Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				4 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 25, 2010	May 29, 2010	Feb. 28, 2010	Nov. 29, 2009	Aug. 26, 2009	Aug. 25, 2010	Aug. 28, 2013	Aug. 29, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 25, 2010	Aug. 30, 2011
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Provision For Asset Impairment							$ 615,000	$ 451,000	$ 84,000
Number of Restaurants							180	154	156
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment							1,723,000	(278,000)	1,574,000
Asset Impairment Charges Before Tax					19,000,000
Asset Impairment Charges	369,000	0	0	0			615,000	451,000	84,000
Asset Impairment Gain On Sale Of Product Line And Net Loss On Sale Disposal Of Assets			400,000	1,200,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business						0	0	500,000	2,600,000
Impairment Charges From Discontinued Operations							663,000	868,000	618,000
Carrying Value Of Intangible Assets							3,800,000
Lease Impairment							0
Lease Exit Costs									200,000	700,000
Employee Termination And Other Costs								0
Property Plant And Equipment Including Asset Held For Sale							400,000	600,000			1,000,000
Underperforming [Member]
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants								2
Closure of Leased Locations [Member]
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants								2
Previuosly Closed [Member] | Discontinued Properties [Member]
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Assets Of Disposal Group Number							1
Previously Impaired (Member)
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Employee Termination And Other Costs										700,000
Fuddruckers (Member)
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants							1
Koo Koo Roo [Member]
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants							1
Assets Held-for-sale [Member]
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants							1
Discontinued Properties [Member]
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Assets Of Disposal Group Number							23
Impairment Charge Related to Locations Closed [Member]
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges					13,100,000
Impairment Charge Related to Locations Not Closed [Member]
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges					4,400,000
Impairment Charge Related to Locations Previously Closed [Member]
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges					900,000
Impairment Charge Related to Unimproved Properties [Member]
Note 11 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Discontinued Operations and Property Held for Sale (Details) [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges					$ 600,000