This week’s AFRO Table newsletter is a celebration of flavor, balance, and holiday inspiration. We highlight The Afro’s timely article on how holiday meals can be both healthy and deeply satisfying, offering readers practical ways to enjoy the season without sacrificing wellness. You’ll also find our roundup of Black-owned restaurants offering standout holiday specials, perfect for elevating your Christmas dinner or planning a memorable gathering. Our Taste Maker of the week, Kaluhi Adagala, brings her signature East African warmth with a beautifully simple and comforting Thyme and Basil Tomato Soup, a recipe that showcases her talent for transforming everyday ingredients into something extraordinary. Together, these stories create a festive and nourishing edition designed to spark joy in every kitchen this holiday season.

Where to Order Christmas Dinner: Black Owned Restaurants Serving Holiday Meals Across the Country

The holiday season is here, and for many families, that means gathering around a table filled with love, warmth, and unforgettable food. This year, Black owned restaurants across major U.S. cities are stepping up with Christmas dinners, festive catering packages, and beautifully crafted holiday menus designed to make your celebrations easier, tastier, and completely stress free. Whether you are hosting a lively office party, planning a cozy family dinner, or searching for soul satisfying dishes for your holiday spread, these restaurants are ready to bring joy straight to your table.

Baltimore

The Forum Caterers

A Baltimore mainstay, The Forum Caterers has become a go to for holiday dining thanks to their popular Holiday Foods to Go menu. Their Christmas dinner packages include turkey, stuffing, candied yams, greens, mac and cheese, cranberry sauce, and cornbread muffins, generous enough to feed the entire family. The Forum’s meals offer classic holiday comfort prepared with care, making them perfect for Christmas gatherings both big and small.

BLK Swan Kitchen & Catering

BLK Swan brings a contemporary elegance to holiday entertaining with custom holiday spreads crafted for pickup or catered events. Their seasonal menus feature upscale takes on soulful staples, offering hosts a stylish, flavorful alternative to cooking at home. These curated holiday dishes deliver both convenience and sophistication for festive dinners or holiday parties.

Washington, D.C.

DCity Smokehouse

DCity Smokehouse brings bold holiday flavor with a full 2025 Holiday Menu featuring smoked turkey, brisket, ham, and pans of classic sides like mac and cheese, collard greens, yams, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cornbread. Their crowd pleasing Christmas catering options make it easy to build a soulful, hearty holiday dinner without spending hours in the kitchen. Perfect for families, office gatherings, and festive celebrations that need a flavorful centerpiece.

Atlanta

Busy Bee Café

Atlanta’s beloved Busy Bee Café offers a Holiday Catering Menu that brings Southern warmth to the Christmas table. Their seasonal offerings include turkey, ham, and pans of traditional sides including rich mac and cheese, seasoned greens, cornbread dressing, and candied yams. It is the perfect way to serve a comforting, home style holiday feast without ever lifting a ladle.

Paschal’s

A historic landmark in Atlanta dining, Paschal’s continues its tradition of serving holiday meals ideal for Christmas celebrations. Their holiday catering lineup includes classic Southern entrées and sides crafted for sharing, making it easy for hosts to present a festive, flavorful spread that feels both timeless and special.

New York City

Melba’s Restaurant

Melba’s helps New Yorkers celebrate the season with both holiday prix fixe dining and take home holiday dinner packages. Their festive menus feature comforting Southern entrées and sides that bring warmth to any Christmas gathering. Whether you are dining in the heart of Harlem or enjoying Melba’s flavors at home, their holiday selections offer soulful cheer with every bite.

Sylvia’s Restaurant

A Christmas tradition for generations, Sylvia’s offers Christmas Family Meals to Go that make holiday dinners effortless. Families can order packages featuring turkey, sides, and cornbread, prepared with the signature flavors that made Sylvia’s a household name. Their holiday menu brings the heart of Harlem to your home table.

Chicago

Virtue Restaurant

Known for its elevated Southern cuisine, Virtue offers beautifully prepared Christmas feast packages each year. Their holiday carryout meals often feature short ribs or ham paired with collard greens, mac and cheese, honey butter rolls, and red velvet cake. Virtue brings a refined touch to holiday dining, perfect for families seeking a memorable, restaurant quality Christmas dinner.

Sunshine’s Soul Kitchen

Sunshine’s Soul Kitchen in South Chicago rolls out an annual holiday menu full of soulful entrées and family sized sides ready for pickup. Their homestyle dishes make it easy for families to enjoy a warm, comforting meal together without the holiday stress.

Los Angeles

Harold & Belle’s

This iconic Creole restaurant offers a dedicated Holiday Menu that transforms Christmas dinner into a feast filled with Louisiana spirit. From gumbo to étouffée to Creole seasoned meats and sides, Harold & Belle’s delivers a bold, flavorful holiday experience crafted for festive gatherings.

Fixins Soul Kitchen

Fixins offers Holiday Catering with large pans of sides and soulful dishes designed for parties, potlucks, and family dinners. Their seasonal offerings, including signature cornbread muffins and classic holiday staples, make Christmas entertaining both easy and delicious.

Celebrate the Holidays with Flavor and Ease

These Black owned restaurants are redefining holiday dining with meals that celebrate heritage, hospitality, and the joy of the season. Whether you are craving Creole warmth, smoky barbecue, traditional Southern comfort, or modern soulful cuisine, these kitchens are ready to help you create a holiday meal worth remembering with no apron required.

Kaluhi Adagala, the creative force behind the celebrated Kenyan food blog Kaluhi’s Kitchen, brings bold flavor, storytelling, and cultural pride to every recipe she shares. Known for her vibrant reinterpretations of traditional East African dishes, Kaluhi has built a global following by pairing approachable cooking with deep roots in Kenyan heritage. Her recipes celebrate local ingredients, family traditions, and the joy of sharing food that feels both comforting and exciting. With her warm voice and unmistakable flair, she continues to inspire home cooks across the diaspora to embrace their culinary roots while exploring new twists, making her a standout Taste Maker this week.