Name:	rt_DeferredDevelopmentAndLicensingFees
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Development and licensing fee income recognized in conjunction with new openings during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	rt_DevelopmentAndLicensingFeeIncomeInConjunctionWithNewOpenings
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of restaurants that, during the period, the company agreed to sell.

No definition available.

Name:	rt_NumberOfCompanyOwnedRestaurantsAgreedDuringThePeriodToSell
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of restaurants operated by traditional franchisees.

No definition available.

Name:	rt_NumberOfFranchiseRestaurants
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the number of franchise Restaurant closinged during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	rt_NumberOfFranchiseRestaurantsClosed
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of franchises.

No definition available.

Name:	rt_NumberOfFranchises
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the number of restaurants opened by traditional franchisees pursuant to development agreements.

No definition available.

Name:	rt_NumberOfRestaurantsOpenedByTraditionalFranchiseesPursuantToDevelopmentAgreements
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the number of traditional franchisees that had agreements to develop new franchised Ruby Tuesday restaurants.

No definition available.

Name:	rt_NumberOfTraditionalFranchiseesThatHadAgreementsToDevelopNewFranchisedRubyTuesdayRestaurants
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The cash inflow from disposal of asset without physical form usually arising from contractual or other legal rights, excluding goodwill.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3179-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_FranchisorDisclosureAxis=rt_RubyTuesdayMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_FranchisorDisclosureAxis=rt_LimeFreshMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=rt_LimeFreshMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=rt_IllinoisMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: