The Optimist Review

The she crab soup with shrimp toast and Spanish octopus are to die for!! The flavor is so deep! The robster roll is delicious as well. It's $24 but definitely worth the money. The robster is very fresh and supple! Every server here is very friendly and helpful!

Don't think there's anything to say other than if you love seafood, you need to check out The Optimist. Great food, friendly staff, terrific oysters at Happy Hour, and a good environment overall. I've been here a number of times, and it's never disappointed.

Food was tasty but I'm not sure it should be $$$.
Our server was rude, everyone else was nicer. Gumbo....not great....

Of all the food I ate over a holiday weekend in Atlanta, this was by far the best in every way. The restaurant is aesthetically pleasing and charming complete with rustic nautical theme , but it's also smart with plenty of light. The service was exceptional, and the food. The food was delicious. We tried two different soups, the octopus appetizer and the lobster roll. All great, the octopus with house giardinara was outstanding. I got my roll with perfectly crisped horse cut fries . Friend got the hush puppy beignets egg high she kept popping even though she said "I am so full" after every one. I would go back in a second and highly recommend everyone check this wonderful place out.

Incredible food, even better service! Our server was super knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. Lunch was perfect, and the restaurant is super hip in a great area.

Very fresh food, unique dishes, full of flavor. Excellent ambiance but a bit loud if looking for a quiet date night.

Tonight could not have been more perfect. My partner and I were celebrating our anniversary and decided to have dinner at The Optimist. From beginning to end, the staff of The Optimist made it a night to remember. The food was truly phenomenal. From the oysters to the mussels to the scallops and swordfish to the "Crack Pie" and Key Lime Tart, the food was pitch perfect. And even though the food was on point, my biggest compliment would have to go to the staff - namely our wonderful server, Lisa. Lisa constantly made sure that we were having the best experience possible. She made it her goal to ensure that we enjoyed ourselves from beginning to end. So THANK YOU, Lisa and everyone working tonight - from the bartenders (those cocktails were delicious!), the kitchen staff (that food was stellar!) and the rest of the wait staff (many of which came to deliver something to us or tell us happy anniversary) - for making tonight unforgettable. Cheers!!!

I live this restaurant. One of my favorite spots in Atlanta. Great atmosphere, awesome selection of wines and drinks. They rotate their menu often and offer great options for seafood and fish. Very recommended!

My top scene for Seafood. bring your appetite because portions are large.

Amazing food in an upscale Atlanta restaurant. The portion sizes were also plentiful. We didn t have leftovers, but we were definitely full when we left. $$$$

I love the decor & ambiance but I disliked how close my table was next to other diners. Food was good, simple & clean. Wish it had depth of flavor, though.

We received a complimentary dessert which was so nice. I wonder if that was gifted because our bill was high, LOL.

Our server was extremely cool & had strong knowledge of the menu items.

Would I go back? Yes, if someone else is paying or if I'm invited to a dinner party.

Love! The servers are very friendly, laid back and knowledgeable. Food was delicious!

Initially I was disappointed with my service and I went for a birthday. The celebration on that day was botched. I talked to the manager, Travis, who promised if I came I'm again the experience would be much better.

We went for another birthday and it was amazing. Travis did an amazing job: the staff was attentive and it was a very special evening over all. I was extremely impressed with everything. Our water glasses were never empty, the food came out in a timely manner, and any cocktail that we ordered was made and delivered promptly.

In both instances the food was incredible, from the oysters to scallops to lobster everything was nailed, but the second experience made up for the first one tenfold. Great service and management. I would highly recommend this place for a celebration or a lovely evening out, especially when Travis is managing.

Found!
This restaurant located in West Midtown occupies an enormous space and is packed most nights. A great idea to sit at the bar and watch the tenders expertly mix and create, maybe enjoy a selection of oysters. The seafood is imported daily (the only issue with Atlanta being landlocked!) and it is excellent. Further, the preparations are bursting with flavor. I especially enjoyed the Spanish Octopus. Spicy Kale Salad, Branzino, and tons of sides. Come hungry, leave satisfied!
For more great reviews visit theLoupe!

