The she crab soup and the scallops are out of this world! If you are looking for fresh seafood cooked to perfection, this is the place to go! Our server Kyle was knowledgeable, attentive and very prompt. He provided great food recommendations. We will definitely be back!
Good vibe. Located on the west side of town. Two bars. Main dining room is spacious. Can be a little loud, but adds to the experience. Had the Hake. Full cocktail menu and many specialty drinks. The fried oysters make for a good appetizer.
A classic Ford Fry restaurant. The appetizers and sides are fantastic. While dining, I had one of my best dinner service experiences. I couldn't rate a 5/5 since I have never loved my main course. If you love seafood and are excited about a fun atmosphere this is a MUST in Atlanta.
The atmosphere is lively and a little loud. The service /our waiter was very prompt and very attentive. The bread was outstanding! My husband had the she crab soup and I had the fish chowder , we both thought the soup was wonderful. Our main dish , he had redfish i had halibut was pretty good not great and the vegetables were interesting..? Overall it is a very good restaurant, wish our main dish would have been better oh and I had a mixed drink that was excellent
Love the casual bar for oyster happy hour... And dinner is great, too!
Have always had a good time here. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The service is good as are the menu and liqor choices.
The place has a cool decor and a good overall vibe.
Will definitely recommend it.
Fish and chips were good and the hush puppies were sweet with powdered sugar
Probably the best seafood in Atlanta. Service was stellar and the food was simply amazing. Oysters, entrees and desserts were all incredible.
The experience isn't mind blowing. The entrees were good, but nothing to extraordinary, however, the octopus appetizer was amazing, and the Key Lime Pie dessert was very good. Servers could use a better education on the wine list, and they definitely need to have a bar tender that actually knows their bourbon and whiskey selection...you shouldn't have to read the bottle to tell your customer about it. I would say go for the happy hour oysters, and maybe an app, but other than that it's not really that great....
Great lobster rolls. Nice place but a bit expensive for college kids. Definitely go if you can afford it.
Met some friends here the other night, four of us in total. Our waiter was nice in the beginning, but he kinda withered away during the rest of our time here. The food took absolutely WAY TOO LONG, we waited almost an hour before anything arrived. My striped sea bass was excellent but very small in portion. It left me wanting more. The dessert options were fabulous however. Such a mixed bag for me here, I really don't know if we'll be back.
Always a great time. Been to The Optimist about a dozen times and it's already good. Great craft cocktails, delicious food, and a wonderful atmosphere.
Found them just looking up Atlanta restaurants, nice little find, outstanding seafood, had their swordfish, nice and thick, wife had the grouper and our son had monkfish, melted in your mouth.
Would definitely go back again.
I was told this was the best seafood in Atlanta. After two visits, I absolutely agree. Our favorites were the Baratta, Spanish Octopus, and Scallops. A delicious meal and will be one of my go to spots when visiting next time.
If you re looking for the freshest seafood outside of coastal cities look no further! This place has the absolute best oysters I ve ever had in which I ve had the pleasure of having oysters throughout the world, this place takes the cake! Travis is simply brilliant and I ve never met a manager of a restaurant whom loves and has the kind of passion this young man has. Can t thank Travis enough for his hospitality and professionalism, a true gentleman of the highest order. This is a must visit while in Atlanta, oh and before I forget do yourself a favor and get the octopus! One of the most divine dishes that could hit your tongue!
Great atmosphere good food, the shrimp are messy and good.
Excellent as usual. Prices going up. Don't like that they changed their Fry's. Loved them before but now they are just ordinary
Lively place. Ordered the smoked fish chowder. It was a little disappointing, very thin broth, not much in it, overall just okay. At $14 it should have been amazing. Then I ordered the sea bass. Excellent. The skin was crispy, the fish was moist and the sauce was subtle. It was also a nice portion size. So, good spot, pricey, but worth a try.
I cannot rate The Optimist highly enough. Their happy hour oysters are a killer deal, and they all taste fresh on top of that. The servers we spoke to were all highly familiar with everything on the menu, and their descriptions we're spot on. The food was amazing, and I am craving it weeks later. I literally have nothing bad to say about this restaurant and will return as soon as possible.
Excellent food, great quality and priced appropriately. The cocktails are unique and very good.
I am truly not over aggregating when I say everything is AMAZING!!!
The food was excellent and the wait staff was highly knowledgeable.
