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Note L - Stockholders' Equity, Stock Plans and Other Employee Benefit Plans (Details Textual) (USD $)
 0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 162 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 65 Months Ended
Mar. 10, 2015
Feb. 13, 2013
Mar. 29, 2015
Dec. 28, 2014
Sep. 28, 2014
Jun. 29, 2014
Mar. 30, 2014
Dec. 29, 2013
Sep. 29, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 29, 2015
Mar. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2013
Mar. 29, 2015
Mar. 27, 2016
Mar. 27, 2015
Jun. 04, 2013
Mar. 29, 2015
Sep. 11, 2014
Dec. 13, 2013
Jun. 05, 2013
Sep. 13, 2012
Sep. 14, 2010
Feb. 01, 2011
Nov. 09, 2009
Mar. 29, 2014
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared                     $ 25us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared                          
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock $ 116,100,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock                   $ 115,110,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock                              
Increased Number of Shares Available for Issuance Due to Plan Amendment                                           250,000nath_IncreasedNumberOfSharesAvailableForIssuanceDueToPlanAmendment        
Amount of Available Common Shares Reduced by Each Share of Restricted Stock Granted                                           3.2nath_AmountOfAvailableCommonSharesReducedByEachShareOfRestrictedStockGranted        
Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award Option Life                     5 years                              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period                     4 years                              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross                     50,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross                          
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price                     $ 53.89us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice                          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period                     4 years                              
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition                     1 year 30 days                              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period                     15,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod                              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number     40,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber       55,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber       40,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber 55,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber   40,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber       40,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber                
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense                     350,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 286,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 251,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense                          
Share Based Compensation Total Unamortized Compensation Expense     1,815,000nath_ShareBasedCompensationTotalUnamortizedCompensationExpense               1,815,000nath_ShareBasedCompensationTotalUnamortizedCompensationExpense     1,815,000nath_ShareBasedCompensationTotalUnamortizedCompensationExpense       1,815,000nath_ShareBasedCompensationTotalUnamortizedCompensationExpense                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period                     235,125us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised 150,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised 192,500us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised                          
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised                     880,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised 944,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised 389,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised                          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value                     13,040,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 6,038,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 3,523,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue                          
Share Price   $ 36.87us-gaap_SharePrice                           $ 73.56us-gaap_SharePrice                    
Earnings Per Share, Diluted     $ 0.34us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted [1] $ 0.49us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted [1] $ 0.84us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted [1] $ 0.89us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted [1] $ 0.27us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted [1] $ 0.24us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted [1] $ 0.57us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted [1] $ 0.73us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted [1] $ 2.55us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ 1.81us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ 1.63us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted                          
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted     4,562,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding [1] 4,603,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding [1] 4,593,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding [1] 4,593,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding [1] 4,594,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding [1] 4,622,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding [1] 4,625,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding [1] 4,588,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding [1] 4,588,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding 4,605,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding 4,588,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding                          
Minimum Percentage of Common Stock Acquired by a Person or Group which Triggers Exercise of New Rights                                         15.00%nath_MinimumPercentageOfCommonStockAcquiredByAPersonOrGroupWhichTriggersExerciseOfNewRights          
New Right Purchase Price                                         $ 100nath_NewRightPurchasePrice          
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share   $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare       $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare       $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare   $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare       $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare            
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount                                     6,000,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1 5,000,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1            
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased                                       800,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased            
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired                     37,661us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired     4,647,687us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired                        
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method                     1,916,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod 1,486,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod 3,085,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod 56,800,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod                        
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares   67,619us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares                                                
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent                     20.00%us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanMaximumAnnualContributionsPerEmployeePercent                              
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution Rate Per Dollar                     0.25nath_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionRatePerDollar                              
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay                     3.00%us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent                              
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount                     30,000us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount 34,000us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount 31,000us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount                          
Multiemployer Plans, Plan Contributions                     10,000us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansPlanContributions 10,000us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansPlanContributions 16,000us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansPlanContributions                          