Best swordfish I've ever had. Very good oyster selection. Very friendly staff

Always an excellent dining experience with a vibrant modern atmosphere and perfectly prepared fish. Great oysters too.

Its expensive but soo worth it. Oysters and cocktails while you wait and then awesome seafood (and other stuff) in the main area. Despite being a big open floor (looks like it used to be a bus depot or something) its actually not that loud inside.

Really enjoy going to this place! It has even become a summer ritual to stop by for happy hour oysters on either Saturdays or Sundays. Everything is always fresh and very tasty. Try the daily punch from the bar! The service is always warm, friendly and knowledgeable. You may even see a celebrity!

I love this restaurant. I work close by and often go over for lunch at the bar. The food is always on yummy. If I'm going healthy I'll have the farro bowl and when I want a splurge I definitely get the lobster roll. The service at the bar is attentive and I enjoyed chatting with Melody. She was so personable and even offered a taste of the sparkling Chenin Blanc when I ordered my standard glass. Thank you!

This is one of the better seafood restaurants here in Atlanta. Came here on Saturday for the $1 oyster special (Goes on between 3-5PM). I highly recommend it. Everything tasted fresh and the service was impeccable.

The portions is too small per cost. Not that special.

Disappointing. The shecrab soup is can't miss. It is why we keep going back. The lobster and halibut are CAN miss. The lobster was lukewarm, the halibut was dry and had a number of pin bones in it. The sliced squash and tomato sides were nothing special.

Truth be told, my experience at the Optimist has strictly been a drinks & dessert affair - but boy do they do that well. I haven't been since the fire, but i've been told they're back in great form. The desserts are great and worth it, but the cocktails are some of the best in atlanta. If you happen to stop by in the summer, be on the lookout for their blackberry pie cocktail - it's earned a place as my all-time most-yearned-for drink.

Come for the oysters and delicious cocktails, stay for all the other amazing things to eat as well. Great date night spot.

Amazing oysters! Great drinks and bar. Fun before you sit down to relax outside.

The dining environment was fabulous. We had great service. Several persons made sure we had a memorable experience. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about the menu. The meal was delicious. Scallops, duck, fish soup, the sides, fish, and kale salad was absolutely mouth watering.

We had a lovely lunch today. Jonathan was our server and he was right on. The octopus starter is a longtime favorite for me at this restaurant...here is a snapshot. My branzino was moist, it was presented in an appetizing arrangement, and the accompanying veggies we're a good match (see pic). My daughter's lobster Cobb salad was beautifully presented and covered with bite-sized pieces of lobster meat. I was impressed she finished it off! This large, established restaurant (I would describe the ambience as urban/eclectic elegant) was surprisingly busy at Thursday lunch. With a cocktail, the tab was approx $115.

Excellent recommendations reservations but we were seated in great little area. Food excellent very nice sized meals. Halibut was superb! Service could not be better.

Beautiful restaurant with delicious food and classic cocktails! Passed almost three hours eating and chatting at the bar with the best whiskey sour I've ever had. Highly recommend the beignet-style hush puppies, they were outstanding!

Nice ambience but the food could be better. A bit too much of a corporate taste for me. The chef needs to taste his food that is leaving his kitchen and kick it up a notch. My fish was very, very bland. I pay for well flavored food, otherwise I can stay home and cook.

Went for 5-6 $1 Oyster happy hour... Not all of qualify but the chefs special is a good deal!! If you love parts definitely go!!!

Top notch place. Super high class service and food. Really nice.

Dined here for our 36th anniversary. Very nice choice for seafood in the Metro Atlanta area. The wait staff were very personable and greeted us by nickname, Salt&Peppa. Nice. Our server explained the menu items to us without hesitation. Drinks out in a jiffy, starter items out quickly and our entrees served shortly thereafter. The menu had a very special Lil note on it "Happy Anniversary" which we were allowed to keep with out anniversary date stamped on it. Nice! Desert was a small special bowl of sorbet with candles for our night out. Customer service, absolutely on point. Food was excellent! Highly recommend "The Optimist" for any occasion.
SNPJr.

