Note 3 - Mitchell's Restaurants (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2014
Note 3 - Mitchell's Restaurants (Tables) [Line Items]  
Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures [Table Text Block]
   

Fiscal Year

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 
                         

Revenues

                       

Mitchell's Restaurants

  $ 73,974     $ 75,925     $ 77,197  

Other Restaurants

    3,386       9,176       11,107  

Total revenues

    77,360       85,101       88,304  
                         

Costs and expenses

                       

Recurring costs and expenses

                       

Mitchell's Restaurants

    73,852       75,396       76,502  

Other Restaurants

    4,115       9,594       11,157  

Impairment losses

                       

Mitchell's Restaurants

    15,295       2,512       -  

Other Restaurants

    -       750       1,693  

Loss on pending sale of Mitchell's Restaurants

    1,825       -       -  

Gain on settlement - Mitchell's Restaurants

    -       (437 )     -  

Remeasurement of lease exit liability

    -       1,716       -  

Total costs and expenses

    95,087       89,531       89,352  
                         

Loss before income taxes

    (17,727 )     (4,430 )     (1,048 )
                         

Income tax benefit

    (7,472 )     (2,426 )     (1,236 )
                         

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

  $ (10,255 )   $ (2,004 )   $ 187  
Mitchell's Restaurants [Member]  
Note 3 - Mitchell's Restaurants (Tables) [Line Items]  
Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures [Table Text Block]

Selling price

  $ 10,000  

Reduction of deferred rent liability

    4,869  

Assets sold

       

Property and equipment, net

    (8,910 )

Trademarks

    (2,847 )

Other Intangibles

    (2,670 )

Inventory

    (952 )

Other liabilities incurred

    (350 )

Selling costs

    (965 )

Loss on pending sale

  $ (1,825 )

Inventory

  $ 952  

Property and equipment, net

    8,775  

Trademarks

    2,847  

Other intangibles

    2,545  

Total assets held for sale

  $ 15,119  
         

Deferred rent liability

  $ 4,869  

Total liabilities associated with assets held for sale

  $ 4,869