Fun karaoke night, especially for extroverts. It can get pretty busy later at night. You may have to wait a while before your name gets called for karaoke. It’s very very casual
Jocelyn Roman
As someone who regularly visited this bar, it’ll be a LONG time before I ever think of returning. I don’t want to make this about politics, or racism, BUT the way everyone who works in this establishment was okay with a Caucasian man going on stage and singing a song with the “n” word in it and did NOTHING to stop him or correct him was insane to me. I can care less that it’s part of the song, but doesn’t make it okay or respectable in any sense. When I locked eyes with the DJ to let him know what was occurring, his only response was “it’s part of the song”. I don’t care if it was or wasn’t, it was wrong and disrespectful in every sense. I would hope everyone sees this review and understands the true importance of respect, boundaries, and acknowledgement of how this is NOT okay. Big Daddy’s should be aware and accountable of their employees and customers who enter this establishment. This is EXTREMELY disappointing. Do better!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 2
Thackery Dancy
It's my favorite karaoke spot; still, there needs to be a better way, so that there's more fairness to the rotation of singers. 3 hours and never made the stage, although several others made it 3 or 2 times.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pizza Peperoni
Tony Barrett
Seems like the former owners catered to the ‘OGs’ much better than currently. Well, it is what it is…always a fun time.
Service: 1
Luis Diaz
This is my Favorite bar/dive/watering hole in town. It's Grandfathered in and we like it that way. The Staff and locale are exactly what I want in a bar. They know my name. They know my poison of choice. My fine Pilsner is served by the time I step up to the bar. Why would I bother with any other place? I feel the love!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Tony Kross
Nice place for fun and excitement.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 3
Javier Tapining
You get what you pay for. But people were nice.
Sean Benedetti
Came for karaoke however, this place had too many red flags. Noticable heavy gas leak being covered up by the fans and air-conditioning blasting. I ordered my usual dive bar mixer however the heavy hand and the off tasting juice off the gun left me quickly looking for a reason to stay. There wasn't one. This place is a clear health code violation and in need of a rescue.
Atmosphere: 1
S C
Great late night pizza! Nice dive bar karaoke
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Tiffany Danielle
Granted, I am from the DJ Di era. It’s one of things where you really had to be there. The staff - dope. The patrons - dope. A motley crew of boomers and Gen Xers mostly but, but it was a tight knit community dive where you met the coolest most eclectic people who can switch topics from their times as journalists covering Cuba to giving killer recs on the industrial music scene. DJ Di was a viper but she was fair. And, after the ritualistic hazing where she pretended to hate you, you were brought into the fold. Sure, there was smoking. But, those truly were the good ol days.
Now, I don't even know where to begin. Some near 10 years later, it has devolved into some sort of Gen Z wasteland. Like an Animal House fever dream on meth and dulcolax. Now this might appeal to some, but for those of us who remember its former glory, we reluctantly must hang it up and realize it will never be the Big Daddy's we once knew. Such is life.
Karaoke is a train wreck- more than the typical. Almost makes me want to buy some karaoke equipment and try to reclaim the old days at another bar.
Granted, I am from the DJ Di era. It’s one of things where you really had to be there. The staff - dope. The patrons - dope. A motley crew of boomers and Gen Zs mostly but, but it was a tight knit community dive where you met the coolest most eclectic people who can switch topics from their times as journalists covering Cuba to giving killer recs on the industrial music scene. DJ Di was a viper but she was fair. And, after the ritualistic hazing where she pretended to hate you, you were brought into the fold. Sure, there was smoking. But, those truly were the good ol days.
Now, I don't even know where to begin. Some near 10 years later, it has devolved into some sort of Gen Z wasteland. Like an Animal House fever dream on meth and dulcolax. Now this might appeal to some, but for those of us who remember its former glory, we reluctantly must hang it up and realize it will never be the Big Daddy's we once knew. Such is life.
Karaoke is a train wreck- more than the typical. Almost makes me want to buy some karaoke equipment and try to reclaim the old days at another bar.
T T
Big Daddy’s Isn’t the Karaoke Bar It Used to Be. God rest DJ Di. She may have rubbed some the wrong way during her tenure, but the lady knew how to run a great karaoke show.
