Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity [Text Block]	Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity Preferred Stock As part of the financing for the Applebee's acquisition, on November 29, 2007, the Company completed two separate private placements of preferred stock. Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock On November 29, 2007, the Company issued and sold 190,000 shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock (the "Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock") for an aggregate purchase price of $190.0 million in cash. Total issuance costs were approximately $3.0 million. All of the shares were sold to MSD SBI, L.P., an affiliate of MSD Capital, L.P., pursuant to a purchase agreement dated as of July 15, 2007, as amended as of November 29, 2007. The shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock rank (i) senior to the common stock, and any series of preferred stock specifically designated as junior to the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions, in a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon any other distribution of the Company's assets; and (ii) on a parity with all other series of preferred stock, including the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, described below, with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions, in a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon any other distribution of the Company's assets. The holders of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock were entitled to receive dividends, at the rates and on the dates set forth in the Certificate of Designations for the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock (the "Series A Certificate of Designations"), if, as, and when such dividends were declared by the Company's Board of Directors, but out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, which dividends are payable in cash, subject to the Company's right to elect to accumulate any dividends payable after the first anniversary of the issue date. If, on any scheduled dividend payment date, the holder of record of a share of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock did not receive in cash the full amount of any dividend required to be paid on such share on such date pursuant to the Series A Certificate of Designations (such unpaid dividends that have accrued and were required to be paid, but remained unpaid, on a scheduled dividend payment date, together with any accrued and unpaid accumulated dividends, the "Passed Dividends"), then such Passed Dividends accumulated on such outstanding share of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment thereof or such Passed Dividends were declared by the Company's Board of Directors, and until such Passed Dividends were paid, the applicable dividend rate under the Series A Certificate of Designations was computed on the sum of the stated value of the share plus such unpaid Passed Dividend. In the event that Passed Dividends had accrued but remained unpaid for two consecutive quarterly dividend periods (each such quarterly dividend period, a "Passed Quarter"), the applicable dividend rate under the Series A Certificate of Designations was, as of the end of such two-Passed Quarters period, prospectively increased by two percent (2.0%) per annum, and the applicable dividend rate under the Series A Certificate of Designations further increased prospectively by two percent (2.0%) per annum as of the end of each subsequent two-Passed Quarters period with respect to which Passed Dividends had accrued but remained unpaid. The Series A Certificate of Designations further provided that (i) under no circumstances shall the dividend rate applicable at any time prior to the tenth (10th) anniversary of the issue date of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock exceed sixteen percent (16%) per annum, and (ii) upon payment by the Company of all accrued and unpaid Passed Dividends, the dividend rate is thereupon automatically reduced prospectively to the applicable per annum dividend rate under the Series A Certificate of Designations. As of the time of redemption, all required dividends had been paid in cash on the scheduled dividend payment dates. The Certificate of Designations for Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock required that, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, unless prohibited by applicable law, the Company would redeem all then outstanding shares of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for cash at a redemption price per share corresponding to the timing of such Change of Control, as specified in the Certificate of Designations. U.S. GAAP requires preferred securities that are redeemable for cash or other assets to be classified outside of permanent equity if they are redeemable upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the issuer. Accordingly, the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock was not included as a component of Stockholders' Equity in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company redeemed all 190,000 shares of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for $199.0 million, including a redemption premium of $7.6 million and $1.4 million of dividends accrued through the date of redemption. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the redemption premium has been included as part of dividends paid on Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for the year ended December 31, 2010. Series B Convertible Preferred Stock On November 29, 2007, the Company issued and sold 35,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $35.0 million in cash. Total issuance costs were approximately $0.8 million. All of the shares were sold to affiliates of Chilton Investment Company, LLC (collectively, "Chilton") pursuant to a purchase agreement dated as of July 15, 2007. The shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock rank (i) senior to the common stock, and any series of preferred stock specifically designated as junior to the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions, in a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon any other distribution of the Company's assets; and (ii) on a parity with all other series of preferred stock, including the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions, in a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon any other distribution of the Company's assets. Each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock has an initial stated value of $1,000, that increases at the rate of 6.0% per annum, compounded quarterly, commencing on the issue date of such share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to and including the earlier of (i) the date of liquidation, dissolution or winding up or the redemption of such share, or (ii) the date such share is converted into the Company's common stock. The stated value of a share as so accreted as of any date is referred to as the accreted value of the share as of that date. Shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock may be redeemed by the Company, in whole or in part at the Company's option, on or after the fourth anniversary of the issue date, at a redemption price equal to the accreted value as of the applicable redemption date, subject to the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designations for the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock ("the "Series B Certificate of Designations"). The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock entitles the holders thereof to receive certain dividends and distributions to the extent that any dividends or distributions paid on the Company's common stock exceed the annual accretion on the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Holders of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock are entitled to vote on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to the holders of the Company's common stock, as a single class with the holders of the Company's common stock, with each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock having one vote per share of the Company's common stock then issuable upon conversion of such share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the aggregate accretion for the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was $9.6 million and $7.1 million, respectively. At any time and from time to time, any holder of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock may convert all or any portion of the Series B Convertible Stock held by such holder into a number of shares of the Company's common stock computed by multiplying (i) each $1,000 of aggregate accreted value of the shares to be converted by (ii) the conversion rate then in effect (which initially is 14.44878 shares of common stock per $1,000 of accreted value, but subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments). All outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock will automatically convert into shares of the Company's common stock on the fifth anniversary of the issue date, at the conversion rate then in effect, without any action on the part of the holder thereof. The Company also entered into a registration rights agreement, dated as of November 29, 2007, with Chilton pursuant to which the Company granted Chilton certain registration rights with respect to the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock issued to Chilton and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion. Share Repurchase Program In August 2011, the Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to $45 million of the Company's common stock. Under the program, the Company may repurchase shares on an opportunistic basis from time to time in open market transactions and in privately negotiated transactions based on business, market, applicable legal requirements, and other considerations. The repurchase program does not require the repurchase of a specific number of shares and may be terminated at any time. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has repurchased 534,101 shares of stock for $21.2 million, an average price of $39.64 per share, under the currently authorized repurchase program. Dividends There were no dividends declared or paid on common shares in 2011, 2010 or 2009. Under current debt agreements, the Company is restricted from paying dividends on common stock until certain financial ratios are achieved. Those ratios have not been achieved as of December 31, 2011. At such time as those financial ratios are achieved, dividend payments on common stock may be resumed at the discretion of the Board of Directors after consideration of the Company's earnings, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors.

Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity

Preferred Stock

As part of the financing for the Applebee's acquisition, on November 29, 2007, the Company completed two separate private placements of preferred stock.

Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock

On November 29, 2007, the Company issued and sold 190,000 shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock (the "Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock") for an aggregate purchase price of $190.0 million in cash. Total issuance costs were approximately $3.0 million. All of the shares were sold to MSD SBI, L.P., an affiliate of MSD Capital, L.P., pursuant to a purchase agreement dated as of July 15, 2007, as amended as of November 29, 2007. The shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock rank (i) senior to the common stock, and any series of preferred stock specifically designated as junior to the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions, in a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon any other distribution of the Company's assets; and (ii) on a parity with all other series of preferred stock, including the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, described below, with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions, in a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon any other distribution of the Company's assets.

The holders of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock were entitled to receive dividends, at the rates and on the dates set forth in the Certificate of Designations for the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock (the "Series A Certificate of Designations"), if, as, and when such dividends were declared by the Company's Board of Directors, but out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, which dividends are payable in cash, subject to the Company's right to elect to accumulate any dividends payable after the first anniversary of the issue date. If, on any scheduled dividend payment date, the holder of record of a share of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock did not receive in cash the full amount of any dividend required to be paid on such share on such date pursuant to the Series A Certificate of Designations (such unpaid dividends that have accrued and were required to be paid, but remained unpaid, on a scheduled dividend payment date, together with any accrued and unpaid accumulated dividends, the "Passed Dividends"), then such Passed Dividends accumulated on such outstanding share of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment thereof or such Passed Dividends were declared by the Company's Board of Directors, and until such Passed Dividends were paid, the applicable dividend rate under the Series A Certificate of Designations was computed on the sum of the stated value of the share plus such unpaid Passed Dividend. In the event that Passed Dividends had accrued but remained unpaid for two consecutive quarterly dividend periods (each such quarterly dividend period, a "Passed Quarter"), the applicable dividend rate under the Series A Certificate of Designations was, as of the end of such two-Passed Quarters period, prospectively increased by two percent (2.0%) per annum, and the applicable dividend rate under the Series A Certificate of Designations further increased prospectively by two percent (2.0%) per annum as of the end of each subsequent two-Passed Quarters period with respect to which Passed Dividends had accrued but remained unpaid. The Series A Certificate of Designations further provided that (i) under no circumstances shall the dividend rate applicable at any time prior to the tenth (10th) anniversary of the issue date of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock exceed sixteen percent (16%) per annum, and (ii) upon payment by the Company of all accrued and unpaid Passed Dividends, the dividend rate is thereupon automatically reduced prospectively to the applicable per annum dividend rate under the Series A Certificate of Designations. As of the time of redemption, all required dividends had been paid in cash on the scheduled dividend payment dates.

