Posted: 11.22.2011

That Norman Rockwell picture of everyone gathered together around the Thanksgiving bird is changing.

Susan Quam with the Wisconsin Restaurant Association says this year - they're expecting more people to dine out for their Thanksgiving feast then ever before.  "It is a change in how we're thinking about things,"  Quam tells the Wisconsin Farm Report.  "A lot of people are becoming very food-centric, but they're doing it in a couple different ways.  They're either going back to the basics and doing it at home - or they'd rather go out and have someone do it for them so they can relax and enjoy the experience."

The National Restaurant Association estimates that this Thursday - 14 million people will eat their Thanksgiving meal in a restaurant.  Another 16 million are expected to eat meals at home that they bought at a restaurant.

Quam says Thanksgiving has now gotten to be as busy as Mother's Day for many Wisconsin restaurants.  How are restaurants attracting the business?  Quam says it depends where they're located.  "Many Wisconsin restaurants are paying close attention to their niche - their community - and designing menus for that audience.  We're seeing more multi-course meals being offered - where each course has a story or theme, and consumers learn as they go through the meal."  

Quam says this year a lot of restaurants will also be targeting fixed item, lower cost, Thanksgiving menu's.  Buffets continue to be a popular option in Wisconsin too.

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