or in 5, 10, or 15 annual installments if the participant so elected at the time of deferral and if the participant's total account balance is at least $50,000.

        A participant can elect to change a prior distribution election to further delay distribution provided that such new election must be provided at least 12 months before the date the previously scheduled distribution would have occurred and provided that the new distribution date is at least 5 years from the originally scheduled distribution date. A participant may obtain a withdrawal prior to the date otherwise scheduled or elected by the participant if the participant incurs an "unforeseeable emergency" (generally including illness, casualty losses, etc.).

        With respect to deferrals after 2004, the plan is intended to comply with the requirements of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, which was enacted as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The plan is considered to be a "non-qualified" plan for federal tax purposes, meaning that the arrangements are deemed to be unfunded and an employee's interest in the plan is no greater than that of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

        We maintain three equity based compensation plans—the 2004 Performance Incentive Plan (the "2004 Plan"), the Second Amended and Restated 2007 Performance Incentive Plan (the "2007 Plan"), and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP"). Our stockholders have approved each of these plans.

        The following table sets forth for our equity compensation plans in the aggregate, the number of shares of our common stock subject to outstanding options and rights under these plans, the weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, and the number of shares remaining available for future award grants under these plans as of December 28, 2014:

50

---

Table of Contents

Employment Agreements, Separation Related Arrangements, and Change in Control Agreements

Executive Employment Agreements

        Stephen E. Carley Employment Agreement.    Our employment agreement with Mr. Carley, our chief executive officer, dated August 11, 2010, has an indefinite term. The agreement provides that he is entitled to receive certain benefits upon termination of his employment. If the Company terminates Mr. Carley's employment upon the occurrence of a change in control event, he will receive, among other things, (a) payment of an amount equal to two times his annual base salary; (b) his pro rata share of the annual bonus, calculated and paid at the end of the plan cycle, that would otherwise have been earned and be payable had he continued to be employed by the Company; (c) payment of an amount equal to two times the highest annual bonus amount earned by Mr. Carley for performance in the last three calendar years prior to the change in control event for which bonuses have been paid or are payable; and (d) coverage under the Company's medical, dental, and prescription insurance plans for the 18-month period following the date of termination.

        If Mr. Carley's employment is terminated either by the Company without cause, or by Mr. Carley for good reason, as those terms are defined in the agreement, Mr. Carley will receive, among other things, (a) payment of an amount equal to two times his annual base salary; (b) his pro rata share of the annual bonus, calculated and paid at the end of the plan cycle, that would otherwise have been earned and be payable had he continued to be employed by the Company; and (c) coverage under the Company's medical, dental, and prescription insurance plans for the 18-month period following the date of termination.

        Generally, under Mr. Carley's employment agreement and subject to limited exceptions set forth in the agreement, a change in control will be deemed to occur if any person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding common stock or combined voting power of the Company, if there are certain changes in a majority of our board of directors, if stockholders prior to a transaction do not continue to own more than 50% of the voting securities of the Company (or a successor or a parent) following a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any of our subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by us or any of our subsidiaries, or if the Company's stockholders approve a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. However, upon the occurrence of any such event, Mr. Carley is not entitled to any such payment unless his employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Carley for good reason within the two-year period following such change in control event.

        Good reason is defined in Mr. Carley's agreement as a material reduction in his annual base salary or target annual bonus opportunity, relocation of the Company's headquarters to a location more than 50 miles from the existing location, a material breach of any provision contained in the employment agreement or any material provision of any equity award agreement, the removal of Mr. Carley from the board of directors, requiring that Mr. Carley report to any other person other than the board, or a material diminution in Mr. Carley's title, duties, or responsibilities; provided that the Company has 30 days to cure any such condition following Mr. Carley's notice thereof.

        Stuart B. Brown Employment Agreement.    Our employment agreement with Mr. Brown, our chief financial officer, dated August 10, 2011 has an indefinite term. The agreement provides that he is entitled to receive certain benefits upon termination of his employment. If the Company terminates Mr. Brown's employment upon the occurrence of a change in control event, Mr. Brown will receive, among other things, (a) continued payment of his annual base salary for a period of twelve months following the effective date of termination; (b) payment of an amount equal to the annual bonus amount earned by Mr. Brown for performance in the last completed fiscal year prior to the change in control event for which bonuses have been paid or are payable; and (c) coverage under the Company's

51

---

Table of Contents

medical, dental, and prescription insurance plans for the 12-month period following the date of termination.

        Upon termination of Mr. Brown's employment either by the Company without cause, or by Mr. Brown for good reason (as each term is defined in the employment agreement), Mr. Brown will receive, among other things, (a) continued payment of his annual base salary for a period of twelve months following the effective date of termination; (b) his pro rata share of the annual bonus that would otherwise have been earned and be payable had he continued to be employed by the Company; and (c) coverage under the Company's medical, dental, and prescription insurance plans for the 12-month period following the date of termination.

        The definition of change in control event is substantially the same as that contained in Mr. Carley's employment agreement, and payment of any amount following a change in control event requires that Mr. Brown's employment be terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Brown for good reason within the two-year period following such change in control event. Good reason is defined in Mr. Brown's agreement as a reduction in his compensation, relocation of the Company's headquarters to a location more than 20 miles from the existing location, any willful breach by the Company of a material provision contained in the employment agreement, or a significant reduction in the then-effect responsibilities of the Company's chief financial officer; provided that the Company has 30 days to cure any such condition following receipt of notice from Mr. Brown of such reason.

        Denny Marie Post Employment Agreement.    Our employment agreement with Ms. Post, our chief concept officer, dated August 1, 2011 has an indefinite term. The agreement provides that she is entitled to receive certain benefits upon termination of her employment. If the Company terminates Ms. Post's employment upon the occurrence of a change in control event, Ms. Post will receive, among other things, continued payment of her annual base salary for a period of twelve months following the effective date of termination.

