Darleene Powells Cajun Country Cafe popped up first when we checked Google maps for a place to eat while visiting Oxnards Christmas Tree lane. It had been a while since we had some soul food, so we were up for it. I have 2.5 teenage boys (one is 11), so we got the fried fish sampler and the barbecue sampler. The food was so flavorful -- my kids declared the mac & cheese the best theyd ever had, while I was swooning over the candied yams, and we all thought the fried red snapper and catfish were so delicious with a breading that was not too thick and perfectly crispy. I did not even get to try the hot links, which my kids and husband gobbled up.
In spite of how great the food was, it was the vibe that really stood out to me. Cajun Country Cafe is in a nondescript strip mall, but we happened to stop in on Saturday night. While we waited for our order, a dude who we thought was just there by himself having coffee got on the keyboard and was shortly joined by a drummer and guitarist. The live music was such a fun surprise, and a new experience for my entire family. (I tried to upload videos to this review, but Google is not cooperating.)
We are definitely coming back!