Reporting Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 25, 2014	Jan. 24, 2014	Oct. 25, 2013	Jul. 26, 2013	Apr. 26, 2013	Jan. 25, 2013	Oct. 26, 2012	Jul. 27, 2012	Apr. 25, 2014 segment		Apr. 26, 2013		Apr. 27, 2012
Industry Segment [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments									2
Net Sales	$ 326,371	$ 340,132	$ 332,600	$ 329,449	$ 333,909	$ 343,321	$ 329,555	$ 323,441	$ 1,328,552		$ 1,330,226		$ 1,287,210
Operating income from continuing operations	4,277	7,954	8,895	11,999	22,239	19,119	21,976	24,620	33,125		87,954		106,475
Depreciation and amortization									79,456		69,319		60,264
Capital Expenditures									190,995		118,200		81,863
Identifiable Assets	1,068,316				1,020,953				1,068,316		1,020,953
Operating Segments
Industry Segment [Line Items]
Net Sales									1,343,385		1,358,303		1,301,655
Identifiable Assets	889,932				869,645				889,932		869,645
Operating Segments | Bob Evans Restaurants
Industry Segment [Line Items]
Net Sales									956,579		981,418		972,490
Operating income from continuing operations									27,134		69,317		86,269
Depreciation and amortization									63,872		56,827		50,799
Capital Expenditures									119,097		67,662		74,281
Identifiable Assets	693,543				714,221				693,543		714,221
Operating Segments | BEF Foods
Industry Segment [Line Items]
Net Sales									386,806		376,885		329,165
Operating income from continuing operations									5,991		18,637		20,206
Depreciation and amortization									15,584		12,492		9,465
Capital Expenditures									71,898		50,538		7,582
Identifiable Assets	196,389				155,424				196,389		155,424
Intersegment Eliminations
Industry Segment [Line Items]
Net Sales									(14,833)	[1]	(28,077)	[1]	(14,445)	[1]
Intersegment Eliminations | Discontinued Operations
Industry Segment [Line Items]
Net Sales											12,491	[1]	768
General corporate assets
Industry Segment [Line Items]
Identifiable Assets	$ 178,384				$ 151,308				$ 178,384		$ 151,308

[1] Intersegment net sales of food products includes $12,491 and $768 in fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively, of sales to discontinued operations