Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of the lease obligations for closed restaurants.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

The amount of operating leases that have been settled by the lessee during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of operating leases that have been settled by the lessee during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of equal installments that a portion of shares of an award are no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, thereby giving the employee the legal right to convert the award to shares, to sell the shares, and be entitled to the cash proceeds of such sale.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Amount due in settlement of a claim for reimbursement from an insurance company when the Company has suffered a loss covered under an insurance policy. For classified balance sheets, represents the current amount receivable, that is amounts expected to be collected within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of loss contingency liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=rt_RentAndOtherMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis=us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Note 15 - Subsequent Events (Details Textual) $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended
	Apr. 04, 2017 shares	Mar. 29, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 07, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)
Operating Lease Obligation				$ 19,139	$ 6,270
Insurance Settlements Receivable, Current				5,000
Rent and Other [Member]
Operating Lease Obligation				18,100
Dennis Krystek v. Ruby Tuesday [Member] \| Rent and Other [Member]
Loss Contingency Accrual				5,000
Dennis Krystek v. Ruby Tuesday [Member] \| Accounts and Other Receivables [Member]
Insurance Settlements Receivable, Current				$ 5,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Operating Lease Obligation, Leases Settled, Number			4
Operating Lease Obligation, Leases Settled, Amount			$ 1,400
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Dennis Krystek v. Ruby Tuesday [Member]
Litigation Settlement, Amount		$ (5,000)
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] \| Chief Executive Officer [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period \| shares	142,045
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Number of Vesting Installments	3
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	3 years