Note 8 - Employee Post-employment Benefits (Details Textual) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 11, 2016	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 01, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)
Defined Benefit Pension Plans		3		3
Number of Restaurants Closed	95			102
Employee-related Liabilities, Current		$ 15,296		$ 15,296		$ 14,561
Closures and Impairments Expenses		13,441	$ 6,123	59,341	$ 20,907
Employee Severance [Member]
Severance Costs				4,890
Employee-related Liabilities, Current		0		0		300
Closures and Impairments Expenses				3,300
James J. Buettgen [Member]
Severance Costs				3,100
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)		400	800	1,100	1,900
Selling, General and Administrative Expense [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Closures and Impairments Expenses				1,600
Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)		(339)	$ (730)	(1,014)	$ (1,831)
Pension Plan [Member] | Payroll and Related Costs [Member]
Defined Benefit Pension Plan Liabilities, Current		3,900		3,900		2,500
Pension Plan [Member] | Other Deferred Liabilities [Member]
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent		33,100		33,100		35,700
Post-retirement Medical and Life Benefits Plans [Member] | Payroll and Related Costs [Member]
Defined Benefit Pension Plan Liabilities, Current		100		100		100
Post-retirement Medical and Life Benefits Plans [Member] | Other Deferred Liabilities [Member]
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent		$ 1,000		$ 1,000		$ 1,000