Impairments and Loss on Sale of Assets (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 23, 2015		Jan. 24, 2014		Oct. 25, 2013 property	Jan. 23, 2015		Jan. 24, 2014		Apr. 25, 2014 property	Jul. 26, 2013	Apr. 26, 2013 property	Oct. 24, 2014
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Number Of Locations Closed					27					28
Impairment of assets held for sale	$ 0		$ 0			$ 258		$ 12,380
Loss on sale of property	1,728
Bob Evans Restaurants
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Number Of Locations For Non Operating Properties	2					2		29
Assets held and used	1,672	[1]	1,769	[2]		2,991	[3]	4,133	[4]
Impairment of assets held for sale	0		0	[3]		258	[5]	9,380	[6]		8,609
Number Of Locations For Operating Properties	6		5			11
Bob Evans Restaurants | Operating Restaurant
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Number Of Locations For Non Operating Properties	8					13
Number Of Locations For Operating Properties			5
Bob Evans Restaurants | Nonoperating Restaurant
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Number Of Locations For Non Operating Properties			1			1		7		29	2	29
Impairment of assets held for sale					771
BEF Foods
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment of assets held for sale	0		0			0		3,000	[5]
BEF Foods | Nonoperating Restaurant
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment of assets held for sale													$ 3,000	[3]

[1] Relates to six operating and two nonoperating locations

[2] Relates to five operating location

[3] Relates to eleven operating and two nonoperating locations

[4] Relates to seven operating locations

[5] Relates to one nonoperating location

[6] Relates to 29 nonoperating locations