Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2017	Nov. 30, 2017
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Oct. 27, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Registrant Name	BOB EVANS FARMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000033769
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-27
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		20,049,863