Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2014	Mar. 26, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 25, 2012
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 605,337	$ 561,779
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	131,843	128,549
Depreciation and amortization	29,442	24,365
Unallocated General and Administrative Expenses	35,007	28,307
Pre-opening expenses	1,824	1,091
Interest expense	623	302
Other (income) expense, net	(1,212)	(2,420)
Income before income taxes	67,594	78,423
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	42,301	36,031
Segment Assets
Unallocated cash and cash equivalents	101,087	323,316	125,245	297,141
Unallocated trade and other accounts receivable	33,442		32,965
Unallocated property and equipment	676,582		669,409
Total assets	1,117,526		1,180,862
Company bakery cafe operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	535,549	497,519
Franchise operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	28,892	26,577
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment profit:
Unallocated General and Administrative Expenses	33,572	26,788
Segment Assets
Unallocated cash and cash equivalents	101,087		125,245
Unallocated trade and other accounts receivable	2,197		2,281
Unallocated property and equipment	60,952		53,587
Unallocated deposits and other	3,858		3,865
Other unallocated assets	33,440		55,781
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Assets
Total assets	915,992		940,103
Operating Segments [Member] | Company bakery cafe operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	535,549	497,519
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	99,124	98,406
Depreciation and amortization	24,783	21,005
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	31,543	28,759
Segment Assets
Total assets	844,474		867,093
Operating Segments [Member] | Franchise operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	28,892	26,577
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	27,457	25,058
Segment Assets
Total assets	9,688		10,156
Operating Segments [Member] | Fresh dough and other product operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	86,525	79,989
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	5,262	5,085
Depreciation and amortization	2,057	2,014
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	1,798	2,190
Segment Assets
Total assets	61,830		62,854
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate Administration [Member]
Segment profit:
Depreciation and amortization	2,602	1,346
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	8,960	5,082
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ (45,629)	$ (42,306)