        Upon termination of Ms. Post's employment either by the Company without cause, or by Ms. Post for good reason (as each term is defined in the employment agreement), Ms. Post will receive, among other things, continued payment of her annual base salary for a period of twelve months following the effective date of termination.

        The definition of change in control event is substantially the same as that contained in Mr. Carley's employment agreement, and payment of any amount following a change in control event requires that Ms. Post's employment be terminated by the Company without cause or by Ms. Post for good reason within the two-year period following such change in control event. Good reason is defined in her agreement as a reduction in her compensation, relocation of the Company's headquarters to a location more than 20 miles from the existing location, any willful breach by the Company of a material provision contained in the employment agreement, or a significant reduction in the then-effective responsibilities of the Company's chief marketing officer; provided that the Company has 30 days to cure any such condition following receipt of notice from Ms. Post of such reason.

        Michael L. Kaplan Employment Agreement.    Our employment agreement with Mr. Kaplan, our chief legal officer, dated September 30, 2013, has an indefinite term. The employment agreement provides that he is entitled to receive certain benefits upon termination of his employment. If the Company terminates Mr. Kaplan's employment without cause, or Mr. Kaplan terminates his employment for good reason, in both cases either before or following the occurrence of a change in control event, Mr. Kaplan will receive, among other things, (a) payment of an amount equal to one time his annual base salary; and (b) payment of an amount equal to the target amount of Mr. Kaplan's annual bonus for the fiscal year in which the effective date of termination occurs.

        Generally, under Mr. Kaplan's employment agreement and subject to limited exceptions set forth in the employment agreement, a change in control will be deemed to occur if any person acquires more

52

---

Table of Contents

than 50% of the outstanding common stock or combined voting power of the Company, if there are certain changes in a majority of our board of directors, if stockholders prior to a transaction do not continue to own more than 50% of the voting securities of the Company (or a successor or a parent) following a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any of our subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by us or any of our subsidiaries, or if the Company's stockholders approve a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. However, upon the occurrence of any such event, Mr. Kaplan is not entitled to any such payment unless his employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Kaplan for good reason within the two-year period following such change in control event.

        Good reason is defined in Mr. Kaplan's employment agreement as a reduction in his compensation other than as permitted under the employment agreement, relocation of the Company's headquarters to a location more than 20 miles from the existing location, a willful breach of a material provision contained in the employment agreement, or a significant reduction in the then-effective responsibilities of the chief legal officer; provided that the Company has 30 days to cure any such condition following Mr. Kaplan's notice thereof (which notice is required to be provided within 90 days of the initial existence of the condition).

Separation Related Agreements

        Eric Houseman Severance Agreement.    Mr. Houseman's position of chief operating officer of the Company was eliminated effective August 1, 2014. In connection with Mr. Houseman's departure, the Company, Red Robin International, Inc., and Mr. Houseman entered into a severance agreement, dated as of July 25, 2014. Pursuant to the terms of the severance agreement, the Company agreed to pay to Mr. Houseman (i) $174,561.23, less applicable taxes, which is an amount equal to the salary the Company would have paid Mr. Houseman if he had remained employed with the Company through December 31, 2014; (ii) a single lump-sum severance payment to Mr. Houseman of $420,240.00, less applicable taxes; and (iii) a lump sum payment in an amount equivalent to the annual bonus that would otherwise have been earned and be payable had he continued to be employed by the Company for the full fiscal year (the bonus targets set forth in the Company's 2014 bonus plan shall govern Mr. Houseman's eligibility for the payment and the amount of the payment, if any is owed). The amounts set forth in (i) and (ii) above are in consideration of Mr. Houseman's obligations under the severance agreement and his provision of transition and other services to the Company through March 1, 2015. In addition, all unvested stock options, restricted stock units, and other equity-based awards held by Mr. Houseman will continue to vest through March 1, 2015. The severance agreement also contains non-solicitation and confidentiality provisions, as well as a general release by Mr. Houseman of claims against the Company, and other customary terms.

        Todd Brighton Consulting Agreement.    Todd A. Brighton departed from his position as chief development officer of the Company effective as of July 1, 2014. In connection with Mr. Brighton's departure, Red Robin International, Inc., and Mr. Brighton (through his consulting firm) entered into a consulting agreement, dated as of August 8, 2014, under which Mr. Brighton agreed to provide real estate development services to the Company effective as of July 2, 2014 through June 30, 2015. Pursuant to the terms of the consulting agreement, the Company agreed to pay to Mr. Brighton (i) $29,260 per month for the first six-month period of the consulting term; (ii) $14,630 per month during the remaining term of the agreement; (iii) reimbursement for his actual reasonable travel expenses incurred in providing the services under the consulting agreement; and, (iv) an amount equivalent to the annual bonus that would otherwise have been earned and be payable had he continued to be employed by the Company for the full fiscal year (the bonus targets set by the Company's 2014 bonus program shall govern Mr. Brighton's eligibility for the payment and the amount of the payment, if any is owed). In February 2015, Mr. Brighton also received an amount equivalent to

53

---

Table of Contents

the long term incentive cash that would otherwise have been earned and be payable for the 2012-2014 performance period had he continued to be employed by the Company for the full performance period (the LTI cash targets set by the Company's long term incentive plan shall govern Mr. Brighton's eligibility for the payment and the amount of the payment, if any). In addition, all unvested stock options, restricted stock units, and other equity-based awards held by Mr. Brighton will continue to vest in accordance with existing plan documents during the period that he provides consulting services. The consulting agreement also contains non-competition and non-solicitation provisions, as well as other customary terms, and is subject to delivery of a general release by Mr. Brighton that is not revoked within the periods set forth under applicable law.

