The Optimist Reviews

Loved it! The oysters were delicious and the fish was perfectly cooked.

One of my go-to restaurants for oysters in Atlanta, and the best part is this place is solid on all fronts. The kitchen puts out top notch entrees, the bar crafts cocktails with expertise and flair, the ambiance is visually pleasing and not cluttered, and the service is friendly, observant, thoughtful. Definitely recommended.

The atmosphere is warm, friendly, and unpretentious, and the food is uniformly excellent. Frequently updated menu with several interesting and adventurous options for foodies, as well as very well prepared standards.
Has an option to pay valet and tip at the table which is nice for folks who don't carry cash anymore.
Staff is attentive, genuine and welcoming, even ones not assigned to your table. Never once felt rushed or pushed to choose extras. Could not have had a nicer time!

Came for dinner and ordered several different dishes. For starters, my date and I ordered the seafood gumbo and the She-crab soup. The gumbo was amazing. The soup was good, but not as impressive. For entres, we ordered the lobster roll and the mahi mahi. Our sides were hush puppies and grits. Everything was perfect except for the mahi mahi. The lobster roll was fresh and juicy. The roll itself was soft, buttery, and a pure delight. I will definitely be back.

This my go to when I want a fancy seafood outing experience with friends. It's a little pricey but worth it. I've enjoyed the lobster rolls, red fish, cocktails and several appetizers and am never disappointed.

I wanted to give between a 3 and 4 star. Because of the price, I would think everything would be amazing and JCT Kitchen next door was just as good, if not better.
Service: Outstanding
Main Course: Average - kind of dry - for $32 for a piece of fish, it should taste better than Outback. Also tried the Hanger Steak - flavor kind of wimpy. Shrimp - dry
Side Dishes: Brussel Sprouts -really wonderful perfectly cooked, Fried Oysters - very good
Bread: Very Good
Desserts: Peanut Butter Cheesecake - Good
Chocolate Cake - very dry.
Wine: Good
For the price, the main dishes should have been better. I have been looking forward to eating here since it opened. It was good, but it wasn't what it should be for that class of a restaurant. I don't know, to be fair, maybe I hit it on a bad night. I don't know. I hope they can add some flair to the main dishes. Thank you.

Fantastic place. We went for the happy hour oysters at first, which is one of the better bargains in town.

Great seafood! Amazing oysters, crab soup, and tuna tartar!

Great service and excellent food but very expensive.

Pretty good food, nothing to complain about. It will satisfy you with good customer service and filling food. I'll definitely go to this place again. - Ansel Ponce Diama

I am not a total fan of straight seafood items but the dishes that I have gotten here I've always liked! The oyster bar is really cool and there is a very lively atmosphere at night.

The Optimist, it has to be one of the best restaurants in America and it had great service behind it. I believe I have been there now 7x. The Swordfish, Gumbo and the Oxtail Scallops are among my favorites. They also have a second menu at their Oyster bar and some unique mixes at the bar.

Service was fantastic. Daniel was amazing and the food was immaculate

Ian is the best server, guiding & entertaining us through an amazing dinner. The oysters were amazing, Brooklyn's Finest cocktail is a must, and the hush puppies are to die for.

Everything was perfect! This has to be one of the best experiences I've had. The service, the food, the ambiance, amazing.

Very nice food! For starters, the octopus was delicious- sweet and spicy. I had the scallops, which were lovely, and a side of blue corn grits. The table also ordered the hush puppies which are delicious- almost like dessert. The ambiance is nice, but it is loud. Would be nice if the music was turned down a bit. Service was fine, nothing special, which I suppose I expected more. Overall, very nice evening!

Really amazing food. Oysters were incredible. Service was impeccable.

What an awesome meal. I went with my daughter (who doesn't like fish) and my best friend from college. I had the swordfish with short ribs and he had the mahi. My daughter had the chicken. We had a tomato salad to start. Everything was incredible and we didn't leave anything in our plates. Everyone agreed it was amazing.

Our server Mark was awesome. Dinner was fantastic and dessert was incredible. The Banofee bread pudding is a must!

Great seafood, great oysters. Very friendly staff. I always love the crudos and couldnt ask for fresher seafoos

This may be my new favorite seafood restaurant in Atlanta! I love the vibe of the restaurant (trendy/industrial) and the food is delicious. Make sure to book reservations in advance, as it's usually booked up.

The octopus was listed as a must have in many reviews, and we agreed. I also had a few oysters which were very good. My swordfish entree was delicious, and the hush puppies were very good. Cocktails also did not disappoint.

They had some nice live music that we enjoyed after dinner, and the service was great. Can't wait to go back!

One of my favorite Atlanta restaurants, definitely my favorite for seafood. I've never been disappointed in a dish. They're consistently good. The staff is also incredibly friendly and the service is on point. Make sure you get the hush puppies!

