Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 25, 2016 USD ($) province restaurant state	Dec. 27, 2015 USD ($) restaurant	Dec. 28, 2014 USD ($) restaurant
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of states in which the entity operates | state	50
Number of Canadian provinces in which the entity operates | province	2
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Fiscal Period Duration	364 days	364 days	364 days
Other assets, noncurrent	$ 41,625	$ 26,536
Asset retirement obligation	$ 939	690
Royalty revenue, percent of sales	5.00%
Advertising expense	$ 66,111	$ 59,991	$ 52,780
Advertising fund, percentage of restaurant Sales	2.75%	3.15%	3.00%
Accrued advertising	$ 24,303	$ 21,967
Gift card liability, current	84,510	79,110
Share-based compensation expense	325	13,647	$ 14,253
Tax Benefit from share-based compensation expense	425	4,639	4,917
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	(1,953)	11,510	12,474
Employee Stock Option
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	1,521	1,393	1,054
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	831	726	705
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	(74)	56	20
Cost of Sales
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Sales allowances, goods	11,718	10,938	$ 11,186
Liquor Licenses
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Other assets, noncurrent	$ 10,412	$ 8,876
Minimum
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Fiscal Period Duration	364 days
Franchise agreements, term	10 years
Franchise agreements, extension term	5 years
Operating leases, term of contract	10 years
Maximum
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Fiscal Period Duration	371 days
Franchise agreements, term	20 years
Franchise agreements, extension term	10 years
Operating leases, term of contract	15 years
Operating leases, renewal term	5 years
Leasehold Improvements | Minimum
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	5 years
Leasehold Improvements | Maximum
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	10 years
Leasehold Improvements, Remodel
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	5 years
Building | Minimum
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	20 years
Building | Maximum
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	40 years
Furniture and Equipment | Minimum
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	2 years
Furniture and Equipment | Maximum
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	8 years
Chicken Wings
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Percentage of cost of sales	27.00%	25.00%	23.00%
Accrued Compensation and Benefits
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Self insurance liability	$ 5,322	$ 5,474
Accrued Expenses
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Self insurance liability	2,354	484
Trading Liabilities | Accrued Compensation and Benefits
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Deferred compensation liability	$ 9,014	$ 8,958
Company Owned
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | restaurant	631	596	491
Franchise
Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | restaurant	609	579	591