I’ve been going to karaoke nights around town for years, and Big Daddy’s used to be one of the best. It had structure, community, and a fair system: you signed up, waited your turn, and everyone got a chance to sing. New singers were prioritized, regulars respected the rotation, and the KJs took pride in making people sound good.
That system is gone.
Now karaoke at Big Daddy’s feels like a pay-to-play free-for-all. If you want to sing anytime soon, expect to tip — and not just a few dollars. It’s basically become $20 to sing within a reasonable time, otherwise you’ll wait hours while others who paid get called up repeatedly. Tipping used to be a way to show appreciation; now it’s the only way to participate. That completely ruins the fairness and fun that karaoke is supposed to be about.
The sound mixing doesn’t help either. The KJ often turns the background tracks up so loud that singers can’t hear themselves, even people with genuinely great voices. It doesn’t happen to everyone, which makes it feel personal or arbitrary — either way, it’s not professional.
To make matters worse, Big Daddy’s seems to have abandoned its karaoke roots altogether. The crowd now is mostly college kids getting plastered and screaming over the music, not actually engaging with the performances. It feels less like a karaoke night and more like a chaotic campus bar — loud, sloppy, and totally disconnected from the tradition of sharing the mic and celebrating talent.
If management wants Big Daddy’s to be a true karaoke bar again, they need to bring in KJs who care about fairness, quality sound, and keeping the rotation honest. Right now, it’s just a loud college bar with a karaoke machine in the corner — and that’s a shame for what used to be one of the best karaoke spots in town.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Mara T
Way too crowded, sardines in a can, and karaoke process and system is absolute garbage. If you're wasted or don't give a crap about singing, you might not notice how absolute 🗑️ the karaoke is. There's better karaoke DJs out there. This guy just isn't good. Cheap drinks are the only highlight.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Derrick Bradshaw
One of the best places I have been. Great employees, great customers, and great music.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jessica Cousett
This place isn’t what it used to be. Before you could come out, sign up, and have fun. Now it’s just a cash grab for the DJ with gem on his tooth. Doesn’t matter when you sign your name, you’re not getting up if you don’t tip Buddy $20+ dollars. Better off going down town.
Fun karaoke night, especially for extroverts. It can get pretty busy later at night. You may have to wait a while before your name gets called for karaoke. It’s very very casual
As someone who regularly visited this bar, it’ll be a LONG time before I ever think of returning. I don’t want to make this about politics, or racism, BUT the way everyone who works in this establishment was okay with a Caucasian man going on stage and singing a song with the “n” word in it and did NOTHING to stop him or correct him was insane to me. I can care less that it’s part of the song, but doesn’t make it okay or respectable in any sense. When I locked eyes with the DJ to let him know what was occurring, his only response was “it’s part of the song”. I don’t care if it was or wasn’t, it was wrong and disrespectful in every sense. I would hope everyone sees this review and understands the true importance of respect, boundaries, and acknowledgement of how this is NOT okay. Big Daddy’s should be aware and accountable of their employees and customers who enter this establishment. This is EXTREMELY disappointing. Do better!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 2
It's my favorite karaoke spot; still, there needs to be a better way, so that there's more fairness to the rotation of singers. 3 hours and never made the stage, although several others made it 3 or 2 times.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pizza Peperoni
Seems like the former owners catered to the ‘OGs’ much better than currently. Well, it is what it is…always a fun time.
Service: 1
This is my Favorite bar/dive/watering hole in town. It's Grandfathered in and we like it that way. The Staff and locale are exactly what I want in a bar. They know my name. They know my poison of choice. My fine Pilsner is served by the time I step up to the bar. Why would I bother with any other place? I feel the love!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Nice place for fun and excitement.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 3
You get what you pay for. But people were nice.
Came for karaoke however, this place had too many red flags. Noticable heavy gas leak being covered up by the fans and air-conditioning blasting. I ordered my usual dive bar mixer however the heavy hand and the off tasting juice off the gun left me quickly looking for a reason to stay. There wasn't one. This place is a clear health code violation and in need of a rescue.