I met the bartender that works here. His name is Michael. He is a very nice guy and deserves a great tip next time you come by. He cares about others.

DANIEL is amazing and took extra care to make sure my birthday celebration was perfect. What a gem he is. I will be BAAACCCKKKK! OH, and the food was amazing too.

This is our go-to seafood restaurant in Atlanta. Highly recommend the raw bar, especially the oysters. Definitely come hungry - great food with great service and definitely can top spot for a special dinner in ATL!

Amazing restaurant in Atlanta! Great ambience and service, awesome food!!!

This. Place. Never. Disappoints. Just go. Get the Optimist Plateau (oysters, shrimp, ceviche, smoked fish dip, salmon poke) She Crab Soup; Halibut; Hushpuppies (beignet style?! yummm) And Brussels Sprouts. You will not regret a morsel.

Really good food and service. Expensive, but you know that walking in and you get what you pay for

This is our favorite place to go! We've celebrated our 5th year anniversary here and now we just recently celebrated our engagement here! We love this place. The food is always phenomenal and we feel very delighted each and every time we're here. The staff is super friendly, as well. Most recently, we had the lobster sandwich, the duck, and the hushpuppies. We were there for happy hour so the oysters were super cheap! We've tried the shark, the scallops, the beef and more and everything is always spectacular. We will continue to come here each time we're in Atlanta.

Excellent seafood and service. Look forward to returning. Octopus is always delicious

Great food. Great service. Nice ambiance. Perfect for date night.

First time dinning at this establishment and my boyfriend and I had an amazing experience. The food was delicious, the chef came out to our table to update us on our food. Our waitress was super friendly. We will definitely come back and tell our friends about the restaurant.

Went here for my birthday! The food was delicious. The shrimp appetizer was finger licking good. You have to peel it but it's worth it! The octopus app was tender and flavorful. Drinks are bit overpriced though.

Happy hour is awesome! Had 25 oysters, the happy hour special cocktail, and a Miller High life Pony beer for 44$. 1.25$ oysters is amazing quality simply the best I have ever had in ATL. 10/10 would recommend and will be returning.

Amazing. Someone recommended this place for a short work trip and I am really glad I went. Wonderful food. Everything we had was great.

My wife s birthday was coming up and I wanted to plan something for her and some of her closest friends since I would be traveling for work. The staff went above and beyond by calling to make sure that they got details to enhance the serving experience.
My wife said that everything about the experience was amazing for her and her 8 friends.

Thank you is not enough for the attention to detail. Please cater to this place. You will not regret it. If they get something wrong, it will not be due to lack of effort and they will make it right.

We plan to go back soon because I have not eaten there. See you soon.

Great food! Relaxed atmosphere! Somewhat pricey but worth a special occasion.

Went with my wife to the Optimist restaurants after see the reviews in open table. The restaurant look a fusion of old and new concept, really nicely !!! All the servers were very friendly, attentive and efficient. Our appetizers were amazing!!! octopus, lobster bisque and lobster with chips. The main dish were a very good branzino and grouper fishes. All of them tasted wonderful, a lot of fusion of flavors! The selection of wines were good. No doubt this is one of my favorite restaurant in Atlanta.

Soooo yummy! This place was on point with everything...service, drinks and especially food. We started with a couple of fresh oysters. They come with fresh horseradish, homemade saltines, cocktail sauce and lemon. Delicious!!

We also tried the octopus. It was excellent. Loved the sweet mustard and char. Really tasty appetizer.

For drinks, I tried a cocktail. It was really nice and had hibiscus and floral notes. Really refreshing and not too sweet.

For my main, I tried the swordfish and pork belly. It was delicious! Perfectly cooked. Complimented each other. We had two sides. The rice and broccoli. I loved both of these sides. They had so much flavor.

For dessert, we tried the blueberry cake with cream. It was perfect. Not too sweet. Great finisher.

Our service was excellent all evening. I loved the space. Open and modern. Perfect dinner!i

I decided to try the Oyster Bar at the Optimist for dinner. The food was amazing. The food was all made on front of me. The decor was fitting. You have to try the wood fired oysters and the lobster roll they are amazing.