Was here on a Saturday night. The service was excellent. The atmosphere is busy but if you really want to talk this is not the place. It is noisy. Very noisy. Two people can hear each other but more than that no way. The food was good. The She-crab soup was generous and extremely rich. The Lobster Roll was disappointing. There was a good deal of lobster meat but virtually nothing else in the bun which made it dry and unexciting. The Grouper was good but not great. Drinks here are good but border on tiny. Given the price I would expect a full martini class not half full. Again the service from the hostess to the waiter was excellent. I think the kitchen just needs to up their game.

Excellent experience. We will return again to dine at this wonderful restaurant. Thank you all for your great service we received

This is definitely a happening place. You can sit at the oyster and seafood bar or reserve a table. Everything on the menu looked too good. We ordered more food than we can eat. The oysters were fresh and tasty. The scallops were of big size. They were cooked perfectly. The sides were generous portions. If I come back to Atlanta, I d come again.

The drinks were good, but expensive. You shouldn't charge $14.25 for an old fashioned that uses mid-range bourbon. The oysters were great. The appetizer was unpleasant. About half the entrees were good, the other half just OK (we were a group of 10 and tried each other's plates). Service was pretty good. Overall I'd still go again except for the cost; we spent about $120 per person, before gratuity, and it just didn't feel worth it.

Food was among the best we've had in a long time, but that was just the beginning! Our server, Michael, was memorable! He gave amazing suggestions and bought just the right amount of charm and friendliness without being overbearing! We had a delightful and memorable evening! We will be back!

Excellent food. Try the opportunities. Combo of excellent unique flavors. Staff very friendly and informative. We are from Michigan but will come back here when in Atlanta! Thanks for a great evening.

Best oysters I've had away from the coastline. Also the rolls are to die for.

not only juicy &fresh oysters but more attracted by their friendly&thoughtful service:)

We love coming here when we are in Atlanta. The food is delicious! Oysters are tasty too!

The Optimist is absolutely amazing - from ambiance to food to service, this place has it all. I'm really picky about my seafood, but The Optimist really delivers. We ended up going here twice in one week since there were so many things on the menu we wanted to try. So far, my favorites have been the simple salad, the whole ga shrimp appetizer, and the sea scallops. The restaurant is the perfect choice to impress out-of-towners, but make sure you make a reservation.

Services was fast very clean place also beautiful restaurant set - up . Nice atmosphere and great food...."She Crab" soup awesome....I really enjoyd my OPPORTUNIST PLATEAUX, oyster, king crab, shrimp, ceviche / $55 not bad for a Seafood combination platter that fit two people maybe three...we will be back an my next trip will be something new...

I came for an event. Allergic to shellfish but had some great non-seafood appetizers and the drinks are great! There's valet for $3 plus tip.

Warm welcoming greeting and services. Will return again to try diff meal selections.

The food was so delicious I forgot to take pictures . From the oysters to tuna tartare to the swordfish and the cauliflower. All were simply amazing in the presentation as well as the taste.

Fun place, especially for drinks. Dishes do not measure up to the price. You're paying for the environment.

Good place. It used to be much better though. Quality is declining.

In my book one of the top American seafood and oyster places in Atlanta. Great for either dinner or lunch. They have unique hush puppies that end up with more of a sweet flavor than savory... These quickly become addiciting. I recommend the shrimp and Texas toast appetizer and for lunch the fish sandwich with their amazing french fries.

The optimist might be my favorite seafood restaurant in Atlanta! The oysters are always fresh and the plates are good as well. Would highly recommend for a nice date or an oyster happy hour.

Leo at the Oyster Bar was so friendly and made our night a great one!

Excellent, excellent! I'm vegan and this place accommodated me and my date so beautifully. We dined here on Vday and it was packed! It was a 4 course meal for one set price, which I didn't really find fair since I only was able to enjoy three courses but I'm just nitpicking lol. I would highly recommended if you're into posh dining. That was my first time ever experiencing something so fancy haha I loved it. And shout out to that black sous chef, he did that! Haha.

Love the lobster roll and fish and chips. The lobster roll is the best I've had in the city (but it's very pricy), the fish and chips is massive and delicious; it's so crisp on the outside and hot and tender on the inside. It used to come sprinkled with dill, now it comes with chives... insist on the dill if they have it.

The service was top notch. The food was devine. I was with a large party and not one person had a complaint about their food. Our server was Brent and was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and very accommodating. When I am back in the area I will be back. Highly recommend.

The reason for the 4stars. It was the night of the college national championship which meant I could count the people at the restaurant and for that they don't get 5stars. It took our server forever to get it together... We had to eventually flag down someoone else to get our apps.
The she crab soup was divine and the lobster in the lobster roll was good however the top sliced hotdog bun they put it in was laughable. Overall a great place.

Great ambience, good food. The seafood options were amazing, we were here for our anniversary and enjoyed our time here.

