v3.25.2
Segment Information (Details)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 25, 2025
USD ($)
Jun. 26, 2024
USD ($)
Jun. 25, 2025
USD ($)
segment
Jun. 26, 2024
USD ($)
Dec. 25, 2024
USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]          
Number of operating segments | segment     2    
Revenues          
Total operating revenue $ 117,657 $ 115,927 $ 229,294 $ 225,901  
Cost and expenses          
Product costs 15,086 13,632 29,297 26,943  
Payroll and benefits 21,869 20,493 42,965 40,967  
Occupancy costs 5,181 4,671 10,240 9,244  
Utilities 1,829 1,695 3,523 3,350  
Repairs and maintenance 847 1,008 1,683 2,013  
Marketing 2,386 1,876 4,414 3,480  
Legal settlements 391 208 796 1,657  
Pre-opening costs 645 191 1,354 557  
Other direct costs 4,111 3,804 8,098 7,485  
Total costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization 52,345 47,578 102,370 95,696  
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 29,217 33,428 57,571 60,802  
Total restaurant-level operating margin 36,095 34,921 69,353 69,403  
Reconciliation of restaurant-level operating margin to net income          
General and administrative expenses 21,445 20,486 41,475 41,708  
Depreciation and amortization 4,378 3,735 8,485 7,316  
Goodwill impairment charges 0 20 0 20  
Operating (gains), losses and other charges, net 1,700 1,565 5,611 1,238  
Operating (gains), losses and other charges, net 27,523 25,806 55,571 50,282  
Operating income 8,572 9,115 13,782 19,121  
Interest expense, net 5,374 4,573 9,802 8,993  
Other nonoperating income, net (563) (224) (401) (861)  
Income before income taxes 3,761 4,766 4,381 10,989  
Provision for income taxes 1,291 1,198 1,585 2,730  
Net income 2,470 3,568 2,796 8,259  
Total assets 491,150   491,150   $ 496,274
Company restaurant sales          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 58,395 54,348 112,295 106,690  
Royalties          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 29,091 30,014 56,928 59,320  
Advertising revenue          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 19,490 20,788 38,563 38,926  
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 19,490 20,788 38,563 38,926  
Initial and other fees          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 2,804 2,448 5,678 4,264  
Occupancy revenue          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 7,877 8,329 15,830 16,701  
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 4,872 5,094 9,805 10,226  
Franchise and license revenue           
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 59,262 61,579 116,999 119,211  
Other direct costs          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 4,855 7,546 9,203 11,650  
Denny’s          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 106,019 109,352 207,586 213,363  
Cost and expenses          
Product costs 12,301 12,340 24,020 24,544  
Payroll and benefits 17,971 18,374 35,664 37,031  
Occupancy costs 3,909 4,031 7,906 8,044  
Utilities 1,516 1,550 2,975 3,097  
Repairs and maintenance 742 947 1,506 1,924  
Marketing 2,085 1,758 3,898 3,239  
Legal settlements 382 197 807 1,646  
Pre-opening costs 0 0 0 0  
Other direct costs 3,258 3,418 6,568 6,648  
Total costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization 42,164 42,615 83,344 86,173  
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 28,466 32,662 55,926 59,455  
Total restaurant-level operating margin 35,389 34,075 68,316 67,735  
Reconciliation of restaurant-level operating margin to net income          
Total assets 325,492   325,492   344,986
Denny’s | Company restaurant sales          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 48,474 49,557 94,180 97,724  
Denny’s | Royalties          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 27,912 28,781 54,504 56,830  
Denny’s | Advertising revenue          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 19,047 20,339 37,667 38,019  
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 19,047 20,339 37,667 38,019  
Denny’s | Initial and other fees          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 2,742 2,369 5,471 4,112  
Denny’s | Occupancy revenue          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 7,844 8,306 15,764 16,678  
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 4,839 5,072 9,739 10,204  
Denny’s | Franchise and license revenue           
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 57,545 59,795 113,406 115,639  
Denny’s | Other direct costs          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 4,580 7,251 8,520 11,232  
Other          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 11,638 6,575 21,708 12,538  
Cost and expenses          
Product costs 2,785 1,292 5,277 2,399  
Payroll and benefits 3,898 2,119 7,301 3,936  
Occupancy costs 1,272 640 2,334 1,200  
Utilities 313 145 548 253  
Repairs and maintenance 105 61 177 89  
Marketing 301 118 516 241  
Legal settlements 9 11 (11) 11  
Pre-opening costs 645 191 1,354 557  
Other direct costs 853 386 1,530 837  
Total costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization 10,181 4,963 19,026 9,523  
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 751 766 1,645 1,347  
Total restaurant-level operating margin 706 846 1,037 1,668  
Reconciliation of restaurant-level operating margin to net income          
Total assets 165,658   165,658   $ 151,288
Other | Company restaurant sales          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 9,921 4,791 18,115 8,966  
Other | Royalties          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 1,179 1,233 2,424 2,490  
Other | Advertising revenue          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 443 449 896 907  
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 443 449 896 907  
Other | Initial and other fees          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 62 79 207 152  
Other | Occupancy revenue          
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 33 23 66 23  
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 33 22 66 22  
Other | Franchise and license revenue           
Revenues          
Total operating revenue 1,717 1,784 3,593 3,572  
Other | Other direct costs          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:          
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization $ 275 $ 295 $ 683 $ 418