Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2013	Mar. 27, 2012	Dec. 25, 2012	Dec. 27, 2011
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 561,779	$ 498,579
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	128,549	114,934
Depreciation and amortization	24,365	21,321
Unallocated General and Administrative Expenses	28,307	26,667
Pre-opening expenses	1,091	1,611
Interest expense	302	210
Other (income) expense, net	(2,420)	438
Income before income taxes	78,423	66,708
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	36,031	30,119
Segment Assets
Unallocated trade and other accounts receivable	34,912		43,843
Unallocated property and equipment	585,150		571,754
Total assets	1,279,431		1,268,163
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	323,316	221,439	297,141	222,640
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Assets
Total assets	859,246		878,035
Company bakery cafe operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	497,519	439,215
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	98,406	87,736
Depreciation and amortization	21,005	18,500
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	28,759	24,921
Segment Assets
Total assets	789,599		807,681
Franchise operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	26,577	24,822
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	25,058	22,801
Segment Assets
Total assets	10,013		10,285
Fresh dough and other product operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	79,989	71,343
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	5,085	4,397
Depreciation and amortization	2,014	1,649
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	2,190	1,917
Segment Assets
Total assets	59,634		60,069
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	(42,306)	(36,801)
Segment profit:
Depreciation and amortization	1,346	1,172
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	5,082	3,281
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment profit:
Unallocated General and Administrative Expenses	26,788	24,646
Segment Assets
Unallocated trade and other accounts receivable	1,598		1,592
Unallocated property and equipment	33,616		30,161
Unallocated deposits and other	4,943		5,054
Other unallocated assets	56,712		56,180
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	$ 323,316		$ 297,141