Impairments and Loss on Sale of Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Apr. 24, 2015 restaurant	Apr. 24, 2015 restaurant	Jul. 25, 2014 restaurant	Oct. 25, 2013 restaurant	Jul. 26, 2013 restaurant	Apr. 24, 2015 restaurant		Apr. 25, 2014 restaurant		Apr. 26, 2013
Impaired Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Line Items]
Impairment of assets held for sale						$ 2,658		$ 12,380		$ 0
Number of property locations held for sale		16
Bob Evans Restaurants
Impaired Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Line Items]
Impairment of assets held for use			3,249			3,442	[1]	4,470	[2]	4,409	[3]
Impairment of assets held for sale		2,851		771	8,609	2,658	[4]	9,380	[5]	0
Number of property locations held for use								7
Number of property locations held for sale	20	20	1	2	29	8
Bob Evans Restaurants | Operating Restaurant
Impaired Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Line Items]
Impairment of assets held for use								4,133		1,717
Number of property locations held for use						11		7		3
Number of property locations held for sale						8
Bob Evans Restaurants | Nonoperating Restaurant
Impaired Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Line Items]
Impairment of assets held for use										2,692
Impairment of assets held for sale								9,380
Number of property locations held for use						2				10
Number of property locations held for sale						1		29
Bob Evans Restaurants | Reclassified Restaurant
Impaired Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Line Items]
Impairment of assets held for sale								714
Number of property locations held for sale								1
Bob Evans Restaurants | Certain commercial vehicles
Impaired Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Line Items]
Impairment of assets held for use								337
BEF Foods
Impaired Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Line Items]
Impairment of assets held for sale				3,000		0	[6]	3,000	[6]	0
BEF Foods | Nonoperating Restaurant
Impaired Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Line Items]
Impairment of assets held for sale								$ 3,000
Number of property locations held for sale								1

[1] Relates to eleven operating and two nonoperating locations

[2] $4,133 and $337 relates to impairment of seven operating locations and certain commercial vehicles, respectively

[3] and $2,692 relates to impairment of three operating and ten nonoperating locations, respectively

[4] Relates to eight operating and one nonoperating location

[5] relates to impairment of 29 nonoperating locations, of which $714 relates to the impairment of one location no longer classified as held for sale

[6] relates to impairment of one nonoperating location