Three Twin Cities restaurants continue struggle despite industry rebound.

By Lee Egerstrom, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Feb. 12--The restaurant industry is in a rebound, Wall Street analysts are saying, and may out perform most other industry sectors in the year ahead.

But three publicly traded restaurant companies in the Twin Cities -- Buca Inc., Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. and Famous Dave's of America -- suggest not all companies have the same bounce.

Buca, the Minneapolis-based Italian restaurant company, has been under stress the past few years for a wide menu of reasons, including low-carb diet fads, a weak overall economy, rising food costs and competition from stronger players in its casual dining market.

Adding to those woes: the company's disclosure that it's being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission for how its reported …