Industry Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Jan. 25, 2013	Jan. 27, 2012	Jan. 25, 2013	Jan. 27, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$ 442,130	$ 432,468	$ 1,277,808	$ 1,251,915
Intersegment Sales	(7,690)	(4,129)	(22,776)	(11,030)
Net Sales	434,440	428,339	1,255,032	1,240,885
Operating Income	(1,646)	30,258	40,375	79,083
Bob Evans Restaurants [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	245,494	242,360	739,762	728,949
Operating Income	17,638	19,889	55,449	63,865
Extinguishment of Intercompany Receivable	527
Mimi's Cafe [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	91,119	94,948	258,715	270,385
Operating Income	134,357	3,222	126,001	(1,544)
BEF Foods [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	105,517	95,160	279,331	252,581
Operating Income	(153,641)	7,147	(141,075)	16,762
Extinguishment of Intercompany Note Payable	$ 156,945

Extinguishment of intercompany note payable

No definition available.

Name:	bobe_ExtinguishmentOfIntercompanyNotePayable
Namespace Prefix:	bobe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Extinguishment of intercompany receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bobe_ExtinguishmentOfIntercompanyReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	bobe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenuesFromTransactionsWithOtherOperatingSegmentsOfSameEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of total revenue for the reportable segments, including revenue from external customers, transactions with other operating segments of the same entity, and (gross) interest revenue. All considered to be "operating revenue" for purposes of the taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 280

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 22

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph a, b, c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration