Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 242,179,000	$ 264,481,000	$ 268,338,000	$ 300,200,000	$ 299,926,000	$ 335,515,000	$ 340,136,000	$ 358,064,000	$ 1,075,198,000	$ 1,333,641,000	$ 1,414,763,000
Gross Profit	96,022,000	100,553,000	100,285,000	110,769,000	99,694,000	107,573,000	107,398,000	115,136,000	407,629,000	429,801,000	445,464,000
Net income (loss)	28,620,000	16,525,000	348,000	29,699,000	(50,831,000)	14,331,000	14,041,000	19,671,000	75,192,000	(2,788,000)	31,409,000
Net income (loss) per common share - Basic	$ 1.55	$ 0.86	$ (0.02)	$ 1.59	$ (3.33)	$ 0.45	$ 0.43	$ 0.75	$ 3.96	$ (1.74)	$ 0.55
Net income (loss) per common share - Diluted	$ 1.51	$ 0.85	$ (0.02)	$ 1.53	$ (3.33)	$ 0.44	$ 0.42	$ 0.75	$ 3.89	$ (1.74)	$ 0.55
Charges Related to the Retirement of Debt and Series A Preferred Stock					110,000,000
Applebee's [Member]
Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Franchised Company Operated Restaurants in the Quarter	66	1		65	83
Applebee's [Member] | Support Center Sale Leaseback Agreement [Member]
Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Charges related to the termination of sublease for Applebee's Support Center			$ 21,000,000