Reporting Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 24, 2015 USD ($) segment	Jul. 25, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments | segment	2
Net sales	$ 321,713	$ 326,341
Operating income (loss):	8,262	64
BEF Foods
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	83,044	86,190
Operating Segments | Bob Evans Restaurants
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	238,669	240,151
Operating income (loss):	9,796	14,927
Operating Segments | BEF Foods
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	86,048	90,796
Operating income (loss):	15,851	3,045
Operating Segments | Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss):	(17,385)	(17,908)
Intersegment Eliminations | BEF Foods
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ (3,004)	$ (4,606)