Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 27, 2016	Dec. 29, 2015	Dec. 30, 2014
Assets:
Current assets	$ 44,368	$ 63,115
Facilities and equipment, net	229,547	203,468
Franchise rights, net	618,321	620,518
Goodwill	296,126	294,626	$ 294,626
Investment in subsidiary	0	0
Other assets, net	28,773	28,969
Total assets	1,217,135	1,210,696
Liabilities and member’s equity:
Current liabilities	113,047	108,196
Long-term debt	575,995	577,011
Other liabilities and deferred items	60,839	62,037
Deferred income taxes	182,457	189,763
Member’s equity	284,797	273,689
Total liabilities and member’s equity	1,217,135	1,210,696
Eliminations
Assets:
Current assets	0	0
Facilities and equipment, net	0	0
Franchise rights, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in subsidiary	(395,477)	(350,473)
Other assets, net	0	0
Total assets	(395,477)	(350,473)
Liabilities and member’s equity:
Current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Member’s equity	(395,477)	(350,473)
Total liabilities and member’s equity	(395,477)	(350,473)
Parent Guarantor: Holdings
Assets:
Current assets	0	0
Facilities and equipment, net	0	0
Franchise rights, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in subsidiary	284,797	273,689
Other assets, net	0	0
Total assets	284,797	273,689
Liabilities and member’s equity:
Current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Member’s equity	284,797	273,689
Total liabilities and member’s equity	284,797	273,689
Subsidiary Issuer: NPC
Assets:
Current assets	42,188	58,620
Facilities and equipment, net	156,866	155,501
Franchise rights, net	561,327	577,097
Goodwill	290,502	290,502
Investment in subsidiary	110,680	76,784
Other assets, net	26,619	27,233
Total assets	1,188,182	1,185,737
Liabilities and member’s equity:
Current liabilities	95,448	91,472
Long-term debt	575,995	577,011
Other liabilities and deferred items	51,791	55,589
Deferred income taxes	180,151	187,976
Member’s equity	284,797	273,689
Total liabilities and member’s equity	1,188,182	1,185,737
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPCQB
Assets:
Current assets	2,180	4,495
Facilities and equipment, net	72,681	47,967
Franchise rights, net	56,994	43,421
Goodwill	5,624	4,124
Investment in subsidiary	0	0
Other assets, net	2,154	1,736
Total assets	139,633	101,743
Liabilities and member’s equity:
Current liabilities	17,599	16,724
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	9,048	6,448
Deferred income taxes	2,306	1,787
Member’s equity	110,680	76,784
Total liabilities and member’s equity	139,633	101,743
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPC Op Co B
Assets:
Current assets	0	0
Facilities and equipment, net	0	0
Franchise rights, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in subsidiary	0	0
Other assets, net	0	0
Total assets	0	0
Liabilities and member’s equity:
Current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Member’s equity	0	0
Total liabilities and member’s equity	$ 0	$ 0