Note 3 - Reportable Segments (Details) - Financial Information as Required By ASC 280 For Segment Reporting (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												4 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	May 08, 2013		Feb. 13, 2013		Nov. 21, 2012		May 09, 2012		Feb. 15, 2012		Nov. 23, 2011		Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 29, 2012		Aug. 28, 2013	Aug. 29, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Sales:
Sales	$ 91,736	[1]	$ 82,271	[1]	$ 74,090	[1]	$ 78,091	[1]	$ 73,565	[1]	$ 73,307	[1]	$ 118,623	[1]	$ 100,194	[1]	$ 366,155	$ 324,536	$ 325,383
Segment level profit:
Segment Level Profit	97,474	[1]	87,477	[1]	79,453	[1]	84,129	[1]	79,415	[1]	79,325	[1]	125,944	[1]	107,230	[1]	390,350	350,097	348,748
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization																	18,571	17,974	17,278
Total assets:
Assets															231,017		250,305	231,017
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Income Before Income Taxes and Discontinued Operations																	6,061	9,319	3,348
Company Owned Restaurants [Member]
Sales:
Sales																	366,720	325,154	326,037
Segment level profit:
Segment Level Profit																	47,502	50,494	41,832
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization																	16,574	15,990	15,208
Total assets:
Assets															182,290		204,037	182,290	177,973
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures																	30,741	19,077	10,023
Culinary Contract Services [Member]
Sales:
Sales																	16,693	17,711	15,619
Segment level profit:
Segment Level Profit																	1,819	1,166	1,103
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization																	440	471	448
Total assets:
Assets															3,774		3,550	3,774	4,347
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures																	95	292	332
Franchise [Member]
Sales:
Sales																	6,937	7,232	7,092
Segment level profit:
Segment Level Profit																	6,937	7,232	7,092
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization																	767	767	767
Total assets:
Assets															15,352		14,674	15,352	16,054
Segment Sales Total [Member]
Sales:
Sales																	390,350	350,097	348,748
Segment Level Profit Total [Member]
Segment level profit:
Segment Level Profit																	56,258	58,892	50,027
Corporate Segment [Member]
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization																	752	666	702
Total assets:
Assets															29,601		28,044	29,601	29,646
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures																	503	6,476	683
Depreciation and Amortization Total [Member]
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization																	18,533	17,894	17,125
Assets Total [Member]
Total assets:
Assets															231,017		250,305	231,017	228,020
Capital Expenditures Total [Member]
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures																	31,339	25,845	11,038
Segment Level Profit Total [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Income Before Income Taxes and Discontinued Operations																	56,258	58,892	50,027
Opening Costs [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Income Before Income Taxes and Discontinued Operations																	(783)	(396)	(346)
Depreciation and Amortization Total [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Income Before Income Taxes and Discontinued Operations																	(18,533)	(17,895)	(17,125)
General and Administrative [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Income Before Income Taxes and Discontinued Operations																	(32,121)	(30,678)	(29,530)
Provision For Asset Impairments, Net [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Income Before Income Taxes and Discontinued Operations																	(615)	(451)	(84)
Net Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property and Equipment [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Income Before Income Taxes and Discontinued Operations																	1,723	(278)	1,574
Interest Income [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Income Before Income Taxes and Discontinued Operations																	9	9	4
Interest Expense [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Income Before Income Taxes and Discontinued Operations																	(920)	(942)	(2,443)
Other Income [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Income Before Income Taxes and Discontinued Operations																	1,043	1,058	1,271
Income before income taxes and discontinued operations Total [Member]
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Income Before Income Taxes and Discontinued Operations																	$ 6,061	$ 9,319	$ 3,348

[1] The quarters ended August 28, 2013 and August 29, 2012 consists of four four-week periods. All other quarters presented represent three four-week periods.