Note 6 - Long-term Debt and Capital Leases (Details Textual)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Dec. 03, 2013
USD ($)
May 14, 2012
USD ($)
Jun. 06, 2017
Mar. 07, 2017
Nov. 29, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
May 31, 2016
USD ($)
Number of Restaurants 49            
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount         $ 11,100,000    
Secured Debt         14,762,000   $ 15,745,000
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current         13,629,000   9,934,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]              
Debt Instrument, Term 4 years            
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity $ 50,000,000            
Option to Increase Revolving Credit Facility Capacity $ 35,000,000            
Credit Facility Interest Rate, Floor 0.00%            
Debt Instrument, Collateral Amount, Appraised Value $ 101,400,000            
Debt Instrument, Collateral Amount         $ 78,900,000    
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Leverage Ratio         4.3    
Line of Credit Facility, Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio         1.65    
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity $ 50,000,000            
Long-term Line of Credit         $ 0    
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]              
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity           $ 16,100,000  
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]              
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Leverage Ratio     4.25 4.3      
Line of Credit Facility, Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio     1.7 1.65      
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]              
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage 0.40%            
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]              
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage 0.75%            
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Federal Funds Rate [Member]              
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate 0.50%            
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]              
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate 1.00%            
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Minimum [Member]              
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate 2.50%            
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Maximum [Member]              
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate 3.50%            
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Minimum [Member]              
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate 1.50%            
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Maximum [Member]              
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate 2.50%            
Sub-limit for Standby Letters of Credit [Member]              
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity $ 25,000,000            
Rent and Other Line Item [Member]              
Interest Payable, Current         900,000   1,000,000
Senior Notes [Member]              
Debt Instrument, Face Amount   $ 250,000,000          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage   7.625%          
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount   $ 3,700,000     1,577,000   $ 1,771,000
Debt Instrument, Term   8 years          
Debt Instrument, Cumulative Sinking Fund Payments         $ 0    
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date         May 15, 2020    
Debt Instrument Repurchased Amount Authorized         $ 20,000,000    
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount         0    
Mortgages [Member]              
Secured Debt         14,800,000    
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current         9,300,000    
Mortgages [Member] | Minimum [Member]              
Range of Loan Balances         $ 600,000    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage         7.60%    
Mortgages [Member] | Maximum [Member]              
Range of Loan Balances         $ 6,700,000    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage         10.17%    
Mortgage Loan Obligations Expected to be Reclassified to Long-term Debt [Member]              
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current         $ 4,000,000