Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Jan. 03, 2016
Cash flows provided from (used for) operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 7,159	$ 45,472	$ 4
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities:
Loss on disposals of property and equipment	521	(549)	364
Stock-based compensation	3,518	2,053	1,438
Impairment and other lease charges	2,827	2,355	3,078
Depreciation and amortization	54,159	47,295	39,845
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,035	791	874
Amortization of bond premium	(459)	0	0
Amortization of deferred gains from sale-leaseback transactions	(1,626)	(1,788)	(2,535)
Deferred income taxes	574	(28,085)	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	12,635
Refundable income taxes	99	(153)	2,416
Accounts receivable	(1,310)	(1,462)	(2,127)
Accounts payable	3,084	1,686	2,054
Accrued interest	996	4	502
Accrued payroll, related taxes and benefits	336	(1,553)	10,261
Other	1,870	(3,778)	1,893
Net cash provided from operating activities	72,783	62,288	70,702
Cash flows used for investing activities:
New restaurant development	(14,759)	(8,228)	(574)
Restaurant remodeling	(33,504)	(65,767)	(41,582)
Other restaurant capital expenditures	(18,926)	(15,168)	(10,772)
Corporate and restaurant information systems	(6,327)	(4,936)	(3,920)
Total capital expenditures	(73,516)	(94,099)	(56,848)
Acquisition of restaurants, net of cash acquired	(37,923)	(48,088)	(52,750)
Proceeds from insurance recoveries	481	1,413	0
Proceeds from sale of other assets	0	0	534
Properties purchased for sale-leaseback	(1,404)	(9,046)	(3,513)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	4,257	53,599	9,148
Net cash used for investing activities	(108,105)	(96,221)	(103,429)
Cash flows provided from (used for) financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior secured second lien notes	79,875	0	200,000
Senior Notes	275,000	200,000
Redemption of 11.25% senior secured second lien notes	0	0	(159,771)
Financing costs associated with issuance of debt	(1,992)	(175)	(5,169)
Borrowings under senior credit facility	183,250	129,000	0
Repayments under senior credit facility	(196,750)	(115,500)	0
Principal payments on capital leases	(1,651)	(1,480)	(1,280)
Proceeds from lease financing obligations	0	1,816	0
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	62,732	13,661	33,780
Net increase (decrease) in cash	27,410	(20,272)	1,053
Cash, beginning of period	2,002	22,274	21,221
Cash, end of period	29,412	2,002	22,274
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid on long-term debt	20,885	17,415	17,088
Interest paid on lease financing obligations	119	105	104
Accruals for capital expenditures	6,839	4,032	3,779
Non-cash reduction of capital lease assets and obligation	1,744	0	0
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	(63)	153	(2,416)
Capital lease obligations incurred	$ 316	$ 583	$ 615