What happened Dave & Buster's Entertainment (NASDAQ: PLAY) shareholders beat a rallying market last month. Their stock gained 18% in March compared to a 4.2% rise in the S&P 500, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The rally added to huge gains in the restaurant specialist's shares following a slump as markets reacted to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last March. Dave & Buster's stock has underperformed over the longer term, up just 16% in the past five years compared to a 94% increase in the wider market. Image source: Getty Images. So what Enthusiasm built in March thanks to rising vaccine availability and the prospects of a sharp growth rebound for the eating and entertainment franchise. Dave & Buster's sales had been heavily influenced by the path of the COVID-19 virus, and declining case numbers last month pointed to rising customer traffic. Wall Street was also hoping to hear good news from management's late March earnings update. Now what Dave & Buster's did reveal some encouraging trends in its March 31 quarterly announcement. Sales declines were more modest than projected and improved toward the end of the quarter. Yet the company is still operating at far less than 50% of its normal volume. Management predicted Dave & Buster's will return to adjusted profitability (EBITDA) in the first quarter after posting losses by that measure for almost a full year. From there, the chain has an uphill climb to start setting new sales and profit records in a competitive industry. 10 stocks we like better than Dave & Busters EntertainmentWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Dave & Busters Entertainment wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of February 24, 2021 Demitri Kalogeropoulos has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Dave & Busters Entertainment. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source