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Local restaurateurs are counting on a Thanksgiving meal that will not be only a feast for their customers, but also for their businesses' bottom lines.

According to an annual report from the American Farm Bureau, the price of a full Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people has dropped $1.70 this year to $42.91, a price based on standard fare like turkey, fresh cranberries, stuffing, rolls and milk. But even in a recession that has do-it-yourselfers changing their own oil and doing the ironing to save a few dollars, local chefs are saying many still want the dressing without the dishes.

Geoff Tracy, the owner of Lia's in Chevy Chase, said the Thanksgiving meal is popular every year and even in the recession he expects customers to splurge a bit for a special occasion. Lia's is offering a three-course meal from the full menu for $39, or an a la carte roasted turkey special for $19.95.

"Certainly the reason why a lot of people dine out is because it's fun, they get to hang out, enjoy other people," Tracy said. "It's not sustenance."

Tracy said many diners don't want the hassle of dishes and cooking, and others, including himself, just don't have the room for all the relatives.

"I've got 30 people coming," Tracy said of his own Thanksgiving meal, which will be hosted at one of his restaurants. "There's no way I could fit 30 people in my house."

The Farm Bureau report, which has been issued for 24 years, considers a traditional Thanksgiving for 10 to include a 16-pound turkey, a dozen brown and serve rolls, a one-pound carrot and celery tray, 12 ounces of fresh cranberries, 14 ounces of stuffing, three pounds of sweet potatoes, one pound of green peas, a half-pint of whipping cream, a gallon of milk, pumpkin pie filling and two pie shells and a small amount of miscellaneous ingredients including coffee, onions, eggs, sugar, flour, evaporated milk and butter.

Tracy said the economy of the $42.91 meal is impressive, but "I don't want to be invited to that dinner."

Barry Nolan, the general manager of the Irish Inn at Glen Echo, said the restaurant didn't give much thought to the recession before offering a three-course dinner to adults for $35, but the restaurant is already fully booked for Thanksgiving, a benchmark it did not reach last year.

"I think people sometimes in times of hardship might want to treat themselves," Nolan said.

Alain Roussel, the owner of La Ferme in Chevy Chase, said the recession has "made a big dent in our sales overall," but he's looking forward to a stuffed house on Nov. 26. As of Monday La Ferme had already booked 627 reservations for its $43 Thanksgiving three-course menu, which allows patrons to select from six choices including traditional Thanksgiving food for each course. Roussel said last year, when the recession was arguably deeper, Thanksgiving was still a big draw.

"I think Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving, and even if [customers] buy a lesser bottle of wine or something, they're still together. It's tradition," Roussel said.

And even as economies change, Roussel pointed out, some things don't.

"Not everyone can cook."