The Optimist was an all around great experience for a trendy restaurant that's seeking out a youthful upscale market. Every seafood dish that we tried was great including the oysters. There's an impressive oyster selection. The cocktails and service were also delightful so I won't knock it for being a hair overpriced.

Atlanta Best seafood!!. The Oysters we're the best ever. Meeka made us feel right at home. Enjoyed will return

Definitely one of my favorite spots in Atlanta now! I had JR as my server and he was so charming and entertaining and knowledgeable about the menu. He gave great wine recommendations that paired wonderfully with my delicious grilled octopus!!! Also, the oysters are insanely fresh. Ill be visiting frequently from now on! :)

I came here on a Sunday evening to have dinner with some friends while I was in town on business. Overall, I would say the food was pretty good. I was impressed with the quality of the seafood and their preparation / presentation. The Fish and Chips was very good with just the right amount of batter and crispness to it. The "chips" were more like potato wedges and ok. The oyster selection was excellent along with the house accompaniments. The spiced cheesecake has convinced me to try applying pumpkin pie spice to all my deserts from now on.

We love the Optimist!

We went there to celebrate our anniversary, and everything was so excellent. The only advise I would give to people is making appointment. They are one of the best restaurants in Atlanta; of course, they will busy most of the time.

Small appetizers and, of course, the oysters are great. The staff is super friendly and ready with excellent suggestions.

Love seafood, check it out. The do have a few non seafood item if someone in the group doesn't want it. No vegan.

Kinda overrated. Good but wasn't overwhelmed by it.

Really busy so make sure you get a reservation. The meal was fantastic !

From the service to the ambiance and especially the food it is by far one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Atlanta.

I can't say enough AMAZING things about how perfect this restaurant is, but don't take my word for it, visit for yourself, trust me you won't be disappointed.

This was my first time here and I had the mahi mahi fish and my friend had the sword fish dinners and they were both to die for.

Our server Eli was Amazing, professional, knowledgeable and funny. She gave excellent recommendations and we really enjoyed her service.

I would recommend the entire world to visit this place, because there's something for everyone here. I can't wait to go back.

Hands down my favorite place in Atlanta! MUST DINE! Don't miss it! Your Atlanta trip (or residency) wouldn't be complete without it. The freshest seafood, the most creative dishes and drinks, and fantastic service. Ford Fry is fantastic! I eat here at least once a week and often want to come more. I've never even sat at a table, because the bar experience in itself is fantastic! My partner and I have our own spot we pick at the bar every week. The bartenders recognize us and take care of us. Whenever something is anything less than perfect, they rush to make it up to us in such sweet ways! Our favorites: shrimp a la plancha, duck fat poached swordfish, lobster roll (best ever!), spicy kale salad, crispy spanish octopus, and all of the crudos! The corn milk hush puppies are to do die for.

Really great atmosphere, unique setup, tall ceilings, great big bar. Friendly, knowledgable staff and good service. Great cocktails, great seafood. Highly recommend the crab toast when it's on the menu!

I m from New England and this was the first place I ever went out to eat at in Atlanta. Really worth it.

One of the BEST spots in Atlanta. I've been here a few different times and it never disappoints. The raw options (especially the lobster roll) are amazing, the dinner rolls are fantastic but the real winner is the scallops. Absolute perfection. You also can't miss the hushpuppies with cane butter syrup...too good.

Fantastic food, great ambiance and our server was exceptional.

The food was superb and the service was professional and quick. I went here for my birthday dinner. We had such a good time we took my mother for her birthday a few months later. It was a bit pricey but well worth it if you're celebrating a special event or have high taste in food.

Mediocre at best especially for the price. Service was great, food bland.

Really good food. Definitely on the pricey side. However the service was very impressive. There was an issue with some of the food, and they not only promptly replaced it with fresh food, but comped several appetizers and dessert. I really didn't expect that, but they weren't above and beyond to create a memorable and tasty experience for us!

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta. The food is fantastic, and I've never had a bad cocktail. This is my go-to celebration spot.

Very expensive prices without the quality, the oysters were nice but the burger was the worst 20$ burger I have ever eaten. It was literally like a steak and shake burger. The funny thing is the waiter told me before serving it are you ready to eat the best burger in the world?
Little did I know it was the opposite. Maybe he was being sarcastic.

Very good lunch. I took my wife to the Optimist for lunch because she had been wanting to try them out for some time. Great experience all around, the food was delicious, fresh and everything my wife had been hoping for. The hush puppies were an out of this world good indulgence. Our waiter, Daniel L was the best, he knew the menu and made excellent recommendations. Will definitely be back soon to try out the dinner menu.

Very well decorated dishes very good the shrimp and clams sason very rich the waiters very well dressed very friendly the staff who attended us a highly recommended place to eat with the family has very good dishes