Discontinued Operations - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	4 Months Ended			4 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		4 Months Ended
	Sep. 18, 2012	Sep. 20, 2011	May 29, 2012	Sep. 18, 2012 Golden Corral, disposal group restaurants	Sep. 20, 2011 Golden Corral, disposal group	May 29, 2012 Golden Corral, disposal group restaurants	May 16, 2012 Golden Corral, disposal group restaurants	Aug. 23, 2011 Golden Corral, disposal group restaurants	Mar. 06, 2012 Golden Corral, disposal group Due to contracts accepted for less than fair value	May 29, 2012 Golden Corral, disposal group Due to real estate property revaluations	Sep. 20, 2011 Golden Corral, disposal group Impairment of intangible assets	Sep. 20, 2011 Golden Corral, disposal group Closing costs included in impairment charges	Sep. 20, 2011 Six former Golden Corral restaurants
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of restaurants sold to Golden Corral Corporation							29
Loss on sale of Golden Corral						$ (5,590,000)
Number of restaurants closed due to underperformance								6
Property held-for-sale, including discontinued operation		6,909,000	4,136,000
Impairment of long-lived assets	70,500	0		0	4,000,000	388,000			94,000	294,000	69,000	180,000	4,000,000
Carrying value of assets inlcuded in discontinued operations	$ 3,055,000			$ 137,000		$ 190,000
Number of underperforming restaurants closed and held for sale				3		4