The Company (Details)	Dec. 31, 2011 RestaurantConcepts
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of Restaurant Concepts	2
IHOP [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants	1,550
Number of States in which Entity Operates	50
IHOP [Member] | Franchised Units [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants	1,369
IHOP [Member] | Entity Operated Units [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants	15
IHOP [Member] | Licensing Agreements [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants	166
Applebee's [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants	2,019
Number of States in which Entity Operates	49
Number of Territories in which Entity Operates	1
Number of Countries in which Entity Operates	15
Applebee's [Member] | Franchised Units [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants	1,842
Applebee's [Member] | Entity Operated Units [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants	177