| Cover | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2022 | |
| Document Information [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | DEF 14A |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Entity Registrant Name | DENNY’S CORPORATION |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000852772 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure Unit_pure in Millions | 12 Months Ended | ||
| Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Pay vs Performance [Table Text Block] | 2022 Pay Versus Performance As required con pay-for-performance Year Summary (1) Compensation (2) Average non-PEO (3) Average non-PEO (4) Value of Initial Fixed $100 Net (loss) (in Adjusted Kelli F. John C. Kelli F. John C. Total (5) Peer Group (6) 2022 3,427,341 4,575,064 3,245,486 (3,059,884 ) 1,724,289 384,556 44 103 74,712 77,504 2021 — 6,400,488 — 5,982,906 1,893,720 1,793,436 78 121 78,073 85,582 2020 — 5,340,240 — 1,241,356 1,343,743 579,316 70 115 (5,116 ) 26,643 (1) The dollar amounts reported are (i) for 2022, the amounts of total compensation reported for Ms. Valade (our current Chief Executive Officer from June 13, 2022 until December 28, 2022) and the amounts of total compensation reported for Mr. Miller (our former Chief Executive Officer until June 13, 2022), (ii) for 2021 and 2020, the amounts of total compensation reported for Mr. Miller (our Chief Executive Officer in those years) (Ms. Valade and Mr. Miller, together, the “PEOs”) in the “Total” column of the 2022 Summary Compensation Table. (2) The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of “compensation actually paid” to the Year Reported Summary Minus Reported Value of Equity (a) Plus Equity Award Adjustments (b) Compensation Actually Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller 2022 3,427,341 4,575,064 2,450,288 3,793,071 2,268,433 (3,841,877 ) 3,245,486 (3,059,884 ) 2021 — 6,400,488 — 4,451,217 — 4,033,635 — 5,982,906 2020 — 5,340,240 — 3,981,133 — (117,751 ) — 1,241,356 (a) The grant date fair value of equity awards represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” column in the 2022 Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year. (b) The equity award adjustments for each applicable year include the addition (or subtraction, as applicable) of the following: (i) the year-end Year Year End Fair Value of Year over Year Change in Fair Fair Value as of Year over Year Change in Fair that Vested in the Year Fair Value at the End of the Prior Total Equity Award Adjustments Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller 2022 2,268,433 329,299 — (940,011 ) — 145,170 — (1,482,248 ) — (1,894,087 ) 2,268,433 (3,841,877 ) 2021 — 3,695,462 365,396 — 352,198 — (379,421 ) — — — 4,033,635 2020 — 3,313,367 (1,865,425 ) — 41,060 — (1,606,753 ) — — — (117,751 ) (3) The dollar amounts reported represent the average of the amounts reported for the Company’s (NEOs) as a group (excluding the relevant PEO or PEOs for the applicable year) in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table in each applicable year. The NEOs included for purposed of calculating the average each year are as follows: (i) for 2022, Mr. Verostek, Mr. Dillon, Ms. Sharps Myers, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Wolfinger, and Mr. Bode, (ii) for 2021, Mr. Verostek, Mr. Wolfinger, Mr. Bode, and Mr. Dillon; and (iii) for 2020, Mr. Verostek, Mr. Wolfinger, Mr. Bode, Mr. Dillon, and Mr. Dunn. (4) The dollar amounts reported represent the average amount of “compensation actually paid” to the NEOs as a group (excluding the relevant PEO or PEOs for the applicable year), as computed in accordance with SEC rules. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average amount of compensation earned by or paid to the NEOs as a group (excluding the relevant PEO or PEOs for the applicable year) during the applicable year. In accordance with SEC rules, the following adjustments were made to average total compensation for the NEOs as a group (excluding the relevant PEO or PEOs for the applicable year) for each year to determine the compensation actually paid, using the same methodology described above in Note (2): Year Average Reported Non-PEO Minus Average Reported Value of Plus Average Award (a) Average Non-PEO 2022 1,724,289 883,279 (456,454 ) 384,556 2021 1,893,720 1,032,624 932,340 1,793,436 2020 1,343,743 746,809 (17,618 ) 579,316 (a) The amounts deducted or added in calculating the total average equity award adjustments are as follows: Year Average Year Year over Average Fair Year over Average Fair Total Average Equity Award Adjustments 2022 239,223 (322,677 ) 50,864 (287,777 ) (136,087 ) (456,454 ) 2021 857,301 74,153 81,703 (80,817 ) — 932,340 2020 630,026 (378,324 ) 3,279 (272,599 ) — (17,618 ) (5) Cumulative TSR is calculated by dividing the difference between the Company’s share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by the Company’s share price at the beginning of the measurement period. The TSR assumes that $100 was invested in the Company’s stock on December 25, 2019. (6) Represents the weighted peer group TSR, weighted according to the respective companies’ stock market capitalization at the beginning of each period for which a return is indicated. The peer group consists of public companies that operate in the restaurant industry. Beginning in 2020, the peer group includes the following companies: BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI), Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. (BLMN), Brinker International, Inc. (EAT), Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBRL), Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. (TACO), Dine Brands Global, Inc. (DIN), El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO), Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. (FRGI), Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK), Nathan’s Famous, Inc. (NATH), Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (RRGB), Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (RUTH), Shake