Note 3 - Reportable Segments (Details) - Financial Information as Required by ASC 280 for Segment Reporting (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 19, 2014		Nov. 20, 2013		Aug. 27, 2014
Sales:
Sales	$ 80,557		$ 79,952
Segment level profit:
Segment level profit	86,861		85,848
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	5,073		4,413
Total assets:
Total assets	275,911				275,435
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations	(4,598)		(1,641)
Segment Level Profit Total [Member]
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations	9,646		11,311
Opening Costs [Member]
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations	(925)		(350)
Depreciation and Amortization Total [Member]
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations	(5,058)		(4,319)
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations	(7,703)		(8,067)
Provision For Asset Impairments, Net [Member]
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations			(210)
Net Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property and Equipment [Member]
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations	(290)		(51)
Interest Income [Member]
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations	1		2
Interest Expense [Member]
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations	(456)		(253)
Other Income [Member]
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations:
Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations	187		296
Company Owned Restaurants [Member]
Sales:
Sales	80,682	[1]	80,064	[1]
Segment level profit:
Segment level profit	7,418		9,199
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	4,374		3,734
Total assets:
Total assets	229,860		214,647
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures	3,169		9,058
Culinary Contract Services [Member]
Sales:
Sales	4,598		4,270
Segment level profit:
Segment level profit	647		598
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	69		89
Total assets:
Total assets	1,796		1,952
Franchise [Member]
Sales:
Sales	1,581		1,514
Segment level profit:
Segment level profit	1,581		1,514
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	177		177
Total assets:
Total assets	12,952		13,699
Segment Sales Total [Member]
Sales:
Sales	86,861		85,848
Segment Level Profit Total [Member]
Segment level profit:
Segment level profit	9,646		11,311
Corporate Segment [Member]
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	438		319
Total assets:
Total assets	31,303		26,193
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures	420		149
Depreciation and Amortization Total [Member]
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	5,058		4,319
Total Assets [Member]
Total assets:
Total assets	275,911		256,491
Capital Expenditures Total [Member]
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures	$ 3,589		$ 9,207

[1] Includes vending revenue of $125 thousand and $112 thousand for the quarters ended November 19, 2014 and November 20, 2013, respectively.