<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000921895-17-002334.txt : 20170920
<SEC-HEADER>0000921895-17-002334.hdr.sgml : 20170920
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170920163716
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000921895-17-002334
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170919
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170920
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170920

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EIDE ROBERT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181955

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-35962
		FILM NUMBER:		171094313

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		70 EAST SUNRISE HIGHWAY STE 415
		CITY:			VALLEY STREAM
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11581

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATHANS FAMOUS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000069733
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				113166443
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0329

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 OLD COUNTRY RD
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163388500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 OLD COUNTRY RD
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form408477002_09202017.xml
<DESCRIPTION>OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-09-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000069733</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATHANS FAMOUS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NATH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181955</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EIDE ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>810 7TH AVENUE, 18TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O AEGIS CAPITAL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-09-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11361</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.576</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19473</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-09-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5862</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>68.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13611</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By: Isagen, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2010 Stock Incentive Plan (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>35.576</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-09-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11361</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-08-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11361</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were acquired through the exercise of stock options granted on August 6, 2014 pursuant to the Issuer's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Does not include 250,000 shares held by Lorber Alpha II LP, for which the Reporting Person is an officer and director of its general partner and a trustee of the controlling shareholders of such entity. Mr. Eide does not have a pecuniary interest in the shares held by Lorber Alpha II LP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Transaction represents withholding of shares based on net exercise to satisfy exercise cost.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These shares are owned directly by Isagen, LLC, a limited liability company of which the Reporting Person is the sole member.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These options to purchase shares replaced options to purchase 10,000 shares at an exercise price of $53.89, in connection with a special cash dividend of the Issuer,and pursuant to Article IV(e) of the Issuer's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, under which the Issuer's Compensation Committee has the authority to make appropriate provisions upon the Issuer's declaration of a special cash dividend. The original options vested in four equal installments beginning on August 6, 2015, and these replacement options have the same vesting terms and expiration date as the original grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert J. Eide</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-09-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