Shack, Inc. (SHAK), Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (TXRH), The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (CAKE), and Wingstop Inc. (WING). In 2021, Nathan’s Famous, Inc. and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. were removed from the peer group, In 2022, Noodles & Company (NDLS) was added to the peer group. In addition, in 2022, Del Taco Retaurants, Inc. (TACO) was included in the peer group until it was acquired by Jack in the Box Inc, (JACK) in March 2022. We periodically revise the peer group to more closely reflect a representative sampling of comparable companies in our industry. For 2022, if the peer group would have remained unchanged from 2021, the resulting cumulative peer total shareholder return would have been $105 in 2022. For 2021, if the peer group would have remained unchanged, the resulting cumulative peer total shareholder return would have been $121 in 2021 and $103 in 2022. (7) The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of net income reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Form 10-K (8) Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure in both our annual and long-term incentive compensation programs. See the CD&A for the definition of Adjusted EBITDA and see Appendix A for a reconciliation to GAAP of Adjusted EBITDA for 2022. | ||
| Company Selected Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA | ||
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote [Text Block] | The NEOs included for purposed of calculating the average each year are as follows: (i) for 2022, Mr. Verostek, Mr. Dillon, Ms. Sharps Myers, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Wolfinger, and Mr. Bode, (ii) for 2021, Mr. Verostek, Mr. Wolfinger, Mr. Bode, and Mr. Dillon; and (iii) for 2020, Mr. Verostek, Mr. Wolfinger, Mr. Bode, Mr. Dillon, and Mr. Dunn. | ||
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote [Text Block] | Represents the weighted peer group TSR, weighted according to the respective companies’ stock market capitalization at the beginning of each period for which a return is indicated. The peer group consists of public companies that operate in the restaurant industry. Beginning in 2020, the peer group includes the following companies: BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI), Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. (BLMN), Brinker International, Inc. (EAT), Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBRL), Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. (TACO), Dine Brands Global, Inc. (DIN), El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO), Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. (FRGI), Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK), Nathan’s Famous, Inc. (NATH), Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (RRGB), Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (RUTH), Shake Shack, Inc. (SHAK), Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (TXRH), The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (CAKE), and Wingstop Inc. (WING). In 2021, Nathan’s Famous, Inc. and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. were removed from the peer group, In 2022, Noodles & Company (NDLS) was added to the peer group. In addition, in 2022, Del Taco Retaurants, Inc. (TACO) was included in the peer group until it was acquired by Jack in the Box Inc, (JACK) in March 2022. We periodically revise the peer group to more closely reflect a representative sampling of comparable companies in our industry. For 2022, if the peer group would have remained unchanged from 2021, the resulting cumulative peer total shareholder return would have been $105 in 2022. For 2021, if the peer group would have remained unchanged, the resulting cumulative peer total shareholder return would have been $121 in 2021 and $103 in 2022. | ||
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote [Text Block] | (2) The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of “compensation actually paid” to the Year Reported Summary Minus Reported Value of Equity (a) Plus Equity Award Adjustments (b) Compensation Actually Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller 2022 3,427,341 4,575,064 2,450,288 3,793,071 2,268,433 (3,841,877 ) 3,245,486 (3,059,884 ) 2021 — 6,400,488 — 4,451,217 — 4,033,635 — 5,982,906 2020 — 5,340,240 — 3,981,133 — (117,751 ) — 1,241,356 (a) The grant date fair value of equity awards represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” column in the 2022 Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year. (b) The equity award adjustments for each applicable year include the addition (or subtraction, as applicable) of the following: (i) the year-end Year Year End Fair Value of Year over Year Change in Fair Fair Value as of Year over Year Change in Fair that Vested in the Year Fair Value at the End of the Prior Total Equity Award Adjustments Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller Ms. Valade Mr. Miller 2022 2,268,433 329,299 — (940,011 ) — 145,170 — (1,482,248 ) — (1,894,087 ) 2,268,433 (3,841,877 ) 2021 — 3,695,462 365,396 — 352,198 — (379,421 ) — — — 4,033,635 2020 — 3,313,367 (1,865,425 ) — 41,060 — (1,606,753 ) — — — (117,751 ) | ||
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 1,724,289 | $ 1,893,720 | $ 1,343,743 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 384,556 | 1,793,436 | 579,316 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote [Text Block] | (4) The dollar amounts reported represent the average amount of “compensation actually paid” to the NEOs as a group (excluding the relevant PEO or PEOs for the applicable year), as computed in accordance with SEC rules. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average amount of compensation earned by or paid to the NEOs as a group (excluding the relevant PEO or PEOs for the applicable year) during the applicable year. In accordance with SEC rules, the following adjustments were made to average total compensation for the NEOs as a group (excluding the relevant PEO or PEOs for the applicable year) for each year to determine the compensation actually paid, using the same methodology described above in Note (2): Year Average Reported Non-PEO Minus Average Reported Value of Plus Average Award (a) Average Non-PEO 2022 1,724,289 883,279 (456,454 ) 384,556 2021 1,893,720 1,032,624 932,340 1,793,436 2020 1,343,743 746,809 (17,618 ) 579,316 (a) The amounts deducted or added in calculating the total average equity award adjustments are as follows: Year Average Year Year over Average Fair Year over Average Fair Total Average Equity Award Adjustments 2022 239,223 (322,677 ) 50,864 (287,777 ) (136,087 ) (456,454 ) 2021 857,301 74,153 81,703 (80,817 ) — 932,340 2020 630,026 (378,324 ) 3,279 (272,599 ) — (17,618 ) | ||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block] | |||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income [Text Block] | |||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure [Text Block] | |||
| Total Shareholder Return Vs Peer Group [Text Block] | |||
| Tabular List [Table Text Block] | The items listed below represent the four financial measures we use to link compensation actually paid for the year to company performance as further described in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A): Adjusted EBITDA Domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales change Relative TSR performance against the companies in the S&P 600 Consumer Discretionary Index Adjusted EPS growth | ||
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 44 | 78 | 70 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 103 | 121 | 115 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 74,712,000,000 | $ 78,073,000,000 | $ (5,116,000,000) |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 77,504 | 85,582 | 26,643 |
| Measure [Axis]: 1 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA | ||
| Non-GAAP Measure Description [Text Block] | Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure in both our annual and long-term incentive compensation programs. See the CD&A for the definition of Adjusted EBITDA and see Appendix A for a reconciliation to GAAP of Adjusted EBITDA for 2022. | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 2 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales change | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 3 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Relative TSR performance against the companies in the S&P 600 Consumer Discretionary Index | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 4 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Adjusted EPS growth | ||
| Ms. Valade [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 3,427,341 | ||
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 3,245,486 | ||
| PEO Name | Ms. Valade | ||
| Mr. Miller [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 4,575,064 | $ 6,400,488 | $ 5,340,240 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ (3,059,884) | 5,982,906 | 1,241,356 |
| PEO Name | Mr. Miller | ||
| PEO [Member] | Ms. Valade [Member] | Total Net Adjustments For Equity Awards [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ 2,268,433 | ||
| PEO [Member] | Ms. Valade [Member] | Reported Value of Equity Awards [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 2,450,288 | ||
| PEO [Member] | Ms. Valade [Member] | Equity Award Adjustments [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 2,268,433 | ||
| PEO [Member] | Ms. Valade [Member] | Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in the Year and Unvested at End of the Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 2,268,433 | ||
| PEO [Member] | Mr. Miller [Member] | Total Net Adjustments For Equity Awards [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (3,841,877) | 4,033,635 | (117,751) |
| PEO [Member] | Mr. Miller [Member] | Reported Value of Equity Awards [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 3,793,071 | 4,451,217 | 3,981,133 |
| PEO [Member] | Mr. Miller [Member] | Equity Award Adjustments [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (3,841,877) | 4,033,635 | (117,751) |
| PEO [Member] | Mr. Miller [Member] | Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in the Year and Unvested at End of the Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 329,299 | 3,695,462 | 3,313,367 |
| PEO [Member] | Mr. Miller [Member] | Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (940,011) | 365,396 | (1,865,425) |
| PEO [Member] | Mr. Miller [Member] | Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 145,170 | 352,198 | 41,060 |
| PEO [Member] | Mr. Miller [Member] | Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (1,482,248) | (379,421) | (1,606,753) |
| PEO [Member] | Mr. Miller [Member] | Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (1,894,087) | ||
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Total Net Adjustments For Equity Awards [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (456,454) | 932,340 | (17,618) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Reported Value of Equity Awards [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 883,279 | 1,032,624 | 746,809 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Equity Award Adjustments [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (456,454) | 932,340 | (17,618) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in the Year and Unvested at End of the Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 239,223 | 857,301 | 630,026 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (322,677) | 74,153 | (378,324) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 50,864 | 81,703 | 3,279 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (287,777) | $ (80,817) | $ (272,599) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ (136,087) | ||
