It’s been four years since Big Daddy’s Oyster Bar opened its doors in Peachtree City and in those years the eatery has evolved into an establishment that prides itself on great food and a fun atmosphere for grown ups.

“The key for us is to stay above the competition and to always get better,” said owner Dave Sutherland. “We have an emphasis on service and with the economy being down we’ve had to adapt.”

The adaptations that Sutherland and his crew have made involved offering a lot more food and drink specials and offering more diet friendly items on the menu. Those changes in particular have created a surging lunch crowd for Big Daddy’s and Sutherland finds that people who visit for lunch often find their way back for a dinner as well.

The specials that Big Daddy’s offers, known as Stimulus Specials, include things like 99 cent tacos on Tuesdays to all you can eat crab legs on Wednesday for $18.95 to adult trivia on Thursdays or free pool from 8-10 p.m. on Mondays. Fridays through Sundays, diners can enjoy a Stimulus Steak (12 oz. strip or 7 oz Filet) with baked potato and veggie of the day for $12.95. Among the daily specials at Big Daddy’s are 35 cent wings and 50 cent fried oysters from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The seafood has been a big draw for Big Daddy’s over the years and good word of mouth has led even more people to discover just how special it is. The oysters are obviously the most popular items and Sutherland prepares them in a variety of ways. Of course, there are chilled raw oysters and Oysters Rockefeller, but some popular variations include Feta Greek, with butter, fresh chopped garlic, chopped parsley and feta cheese, and Dave’s Favorite, baked or steamed oysters on the half shell with cheddar and pepper jack cheese, spinach, bacon, jerk sauce and jalapenos.

Sutherland added that people also enjoy the Grouper sandwich and the fried butterfly shrimp, which is fresh and prepared by hand, but finds the one dish that gets particularly loud acclaim is the New England Clam Chowder.

“We sell at least five gallons a week of the chowder and even more in the winter,” said Sutherland, who stated he would put it up against any other New England Clam Chowder. “It, like all of our soups, is homemade and we serve it every day. Even people from Boston say it is the best they’ve had.”

You don’t have to like seafood to enjoy Big Daddy’s though, the restaurant also serves burgers and sandwiches, steaks and salads and items like nachos, chicken fingers and wings as well.

Sutherland is confident that whatever item is ordered off the menu, it will please a person’s tastebuds and have them coming back for more.

In addition to the food, Big Daddy’s prides itself on being a fun place for adults. There are pool tables, big screen televisions featuring sports, particularly football during the fall, a dart board, rocking music and a friendly staff. Big Daddy’s hosts a biker night each month and has seen a lot of people start to play trivia each Thursday. During football season, particularly during Atlanta Falcons games, Sutherland states that his restaurant is really rocking.

Big Daddy’s is defined as a bar by Peachtree City because they allow smoking and all patrons are 21 years old and up. They have also expanded since they first opened. They have added 40 additional seats and a party room with its pool table, as well as a patio that offers outdoor seating.

“We are a great place to come to when you’ve got a babysitter for the kids and you want to just relax and have a good time,” said Sutherland.

Sutherland and the staff of Big Daddy’s see new people discover them each day, many of whom become regulars. Sutherland appreciates that people feel comfortable enough to come back time and time again and makes sure that they are treated like family when they do.

Big Daddy’s has also started offering catering, creating party platters for any budget. Sutherland and his staff have prepared dishes for small get togethers as well as a number of large events.

Big Daddy’s Oyster Bar is located at 101 Crossings East in Peachtree City, They are open from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday through Friday, from noon to midnight on Saturday and from noon to 2 a.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit bigdaddysoysterbar.com or phone 770-632-1563.

Be sure to see Big Daddy’s ad in today’s issue of The Citizen and on-line at www.thecitizen.com for a coupon.