Impairments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Oct. 24, 2014	Oct. 25, 2013 property	Oct. 24, 2014	Oct. 25, 2013	Apr. 25, 2014 property	Oct. 24, 2014 Bob Evans Restaurants	Jul. 25, 2014 Bob Evans Restaurants	Oct. 25, 2013 Bob Evans Restaurants		Oct. 24, 2014 Bob Evans Restaurants		Oct. 25, 2013 Bob Evans Restaurants		Oct. 25, 2013 Bob Evans Restaurants Operating Restaurant property	Oct. 24, 2014 Bob Evans Restaurants Operating Restaurant property	Oct. 25, 2013 Bob Evans Restaurants Operating Restaurant property	Oct. 25, 2013 Bob Evans Restaurants Nonoperating Restaurant property	Jul. 26, 2013 Bob Evans Restaurants Nonoperating Restaurant property	Oct. 24, 2014 Bob Evans Restaurants Nonoperating Restaurant property	Oct. 25, 2013 Bob Evans Restaurants Nonoperating Restaurant	Oct. 24, 2014 BEF Foods	Oct. 24, 2014 BEF Foods		Oct. 25, 2013 BEF Foods		Oct. 25, 2013 BEF Foods Nonoperating Restaurant property		Jul. 26, 2013 BEF Foods Nonoperating Restaurant property	Oct. 25, 2013 BEF Foods Nonoperating Restaurant
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Number Of Locations For Non Operating Properties																	2	29	1							1,000		1
Assets held and used						$ 0		$ 1,184	[1]	$ 1,319	[2]	$ 2,364	[3]	$ 1,184	$ 1,319	$ 2,364
Number Of Locations Closed		27			28
Impairment of assets held for sale	$ 0	$ 3,771	$ 258	$ 12,380		$ 0	$ 8,609	$ 771	[4]	$ 258	[5]	$ 9,380	[6]				$ 771		$ 258	$ 9,380	$ 0	$ 0	[1]	$ 3,000	[7]	$ 3,000	[4]		$ 3,000
Number Of Locations For Operating Properties														1	5	2

[1] $1,184 relates to impairment of one operating location

[2] $1,319 relates to impairment of five operating locations

[3] $2,364 relates to impairment of two operating locations

[4] relates to impairment of two nonoperating locations

[5] $258 relates to impairment of one nonoperating location

[6] $9,380 relates to impairment of 29 nonoperating location

[7] $3,000 relates to impairment of one nonoperating location