Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 revenue_category segment restaurant_concept	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2007 segment	Dec. 31, 2011
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of weeks in fiscal year	364 days	364 days	364 days
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 104,004,000	$ 106,011,000	$ 64,537,000		$ 60,691,000
Restricted cash included in other current assets	52,262,000	664,000
Restricted cash included in other noncurrent assets	14,700,000
Other restricted assets	1,200,000	1,900,000
Number of Reporting Units	3
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment	0	0	0
Category of Revenue, Number	4
Advertising expense	2,900,000	2,900,000	13,100,000
Number of Restaurant Concepts	2
Building improvements | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	25 years
Building improvements | Maximum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	40 years
Leaseholds and improvements | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	3 years
Leaseholds and improvements | Maximum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	40 years
Equipment and fixtures | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	2 years
Equipment and fixtures | Maximum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	10 years
Applebee's
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	2,017
Number of Reporting Units				2
Gift card breakage revenue	100,000	200,000	1,300,000
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease, Number of Units	1
Number of territories in which entity operates	2
Number of countries in which entity operates	15
Applebee's | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	10 years
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Renewal Term	5 years
Applebee's | Maximum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	20 years
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Renewal Term	20 years
IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	1,650
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease, Number of Units	709
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Renewal Term	5 years
Advertising expense included in franchise revenue and expense	90,300,000	79,500,000	76,400,000
Number of territories in which entity operates	2
Number of countries in which entity operates	8
IHOP | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	15 years
IHOP | Maximum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	25 years
Franchised | Applebee's
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	1,994
Franchised | IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	1,472
Company Operated | Applebee's
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	23
Company Operated | IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	11
Number of restaurants reacquired and operated by the company until refranchised	1
Company Operated Excluding Restaurants Reacquired to be Refranchised | IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	10
Franchised Units or Licensing Agreements | IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	1,639
Prepaid Advertising and Gift Cards
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	56,200,000	53,200,000
Held in Trust Deposits
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Restricted cash included in other current assets	52,100,000
Held for Advertising Activity Deposits
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Restricted cash included in other current assets	200,000
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable | Largest Franchisees
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of franchisees	15
Number of restaurants	1,693
Concentration risk by percentage	49.00%
Net accounts receivable	$ 50,700,000
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable | Largest Franchisees | Minimum
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants per franchisee	54
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable | Largest Franchisees | Applebee's
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of franchisees	11
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable | Largest Franchisees | IHOP
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of franchisees	4