Reporting Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 23, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2016 USD ($) segment	Oct. 23, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments | segment			2
Net sales	$ 315,963	$ 325,021	$ 622,280	$ 646,734
Operating Income	1,468	11,434	15,165	19,696
BEF Foods
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	96,158	94,280	182,099	177,324
Operating Segments | Bob Evans Restaurants
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	219,805	230,741	440,181	469,410
Operating Income	13,461	13,323	25,062	23,132
Operating Segments | BEF Foods
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	102,134	99,480	192,846	185,528
Operating Income	18,679	13,997	34,066	29,834
Operating Segments | Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	(30,672)	(15,886)	(43,963)	(33,270)
Intersegment Eliminations | BEF Foods
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ (5,976)	$ (5,200)	$ (10,747)	$ (8,204)