These Black-Owned Caterers Near You Offer Holiday Mains, Sides and Desserts

Order fried, roasted or smoked turkey. Plus: dressing, mac ’n’ cheese, vegan fare, spiral ham, gumbo, jerk chicken, candied yams, BBQ, peach cobbler, cheesecake, greens …

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Published November 18, 2022
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Wouldn’t you love to have a gorgeous and delicious spread on your Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or New Year’s table this year — but without all the fuss? Do you dream of hosting a flawless holiday gathering where even the most finicky members of your family have no complaints? Then leave the cooking to the professionals and consider ordering from one of these Black-owned restaurants or catering businesses around the country. Whether you’re trying something new or sticking to tradition, these pros have got ideas for you. Like pairing classic holiday dishes with unconventional favorites like barbecued ribs, grilled fish, shrimp and grits, jambalaya or gumbo. Need some vegan, gluten-free or sugar-free dessert choices? These are available too. But I suggest you start dialing ASAP before they’re all sold out.

Check out these restaurants and caterers for fully prepared meats, sides and desserts.

TEXAS

Esther’s Cajun Café & Soul Food, Houston

Known for: Family-run go-to for casual Southern soul and Cajun fare

Owner/Chef: Esther Lewis, Houston’s Queen of Cajun

Specialties: Cajun fried turkey, spiral ham, oxtails and gumbo

Must preorder. For catering and updated holiday menu: 713-699-1212

estherscajunsoul.com

LOUISIANA

Li’l Dizzy’s Café, Tremé, New Orleans

Known for: Tremé landmark for lunch since 1947

Owners: Wayne Baquet Jr. (the son of the restaurant’s original owner) and his wife, Arkesha

Specialties: A great place for sides like gumbo, mac ’n’ cheese, dirty rice, candied yams, greens, potato salad and cornbread

Fill out the form on their website for orders.

lildizzyscafe.net

FLORIDA

Clive’s Café, Miami

Known for: 46-year-old institution. Voted best Jamaican food in Miami by Miami New Times.

Owner/Chef: Pearline Murray, her sister-in-law Gloria Chin (chef) and her late husband, Clifford, opened the restaurant 40-plus years ago.

Specialties: Curry goat, beef stew, jerk chicken as well as Jamaican side dishes for your holiday table

clivescafe.com

La Traila, Miami Lakes

Known for: Texas-style craft barbecue

Co-Owner: Buffalo Bills professional football player Isaiah McKenzie

Specialties: Prime smoked brisket, smoked turkey breast, pork spare ribs. All meats by the half-pound.

Order online.

latrailabbq.com

GEORGIA

Life Bistro, Atlanta

Known for: Vegan fine dining

Owner/Chef: Issa Prescott helps diners think differently about food with healthy soul and Caribbean-inspired options.

Specialties: Curry chickpeas and red lentils, seafood gumbo, vegan mac ’n’ cheese, portobello steak, rasta pasta, seafood rasta pasta

For catering and full menu: 404-464-5139

lifebistroatl.com

Mary Mac’s Tea Room, Atlanta

Known for: Southern cuisine popular with celebrities and politicians. Named “Atlanta’s Dining Room.”

Owner/Chef: Opened by Mary MacKenzie in 1945. Harold Martin Jr., Bryan Rand, Michael Bodnar and John Michael Bodnar are the current owners.

Specialties: Holiday items include whole roasted turkey, glazed cobb smoked ham, broccoli soufflé, sweet potato soufflé, squash soufflé, tomato pie, cracklin’ cornbread.

Fill out the catering form online to order.

marymacs.com

MICHIGAN

The Turkey Grill, Detroit

Known for: Turkey. Go-to spot for everything turkey for 26 years and counting.

Owner/Chef: George Lyles gathered turkey recipes from Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and South Carolina.

