Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2014 USD ($)
Cash flows provided from (used for) operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 45,472	$ 4	$ (38,117)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities:
Loss on disposals of property and equipment	(549)	364	537
Stock-based compensation	2,053	1,438	1,180
Impairment and other lease charges	2,355	3,078	3,541
Depreciation and amortization	47,295	39,845	36,923
Amortization of deferred financing costs	791	874	1,007
Amortization of deferred gains from sale-leaseback transactions	(1,788)	(2,535)	(1,793)
Deferred income taxes	(28,085)	0	11,548
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	12,635	0
Refundable income taxes	(153)	2,416	177
Accounts receivable	(1,462)	(2,127)	(1,094)
Accounts payable	1,686	2,054	2,194
Accrued interest	4	502	30
Accrued payroll, related taxes and benefits	(1,553)	10,261	(700)
Other	(3,778)	1,893	(726)
Net cash provided from operating activities	62,288	70,702	14,707
Cash flows used for investing activities:
New restaurant development	(8,228)	(574)	(1,696)
Restaurant remodeling	(65,767)	(41,582)	(38,197)
Other restaurant capital expenditures	(15,168)	(10,772)	(6,720)
Corporate and restaurant information systems	(4,936)	(3,920)	(5,397)
Total capital expenditures	(94,099)	(56,848)	(52,010)
Acquisition of restaurants, net of cash acquired	(48,088)	(52,750)	(52,200)
Proceeds from insurance recoveries	1,413	0	0
Proceeds from sale of other assets	0	534	54
Increase in restricted cash balance	0	0	20,000
Properties purchased for sale-leaseback	(9,046)	(3,513)	(3,412)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	53,599	9,148	19,565
Net cash used for investing activities	(96,221)	(103,429)	(68,003)
Cash flows provided from (used for) financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior secured second lien notes	0	200,000	0
Senior Notes	200,000	200,000
Redemption of 11.25% senior secured second lien notes	0	(159,771)	0
Financing costs associated with issuance of debt	(175)	(5,169)	(62)
Proceeds from public stock offering, net of expenses	0	0	67,327
Borrowings under senior credit facility	129,000	0	59,000
Repayments under senior credit facility	(115,500)	0	(59,000)
Principal payments on capital leases	(1,480)	(1,280)	(1,050)
Proceeds from lease financing obligations	1,816	0	0
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	13,661	33,780	66,215
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(20,272)	1,053	12,919
Cash, beginning of period	22,274	21,221	8,302
Cash, end of period	2,002	22,274	21,221
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid on long-term debt	17,415	17,088	17,659
Interest paid on lease financing obligations	105	104	103
Accruals for capital expenditures	4,032	3,779	4,683
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	153	(2,416)	(41)
Capital lease obligations incurred	583	615	1,459
Non-cash reduction of capital lease assets and obligation	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,055