Amazing food. Great ambiance. A bit pricey but worth it. Wildflower cocktail is delicious.
Great everything - food, drinks, service, atmosphere - everything! Thanks for a great evening!
Great seafood. Little expensive. Nice atmosphere. Fancy date sort of thing
It was great service and food was great . Had the lobster roll disappointing no tail meat only scraps and claw for the price $32
Pricey, but the burger was delicious. The "comeback" sauce that was added to the burger tasted like pickles. I liked it, but I suggest ordering without it if you don't like pickles.
Favorite place for great oysters in town. The drinks and service is great too.
Restaurant is Awesome and my family and I Have been a few times. However, after our last visit, I noticed I was missing my headphones when I did the valet. I filed a claim as suggested with Phoenix Parking Solutions, and their claims department is not providing a resolution. Be careful when leaving items in the car at the valet.
From the first moment you enter this place team give you a great feeling. Very warm hosts, it is a nice place to enjoy with buddies or with your date. yummy food, creative chief cook and stuff, competitive pay and generous service. Highly recommended.
Hopping for a Wednesday night...all dishes were well prepared and tasty...little slow coming out of the kitchen though
The octopus appitzer was the best octopus I've ever had. Great service and food!
Just ok. Been before and sat at bar. Mahi was a little funky like a monkey. But I'm from Boston and a seafood dude
Great ambiance. You feel like you are in another part of the country. The appetizers are better than the entrees. The gumbo had too much heat and not enough flavor. The clam roll and the fried oysters are delicious.
If you get the server names Mike with the thick mustache, you will be in a treat. Great server.
Nice place to take guest but I have no clue, with the exception they had an outstanding publicist, how it was rated best new restaurant in America.
Loved this place from the ambiance to the food and the service was exceptional.
Our waitress knew the menu inside and out.
Great oysters, seafood and service. They have daily $1 happy hour oyster from 5p-6p. Tons of options on the menu. The She Crab soup $9 was rich, creamy and flavorful. I thought the seafood Gumbo was a little fishy. $3 valet parking next door.
My boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary here and we were very pleased with our experience. We loved the ambiance and the little patio area behind it outside. The oyster selection is on point! Our waiter, Eli, was super pleasant and attentive. She even brought us the shrimp appetizer completely peeled so it would mess free because I mentioned I didn't want to get my dress dirty. She definitely made our first experience amazing and special and we will definitely be back because of the incredible food and impeccable service.
Amazing staff. Amazing food. Very extravagant! I loved it.
This review is for the INCREDIBLE Brittany!
She is by far the greatest server we have ever had in the history of servers!! This was my first time in Atlanta and she made it such a memorable experience!!! We will be back!!
Hip raw bar with good drinks. I would hang here all the time if I lived in Atlanta.
Great atmosphere and a beautiful restaurant. Really loved the Great White oysters and tuna poke. The brussel sprouts were amazing.
This is great fish restaurant with a steakhouse style. Love it!
Travel to the coast without leaving the state! The food, the ambiance and the service here is so great! I have dined both during lunch and dinner. They never fail to impress me here. Parking is via valet and can be hectic on weekends. I have sat in the main dining area and at the raw bar area as well and love both spots. One of the best lobster rolls I have ever tasted---hands down. I believe it only served during lunch so if you see it then order it! I also recommend getting a seafood plateaux as well. Great for sharing and the freshest seafood. Highly recommend to take out of town folks or for special occasions.
Every dish I had was delicious. Sweet hush puppies, red snapper, spenders and ice cream paired with a great selection of beers, wines, and whiskeys - all phenomenal.
Excellent food and service. It is a good place for a celebration event.
An all time favorite! Great energy, super staff, exceptional food!
One of the few places I can call my Atlanta favorite. Always great service and food.
Great Seafood Restaurant in West Midtown. The space is hip, the food is creative, the atmosphere is perfect.
The Oysters are fresh and clean, the Manager always come and ask us whether we're ok. Our last experience was really nice, they have our meal ti someone else by mistake, but, they let us know, then gave it to us on them.
We were visiting from out of town and saw this place was highly rated and had great reviews. I get why now! Our waiter, Jonathan, was a great guy. He helped recommend a cocktail and dessert that work out perfectly. We ordered the Sonoma Duck and Lobster Roll, which both were fantastic. The fingerling potatoes were great also! I don't remember if this was posted anywhere, but there is a kids menu! We got the chicken tenders and fries. Still delicious food, even for the kids!