Wow, that says it all. Food, service magnificent. I will be coming back. My new Atlanta favorite.

Fun selection of oysters that are worth the visit. Seafood entrees were good but the sides left much to be desired. Interestingly the menu supposedly changes frequently, so I'm eager to return.

Really cool restaurant All the food is delicious. The place is classy. Staffs were great too. Highly recommended!!!

I've been a raving fan of The Optimist for years, however in recent trips I feel that the quality has gone steadily downhill. The Wahoo I ordered during my last meal was overcooked and rubbery. The spice levels were way too high and my partner could barely eat her dish. They need to come to jesus or else this place is on the way out.

Absolutely loved the overall experience! My wife grew up on the coastal southern Maine, and heard about the optimist's "authentic" Maine lobster rolls. She said that if she closed her eyes, she was at the beach in Maine eating a fresh lobster roll and pier fries! Also, they have beignet style hush puppies that will make you a hushed puppy while savoring this n'oleans twist on a classic southern side dish. The food was excellent, the drinks were superb, the wait staff was awesome! This was one of the best dining experiences we've ever had, and can not wait to come back again!

Great atmosphere, good cocktails! I came for the lobster roll as I heard it was the best in the city! The lobster roll wasn't bad but I wouldn't order it again. I prefer the lobster roll at a restaurant in Old 4th Ward better!

Love it fresh seafood and the customer service experience was on point. I will be returning.

Amazing date night spot. Great craft cocktails & a tantalizing list of dishes in their made-from-scratch kitchen. Oyster bar is nice too.

GREAT Energy! AMAZING Food! AWESOME Service!
See you soon Optimist!

Sara Cross, my wife, and I made our reservation through OpenTable for a highly anticipated Valentine's Day lunch. We have wanted to try Optimist for some time and finally had a moment we could sit down together to enjoy a relaxing meal. As she travels for work and I am in an evening MBA program, these moments together are truly coveted and irreplaceable. I was thankful when she was able to snag a reservation at Optimist when both her and my time opened up only days before Valentine's. A snafu with OpenTable not telling us our reservation at 2:30 was for the same time the Optimist kitchen and dining room were closing to set up for the evening's festivities and would not include the four-course prix fixe dinner threatened to derail our Love Day celebration, but the team at Optimist rallied to wipe it from our memories. Ray Baker, the service manager, and Eli, our server, rose to the occasion in a way I haven't experienced before in a restaurant regardless of the price point. Mind you - this mix up was through absolutely no fault of their own. They ensured we experienced the best Optimist had to offer and we left sincerely impressed.

Ray and Eli, thank you so much for rescuing our Valentine's! We look forward to joining you again at Optimist and sending others your way as well!

The optimist was nice, but you should not leave a restaurant hungry. That is what happened to me. Maybe the awesome cocktails increased my appetite. Parking is nearby and is valet. There is a putting green outside in case you have a wait.

Great food (the Shrimp A La Pancha, Halibut, Fish Chowder and Bread were amazing), and even better service make this a true gem! We went for the first time for our anniversary and can't wait to go back!

Great restaurant with a professional and friendly wait staff. A bit noisy but not too much.

Excellent food. Great service. The menu has fresh in season items with seafoods that are not the norm. The redfish was outstanding. The octopus was very nice. My shrimp po boy was the best in the A. And, the damn dessert was ridiculous. I cannot give a more robust recommendation.

Drinks were great but something was "off" with the food on this visit. Normally it is a 4 to 5.

My preferred place for tasty Seafood. I was so full. I'll return with my relatives. Prices were fair for the quality of the food. Ambience reminds me of San Diego's scene.

While the food quality may be slipping a bit, the staff remains excellent and the establishment as fun as ever.

Nice variety of seafood in a casual setting. Something between a Red Lobster and a high-end seafood restaurant.

Between five of us we tried a lot of the food in the menu, everything was outstanding! I had an amazing branzino (Mediterranean Sea Bass) like never before. Service was great as well of course.

This place was fantastic! The atmosphere, the service, and of course, the food made for an amazing, delicious experience!