Change in Control Agreements

        The Company has change in control agreements with each current named executive officer except for Messrs. Carley, Brown, and Kaplan, and Ms. Post, who have change in control provisions in their employment agreements, as discussed above in "Executive Employment Agreements." The change in control agreements provide that if the executive resigns for good reason or is terminated by the Company other than for cause or disability or other than as a result of the executive's death during the 18-month period following a change in control, the executive is entitled to receive the following payments and benefits:

•

continued payment, for a period consisting of twelve months following the effective date of termination, of his or her base salary as in effect immediately prior to the date of termination;



•

one times the annual bonus amount earned for his or her performance in the last completed calendar year prior to the change in control; and



•

payment or reimbursement of the cost of continuing coverage for the executive and his or her spouse under the Company's then existing medical, dental, and prescription insurance plans for the twelve-month period following the effective date of termination or the remainder of the existing employment period.

        None of our change in control provisions provide for a gross up payment for Internal Revenue Code Section 280G/4999 purposes. The board has determined not to enter into any agreements with a named executive officer that contain such a gross up provision. The definition of change in control is substantially similar to the definition contained in the 2007 Plan, as discussed below. Good reason is defined as a reduction in the executive's compensation, relocation of the Company's headquarters to a location more than 20 miles from the existing location, a significant reduction in the then-effective responsibilities of the executive without the executive's prior written consent (for this purpose, if the Company ceases to be a publicly traded corporation, the executive will not be deemed to have suffered such a reduction in the nature and scope of his or her responsibilities solely because of the change in the nature and scope thereof resulting from the Company no longer being publicly traded), or failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of the obligations contained in the change in control agreement by any successor to the Company. The agreements also contain standard confidentiality and non-solicitation provisions.

Incentive Plans

        Set forth below is a description of the change in control provisions contained within our Second Amended and Restated 2007 Performance Incentive Plan under which there are unvested awards currently outstanding. All outstanding awards under our 2004 Plan are vested.

        Second Amended and Restated 2007 Performance Incentive Plan.    Generally, and subject to limited exceptions set forth in the 2007 Plan, if any person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding common stock or combined voting power of the Company, if there are certain changes in a majority of

54

---

Table of Contents

our board of directors, if stockholders prior to a transaction do not continue to own more than 50% of the voting securities of the Company (or a successor or a parent) following a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any of our subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by us or any of our subsidiaries, or if the Company is dissolved or liquidated, then awards then-outstanding under the 2007 Plan may become fully vested or paid, as applicable, and may terminate or be terminated upon consummation of such a change in control event. However, unless the individual award agreement provides otherwise, with respect to executive and certain other high level officers of the Company, upon the occurrence of a change in control event, no award will vest unless such officer's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without cause within the two-year period following such change in control event. The administrator also has the discretion to establish other change in control provisions with respect to awards granted under the 2007 Plan. For example, the administrator could provide for the acceleration of vesting or payment of an award in connection with a change in control event that is not described above and provide that any such acceleration shall be automatic upon the occurrence of any such event.

        There are currently no amounts payable to or accrued for payment to any named executive officer under the change in control provisions contained in the plans.

55

---

Table of Contents

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

        The following table presents the amount of compensation payable to each of our named executive officers as if the triggering termination event had occurred on the last day of our most recently completed fiscal year, December 28, 2014:

56

---

Table of Contents

57

---

Table of Contents

PROPOSAL 2
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        The Company is asking our stockholders to cast an advisory vote to approve the executive compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. This proposal, commonly known as a "say-on-pay" proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the design and effectiveness of our executive compensation programs. As an advisory vote, the outcome of the vote on this proposal is not binding upon us. Our compensation committee, which is responsible for designing and administering our executive compensation programs, values the opinions expressed by our stockholders and will consider the outcome of this vote when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers. In 2014, our advisory vote proposal was supported by approximately 99.5% of the votes cast. The board has adopted a policy of providing for annual say-on-pay advisory votes.

        As described in detail under the heading "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," our executive compensation objectives have been designed to link incentives and rewards for our executives to the achievement of both specific, sustainable financial and strategic goals, which are expected to result in increased stockholder value. We believe that our executive compensation program satisfies these goals and is aligned with the long-term interests of our stockholders.

        Highlights of our current compensation program include the following.

•

Fully independent compensation committee that is advised by an independent compensation consultant.



•

Emphasis on a long-term pay for performance, which includes a cash component in our LTI program that is measured over three-year performance periods on ROIC and EBITDA metrics.



•

Financial measures used for the annual performance-based bonus and long-term cash incentive grants are linked to the Company's strategic business plans reviewed and approved by our board of directors.



•

Minimum financial goals must be met in order for payouts to be made under both the annual performance-based bonus and long-term cash incentive grants.



•

Payouts under our annual and long-term incentive compensation plans are capped.



•

None of our change in control provisions provide for excise tax gross-ups and the board has committed not to enter into any such agreements; we have double-trigger equity vesting upon a change in control.



•

Repricing of stock options is expressly prohibited by our equity compensation plan without stockholder approval.



•

Meaningful stock ownership guidelines for executives, which confirm the long-term nature of grants and alignment with stockholders.



•

Formal policy prohibiting hedging and pledging of Company securities by executive officers and directors.



•

Adoption of a clawback policy that provides for the recoupment of incentive compensation from executive officers under certain circumstances.



•

We offer few perquisites to our executives.

        Please read the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section contained in this proxy statement beginning on page 25, including the tables and narrative disclosures contained therein for additional details about our executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal year 2014 compensation of our named executive officers.

58

---

Table of Contents

Advisory Vote

        We request stockholder approval of the 2014 compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. This vote is not intended to address any specific element of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the compensation philosophy, policies, and practices described in this proxy statement.

        Accordingly, we ask that you vote FOR the following resolution to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers:

"RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company's proxy statement for the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the 2014 Summary Compensation Table, and the other related tables and disclosure within this proxy statement."

Vote Required

        Proposal No. 2 requires the approval of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal.

Board Recommendation

        Our board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR this proposal.