The Certificate of Designations for Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock required that, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, unless prohibited by applicable law, the Company would redeem all then outstanding shares of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for cash at a redemption price per share corresponding to the timing of such Change of Control, as specified in the Certificate of Designations. U.S. GAAP requires preferred securities that are redeemable for cash or other assets to be classified outside of permanent equity if they are redeemable upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the issuer. Accordingly, the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock was not included as a component of Stockholders' Equity in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company redeemed all 190,000 shares of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for $199.0 million, including a redemption premium of $7.6 million and $1.4 million of dividends accrued through the date of redemption. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the redemption premium has been included as part of dividends paid on Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

On November 29, 2007, the Company issued and sold 35,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $35.0 million in cash. Total issuance costs were approximately $0.8 million. All of the shares were sold to affiliates of Chilton Investment Company, LLC (collectively, "Chilton") pursuant to a purchase agreement dated as of July 15, 2007. The shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock rank (i) senior to the common stock, and any series of preferred stock specifically designated as junior to the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions, in a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon any other distribution of the Company's assets; and (ii) on a parity with all other series of preferred stock, including the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions, in a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon any other distribution of the Company's assets.

Each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock has an initial stated value of $1,000, that increases at the rate of 6.0% per annum, compounded quarterly, commencing on the issue date of such share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to and including the earlier of (i) the date of liquidation, dissolution or winding up or the redemption of such share, or (ii) the date such share is converted into the Company's common stock. The stated value of a share as so accreted as of any date is referred to as the accreted value of the share as of that date. Shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock may be redeemed by the Company, in whole or in part at the Company's option, on or after the fourth anniversary of the issue date, at a redemption price equal to the accreted value as of the applicable redemption date, subject to the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designations for the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock ("the "Series B Certificate of Designations"). The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock entitles the holders thereof to receive certain dividends and distributions to the extent that any dividends or distributions paid on the Company's common stock exceed the annual accretion on the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Holders of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock are entitled to vote on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to the holders of the Company's common stock, as a single class with the holders of the Company's common stock, with each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock having one vote per share of the Company's common stock then issuable upon conversion of such share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the aggregate accretion for the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was $9.6 million and $7.1 million, respectively.

At any time and from time to time, any holder of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock may convert all or any portion of the Series B Convertible Stock held by such holder into a number of shares of the Company's common stock computed by multiplying (i) each $1,000 of aggregate accreted value of the shares to be converted by (ii) the conversion rate then in effect (which initially is 14.44878 shares of common stock per $1,000 of accreted value, but subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments). All outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock will automatically convert into shares of the Company's common stock on the fifth anniversary of the issue date, at the conversion rate then in effect, without any action on the part of the holder thereof.

The Company also entered into a registration rights agreement, dated as of November 29, 2007, with Chilton pursuant to which the Company granted Chilton certain registration rights with respect to the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock issued to Chilton and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion.

Share Repurchase Program

In August 2011, the Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to $45 million of the Company's common stock. Under the program, the Company may repurchase shares on an opportunistic basis from time to time in open market transactions and in privately negotiated transactions based on business, market, applicable legal requirements, and other considerations. The repurchase program does not require the repurchase of a specific number of shares and may be terminated at any time. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has repurchased 534,101 shares of stock for $21.2 million, an average price of $39.64 per share, under the currently authorized repurchase program.

Dividends

There were no dividends declared or paid on common shares in 2011, 2010 or 2009. Under current debt agreements, the Company is restricted from paying dividends on common stock until certain financial ratios are achieved. Those ratios have not been achieved as of December 31, 2011. At such time as those financial ratios are achieved, dividend payments on common stock may be resumed at the discretion of the Board of Directors after consideration of the Company's earnings, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors.