It's thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings and you don't have to spend all day in front of the stove for it. Local restaurants say many are turning to them to do the cooking.
Pascale in Fayetteville started serving a thanksgiving meal about 9 years ago. "It's one of our biggest nights now," said co-owner and Executive Chef Justin Wright. "In the last decade there has been a remarkable shift in people eating habits on the holidays and Thanksgiving is a big one. I can remember 10 years ago, maybe 10 percent of people would go out to dinner, now I would wager its more like 50 percent."
"With just two of us, we probably would go out. It's kind of hard to cook a turkey for just 2 people," said Marcia Streeter.
And in a day and age where everyone seems to be a bit busier many are leaving some of the cooking up to others.
"I don't want to spend the whole day in kitchen, the turkey I'll for sure cook and the dressing, but I'd much rather be sitting by the fireplace with a glass of wine," said Donna Newman.
At the Limestone Grille in Fayetteville, the restaurant is ready to serve 600 people on Thanksgiving.
"Mom doesn't want to be in the kitchen all day, and she wants to be part of the festivities. Times have changed with how we approach those kinds of holidays," said Randy Malone with the Limestone Grille.
But regardless of where you spend the day, Central New Yorkers say the sentiment behind it stays the same.
"We've been given so much and we need to get back to thinking what we are really grateful for," said Greg Streeter.
And this Thanksgiving, that may be a holiday meal at your favorite restaurant.
What do you do for the holiday? Stay in to eat or feast out?
