Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document Type Document Type Document Quarterly Report Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Document Transition Report Entity File Number Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code Entity Tax Identification Number Entity Address, Address Line One Entity Address, Address Line Two Entity Address, City or Town Entity Address, State or Province Entity Address, Postal Zip Code City Area Code Local Phone Number Title of 12(b) Security Trading Symbol Security Exchange Name Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Interactive Data Current Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Entity Emerging Growth Company Emerging Growth Company Entity Small Business Small Business Entity Entity Shell Company Shell Company Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Assets [Abstract] Assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents Cash available Accounts and Other Receivables, Net, Current Accounts and other receivables, net Inventory, Net Inventories Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid expenses and other current assets Income Taxes Receivable, Current Income tax receivable Assets, Current Total current assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and equipment owned, net Property and equipment, net Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset Property held under operating leases, net ("ROU asset") Goodwill Goodwill Indefinite-Lived Trademarks Trademarks Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net Deferred tax assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Assets Total assets Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Finance Lease, Liability, Current Finance Lease, Liability, Current Less: current maturities Current portion of obligations under finance leases Operating Lease, Liability, Current Less: current maturities Current portion of obligations under operating leases Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Employee-related Liabilities, Current Accrued salaries and vacation Accrued Insurance, Current Accrued insurance Accrued Income Taxes, Current Accrued income taxes payable Interest Payable, Current Accrued interest Payable under tax receivable agreement current. Payable Under Tax Receivable Agreement Current Current portion of income tax receivable agreement payable Other Liabilities, Current Other accrued expenses and current liabilities Total other accrued expenses and current liabilities Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Long-term Line of Credit, Noncurrent Revolving line of credit Revolver loan Finance Lease, Liability, Noncurrent Obligations under finance leases, net of current portion Finance Lease, Liability, Noncurrent Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent Obligations under operating leases, net of current portion Deferred Income Tax Liabilities, Net Deferred taxes Payable under tax receivable agreement noncurrent. Payable Under Tax Receivable Agreement Noncurrent Income tax receivable agreement payable, net of current portion Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other noncurrent liabilities Total other noncurrent liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 35,854,122 and 35,126,582 shares issued and outstanding Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in-capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Ending balance Beginning balance Total stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, par value (usd per share) Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares) Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred stock, shares issued (shares) Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Preferred stock, shares outstanding (shares) Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value (usd per share) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized (shares) Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued (shares) Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding (shares) Income Statement [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Product and Service [Axis] Products And Services [Domain] Product and Service [Domain] Service [Member] Company-operated restaurant revenue Franchise [Member] Franchise revenue Franchise Advertising Fee [Member] Franchise Advertising Fee [Member] Franchise advertising fee revenue Statement [Line Items] Statement [Line Items] Revenues [Abstract] Revenue Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax Total revenue Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract] Cost of operations Cost, Direct Material Food and paper cost Cost, Direct Labor Labor and related expenses Other Cost and Expense, Operating Occupancy and other operating expenses Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations including cost of services. Company Restaurant Expenses Company restaurant expenses General and Administrative Expense General and administrative expenses Franchisor Costs Franchise expenses Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Other Assets Loss on disposal of assets Amount of recovery of securities lawsuits related legal expenses and other insurance claims. Recovery of Securities Class Action Legal Costs Recovery of securities lawsuits related legal expenses and other insurance claims Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges Impairment and closed-store reserves Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business Loss on disposition of restaurants Loss on disposition of restaurants Costs and Expenses Total expenses Operating Income (Loss) Income from operations Interest Expense Interest expense, net Tax receivable agreement (income) expenses. Tax Receivable Agreement (Income) Expenses Income tax receivable agreement expense (income) Income tax receivable agreement expense Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest Income before provision for income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Provision for income taxes Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income Net income Net income Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Net income per share Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic (usd per share) Net income per share-Basic (usd per share) Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted (usd per share) Net income per share-Diluted (usd per share) Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Other Disclosures [Abstract] Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share Denominator: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic (shares) Weighted-average shares outstanding-Basic (shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted (shares) Weighted-average shares outstanding-Diluted (shares) Weighted-average shares outstanding-Diluted (shares) Statement of Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, before Tax Unrealized net losses arising during the period from interest rate swap Unrealized net losses arising during the period from interest rate swap Derivative Instruments, Gain Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion Reclassifications of losses into net income Reclassifications of losses into net income Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), after Reclassification, Tax Income benefit Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), after Reclassification and Tax Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Shares, Outstanding Ending balance (shares) Beginning balance (shares) Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Stock-based compensation Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Gross Issuance of common stock related to restricted stock Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross Issuance of common stock related to restricted stock (shares) Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Exercised (shares) Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options (shares) Adjustments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation Shares repurchased for employee tax withholdings Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation Shares repurchased for employee tax withholdings (shares) Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Forfeited And Expirations In Period Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Forfeited And Expirations In Period Forfeiture of common stock related to restricted shares Forfeited, cancelled, or expired (shares) Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method Repurchase of common stock Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired Repurchase of common stock (shares) Repurchase of shares Operating Cash Flows, Direct Method [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities: Share-based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense Stock-based compensation expense Asset Impairment Charges Impairment of property and equipment Restructuring Costs Closed-store reserve expense Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs Amortization of deferred financing costs Amortization of above and below Market Leases Amortization of favorable and unfavorable leases, net Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income taxes, net Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables Accounts and other receivables, net Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Employee Related Liabilities Accrued salaries and vacation Increase (Decrease) in Insurance Liabilities Accrued insurance Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Income taxes payable Increase (Decrease) in Other Accrued Liabilities Other accrued expenses and liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash flows provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses Proceeds from disposition of restaurants Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchase of property and equipment Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash flows used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation Minimum tax withholdings related to net share settlements Repayments of Lines of Credit Payments on revolver and swingline loan Repayments of Lines of Credit Proceeds from Secured Lines of Credit Borrowings on revolver and swingline loan Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, net of expenses Finance Lease, Principal Payments Payment of obligations under finance leases Finance Lease, Principal Payments Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Stock buybacks Payment for repurchase of shares Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents Cash cash equivalents end of period Cash cash equivalents beginning of period Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract] Supplemental cash flow information Interest Paid, Excluding Capitalized Interest, Operating Activities Cash paid during the period for interest Income Taxes Paid, Net Cash paid during the period for income taxes Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid Unpaid purchases of property and equipment Stock repurchase accrued not paid. Stock Repurchase Accrued Not Paid Unpaid stock buybacks Accounting Policies [Abstract] Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Property and Equipment Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Long-Term Debt Payables and Accruals [Abstract] Accounts Payable, Accrued Liabilities, and Other Liabilities Disclosure, Current [Text Block] Other Accrued Expenses and Current Liabilities Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Other Noncurrent Liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net Income Per Share Related Party Transactions [Abstract] Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Related Party Transactions Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract] Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block] Revenue from Contracts with Customers Leases [Abstract] The entire disclosure for leases. Lease Disclosure [Text Block] Leases Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] Basis of Presentation