Represents the number of restaurants that, during the period, the company agreed to sell.

No definition available.

Name:	rt_NumberOfCompanyOwnedRestaurantsAgreedDuringThePeriodToSell
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of company-owned restaurants for which the Board of Director's approved management's plan to close.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rt_NumberOfCompanyownedRestaurantsPlannedToClose
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the number of franchise Restaurant closinged during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rt_NumberOfFranchiseRestaurantsClosed
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the number of restaurants closed during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rt_NumberOfRestaurantsClosed
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of subleased restaurants currently in default as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rt_NumberOfSubleasedRestaurantsCurrentlyInDefault
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Our obligation for future rent and other lease-related charges related to leases on which our sublessee has defaulted.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rt_ObligationForFutureRentAndOtherLeaseRelatedChargesForClosedRestaurants
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of the lease obligations for closed restaurants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rt_OperatingLeaseObligation
Namespace Prefix:	rt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2420-110228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of consideration received or receivable for the disposal of assets and liabilities, including discontinued operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationConsideration
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16373-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=rt_RestaurantsExpectedToCloseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=rt_LimeFreshMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis=rt_PreAmendmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=rt_RubyTuesdayMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=rt_SurplusPropertiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis=rt_OpenRestaurantsWithDeterioratingOperationalPerformanceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis=rt_SurplusPropertiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis=rt_LeaseExpirationsAndRestaurantClosuresMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=rt_ClosedUponExpirationOfLeaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=rt_EarlyRestaurantClosuresMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=rt_LimeFreshTrademarkMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=rt_RentAndOtherMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 7 - Closures and Impairments Expense, Including Trademark Impairments (Details Textual) $ in Thousands				3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 26, 2016	Jun. 14, 2016	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2015 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 03, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 11, 2016
Restaurants Expected to Close [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges				$ 39,200
Lime Fresh [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Number of Restaurants Closed		1
Lime Fresh [Member] \| Pre-amendment [Member]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration			$ 6,000	$ 6,000		$ 6,000
Lime Fresh [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges						$ 6,400
Number of Company-owned Restaurants Agreed During the Period to Sell			8	8		8
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration			$ 5,300	$ 5,300		$ 5,300
Number of Restaurants Closed			6			11
Subsequent Event [Member]
Number of Company-owned Restaurants Planned to Close									95
Number of Franchise Restaurants Closed	10
Ruby Tuesday [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges						$ 14,700
Surplus Properties [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges						800
Open Restaurants With Deteriorating Operational Performance [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges							$ 7,700
Surplus Properties [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges							1,800
Lease Expirations and Restaurant Closures [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges							300
Closed Upon Expiration of Lease [Member]
Number of Restaurants Closed								11
Early Restaurant Closures [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges								$ 4,800
Lime Fresh Trademark [Member]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived					$ 2,000			900
Rent and Other [Member]
Operating Lease Obligation			$ 6,200	6,200		6,200	7,000
Asset Impairment Charges						58,647	10,896	$ 24,132
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration			$ 5,289	$ 5,289		5,289
Number of Restaurants Closed								33
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived						$ 1,999		$ 855
Number of Subleased Restaurants Currently in Default			3	3		3
Obligation for Future Rent and Other Lease-related Charges for Closed Restaurants			$ 900	$ 900		$ 900
Operating Lease Obligation			$ 6,270	$ 6,270		$ 6,270	$ 7,051	$ 10,873