NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) – On paper, American consumers spent last year tightening their belts , and even retail heavyweights stumbled. But sit-down restaurants and some drive-through chains buzzed with patrons seeking a special treat or cheap comfort food. Their upbeat sales made the US restaurant industry a rare bright spot for jobs , with restaurant payrolls ticking up 1% last year, adding about 108,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In contrast, the overall US economy