Restructuring and Severance Charges (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 22, 2016 USD ($) restaurant	Jan. 23, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 24, 2015 USD ($) restaurant
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of restaurants closed | restaurant	20
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	$ 3,626	$ 1,227	$ 1,227
Restructuring and related severance charges incurred	140	950
Amounts paid	(2,850)	(1,865)
Adjustments	(568)
Balance, ending		312	$ 3,626
Wholly Owned Properties
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Planned number of restaurants to be closed | restaurant			16
Property Subject to Operating Lease
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Planned number of restaurants to be closed | restaurant			4
Bob Evans Restaurants
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	1,105	0	$ 0
Restructuring and related severance charges incurred	112	0
Amounts paid	(1,086)	0
Adjustments	(131)
Balance, ending	0	0	1,105
BEF Foods
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	481	553	553
Restructuring and related severance charges incurred	28	528
Amounts paid	(488)	(906)
Adjustments	(21)
Balance, ending	0	175	481
Corporate and Other
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	2,040	674	674
Restructuring and related severance charges incurred		422
Amounts paid	(1,276)	(959)
Adjustments	(416)
Balance, ending	$ 348	$ 137	$ 2,040