Fried Catfish, Red Pepper Cabbage and BBQ Baked Beans

With the end of summer slowly creeping around the corner, there's no better time than now to satisfy any unfed urges for good barbeque. And aside from maybe your own backyard, there's no better place in Santa Clarita than the Barbeque Club Grill for true down-home barbeque.

Once inside this cozy and quaint restaurant, diners will notice the signed photos of contemporary blues and jazz artists that adorn the walls of the Barbeque Club Grill. These same artists have entertained diners at the restaurant as the Barbeque Club Grill features live blues performances on Friday nights and live jazz performances on Saturday nights. Alongside the syncopated and improvised rhythms that vibrate throughout the restaurant, the piquant and smoky aromas of green Texas mesquite and homemade barbeque sauce waft through the air as well - a perfect combination for the senses on a weekend night.

Like the live music performed at the Barbeque Club Grill, the meals can also be a soulful experience as the restaurant specializes in Cajun, Creole, and of course, barbequed foods. To start, the Fried Catfish Nuggets ($7.95) are the perfect warm-up for any meal at the Barbeque Club. Chunks of farm-raised catfish fillets are seasoned with Cajun spices and then deep fried until golden brown and delicious. The restaurant's own homemade Cajun ranch dressing is served with these golden nuggets.

The entrees are big and satisfying at the Barbeque Club and are served with a choice of two side dishes. Diners should try the red beans and rice, candied yams, potato salad, and rice etouffee - all are tasty accompaniments to the main dish. The Louisiana-style fare at the Barbeque Club is barbeque perfection as the meats are slow cooked with fresh mesquite wood imported from Texas and then perfectly seasoned with homemade barbeque sauce.

BBQ Spare Ribs, Collard Greens and Candied Yams with a side of Peach Cobbler

The Sliced Beef Dinner ($10.95) is excellent as slices of fine beef are charbroiled and finished with the sweet barbeque sauce. The Barbeque Chicken Dinner ($10.25) is delectable as well; the smoked chicken is tender, moist, and delicate - falling apart underneath its sheen of sauce. Perhaps the best example of this restaurant's righteous barbeque is in its Pork Spare Ribs ($12.75). These ribs are redolent of the smoky flavor and unctuous, lip-smacking goodness that can only be achieved by perfectly 'qued ribs. For diners new to the Barbeque Club, the Combo Plate ($17.75) may be the best bet with the choice of any three meats smothered in barbeque sauce. For those less inclined to a smattering of sauce, the Barbecue Club also features Fried Catfish, Blackened Red Snapper, and a variety of sandwiches and fettuccini dishes.

Barbeque sauce or not, diners should save room for any of the desserts on the Barbeque Club's menu. The Peach Cobbler, Apple Cobbler, and Sweet Potato Pie are all served piping hot and are all $5. But the Apple Cobbler may just be the perfect ending for a night at the Barbeque Club Grill. After all, what's more American than blues, jazz, barbeque, and apple pie?

The Barbeque Club Grill is located at 26238 Bouquet Canyon Road in Santa Clarita and can be reached at 253-4555. Tuesday through Thursday, the restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. On Friday, the restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with live blues performances beginning at 7 p.m. On Saturdays, the restaurant is open from noon to 10:30 p.m., with live jazz performances beginning at 8 p.m. On Sunday, the restaurant is open from noon to 8:30 p.m. The Barbeque Club Grill is closed on Mondays.