Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010	Dec. 27, 2009
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Total lease expense	$ 25,700,000	$ 24,500,000	$ 24,200,000
Other general expenses	9,767,000	9,030,000	14,346,000
Investments in Industrial Revenue Bonds	80,200,000
Investments in Industrial Revenue Bonds, percent owned	100.00%
Restaurant Sites [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lease agreements the company is contingently liable	40
Potential amount of undiscounted payments under lease arrangements	2,500,000
Majority Expiration [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Lease expiration, year	2014
Latest Expiration [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Lease expiration, year	2017
Commitments [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Other general expenses	832,000
Distribution Subsidiary [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating leases, average term in years	8 years
United Kingdom Subsidiary [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments received from sublease	$ 3,700,000	$ 3,100,000	$ 2,900,000
Office, Retail and Commissary Space [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating leases, average term in years	5 years
Number of renewals	1