Industry Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Oct. 26, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 26, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$ 418,766	$ 410,868	$ 835,678	$ 819,447
Intersegment Sales	(7,889)	(3,683)	(15,086)	(6,901)
Net Sales	410,877	407,185	820,592	812,546
Operating Income	16,757	21,330	42,021	48,825
Bob Evans Restaurants [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	246,302	242,803	494,268	486,589
Operating Income	19,781	21,031	37,811	43,976
Mimi's Cafe [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	81,322	86,070	167,596	175,437
Operating Income	(7,507)	(3,673)	(8,356)	(4,766)
BEF Foods [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	91,142	81,995	173,814	157,421
Operating Income	$ 4,483	$ 3,972	$ 12,566	$ 9,615

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

No definition available.

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- 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

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- 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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

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- Details

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- 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.

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