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The Optimist, Atlanta, GA

The Optimist

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Visa Dining Collection

4.7 (9245)
$31 to $50
Seafood
914 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, GA 30318

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 95 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Hot spot
  • Good for business meals
The Optimist brings a seaside fish camp experience to landlocked Atlantans. The ever-changing menu features high-quality, sustainable seafood masterfully paired with fresh, local ingredients. From sophisticated, daily-catch dishes to crudos and beachside classics, chef-owner Ford Fry’s the Optimist transports guests to their favorite coastal haunts.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (404) 477-6260
  • Website
    https://www.theoptimistrestaurant.com/atlanta
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Edward Barrett
  • Private party facilities
    The Optimist has a variety of event spaces that include bar events, restaurant buy outs, with private and semi-private dining for up to 200 guests.
  • Location
    914 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, GA 30318
  • Neighborhood
    West Midtown
  • Cross street
    8th Street
  • Parking details
    $5 Valet service is offered through the Brady parking garage, located on property. Additional surface street parking is available throughout the neighborhood, as well as additional lots in the area.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

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Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 9,245 people are saying

The Optimist reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Atlanta

    Seafood

  • Atlanta

    Seafood

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
"The Optimist" shines with "amazing seafood," "exceptional service," and "fantastic ambiance." Guests rave about the oysters, rolls, and peel & eat shrimp. Notable mentions include attentive staff and a memorable dining experience, making it a top choice for celebrations. While some dishes and portions faced critique, overall, it remains a beloved Atlanta spot.

9,245 Reviews

  1. Michael

    Las Vegas1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great overall experience. Awesome staff and cuisine

    Is this helpful?

  2. Lauren

    Phoenix1 review

    2.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Service was terrible. Billed us for 2 bottles of wine when we only purchased 1. They did take it off our bill though.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Bill

    Las Vegas1 review

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Drinks were very slow to come from the bar. Sides arrived ~10 minutes before the mains and were pretty cold by the time the mains arrived. Food tasted great.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Joey

    Alabama1 review

    3.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was great. Our server wasn’t friendly, attentive or engaging.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Bayard

    Tampa4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great place. Food and service are excellent. Open main room can get quite noisy at peak times.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Catalina

    Atlanta1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Kennedy was an amazing server. She had a great personality and was the perfect amount of attentive. The was all delicious. Highly recommend the deviled eggs, smoked fish dip and lobster rolls. And those hush puppies!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Brandon

    Atlanta1 review

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great dining experience. The Optimist is one of our favorites!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Sidney

    Charleston4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went for an early dinner… We were the first folks in the restaurant!! The staff was hustling around getting ready for the busy night. I had some delicious fresh Oysters .. a pretty tasty tequila cocktail and the Red Fish and sweet wife had the Halibut. They both were amazing dishes. Oh yea we can’t for get the killer house made rolls!! We finished off with a killer Chocolate dessert!! We have never had a bad dinning experience at The Optimist and the service was spot on as always. Can’t wait to make it back to Atlanta to go back..

    Is this helpful?

  9. Brooke

    Washington DC5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, venue and service. 10/10 would highly recommend.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Sterling VIP

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The optimist never disappoints. Food quality and recommendations were excellent and just the right amount of service attention to be helpful but not overbearing. 

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Optimist offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (404) 477-6260.

The Optimist is rated 4.7 stars by 9245 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Atlanta
  4. Atlanta
  5. West Midtown

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 95 times today
Google Map for The Optimist

914 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, GA 30318

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    8th Street
  • Neighborhood
    West Midtown
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    $5 Valet service is offered through the Brady parking garage, located on property. Additional surface street parking is available throughout the neighborhood, as well as additional lots in the area.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Edward Barrett
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

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