Specialties: Cajun fried and wood-smoked whole turkey as well as smoked or fried turkey breast and great side dishes

For orders: 313.872.4624

theturkeygrill.com

facebook.com/theturkeygrill

ILLINOIS

Eméché Cakery & Cafe, South Side’s Bronzeville section, Chicago

Known for: Cozy café for coffee, croissants and catered desserts

Owner/Chef: Janell Richmond, a cupcake connoisseur and newcomer to the baking business

Specialties: Alcohol-infused desserts; individual dessert jars; cheesecakes including plain, peach-cobbler, and vegan peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake; peach cobbler; sweet potato pie; apple pie

Go to their website to order.

emechecakeryandcafe.com

Cajun Café Chicago

Known for: Southern cuisine catering including jambalaya and their popular Cajun Café Chicago wrap with bayou sauce for catered lunches

Owner/Chef: As a child, Lashon Burrell spent hours in the kitchen with her grandmother. She began her academic culinary journey at Smoky Hill High School's Culinary Arts Program in Denver.

Specialties: Traditional Southern holiday favorites: roast turkey, mac ’n’ cheese, collard greens, cornbread

Go to their website for updated menu and orders.

cajuncafechicago.com

CALIFORNIA

Harold & Belle’s, Jefferson Park, Los Angeles

Known for: Over 50 years of home-style Creole and Southern fine dining

Owners: Ryan and Jessica Legaux, the third generation of Legauxs to helm the business

Specialties: Cajun fried turkey, pork roast, beef pot roast, jambalaya, oyster dressing, red beans and rice, cornbread stuffing

haroldandbelles.com

Voodoo Love, San Francisco

Known for: Sustainably sourced nouveau Creole cooking with vegan options

Owner/Chef: Eva Morris specializes in West Coast Cajun cooking made with love daily.

Specialties: Hoodoo Holiday favorites; sustainably farmed seafood; halal chicken, beef and lamb

Call for orders: 415-625-0614

voodoolovesf.com

Jackie’s Place, San Jose

Known for: Silicon Valley’s only soul food restaurant in a 30-mile radius

Owner/Chef: Jackie Johnson; a women-led, family-run business since 1998

Specialties: Traditional holiday favorites as well as oxtails, Uncle Greg’s dry-rubbed ribs, dry-rubbed brisket by the pound. And don’t forget the sides and Laverne’s candied yams.

Go to the website and fill out the online form to order.

jackiesplacesj.com,

NEW JERSEY

Montclair Diner, Montclair

Known for: Upscale diner fare with a twist; celebrating 30 years in the community

Owner: Eliot Mosby, entrepreneur and owner of multiple restaurants

Specialties: Fried turkey, glazed spiral ham, mac ’n’ cheese and plenty of traditional sides.

For final holiday menu and to order: 973:746:0911

montclairdiner.com

Keeping You Sweet, City of Orange

Known for: Gluten-free desserts as well as vegan and sugar-free custom options (sweetened with whatever sweetener you prefer) shipped around the country

Owner/Chef: Singer-turned-baker April Harris makes tasty baked goods for people with and without dietary restrictions.

Specialties: Banana cheesecake minis (dairy or vegan) and GF vegan butter pecan cheesecake.

Go to their website to order.

keepingyousweet.com

NEW YORK

Melba’s Restaurant, Harlem, New York City

Known for: Southern comfort food and brunch menu

Owner/Chef: Melba Wilson, a Harlem native, author of Melba’s American Comfort and judge on The Great Soul Food Cook-Off (OWN)

Specialties: Traditional holiday offerings, plus braised oxtails, pan-seared Atlantic salmon and country fried catfish

melbasrestaurant.com

ZED Eats and Drinks, Brooklyn, New York City

Known for: Vegan gourmet comfort food, including their popular vegan curry goat and oxtails

Owner/Chef: Family-owned business run by Trevor Noel

Specialties: Vegan holiday “turkey” “entrées,” oxtails,” “salmon,” “meat loaf” and veggie sides

Order from beyondmenu.com for pick up or delivery.

Donna Torrence is a publicist and journalist based in New York City. She contributes feature stories on entertainment, health, and wellness to AARP, poisedmag.com, and Eurweb.com. She also covers film and television for blackfilm.com.