Segments - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 Restaurant Country segment Territory
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of segments (segment) | segment	4
Applebee's
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of territories in which entity operates (territory) | Territory	2
Number of countries in which entity operates (country) | Country	15
IHOP
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of territories in which entity operates (territory) | Territory	3
Number of countries in which entity operates (country) | Country	10
Franchised Units | Applebee's
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of restaurants (restaurant)	1,998
Franchised Units | IHOP
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of restaurants (restaurant)	1,731
Company Operated | IHOP
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of restaurants (restaurant)	10