59

---

Table of Contents

PROPOSAL 3
APPROVAL OF THE RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC. CASH INCENTIVE PLAN

Description of the Proposal

        The board of directors proposes and recommends the approval of the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. Cash Incentive Plan. The compensation committee and our board unanimously adopted the Cash Incentive Plan in October of 2014, subject to stockholder approval, and directed that we submit the Cash Incentive Plan to a vote of our stockholders at this annual meeting.

Purpose of the Cash Incentive Plan; Section 162(m)

        The Cash Incentive Plan is designed to provide annual and multi-year cash incentives to members of our senior management team based on the achievement of pre-established, objective performance goals in accordance with the "qualified performance based compensation" rules of Code Section 162(m). Section 162(m) generally limits a corporation's federal tax deduction for compensation paid to "covered employees" (generally, the currently-employed named executive officers whose compensation is disclosed in the proxy statement, other than the chief financial officer) to $1 million in any taxable year. However, the deduction limit of Section 162(m) does not apply to "qualified performance-based compensation," such as the compensation that is intended to be paid under the Cash Incentive Plan. Thus, we expect that the Cash Incentive Plan, if approved by our stockholders, would be an important element of our executive compensation program going forward as it would allow us to continue to provide senior management with incentives for the achievement of both near-term and mid-term financial and operational corporate goals and individual objectives in a manner that is intended to be tax-deductible.

Summary of the Cash Incentive Plan

        The following is a summary of the material terms of the Cash Incentive Plan, and does not describe all of the Cash Incentive Plan terms. Please read the complete text of the Cash Incentive Plan included as Appendix A to this proxy statement.

Administration

        The Cash Incentive Plan must be administered and interpreted by a committee consisting solely of two or more "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m). The committee will generally be the compensation committee, but may be such other committee of subcommittees of the board as may be appointed by the board from time to time. All determinations and interpretations by the committee are final and binding on all persons.

Performance Periods; Eligibility and Participation

        The committee may establish up to two performance periods beginning in any calendar year. The length of each performance period shall be determined by the committee, but no performance period may last for more than 3 years. It is currently anticipated, although not required, that one of the performances for each year will be established for annual bonus awards to our senior management team. It is anticipated, although not required, that the other performance period for such year will cover multi-year awards, such as our long-term cash incentive awards described in this proxy statement. Awards under the Cash Incentive Plan may be granted to any members of our senior management team whom the committee designates as participants for the performance period. The committee will generally make such designation within 90 days of the beginning of each performance period. As of March 10, 2015, there are approximately six members of our senior management team who would be eligible to be designated as participants under the Cash Incentive Plan.

60

---

Table of Contents

Performance Goals; Bonus Formulas

        Within 90 days of the beginning of each performance period, the committee will establish (a) the performance goals and underlying performance criteria for the performance period, and (b) the formula or other methodology used to determine the amount of any earned bonus award. The performance goals and formula or methodology for determining awards need not be the same for all participants.

        A performance goal under the Cash Incentive Plan may be based on one or more of the following measures:

•

Stock price



•

Total shareholder return



•

Return on assets, return on equity, return on capital employed, or economic value added



•

Measures of growth, such as number of units or comparable sales



•

Measures of profitability, including earnings per share, corporate or business-unit net income, net income before extraordinary or non-recurring items, earnings before interest and taxes, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization



•

Cash flow from operations



•

Levels of operating expense or other expense items reported on the income statement



•

Core and non-core product development and growth



•

Infrastructure development for business units or administrative departments (such as marketing, IT, and human resources)



•

Measures of efficiency



•

Satisfactory completion of a project or organizational initiative with specific criteria set in advance by the committee



•

Measures of safety or quality



•

Revenue and/or sales



•

Market share, including but not limited to guest count or traffic count



•

Customer satisfaction



•

Employee engagement, including employee retention and measures of employee satisfaction



•

Strategic sales or acquisitions in compliance with specific criteria set in advance by the committee

        The committee may establish performance goals such that they are adjusted to account for any unusual items or specified events or occurrences during the performance period. In addition, unless the committee determines otherwise at the time the goals are established, the level of attainment of the performance goals shall automatically be adjusted to exclude (a) asset write-downs, (b) extraordinary litigation, claims judgments, or settlements, (c) the effects of changes in tax law, accounting principles, or similar items affecting our reported results, (d) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) material changes to invested capital from pension and post-retirement benefits-related items and similar non-operational items, and (f) certain extraordinary or non-recurring items as described in the applicable accounting rules or as announced by us when reporting results of operations.

61

---

Table of Contents

Calculation of Bonuses

        After the end of each performance period, the committee reviews and certifies the level of attainment of the performance goals for the performance period and calculates the potential bonus award amounts for each participant based on the pre-specified formula or other methodology. The bonus to be paid to any participant will not exceed the maximum amount described below. The committee has discretion to reduce or eliminate the amount of any potential earned award for any reason (including individual performance) to the extent it deems such reduction to be in the best interests of the stockholders.

Maximum Award

        The maximum amount of compensation payable as a performance award under the Cash Incentive Plan for any performance period is $3 million multiplied by the number of years (or portion thereof) in the performance period.

Payment of Awards

        At the beginning of each performance period, the committee shall establish when bonus awards for such performance period shall be paid. The committee may at such time also provide for the effect of any participant's death, disability, termination without cause, or company change in control on the payment of awards for the performance period. Awards shall generally be paid in cash, but may in the committee's discretion be paid in the form of vested or unvested common stock.

Amendment and Termination

        The Cash Incentive Plan may generally be amended or terminated at any time for any reason by our board.

Tax Withholding

        All earned awards will be subject to applicable tax withholdings.

New Plan Benefits

        The amounts of awards payable under the Cash Incentive Plan, if any, are not determinable. The potential amount payable to any participant depends on the performance goals established for the participant, the determination as to whether the performance goals were met, the participant's individual performance, and the discretion of the committee.