Special Cash Dividend [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]                                                    
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock                             375,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= nath_SpecialCashDividendMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember		                      
Special Cash Dividend [Member]                                                    
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared $ 25us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= nath_SpecialCashDividendMember		                                                  
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock                               115,100,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= nath_SpecialCashDividendMember		                    
Dividends Payable     1,000,000us-gaap_DividendsPayableCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= nath_SpecialCashDividendMember		               1,000,000us-gaap_DividendsPayableCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= nath_SpecialCashDividendMember		     1,000,000us-gaap_DividendsPayableCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= nath_SpecialCashDividendMember		       1,000,000us-gaap_DividendsPayableCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= nath_SpecialCashDividendMember		                
Excluding Dividend [Member]                                                    
Share Price                               $ 48.56us-gaap_SharePrice
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= nath_ExcludingDividendMember		                    
Earnings Per Share if Replacement Options had been Issued [Member]                                                    
Earnings Per Share, Diluted     $ 0.34us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= nath_EarningsPerShareIfReplacementOptionsHadBeenIssuedMember		               $ 2.53us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= nath_EarningsPerShareIfReplacementOptionsHadBeenIssuedMember		                              
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted     4,576,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= nath_EarningsPerShareIfReplacementOptionsHadBeenIssuedMember		               4,621,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= nath_EarningsPerShareIfReplacementOptionsHadBeenIssuedMember		                              
Newly Authorized Additional Shares Pursuant to 2010 Plan [Member]                                                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant                                             150,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= nath_NewlyAuthorizedAdditionalSharesPursuantTo2010PlanMember		      
Shares Not Issued Under 2001 Plan and 2002 Plan [Member]                                                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant                                             171,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= nath_SharesNotIssuedUnder2001PlanAnd2002PlanMember		      
Shares Expired or Forfeited up to 100000 Shares [Member]                                                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant                                             100,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= nath_SharesExpiredOrForfeitedUpTo100000SharesMember		      
Employee Stock Option [Member]                                                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant     268,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember		               268,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember		     268,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember		       268,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember		                
Restricted Stock [Member] | Executive Chairman of the Board [Member]                                                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period                     50,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= nath_ExecutiveChairmanOfTheBoardMember		                              
Restricted Stock [Member] | Chief Executive Officer [Member]                                                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period                                 25,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		                  
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition                                 5 years                  
Share Price                                 $ 49.80us-gaap_SharePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		                  
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized                                 1,245,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		                  
Restricted Stock [Member]                                                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant     204,219us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		               204,219us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		     204,219us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		       204,219us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period                       5 years 4 years                          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period                       5 years 4 years                          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period                       25,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		 50,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		                          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value                       $ 49.80us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		 $ 29.29us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		                          
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options     1,245,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		               1,245,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		     1,245,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		       1,245,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		                
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition                     5 years                              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period                         10,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		                          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number                         40,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		                          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value                     965,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		 533,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		 293,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		                          
The 2010 Plan [Member]                                                    
Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award Option Life                     5 years                              
Options Granted before the 2010 Plan [Member]                                                    
Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award Option Life                     10 years                              
Stock Incentive Plans [Member] | Minimum [Member]                                                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period                     3 years                              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period                     3 years                              
Stock Incentive Plans [Member] | Maximum [Member]                                                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period                     5 years                              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period                     5 years                              
The 2013 Rights [Member]                                                    
Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance                                         10,188,600us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= nath_The2013RightsMember		          
Common Stock Purchase Rights [Member]                                                    
Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance     10,311,542us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= nath_CommonStockPurchaseRightsMember		               10,311,542us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= nath_CommonStockPurchaseRightsMember		     10,311,542us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
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[1] The sum of the quarters may not equal the full year per share amounts included in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings due to the effect of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the fiscal years as compared to the quarters.