Reporting Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 23, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 24, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 23, 2015 USD ($) segment	Oct. 24, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 24, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments | segment			2
Net sales	$ 325,021	$ 333,279	$ 646,734	$ 659,619
Operating income (loss):	11,434	9,012	19,696	9,076
Assets	961,672		961,672		$ 1,032,587
BEF Foods
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	94,280	92,128	177,324	178,317
Operating Segments | Bob Evans Restaurants
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	230,741	241,151	469,410	481,302
Operating income (loss):	13,323	20,627	23,132	35,555
Assets	634,324		634,324		665,910
Operating Segments | BEF Foods
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	99,480	97,761	185,528	188,557
Operating income (loss):	13,997	6,356	29,834	9,401
Assets	148,763		148,763		179,137
Operating Segments | Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss):	(15,886)	(17,971)	(33,270)	(35,880)
Assets	178,585		178,585		$ 187,540
Intersegment Eliminations | BEF Foods
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ (5,200)	$ (5,633)	$ (8,204)	$ (10,240)