Vote Required

        Proposal No. 3 requires the approval of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal.

Board Recommendation

        Our board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR this proposal.

62

---

Table of Contents

PROPOSAL 4
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

Description of the Proposed Amendment

        The board of directors proposes and recommends the approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the authorized common stock of the Company from 30,000,000 shares, par value $0.001 per share, to 45,000,000 shares, par value $0.001 per share. The board of directors approved this amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation on February 11, 2015, subject to stockholder approval.

Effects of Increasing the Number of Authorized Shares of Common Stock

        The proposed amendment would increase the number of shares of common stock which the Company is authorized to issue from 30,000,000 to 45,000,000. As of March 10, 2015, of the 30,000,000 currently authorized shares of common stock, approximately 19,025,385 shares were either issued or reserved for issuance. Shares reserved for issuance consisted of 662,049 shares reserved for issuance under the 2007 Plan. Based upon these issued and reserved shares of common stock, we currently have 10,974,615 shares of common stock remaining available for issuance for other corporate purposes.

        If the proposed amendment is adopted, there would be 25,974,615 authorized shares of common stock available for issuance. Except for shares reserved for issuance under the 2007 Plan, the board has no current plans to issue additional shares of common stock.

        The Restated Certificate of Incorporation currently also authorizes the issuance of up to 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, none of which are issued or outstanding. The proposed amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation would not change the authorized number of shares of preferred stock. There are currently no plans, arrangements, commitments, or understandings with respect to the issuance of any shares of preferred stock.

Text of the Amendment

        We propose to amend paragraph A of Article FOURTH of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation so that it would read in its entirety as follows:

"FOURTH: A. The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Forty-Eight Million (48,000,000) shares, consisting of Forty-Five Million (45,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), and Three Million (3,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Preferred Stock")."

        The only changes that would be made to paragraph A of Article FOURTH, as currently in effect, would be to increase the total number of shares of common stock that we may issue from 30,000,000 shares to 45,000,000 shares and to reflect a corresponding increase in the aggregate number of shares of capital stock of all classes that may be issued from 33,000,000 to 48,000,000 shares.

Purpose of the Amendment

        The board of directors is recommending this increase in the authorized shares of common stock primarily to provide the Company the flexibility to issue shares of common stock for future corporate needs. As a general matter, the board of directors would be able to issue these additional shares of common stock in its discretion from time to time, subject to and as limited by applicable law, the rules and listing requirements of NASDAQ, or of any other securities exchange, as applicable, and without further action or approval of the stockholders. The newly authorized shares of common stock would be issuable for any proper corporate purpose, including future acquisitions, capital-raising or financing

63

---

Table of Contents

transactions involving common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities, stock splits, stock dividends, and current or future equity compensation plans. The board believes that these additional shares will provide the Company with the flexibility to issue shares in the future, without the potential expense or delay incident to obtaining stockholder approval for any particular issuance. There are currently no commitments or understandings with respect to the issuance of any of the additional shares of common stock that would be authorized by the proposed amendment.

Rights of Additional Authorized Shares

        Any authorized shares of common stock, if and when issued, would be part of our existing class of common stock and would have the same rights and privileges as the shares of common stock currently outstanding. Our stockholders do not have preemptive rights with respect to the common stock, nor do they have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, should the board of directors issue additional shares of common stock, existing stockholders would not have any preferential rights to purchase any of such shares, and their percentage ownership of our then outstanding common stock could be reduced.

Potential Adverse Effects of Amendment

        Future issuances of common stock or securities convertible into common stock could have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share, book value per share, and the voting power and interests of current stockholders. In addition, the availability of additional shares of common stock for issuance could, under certain circumstances, discourage or make more difficult any efforts to obtain control of the Company. The board is not currently aware of any attempt, or contemplated attempt, to acquire control of the Company, nor is this proposal being presented with the intent that it will be used to prevent or discourage any acquisition attempt. However, nothing would prevent the board from taking any such actions that it deems to be consistent with its fiduciary duties.

Effectiveness of Amendment

        If the proposed amendment is adopted, it will become effective upon the filing of a certificate of amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

Vote Required

        Approval of Proposal No. 4 requires approval of such proposal at the annual meeting by a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock as of the record date.

Board Recommendation

Our board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR this proposal.

64

---

Table of Contents

PROPOSAL 5
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        The audit committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm retained to perform the audit of our financial statements and our internal control over financial reporting. The audit committee selected Deloitte & Touche LLP ("D&T") as our independent auditor for the 2015 fiscal year ending December 27, 2015. D&T also served as our independent auditor for the 2014 fiscal year ended December 28, 2014. In 2014, stockholders approved the ratification of D&T by approximately 98.4% of votes cast.

        The audit committee annually reviews D&T's performance, independence, and fees in connection with the committee's determination of whether to recommend retaining D&T or engage another firm as our independent auditor. In the course of these reviews, the committee considered, among other factors:

•

D&T's historical and recent performance on our audit and quality of service.



•

External data relating to audit quality and performance, including recent Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) reports on D&T and its peer firms.



•

The reasonableness and appropriateness of D&T's fees, including relative to peer firms.



•

D&T's independence, objectivity, and professional skepticism.



•

D&T's communication and interaction with the audit committee and management, including audit quality indicators that focus on enhancing auditor-audit committee communications using engagement specific metrics.



•

D&T's tenure as our independent auditor and its familiarity with our business operations, accounting policies and practices, and internal control over financial reporting.



•

The support from our stockholders on the ratification of D&T as our independent auditor for our 2014 fiscal year.

        Based on this evaluation, our board is requesting that our stockholders ratify D&T's appointment for the 2015 fiscal year. We are not required to seek ratification from stockholders of our selection of independent auditor, but are doing so as a matter of good governance. If the selection is not ratified, the audit committee will consider whether it is appropriate to select another independent auditor. Even if the selection is ratified, the audit committee in its discretion may select a different independent auditor at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

        Representatives of D&T will be present at the meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to any questions that might arise.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

        The following table summarizes the aggregate fees billed or to be billed by D&T for the fiscal years ended December 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013:

65

---

Table of Contents

Audit Fees

        Fees for audit services in 2014 and 2013 consisted of the audit of our annual financial statements and reports on internal controls required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reviews of our quarterly financial statements, and fees related to a review of our Franchise Disclosure Document. Fees for audit services in 2014 also included additional procedures performed as a result of acquisitions of franchised restaurants. Fees for audit services in 2013 included additional procedures performed in connection with our Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") system implementation.

Audit-Related Fees

        Audit-related fees billed in 2014 were related to advisory services performed in connection with our acquisitions of franchised restaurants.

Tax Fees

        Tax fees billed in 2014 were related to services performed in connection with research and development credit analysis and acquisitions of franchised restaurants. Tax fees billed in 2013 were related to certain services performed primarily related to various federal and state tax issues.

All Other Fees

        All other fees billed in 2014 and 2013 included license fees related to D&T's proprietary web-based research database. All other fees billed in 2013 also included fees related to human resources benchmarking services.

        With respect to non-audit services provided from time to time, the audit committee considers whether D&T's provision of other non-audit services to the Company is compatible with maintaining D&T's independence. The audit committee discusses such services with the independent auditor and Company management to determine whether the services are permitted under SEC rules and regulations concerning auditor independence.

Audit Committee's Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

        The audit committee pre-approves all audit and non-audit services to be performed by D&T, and has established policies and procedures to ensure that the Company is in full compliance with the requirements for pre-approval set forth in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the SEC rules regarding auditor independence. The policies and procedures are detailed as to the particular service and do not delegate the audit committee's responsibility to management.

        In accordance with these policies and procedures, management submits for approval audit and non-audit services that management may wish to have D&T perform during the fiscal year, accompanied by an estimated range of fees for each service to be performed. The audit committee pre-approves or rejects the service and an accompanying range of fees for each service desired to be performed. Management is required to seek additional audit committee pre-approval when management becomes aware that any pre-approved service will result in actual fees greater than the fees initially approved. During the course of the year, the chair of the audit committee has the authority to pre-approve requests for services. At each subsequent audit committee meeting, the chair of the audit committee reports any interim pre-approvals since the last meeting.

        All of the fees set forth in the Principal Accountant Fees and Services table above for fiscal year 2014 were pre-approved by the audit committee.

Vote Required

        Proposal No. 5 requires the approval of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal.

66

---

Table of Contents

Board Recommendation

        Our board of directors recommends that you vote FOR ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 27, 2015.

67

---

Table of Contents

68

---

Table of Contents

69

---

Table of Contents

70

---

Table of Contents

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.    Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock and other equity securities of the Company. Officers, directors, and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To our knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to us and representations that no other reports were required, during fiscal year 2014, all of our officers, directors, and greater than ten percent beneficial owners timely complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements.

        Proposals for Inclusion in 2016 Proxy Statement.    For your proposal or director nomination to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for next year's meeting, your written proposal must be received by our corporate secretary at our principal executive office no later than December 8, 2015. If we change the date of next year's meeting by more than 30 days from the date of this year's meeting, then the deadline is a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail our proxy materials. You should also be aware that your proposal must comply with SEC regulations regarding inclusion of stockholder proposals in Company-sponsored proxy materials and our bylaws.

        Proposals to be Addressed at 2016 Annual Meeting (but not included in proxy statement).    In order for you to properly bring a proposal (including director nominations) before next year's annual meeting, our corporate secretary must receive a written notice of the proposal no later than February 25, 2016 and no earlier than January 26, 2016, and it must contain the additional information required by our bylaws. All proposals received after February 25, 2016 will be considered untimely. You may obtain a complete copy of our bylaws by submitting a written request to our corporate secretary at our principal executive office. If we change the date of next year's meeting by more than 30 days from the date contemplated at this year's meeting, in order for the proposal to be timely, we must receive your written proposal at least 90 days before the date of next year's meeting or no more than 10 days following the day on which the meeting date is publicly announced.

71

---

Table of Contents

        Proxy Solicitation Costs.    The accompanying proxy is being solicited on behalf of the board of directors of our Company. The expense of preparing, printing, and mailing the notice of internet availability or proxy card and the material used in the solicitation thereof will be borne by the Company. In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by telephone, other electronic means, or in person, by our directors, officers, and employees at no additional compensation. Arrangements may also be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries for the forwarding of solicitation material to the beneficial owners of stock held of record by such persons, and we may reimburse them for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection therewith. In addition, Georgeson Inc. has been retained to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders for a fee of approximately $6,500 plus associated costs and expenses.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

        We filed with the SEC an annual report on Form 10-K on February 20, 2015 for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2014. A copy of the annual report on Form 10-K has been made available concurrently with this proxy statement to all of our stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. In addition, you may obtain a copy of the annual report on Form 10-K, without charge, by writing to Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., Attn: Shareholder Services, 6312 South Fiddler's Green Circle, Suite 200N, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111.

72

---

Table of Contents

APPENDIX A

RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC.
CASH INCENTIVE PLAN

Effective upon Approval by the Stockholders: [                        , 2015]

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE

        Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (the "Company") hereby establishes the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. Cash Incentive Plan (the "Plan") for the benefit of certain members of the Company's senior management team. The purposes of the Plan are to (i) place a significant portion of the compensation of Plan participants at risk by tying such compensation to specific measurable goals designed to drive shareholder value, and (ii) exempt bonuses paid hereunder from the deduction limitations of Code Section 162(m). The Plan is intended to encourage initiative, resourcefulness, teamwork, motivation, and efficiency on the part of the Participants that will result in financial success for both the stockholders of the Company and the Participants.