Atmosphere: 1
Great late night pizza! Nice dive bar karaoke
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Granted, I am from the DJ Di era. It’s one of things where you really had to be there. The staff - dope. The patrons - dope. A motley crew of boomers and Gen Xers mostly but, but it was a tight knit community dive where you met the coolest most eclectic people who can switch topics from their times as journalists covering Cuba to giving killer recs on the industrial music scene. DJ Di was a viper but she was fair. And, after the ritualistic hazing where she pretended to hate you, you were brought into the fold. Sure, there was smoking. But, those truly were the good ol days. Now, I don't even know where to begin. Some near 10 years later, it has devolved into some sort of Gen Z wasteland. Like an Animal House fever dream on meth and dulcolax. Now this might appeal to some, but for those of us who remember its former glory, we reluctantly must hang it up and realize it will never be the Big Daddy's we once knew. Such is life. Karaoke is a train wreck- more than the typical. Almost makes me want to buy some karaoke equipment and try to reclaim the old days at another bar.
Restaurantji Recommends
Granted, I am from the DJ Di era. It’s one of things where you really had to be there. The staff - dope. The patrons - dope. A motley crew of boomers and Gen Zs mostly but, but it was a tight knit community dive where you met the coolest most eclectic people who can switch topics from their times as journalists covering Cuba to giving killer recs on the industrial music scene. DJ Di was a viper but she was fair. And, after the ritualistic hazing where she pretended to hate you, you were brought into the fold. Sure, there was smoking. But, those truly were the good ol days. Now, I don't even know where to begin. Some near 10 years later, it has devolved into some sort of Gen Z wasteland. Like an Animal House fever dream on meth and dulcolax. Now this might appeal to some, but for those of us who remember its former glory, we reluctantly must hang it up and realize it will never be the Big Daddy's we once knew. Such is life. Karaoke is a train wreck- more than the typical. Almost makes me want to buy some karaoke equipment and try to reclaim the old days at another bar.
Big Daddy’s Isn’t the Karaoke Bar It Used to Be. God rest DJ Di. She may have rubbed some the wrong way during her tenure, but the lady knew how to run a great karaoke show.
I’ve been going to karaoke nights around town for years, and Big Daddy’s used to be one of the best. It had structure, community, and a fair system: you signed up, waited your turn, and everyone got a chance to sing. New singers were prioritized, regulars respected the rotation, and the KJs took pride in making people sound good.
That system is gone.
Now karaoke at Big Daddy’s feels like a pay-to-play free-for-all. If you want to sing anytime soon, expect to tip — and not just a few dollars. It’s basically become $20 to sing within a reasonable time, otherwise you’ll wait hours while others who paid get called up repeatedly. Tipping used to be a way to show appreciation; now it’s the only way to participate. That completely ruins the fairness and fun that karaoke is supposed to be about.
The sound mixing doesn’t help either. The KJ often turns the background tracks up so loud that singers can’t hear themselves, even people with genuinely great voices. It doesn’t happen to everyone, which makes it feel personal or arbitrary — either way, it’s not professional.
To make matters worse, Big Daddy’s seems to have abandoned its karaoke roots altogether. The crowd now is mostly college kids getting plastered and screaming over the music, not actually engaging with the performances. It feels less like a karaoke night and more like a chaotic campus bar — loud, sloppy, and totally disconnected from the tradition of sharing the mic and celebrating talent.
If management wants Big Daddy’s to be a true karaoke bar again, they need to bring in KJs who care about fairness, quality sound, and keeping the rotation honest. Right now, it’s just a loud college bar with a karaoke machine in the corner — and that’s a shame for what used to be one of the best karaoke spots in town.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Way too crowded, sardines in a can, and karaoke process and system is absolute garbage. If you're wasted or don't give a crap about singing, you might not notice how absolute 🗑️ the karaoke is. There's better karaoke DJs out there. This guy just isn't good. Cheap drinks are the only highlight.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
One of the best places I have been. Great employees, great customers, and great music.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place isn’t what it used to be. Before you could come out, sign up, and have fun. Now it’s just a cash grab for the DJ with gem on his tooth. Doesn’t matter when you sign your name, you’re not getting up if you don’t tip Buddy $20+ dollars. Better off going down town.
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