Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 11, 2016	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 06, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2015 USD ($)
Number of Franchise Restaurants				62
Number of States Primarily Outside Company Existing Core Markets in Which Entity Operates				11
Number of Restaurants Closed	95			103
Number of Restaurants				543
Restaurant Sales and Operating Revenue Attributable to Week 53 of Fiscal Year				$ 15,700
Additional Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to Week 53 of Fiscal Year | $ / shares				$ 0.02
Off-market Lease, Unfavorable		$ 600	$ 600	$ 200	$ 600
Amortization of Intangible Assets				900	1,800	$ 2,200
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months				600
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two				600
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three				500
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four				300
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five				100
Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense		74	74	$ 27	74
Number of Restaurants Located on Leased Properties				274
Number of Restaurants Located on Leased Land				205
Number of Restaurants Located on Leased Land and Buildings				69
Expiration of Operating Leases				20 years
Gift Card Breakage Income Offset Against Expenses				$ 2,400	$ 2,100	2,000
Royalty Fee Percentage					4.00%
Operating Agreements Marketing and Purchase Fee Gross Sales Contribution Maximum					1.50%
Operating Agreements, Advertising Fee, Maximum					3.00%
Marketing Expense				54,140	$ 51,436	$ 49,420
Prepaid Rent and Other Expense [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense		700	700	2,100	700
Other Assets [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense		400	400		400
Current Maturities of Long-term Debt [Member] | Senior Notes and Mortgage Loan Obligations [Member]
Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense		700	700		700
Long-term Debt and Capital Leases, Less Current Maturities [Member] | Senior Notes and Mortgage Loan Obligations [Member]
Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense		$ 2,400	$ 2,400	$ 1,600	$ 2,400
Reacquired Franchise Rights [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life				8 years 182 days
Lease Agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life				28 years 219 days
Trademarks [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life				10 years
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life				3 years
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life				35 years
Restaurant Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life				3 years
Restaurant Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life				15 years
Lime Fresh [Member]
Number of Restaurants Closed		6			11
Number of Company-owned Restaurants Agreed During the Period to Sell		8	8		8
Number of Company-owned Restaurants Closed and Transferred to Third-party Buyer				2
Lime Fresh [Member]
Number of Restaurants		2	2		2
Foreign Countries [Member]
Number of Countries in which Entity Operates				14