Food and service was great, however, we were charged slightly higher for our drinks than what is quoted on the menu. I brought it to their attention, and then charged the same amount. It is a great restaurant but I just can t give a good review here for that reason. I feel many other people before me maybe have been unknowing charged more without checking the ticket.
I'm giving it 4 stars because it started out a little rocky. I arrived early say 8:20. My reservation was at 9. I really didn't anticipate arriving early, however you can never predict Atlanta traffic. The lady at the check in desk said we were too early to be seated and had to wait until our reservation time. I was a little put off by her tone. No worries... I was early so I waited. There was a large gathering of young drunk people in the waiting area. I sat and waited as I prayed no one spilled a drink on me. Finally... My table is ready. Beautiful restaurant. It's open and airy. It was a little loud but it's a friday night and the drinks are flowing. You gotta let people live. I was seated by a welcoming face, given water and then some divinely inspired rolls arrived. They were delicious. An oyster menu was placed on the table and a pen. I assumed you were to indicate the number and type of oysters you wanted. My waiter arrived with no introduction, instructions or small talk nor a review of the menu. Personally, I like it when I'm asked if this is my first time at this restaurant or do I have any question. That was a little off putting but hey, whatever. I ordered a variety of oysters and they were delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed the ones with garlic, butter and bread crumbs. For starters I ordered the gumbo, fried oysters with white sauce which was delicious along with some hush puppies. The hush puppies were amazing. Slightly sweet, fried to perfection and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. They were like little beignets. The fried oysters were seasoned perfectly and came with the white sauce that was delicious. Oh and the pickles on the plate were delicious. The GUMBO. Being that I am from New Orleans I should have known better. It tasted burnt as if the roux was taken off the fire right before it started to burn. Needless to say it didn't agree with my palate so I sent it back. I never send food back but I couldn't stomach that taste. Now on to the entree I had the shrimp ndouja (splck) which was so darn good I dreamed about it. My friend had the grouper which was amazing. It was accompanied by brisket. Looking at the menu I couldn't conceptualize how grouper and brisket would pair but it was amazing. There's valet parking and the staff was nice. Parking was 3 bucks. As the night went on my server opened up and became welcoming. She even cracked a joke and smile. All in all I would definitely recommend this resturant as the food was off the chain!!!!!
Bland food, seafood was all cold and over priced, service was great
Absolutely the best quality seafood. There are places in Atlanta you can get a better price, but not with the same service, ambience, wine list, location, or Brussels sprout side dish. Highly recommended.
Appetizers better than the entrees! Great atmosphere for a date or a large party. Trendy, hot spot!
Most delicious food I've had in a long time. Food seasonings are on point. Scallops melt in your mouth. Excellent food combinations. Drinks at the bar are fabulous, even had a new Guyanese rum that was excellent in my old standby w coke. Not a great vodka selection, but plenty of other stuff to get your head straight. Pricey...but, worth it.
Wonderful experience
Great food well prepared and served.
Highly recommend
Exceptional oyster selection! The swordfish was amazing and I highly recommend the hush puppies. Upbeat atmosphere. Perfect for date night.
Great fresh seafood options. Our server was the best, very helpful and entertaining.
What can I say, good food, good service and a good atmosphere.
Ventured into the City for a great meal and got it! Service was wonderful, our server JT was helpful, knowledgeable and fun. Save room to split a dessert, the cake with bananas was amazing.
Topher is simply superb. He graciously and attended to every question I had, with exceptional knowledge of the menu. Apparently we share two favorites on the menu: the fried rice and kale salad. I was also fortunate to speak to Chef Wesley, who shared his ideas for new dishes. The Optimist is one of my most favorite restaurants in the world! Exceptional atmosphere, food and people.
I was optimistic. However nothing had seasoning and everything tasted bland. Best dishes were the Brussels sprouts and the Corn Hush Puppies.
The rolls though... I could go and just eat like 20 rolls. Amazing.
Delicious seafood in a great space! Had the oysters, octopus, and lobster roll which were all fantastic. Our server was extremely nice and knowledgeable. The kitchen got backed up, causing a wait for our mains, but our server offered us dessert on the house to make up for it. Would definitely go back!
