DeKALB - Pete Spyratos and Chris Bahramis claim Daisy's Sports Bar & Grill is DeKalb County's first and only country bar, and they're proud to offer something different. "I used to hate country music. Now I love it," Spyratos said. "I think we've all got a little country in us, for sure."

The Northern Illinois University alums had been thinking about creating a place like Daisy's for several years, Spyratos said. Spyratos and Bahramis wanted something that embodied the Midwest. To them, the mechanical bull, girls in "Daisy Dukes" and ropes on the walls created that feeling at Daisy's, which has been open for about a month.

"It's a country Hooters is what we're going for. ... We saw a niche in the DeKalb market," he said. "You won't hear any rap in our place."

The waitresses wear short shorts with plaid shirts tied at the waist. Scantily clad servers is something many bars feature, Spyratos said, "but we put a concept behind it."

But he's quick to add that the bar and grill is selling itself on the food.

"We focus on the food first and the booze second. A Miller Lite tastes the same as it does at Starbusters," he said.

Spyratos and Bahramis are proud of the menu, which offers chicken wings, sandwiches, salads and burgers.

Quick best-sellers include the pulled pork sandwich, Tennessee strip salad and Glen Quagmire chicken sandwich. They tried to make the menu fun with pop culture references to make customers laugh, Spyratos said.

And the mechanical bull, Fu Manchu, is getting "great reviews," Spyratos said.

He hopes to have weekly contests for those interested in riding the bull.

Though there's no real-life Daisy, the name seemed right to the two friends, who picture Daisy as "that perfect ex-girlfriend who lets you go out to the bar and have fun," Spyratos said.

The location close to campus and the Village Commons Bookstore offers good exposure, Spyratos said. The friends took possession of the space in April and prepared the restaurant over the summer. Since opening, Daisy's has seen strong lunch crowds, but Spyratos hopes to see more business during dinner hours.

"So far, so good. It's been the best three weeks of my life," Spyratos said, adding that the locals and the NIU community have been supportive of the business.

He said he wants customers to have fun at the bar, but within reason.

"I don't want it to be a crazy bar," Spyratos said. "It is a place where you can let go and relax. ... We try to have a laidback environment."

Customers grabbing drinks Wednesday evening said they appreciated the look Daisy's is going for.

NIU student Diana Sontar said it was her second time at Daisy's, and she enjoyed the experience. She said she planned to check out the mechanical bull with friends in the future.

"It's nice that it's pretty close to campus," said NIU student Andy Schiffer. He added that he hasn't ridden the bull yet. "It's going to take a lot more Red Stripes for that to happen."