Selected Quarterly Financial and Earnings Data (Unaudited) Quarterly Table (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012	Apr. 01, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Dec. 30, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012	Jan. 02, 2011
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Restaurant Sales	$ 162,583,000	$ 169,471,000	$ 122,104,000	$ 85,450,000	$ 86,702,000	$ 90,599,000	$ 88,595,000	$ 81,622,000	$ 539,608,000	$ 347,518,000	$ 357,073,000
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	(9,589,000)	(4,260,000)	693,000	(1,480,000)	175,000	4,121,000	3,304,000	(1,188,000)	(14,636,000)	6,412,000	11,574,000
Net loss from continuing operations	(8,794,000)	(6,340,000)	(779,000)	(2,903,000)	(349,000)	357,000	300,000	(832,000)	(18,816,000)	(524,000)	1,810,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(114,000)	(2,000)	668,000	(624,000)	408,000	3,048,000	5,208,000	3,078,000	(72,000)	11,742,000	10,106,000
Net income (loss)	(8,908,000)	(6,342,000)	(111,000)	(3,527,000)	59,000	3,405,000	5,508,000	2,246,000	(18,888,000)	11,218,000	11,916,000
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, continuing operations	$ (0.39)	$ (0.28)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.02	$ 0.01	$ (0.04)
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, discontinued operations	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ 0.03	$ (0.03)	$ 0.02	$ 0.14	$ 0.24	$ 0.14
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt			1,500,000			2,400,000			(1,509,000)	(1,244,000)	0
Insurance Recoveries	500,000	200,000			300,000			100,000
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment							300,000		(212,000)	(63,000)	(285,000)
Impairment and Other Lease Charges					300,000		200,000	800,000
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt						1,200,000
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt						$ 1,200,000