Easily the best/freshest seafood in Atlanta. Legal seafood had a pretty good lobster roll before they closed their downtown location (and they flew their lobster in twice a day), but the lobster roll here is on another level. The hush puppies are a little dessert like, but that s not a bad thing if you ask me, and it didn t stop me from eating them with my meal. The shrimp poboy was also good. I will take my wife back as soon as I can save a little more money. :)
I had a variety of oysters with the sword fish which was delicious. I would recommend people who haven't been here to visit atleast once. I guarantee you will enjoy the food here.
Today was the first time I visited here and spent $75 only for the oyster. Was Amazing and I finished around 40 oyster for a single meal. See you soon again
Overated and over expensive. Their fried oyster was almost burned.
Best lobster roll in town, and amazing customer service.
I went out with two other people and even though there were no reservations available, I was still able to easily get a table in the oyster bar area at 7 PM on a Saturday night without prior notice. The oyster bar was busy, but once seated, it was like a dance was going on with a deft ebb and flow throughout the night.
I started off with a tray with each of the oysters and my favorites were the Chunu and the Belon. The Chunu had a mild salinity with a very satisfying creamy finish to it and the Belon was a european species attributing to it's meaty and substantial nature for an oyster. To accompany my oysters I found a new wheat beer to add to my favorites. It was from the Arches Brewery in Hapeville, Georgia and I had their Queen's Weiss wheat. It had a substantial floral taste blossoming in the first sip and continuing until the last drop
For my main course I enjoyed the scallops with a side of the benet styled hush puppies. The scallops were my favorite part of my meal. If you are hungry then get some sides, but they are worth trying. The scallops were large, perfectly seared and so very tender that I only used the weight of the knife to cut them. The sliced and toasted nuts on top along with the roasted corn on the plate made for a great contrast in textures with the tenderness of the scallops. The sauce on the plate added to the complexities of the dish without overwhelming anything. The hush puppies as promised were delectable and sweet with the powdered sugar on top and the maple butter on the side.
For dessert I tried the ice cream sandwich and the peanut brittle ice cream. The ice cream sandwich came with two and both are large enough to split if needed. The rich chocolate cookies used were dark and played well with the deliciously sweet cherry ice cream between them. The peanut brittle ice cream was addictive in the way the sweet and salty peanuts melded with the caramel and cream to make it a spoonful of nirvana.
Every part of the meal was above high expectations which put The Optimist as one of the very few seafood restaurants I will gladly return to in Atlanta.
Best oyster happy hour in Atlanta. Best seafood in Atlanta. Love it.
Delicious! I recommend making a reservation, if you don't want to sit at the bar-bar or the oyster bar. We had the Shrimp a la Plancha, Oysters (hearth-roasted with garlic and breadcrumbs), and the Duck Fat Poached Swordfish (amazing!!). The servers were very attentive and friendly.
I was optimistic about this place. Good news i was right and also witty with my intelligent wordplay
Visited awhile back with my friend. We started off with sparkling rose, which was delicious, especially with the oysters!!! I was so fascinated to find out that their oyster crackers are made in house! They were delicious too, great with some hot sauce and lemon! The baked oysters were mt absolute favorite by far. We also enjoyed some peel and eat shrimp which were yummy. Last we had some type of kampachi I believe. Everything was great and would definitely consider visiting here again. Parking was the only thing to consider since you have to find some on the side of the road, but I saw a few spots available!!
They have a-lot of great food, catering to many different tastes.
First time eating there. The food was great and the desserts are amazing! The Key lime pie is authentic. Definitely going back for more.
Absolutely amazing food!!! Our server Meeka was great and spot on with everything! The staff all worked together to make sure you were taken care of promptly! Can't wait to return again!
In addition to tasty bread, entrees, the Chocolate Chess Pie is amazing. Great atmosphere and food.
Absolutely fantastic. They went above and beyond to assist us in enjoying our special occasion, and it will never be forgotten. Thank you...
The ambience was wonderful. A very diverse crowd. The octopus was absolutely amazing. The hush puppies were as good as advertised.
The food is great and the staff is very friendly! The hushpuppies are to die for. If you take the shrimps a la plancha (another amazing dish), take it last as it is very flavorfull and may attenuate more subtle dish that follow. For dessert, the salted caramel ice-cream is definitely worth it.
Incredible food in a hopping and vibrant atmosphere. Some classic Southern comfort food given that extra touch of class and attention to detail, together with more contemporary dishes where the ingredients play the starring role and the chef knows when less is more . This is of course the only thing to do if you re serious seafood.