SECTION 2. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

        "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

        "Cause" shall have the definition set forth in any employment, severance, change in control, or similar agreement between the Company and the Participant; provided, however, that if the Participant does not have such an agreement, the term Cause shall mean (a) Participant's continual or deliberate neglect in the performance of his or her material duties; (b) Participant's failure to devote substantially all of his or her working time to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries; (c) Participant's failure to follow the lawful directives of the Board in any material respect; (d) Participant's engaging in misconduct in connection with the performance of any of his duties, including, without limitation, falsifying or attempting to falsify documents, books or records of the Company or its subsidiaries, misappropriating or attempting to misappropriate funds or other property, or securing or attempting to secure any personal profit in connection with any transaction entered into on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries; (e) the violation by Participant, in any material respect, of any policy or of any code or standard of behavior or conduct generally applicable to employees of the Company or its subsidiaries; (f) Participant's breach of any non-competition, non-interference, non-disclosure, confidentiality or other similar agreement executed by Participant with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other act of disloyalty to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including, without limitation, aiding a competitor or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information); or (g) Participant's engaging in conduct which is reasonably likely to result in material injury to the reputation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, commission of a felony, fraud, embezzlement or other crime involving moral turpitude; provided, however, Participant will not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause in the case of clauses (a), (b), (d) and (e) above, unless any such failure or material breach is not fully corrected prior to the expiration of the ten (10) business day period following delivery to Participant of the Company's written notice that specifies in detail of the alleged Cause event(s) and the Company's intention to terminate his employment for Cause. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, coincident with the Committee's establishment of Performance Goals for any Performance Period, establish in writing a different definition of Cause that shall be used for such Performance Period or for any particular Participant for such Performance Period.

        "Change in Control" means any of the following:

        (a)   The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a "Person") (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange

A-1

---

Table of Contents

Act) of more than 50% or more of either (1) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (2) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that, for purposes of this definition, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control; (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Corporation or any affiliate of the Company or a successor, or (D) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a transaction that complies with subsection (c)(1), (c)(2) or (c)(3) below;

        (b)   A majority of the individuals who, as of the date the Plan is adopted (the "Effective Date"), serve on the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (including for these purposes, the new members whose election or nomination was so approved, without counting the member and his predecessor twice) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

        (c)   Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, a "Business Combination"), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Corporation or all or substantially all of the Corporation's assets directly or through one or more subsidiaries (a "Parent")) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or a Parent or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination or Parent) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity, except to the extent that the ownership in excess of more than 50% existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or trustees of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or a Parent were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

        (d)   Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, coincident with the Committee's establishment of Performance Goals for any Performance Period, establish in writing a different

A-2

---

Table of Contents

definition of Change in Control that shall be used for such Performance Period or for any particular Participant for such Performance Period.

        "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

        "Code Section 162(m)" means Section 162(m) of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder.

        "Code Section 409A" means Section 409A of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder.

        "Committee" means a committee comprised of two or more directors, all of whom are "outside directors," as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(3). In the absence of an explicit Board delegation to the contrary, the Committee shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board (or if one exists, the 162(m) subcommittee of the Compensation Committee).

        "Participant" means any member of senior management of the Company who is selected to participate in the Plan for a Performance Period in accordance with Section 4, below.

        "Disability" shall have the definition set forth in any employment, severance, change in control, or similar agreement between the Company and the Participant; provided, however, that if the Participant does not have such an agreement, the term Disability shall mean a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits a major life activity of the Participant and which renders Participant unable to perform the essential functions of his position, even with reasonable accommodation which does not impose an undue hardship on the Company. The Company reserves the right, in good faith, to make the determination of Disability under this Plan based upon information supplied by Participant and/or his medical personnel, as well as information from medical personnel (or others) selected by the Company or its insurers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, coincident with the Committee's establishment of Performance Goals for any Performance Period, establish in writing a different definition of Disability that shall be used for such Performance Period or for any particular Participant for such Performance Period.

        "Performance Goals" means the specific, measurable goals set by the Committee for any given Performance Period. Performance Goals may include multiple goals and may be based on one or more operational or financial criteria. In setting the Performance Goals for any Performance Period, the Committee may include one or any combination of the following criteria in either absolute or relative terms, for the Company or any subsidiary or business unit thereof: (a) stock price, (b) total shareholder return, (c) return on assets, return on equity, return on capital employed, or economic value added, (d) measures of growth such as number of units or comparable sales, (e) measures of profitability including, but not limited to, earnings per share, corporate or business unit net income, net income before extraordinary or one-time items, earnings before interest and taxes or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, (f) cash flow from operations, (g) levels of operating expense or other expense items reported on the Company's income statement, (h) core and non-core product development and growth, (i) infrastructure development for business units or administrative departments (such as marketing, IT, and human resources), (j) measures of efficiency, (k) satisfactory completion of a major project or organizational initiative set in advance by the Committee, (l) measures of safety or quality, (m) revenue and/or sales, (n) market share, including, but not limited to, guest count or traffic count, (o) customer satisfaction, (p) employee engagement, including, but not limited to, employee retention and measures of employee satisfaction, and (q) strategic sales or acquisitions in compliance with specific criteria set forth in advance by the Committee.

        "Performance Period" means one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant's right to, and the payment of, a bonus award granted under the terms of the Plan.

A-3

---

Table of Contents

        "Retirement" means the voluntary termination of employment by Participant from the Company if at the date of termination the Participant is at least 60 years of age and has completed at least five years of service with the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, coincident with the Committee's establishment of Performance Goals for any Performance Period, establish in writing a different definition of Retirement that shall be used for such Performance Period or for any particular Participant for such Performance Period.

        "Treasury Regulations" means the Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code.

SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION

        The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, and the Committee shall have full authority to administer the Plan, including authority to interpret and construe any provision of the Plan and to adopt such rules for administering the Plan as it may deem necessary to comply with the requirements of the Code, or to conform to any regulation or any change in any law or regulation applicable thereto. The Committee may delegate any of its responsibilities under the Plan other than such responsibilities that are explicitly reserved for Committee action pursuant to Code Section 162(m). The Committee's decisions shall be final and binding upon all parties, including the Company, stockholders, and Participants.

SECTION 4. PERFORMANCE PERIODS; ELIGIBILITY

        The Committee may, but need not, establish up to two (2) different Performance Periods beginning in any calendar year, with each such Performance Period to extend for such duration of three (3) years or less as may be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion. Within ninety (90) days after the beginning of any such Performance Period, but in no event after twenty-five (25) percent of the Performance Period has elapsed, the Committee shall designate in writing those members of senior management of the Company who shall be Participants in the Plan for such Performance Period. Only those individuals selected to be Participants shall be eligible to earn bonus awards under the Plan.

SECTION 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF PERFORMANCE GOALS; DETERMINATION OF AWARDS

        5.1    Establishment of Performance Goals; Bonus Formulas.    Within ninety (90) days after the beginning of a Performance Period, but in no event after twenty-five (25) percent of the Performance Period has lapsed, the Committee shall establish in writing (i) the Performance Goals and the underlying performance criteria applicable to the Performance Period, and (ii) the formula or methodology for determining the bonus award payable (if any) to each Participant for such Performance Period upon attainment of the specified Performance Goals. Performance Goals must be objective and must satisfy the third-party objectivity standards under Code Section 162(m). Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the time such Performance Goals are established, the Committee may determine that the Performance Goals shall be adjusted to account for any unusual items or specified events or occurrences during the Performance Period. In addition, unless otherwise provided by the Committee at the time the Performance Goals are established, the Performance Goals shall be adjusted to exclude the effect of any of the following events that occur during the Performance Period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) extraordinary litigation, claims, judgments, or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs, (v) material changes to invested capital from pension and post-retirement benefits-related items and similar non-operational items, and (vi) any other extraordinary, unusual, non-recurring or non-comparable items (A) as described in management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company's Annual Report to stockholders, (B) as described in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 225 (or successor guidance thereto) or (C) as publicly announced by the Company in a press release or

A-4

---

Table of Contents

conference call relating to the Company's results of operations or financial condition for a completed quarterly or annual fiscal period.

        5.2    Certification of Results; Calculation of Bonuses.    As soon as reasonably practicable after the close of the Performance Period, the Committee shall determine bonus awards to be paid under the terms of the Plan. Any payments made under this Plan shall be contingent upon achieving the Performance Goals set in advance for the Performance Period in question. The Committee shall certify in writing prior to approval of any awards that such Performance Goals have been satisfied (a unanimous written consent or approved minutes of the Committee may be used for this purpose).

        5.3    Committee Discretion to Reduce Awards.    The Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, reduce the bonus awards to which any Participant is otherwise due for any Performance Period if it believes that such reduction is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders, but any reduction cannot result in any increase in the bonus award of one or more other Participants for such Performance Period. The Committee has no discretion to increase the bonus award otherwise payable to any Participant for any Performance Period.

        5.4    Maximum Awards.    The maximum bonus award that may be paid to any Participant for any Performance Period shall be (x) 3,000,000, multiplied by (y) the number of years (or portion thereof) in the Performance Period.

SECTION 6. PAYMENT OF AWARDS

        Coincident with the Committee's establishment of Performance Goals for any Performance Period, the Committee shall also establish in writing when bonus awards for such Performance Period (if any) shall be paid, including (but not limited to) the effect that a Participant's death, Disability, or termination without Cause, or a Change of Control of the Company, may have on the payment of such awards. All payment terms shall be intended to comply with Code Section 409A. Payment may be made in the form of cash or Company common stock (including Company common stock that is subject to forfeiture), or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion.

SECTION 7. GENERAL PROVISIONS

        7.1    Nonassignability.    A Participant shall have no right to assign or transfer any interest under this Plan.

        7.2    No Contract of Employment.    Nothing in this Plan shall confer upon the Participant the right to maintain his relationship with the Company or any affiliate as an employee, nor shall it interfere in any way with any right of the Company, or any such affiliate, to terminate its relationship with the Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

        7.3    Amendment and Termination.    The Board may from time to time alter, amend, suspend, or discontinue the Plan, including, where applicable, any modifications or amendments as it shall deem advisable in order that the Plan not be subject to the limitations on deductibility contained in Code Section 162(m), or to conform to any regulation or to any change in law or regulation applicable thereto; provided, however, that no such action shall adversely affect the rights and obligations of the Participants with respect to the bonus amount payable under the Plan at the time of such alteration, amendment, suspension, or discontinuance, except as may be required in order to comply with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) or Code Section 409A.

        7.4    Section 409A of the Code.    This Plan, including any payment terms established in accordance with Section 6, above, shall be established, administered, and operated in the good faith determination of the Board or the Committee to comply with or be exempt from Code Section 409A. Although the Company intends to administer the Plan so that it complies with or is exempt from the requirements of

A-5

---

Table of Contents

Code Section 409A, the Company does not warrant that any bonus amount payable under the Plan will not be subject to the tax imposed by Code Section 409A or will otherwise qualify for favorable tax treatment under any other provision of federal, state, local, or foreign law. The Company shall not be liable to any Participant for any tax, interest, or penalties the Participant might owe as a result of his or her participation in the Plan.

        7.5    Tax Withholding.    The Company shall withhold all applicable taxes from any bonus awards payable hereunder, including any foreign, federal, state, and local taxes.

        7.6    Applicable Law.    This Plan shall be construed in accordance with provisions of the laws of the State of Colorado, without regards to the conflicts of laws provisions of such state.

SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATE

        This Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. Cash Incentive Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on October 29, 2014, and shall become effective upon approval by the stockholder of the Company. Once approved by the Company's stockholders, it shall remain in effect, subject to amendment from time to time.

A-6

---