Fresh, amazing seafood. The lobster roll is what I came for and it didn't disappoint. The She-crab soup was also very impressive and filled with flavor. I will definitely be returning next time I come through the Atlanta area.
Nice atmosphere, great food, got a unexpected kick out of the spicy sauce for the oysters!! Very pricey, but good...
Dined here before and had a better experience. Today was good but not as expected.
Today decided to walk in, arrived around 7:30pm and was told that the next available table was at 9:00pm although I could see many empty tables.
Anyway, while standing in the bar, decided to go to Open Table and to a great surprise there we sittings available before 9:00pm.
So I booked for 8:00pm...from that point on everything was almost perfect.
Food as delicious. Great services. Staff were pleasant.
Delicious, clean, and fun environment for the entire family. BEST Gumbo I have ever had in my life and I have never been BIG on gumbo, but the Optimist changed my taste buds!
My husband and daughter loved it. He's still talking about it.
First of all the place is great! Kudos for the whole ambiance, decor and design. Cheerfully and helpfull hosts will receive you which is a great way to start your meal. Great service by all the servers from the moment they introduce themselves til you leave. Now to the food. Order the crispy octopus,YOU MUST. Mouthwatering, just great. The fresh baked bread is fantastic although kinda greasy, but who doesn't like that (treat yourself). Kind of hard to decide on an entree but you can't go wrong with anything. The swordfish is cooked to perfection, the mahi mahi is superb, the branzino just what you need, the octopus is simply incredible. And even though they have, and proudly, a huge oyster bar, personally, it was eclipsed by all the other wonderful food. Great wines that go perfectly with your meal, and to round it up, order a "not in a wink". Delicious cocktail
The food is excellent. I had the lobster roll, fried oysters and hush puppies with maple butter. You will thoroughly enjoy the atomsphere. Even though I did not care for my drink, the bartender was kind enough to make me a delicious mojito. My hubby had the octopus which was tender and delectable.
Will definitely visit again when I return to Georgia. I would like to have more of the grilled octopus. Great service/great music
Enticing ingredients and creative recipes make the meal while the easy sailing service staff delivers simple, attentive and courteous service. They support each other by running each other's food, and clearing tables. Well executed model. The decor is great because it's subtle yet still thematically supportive. Great meals and good times.
Took my wife to dinner for date night and we had an excellent first experience. In short, everything was perfect. The service was outstanding, our waitress was personable and thorough. We had the calamari appetizer which was fantastic. Dinner was very good; I was underwhelmed by the halibut but the grits were phenomenal. We had a special holiday drink that was fun and festive. Overall it was a perfect start to our evening and we will definitely eat here again.
I have dined here a handful of times now and each time has been such a remarkable experience. This most recent time , I was so lucky to grab the last two seats at the oyster bar on a busy Saturday night! We got our food and drinks in quickly and was able to be in and out in time to enjoy a show we attending. The oysters have never disappointed me. My favorite go to cocktails are the Midday sun and the defiance.
One of my top spots for tasty seafood. Super place to meet and chat with coworkers. The service here is outstanding. Bring your appetite because portions are generous. Feels similar to a restaurant in Philadelphia that I enjoyed visiting.
Always a great meal.
If you are looking for a quick dinner, try the raw bar. You don't need a reservation, and they have a great - but limited - menu. The wait staff are friendly and incredibly professional. A can't-miss item is the hush puppies. They can almost serve as dessert.
You definitely need a reservation, and don't wait until the last minute.
There is a semi-private room in the back for bookings.
Valet parking is $2.
A bit pricey for what you receive and the tables are so close together you'll be hearing strangers' conversations!
Food- Overpriced and mediocre at best
Service- Decent Service
Cleanliness- Clean and vibrant environment
Hands down best upscale seafood dining! Never disappoints
I haven't been able to shut up about the food at Optimist.
we had the scallops and the swordfish as main entrees. enjoyed the cornbread hush puppies as a side.
their wine list is not very long but very good options. we enjoyed a Grenache Blend with our meal.
also don't forget about the bread, sweet bread rolls with cracked salt over and dipped in a butter sauce. amazing!
Great food, solid cocktails and relaxed decor. The service was a bit slow
theoptimistrestaurant.com