One of the best meals of my life in the last 10 years.
YUM. The Octopus is one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. Oysters, halibut cheeks, swordfish, fried rice? Yum, yum, yum, yum.
I love the ambiance of this restaurant. Will definitely be returning!
Really great place! Service and food is wonderful, make sure to get the oysters!
My first time going...I did lunch...everything was good. I had the fish and chips...alot batter on the fish..Cod was nice flavor...I had oysters also and they were good and fresh...others at the table enjoyed their meals as well..Fish sandwich, chicken dish, Poke bowl and fish chowder to round out our group...
Excellent customer service
Amazing food
Brittany is an incredible waitress. Food is delicious and well portioned. My go to spot for fresh fish and oysters.
Great food! Awesome service. I definitely want to try something new each time I'm in ATL with an opportunity to go to the optimist! Love this place!
Awesome. Deserves 5 stars. However, I remember another time... like many things in Atlanta, the prices at this dining establishment are rocketing upwards so rapidly it is reminiscent of the recent Bitcoin surge. A casual Lunch / Dinner for two at a nice spot shouldn t cost more than $50, but you ll blow past that easily at this restaurant with $28 lobster rolls. (And that s only if you re not thirsty). So, definitely go there and enjoy it, but definitely bring your checkbook. My opinion only - there s only one way to fight price creep, and that s healthy competition. I d say give somebody else a chance to present wonderful food at a more reasonable price.
Oyster happy hour is amazing... Service is always amazing..
My husband and I went for our anniversary. We had such a great time. Definitely a great experience and a diner to remember. Food, drinks, service and decor were everything.
The food, atmosphere, staff, everything was perfect. We had a party of 13 and everything went smoothly. All of our food came out at the same time, and there was a decent space between appetizers and the entree. I will definitely be back.
Seafood based restaurant. Delectable from bite to bite.
Celebrating my friend's Birthday this was an awesome experience. Great service from Lucianne and Brett. Known as 'Brett and rhe Oysterettes'. We will be coming back again!
Absolutely amazing. Crab soup was the best. Food was fresh and service was even better. Manger Mike went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied. Definitely a place i want to come back to again.
The crunchy octopus is amazing! We also had the scallops and she crab soup. Outstanding!
The food and service were spectacular! We started with the tuna tartare, and each had a lobster roll for our main meal. Everything was perfect, right down to the chips on the side of the lobster roll.
The atmosphere was extravagant. The service was awesome. It almost received 5 stars because the quantity and quality to price factor wasn't satisfactory. They both was little over priced. Thank you
Went down for oyster happy hour. Staff super friendly and attentive. Had oysters and the octopus both were delious. Definately will visit again.
Fantastic seafood. Fresh, great drinks and electric atmosphere.
Fast service. Excellent food. The octopus was incredible. The swordfish was awesome. And the hush puppies are delish.
Pricey, but the best fish in Atlanta. And definitely check out the oysters.
Great service and food. I would definitely return to this restaurant. The SHRIMP A LA PLANCHA was so good. I definitely suggest ordering. Our waiter was on it - checking in every moment. We went for date night and got such quality service. The entrees were a good portion but just a little salty. The starters and sides were a lot tastier than the entrees to be honest. Cocktails were also really good.
The food was delicious and we had great service. Really cute how you get to take your beer coozie home with you. Their outside area is also really fun.
The food was amazing my biggest complaint is I left feeling hungry. Entrees at that price point should offer enough food where your not hungry within 2 hours of leaving.
Best oyster bar happy hour on the city. Delicious and plentiful
Great variety of oysters at the raw bar and cooked fish on the menu.
Feels so good to be back at fancy restaurants and this place didn t disappoint at all. Each dish was truly exceptional. Especially the octopus. And don t get me started on the bread they give. Truly recommend!
The food is so delicious, we don't want to tell anyone about this secret gem. The best seafood in town by far. The fried oysters are a must, they melt in your mouth and take you to a pleasant place.
This is a nicely presented restaurant, with a modern decor. Our server was very attentive and gave a brief informative breakdown of the menu. Although I found the food very filling, the rest of the party were all very satisfied with their choices and the meal overall. Definitely a place to return to.
To call the food average would be generous. Venue is interesting, people watching is entertaining.
