Note 14 - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	Mar. 01, 2016	Dec. 01, 2015	Sep. 01, 2015	Jun. 02, 2015	Mar. 03, 2015	Dec. 02, 2014	Sep. 02, 2014	May 31, 2016	Jun. 02, 2015	Jun. 03, 2014
Parent Company [Member]
Revenues:
Restaurant sales and operating revenue									$ 785,147	$ 809,171	$ 842,842
Franchise revenue									245	238	223
Revenues									785,392	809,409	843,065
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold									216,121	220,537	233,562
Payroll and related costs									263,499	270,535	287,358
Other restaurant operating costs									167,051	175,819	186,737
Depreciation and amortization									36,387	37,466	40,506
Selling, general, and administrative									70,012	75,418	87,248
Intercompany selling, general, and administrative allocations									42,870	44,768	59,257
Closures and impairments, net									40,683	7,914	18,904
Lime Fresh trademark
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									(15,212)	(28,148)	(21,005)
Gain on sales of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill assets									(5,937)
Interest expense, net									18,339	18,489	19,978
Intercompany interest expense/(income)									12,143	12,009	13,081
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt									(10)		1,364
Total operating costs and expenses									845,946	834,807	926,990
(Loss)/income									(60,554)	(25,398)	(83,925)
(Benefit)/provision for income taxes from continuing operations									(9,872)	(22,204)	(19,015)
Net (loss)/income									(50,682)	(3,194)	(64,346)
Intercompany selling, general, and administrative allocations									42,870	44,768	59,257
(Loss)/income from continuing operations											(64,910)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax											564
Other comprehensive income:
Pension liability reclassification									831	(40)	45
Total comprehensive (loss)/income									(49,851)	(3,234)	(64,301)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Restaurant sales and operating revenue									299,887	310,971	319,581
Franchise revenue									5,949	6,186	6,100
Revenues									305,836	317,157	325,681
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold									82,408	84,769	87,959
Payroll and related costs									111,062	112,726	117,021
Other restaurant operating costs									62,467	66,290	71,191
Depreciation and amortization									14,971	14,925	16,841
Selling, general, and administrative									39,615	39,909	49,903
Intercompany selling, general, and administrative allocations									(42,870)	(44,768)	(59,257)
Closures and impairments, net									21,998	2,628	13,927
Lime Fresh trademark									1,999		855
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
Gain on sales of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill assets
Interest expense, net									3,425	4,246	4,967
Intercompany interest expense/(income)									(12,143)	(12,009)	(13,081)
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt
Total operating costs and expenses									282,932	268,716	290,326
(Loss)/income									22,904	48,441	35,355
(Benefit)/provision for income taxes from continuing operations									7,692	20,293	14,350
Net (loss)/income									15,212	28,148	21,005
Intercompany selling, general, and administrative allocations									(42,870)	(44,768)	(59,257)
(Loss)/income from continuing operations											21,005
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
Other comprehensive income:
Pension liability reclassification
Total comprehensive (loss)/income									15,212	28,148	21,005
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Restaurant sales and operating revenue
Franchise revenue
Revenues
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold
Payroll and related costs
Other restaurant operating costs
Depreciation and amortization
Selling, general, and administrative
Intercompany selling, general, and administrative allocations
Closures and impairments, net
Lime Fresh trademark
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									15,212	28,148	21,005
Gain on sales of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill assets
Interest expense, net
Intercompany interest expense/(income)
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt
Total operating costs and expenses									15,212	28,148	21,005
(Loss)/income									(15,212)	(28,148)	(21,005)
(Benefit)/provision for income taxes from continuing operations
Net (loss)/income									(15,212)	(28,148)	(21,005)
Intercompany selling, general, and administrative allocations
(Loss)/income from continuing operations											(21,005)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
Other comprehensive income:
Pension liability reclassification
Total comprehensive (loss)/income									(15,212)	(28,148)	(21,005)
Restaurant sales and operating revenue									1,085,034	1,120,142	1,162,423
Franchise revenue									6,194	6,424	6,323
Revenues	$ 279,322	$ 271,470	$ 260,956	$ 279,480	$ 296,812	$ 285,913	$ 262,659	$ 281,182	1,091,228	1,126,566	1,168,746
Cost of goods sold									298,529	305,306	321,521
Payroll and related costs									374,561	383,261	404,379
Other restaurant operating costs									229,518	242,109	257,928
Depreciation and amortization									51,358	52,391	57,347
Selling, general, and administrative									109,627	115,327	137,151
Intercompany selling, general, and administrative allocations
Closures and impairments, net									62,681	10,542	32,831
Lime Fresh trademark									1,999		855
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
Gain on sales of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill assets									(5,937)
Interest expense, net									21,764	22,735	24,945
Intercompany interest expense/(income)
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt									(10)		1,364
Total operating costs and expenses									1,144,090	1,131,671	1,238,321
(Loss)/income	(28,097)	(3,569)	(15,979)	(5,217)	5,713	(881)	(9,868)	(69)	(52,862)	(5,105)	(69,575)
(Benefit)/provision for income taxes from continuing operations	(494)	(483)	(180)	(1,023)	1,430	(112)	(595)	(2,634)	(2,180)	(1,911)	(4,665)
Net (loss)/income	$ (27,603)	$ (3,086)	$ (15,799)	$ (4,194)	$ 4,283	$ (769)	$ (9,273)	$ 2,565	(50,682)	(3,194)	(64,346)
Intercompany selling, general, and administrative allocations
(Loss)/income from continuing operations									(50,682)	(3,194)	(64,910)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax											564
Pension liability reclassification									831	(40)	45
Total comprehensive (loss)/income									$ (49,851)	$ (3,234)	$ (64,301)