CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents (includes $889 at October 1, 2016 and $604 at October 3, 2015 related to VIEs)	$ 7,239	$ 9,735
Accounts receivable (includes $429 at October 1, 2016 and $303 at October 3, 2015 related to VIEs)	3,750	3,221
Employee receivables	453	485
Inventories (includes $23 at October 1, 2016 and $24 at October 3, 2015 related to VIEs)	1,892	1,956
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (includes $228 at October 1, 2016 and $216 at October 3, 2015 related to VIEs)	2,662	2,365
Total current assets	15,996	17,762
FIXED ASSETS - Net (includes $22 at October 1, 2016 and $40 at October 3, 2015 related to VIEs)	29,546	27,804
INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Net	526	499
GOODWILL	7,895	6,813
TRADEMARKS	1,611	1,221
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	3,416	4,453
OTHER ASSETS (includes $71 at October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015 related to VIEs)	2,564	1,562
TOTAL ASSETS	68,255	66,567
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable - trade (includes $114 at October 1, 2016 and $81 at October 3, 2015 related to VIEs)	2,876	3,207
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (includes $238 at October 1, 2016 and $131 at October 3, 2015 related to VIEs)	10,555	10,332
Accrued income taxes	606	2,477
Current portion of notes payable	2,617	1,617
Total current liabilities	16,654	17,633
OPERATING LEASE DEFERRED CREDIT (includes $73 at October 1, 2016 and $81 at October 3, 2015 related to VIEs)	3,576	3,796
NOTES PAYABLE, LESS CURRENT PORTION, net of deferred financing costs	5,321	3,907
TOTAL LIABILITIES	25,551	25,336
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY:
Common stock, par value $.01 per share - authorized, 10,000 shares; issued, 3,423 and 4,774 shares at October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015; outstanding, 3,423 and 3,418 shares at October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015	34	48
Additional paid-in capital	12,942	25,682
Retained earnings	27,158	26,548
	40,134	52,278
Less treasury stock, at cost, of 1,356 shares at October 3, 2015		(13,220)
Total Ark Restaurants Corp. shareholders’ equity	40,134	39,058
NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS	2,570	2,173
TOTAL EQUITY	42,704	41,231
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	68,255	66,567
New Meadowlands Racetrack LLC [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
INVESTMENT IN AND RECEIVABLE FROM NEW MEADOWLANDS RACETRACK	$ 6,701	$ 6,453