Excellent food! The service is impeccable and the ambiance was perfect! Went here the day after Valentine's. The lobster roll, mahi-mahi & the rice w/curry & peanuts was scrumptious!!!
In short, it was a wonderful experience. I made a reservation here to celebrate my wife's and my sixth wedding anniversary and it was an excellent choice.
When we first arrived and said that we had a reservation, it seemed for a moment that they were just then reading the special request I'd made when I made the reservation, but just a second later they seated us at a booth (which was more private like I'd requested) and gave us menus stamped with the message "Happy Anniversary". This was later followed by two flutes of champagne as well as a complementary plate of the pumpkin gnocchi with lobster (which was delicious, of course). In the end, they made us feel special, which is exactly what I wanted for the occasion.
It goes without saying that the food is incredible. We ordered some raw oysters, which were great, as well as some barrel fish crudo (which was similar to Peruvian tiradito, they even had aji sauce with it). Our main course consisted of scallops and crusted halibut, both dishes were cooked perfectly in terms of texture/consistency and the flavors were balanced and nuanced, definitely a meal we will remember.
Our waitress was very attentive, and two gentlemen, managers and/or owners I'm assuming, stopped by twice to check on us as well but were never intrusive or overbearing. All in all, good service.
My husband and I went to The Optimist for lunch last Friday. It was at 12 PM ...normal lunch hour. Although it was busy, which is assumed for a Friday 12 PM meal, it took over 45 minutes for us to receive a burger/fries and fish sandwich/hush puppies. Also, our waitress was not attentive in checking in on us. For all that went wrong with our service, the food helped. The burger was amazing! The fish sandwich was not as exciting, but the smoked flavor is unique. The hush puppies are a must! Travis Holdren, the manager, could sense our frustration and checked on us multiple times. We conveyed our disappointment and when paying our bill, he took it and insisted that our meal was comped. We tried many times to pay, but he insisted. This is how a successful business thrives...ensuring that your customers are happy, admitting when you are wrong, and making amends. Kudos to the management staff in doing so. We will be back.
We had our first experience at The Optimist last Saturday night, and suffice it to say that it absolutely lived up to the "Best New Restaurant in America" award it
recently received by Esquire Magazine.
We were actually there for a very special occasion - we were the FIRST couple to ever get engaged at this restaurant (according to the manager) - and it will forever be an incredibly important place for us.
I was in contact with the manager and team several times prior to our reservation, (securing the right table, etc) and they were fantastic to work with in every way - they were almost as excited about our engagement as I was!
The food - flawless! From the Spicy Octopus appetizer (words can't describe) to the fish and chips to the she-crab soup, I swear every course was better than the one before it. Make sure you get there early and sit at the oyster bar for an hour or so before your reservation - unbelievably fresh!
I can't say enough about what a tremendous night it was, and how we will be going there every year for our anniversary. Our server, Hannah Curtis, simply could not have been any more perfect or gone out of her way more for Jennifer and I.
thank you, Optimist managers and team, for an unforgettable experience.
On a side note, if you ever need to go there to get engaged, I'd recommend table #82 in the back...lots of room to get down on one knee. :)
Joel
Great food and amazing service, the Christian is the best
Hands down the best dinner I've had in Atlanta. The food was on point and the service was beyond extraordinary. Hats off to our server Shawn. They really hit this one out of the park.
Amazing food but lacked the great service I was expecting. Order the variety of oysters.
Wow... had a great time visiting, food was off the charts, Leslie our server was fantastic, atmosphere was wonderful.
Super fun bar to visit for an out of towner. Good tacos, good beer, fun games
The best tentacles I've ever shoved in my mouth, the octopus appetizer, was the highlight of the meal. The mahi mahi was great; not overcooked while the swordfish was best paired with it's compliment and not much of a stand out by itself. The brussels sprouts were good, but I would prefer them without such sweetness, it was a little overbearing.
While raw oysters seem to be their thing, I am not really experienced with oysters, but tackled four different types. Some were more flavorful than others, but overall I don't see a real value in making a meal of oysters. Perhaps paired with a fitting beer(s), they would be more interesting.
Service was excellent.
Atmosphere is ok; dim lighting and a large open space, so not exactly the quietest of environments, but quiet enough to have a conversation over what I would call unusual music for a place of this type. The Pixies, Stone Roses, and other alternative classics.
Service was excellent as was the food especially the butternut squash. Seafood at bar a little expensive but overall a great experience.
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