The OptimistAmazingThe optimist was incredible. We had oysters, soft shell crab, the swordfish, the tuna and the peel and eat shrimp. Everything was absolutely amazing and I recommend this to anyone who loves oysters. Or seafood. Or food.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMHidden Gem!This was not my first time coming to the Optimist, but as usual it was amazing! I love everything about this restaurant! From the ambience, to the amazing food! I would definitely recommend this reastaurant.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMYum Yum Yum!!There was a group of six of us and we all are foodies and it was an amazing meal. From starting at the bar with fresh juiced cocktails to almost one of every appetizer (octopus was amazing) to dinner with scallops and last but not least the beignets for dessert! Everything was wonderful and the restaurant was well set up and very different. Can't wait to return!5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMLove The OptimistWe had a great dining experience at The Optimist! The food was great, service was friendly and knowledgeable. The restaurant is definitely the most beautiful in Atlanta. It was my husbands birthday and everyone was so great about the surprise element we added at the last minute. We got stuck in traffic and the hostesses were understanding and accommodating. I know understand what all the buzz surrounding this restaurant is all about - thank you for a great night!
Also the caramel with sea salt ice cream cup was delicious!5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMwe live in Asheville nc andwe live in Asheville nc and own a restaurant. Hardly ever want to go out to eat. It was recommended for us to check out the optimist.
Excellent choice. Well worth the 3 hour drive!!5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMReady for our reservation.Ready for our reservation. Service was just a tad off at the table - not fully engaged. Halibut and scallops were perfect. Salted Caramel ice cream was a bit metallic; Morelli's is better. Beignets were fabulous.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMNice, but not sure it wasNice, but not sure it was worth the price.,oysters were fine, but at $36-$40 a dozen I'll stop eating them..gumbo and she-crab soup was excellent..entrees were good, but not great..Jonathon, the server, was great..cannot understand why this place has valet parking...may return for lunch, but not for dinner5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMCasual Elegant??Food/service experience was wonderful. Too many good choices to choose from and all were excellent. This was a special occasion and the website says it is Casual Elegant for dress code. NOT!! The wait staff were in jeans/tshirts/crocs/tennis shoes, etc. as was most of the dining guests. Not a place if you are really wanting to do something special except for the food being great. We were definitely overdressed. But we will be back, only next time in verrrry casual dress.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMNever disappointsThis is my second time at the restaurant, and once again Chef Evans has written a menu to please and delight. I had the mussels in green curry sauce and chiles to start and a tautog fillet with pepper jelly. My fiancée had a frothed she-crab soup and a grouper with a bacon tomato purée. The menu does tend to change according to the availability of ingredients, but everything is always less than 72 hours fresh. Definitely a go for a special occasion!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMAttention to DetailI was surprised when the waitress came back and said that someone had accidentaly thrown away some leftovers we planned to take so a new order was being prepared. That kind of attention to detail will bring me back not to mention all the other wonderful aspects of the experience.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat out of town findI read about The Optimist in Southern Living magazine several months ago and we already had a trip to Atlanta planned. My husband and I ate here for our anniversary. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful. Our waiter was very attentive and the food was amazing! Didn't have anything that wasn't wonderful. We were so full we couldn't hold dessert but got some of the cashew, bacon caramel corn and took back to the hotel. Wish we'd tasted it before we left because we would've gotten more than one bag!! All in all it was a great evening and a great find. Will definitely visit again when we are back in town.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMFish HeavenOur first visit was very enjoyable. Went early to beat the crowd & noise. We had fish& chips, huge portion, so split that, had fried oysters, best we ever had, small cold scallops, very good, beet salad. hush puppies, coconut pudding for dessert. . Chris , our waiter was best we have had in long time. lots of great fish dishes to choose from. we will be back.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place for a casual biz lunchService and food were both outstanding. Drink prices are a little on the high side compared to similar local restaurants. Lobster roll tasted a little like something you might get at Publix, but the hush-puppies more than made up for it. I also tried a bight over everyone else's entree and found all to be quite tasty. Will definitely return.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMOptimist RocksThe experience at the Optimist exceeded my expectations - from the valet attendant, the host and the wait staff -- everyone was customer centric and motivated to serve. I will definately recommend to my friends.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMHot spot carries the flameRead the reviews, took an off hour reservation as was out of town and limited in my availability. The experience was everything I anticipated. Excellent fish creatively prepared. I am from Florida, so initially I thought, "Another fish camp? Pass." This is not your Daddy's fish house, kids. They do up the price with even the sides separately priced, so no bargains here, but great food, high cool factor and very good service (albeit a few too many staff on constant patrol) make it worth the $180 meal, with dessert, wine and tip.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesomeServer was extremely knowledgable. Food was amazing. The only complaint was that service slacked a bit half way though as the restaurant got busier, bu overall the food and ambiance shined through.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day Dinner at The OptimistWe visited for Mother's Day. The place was very busy at 6:15, which is early dinner by Atlanta standards. Everything we eat was very good, starting with the dinner rolls and ending with desert. Given the high ceiling and no sound deadening material, the noise level was high, so not really a romantic dinner spot.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGood food and serviceThe food was outstanding. The fried oysters were yummy and the halibut was cooked perfectly. The service was also excellent.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent ExperienceTook my family out for dinner and everything was spot on from being seated to the service and the food. The pace of the meal was perfect and each course was excellent though the white fish chowder may have been the highlight of the meal. Definitely looking forward to going back.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMDeliciousI was very pleased with The Optimist. Food was delicious! Beautifully flavored without going overboard. I had the hake fish and it was fantastic! Will definitely return!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best meals I've ever hadFrom the moment we walked in we felt very at home. We were a few minutes early and decided to sit at the bar. None of us recognized any of the red wines offered so we asked the bartender for his recommendation - it was delicious. So much so we ended up having 2 bottles.
Then, when we were seated the waitress could NOT have been more friendly knowledgeable and genuinely happy to be serving our table.
Started with the mussels that 3 out of 4 at the table said they would not eat - ended up having to fight to get my share as they went from wanting "just a bite" to loving it! The hush puppies were insane! Each of us had a different fish and all of us were blown away.
This truly was one of the best meals I've ever had!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMBest seafood in ATLThis is the new king of seafood in Atlanta. Great balance of fine dining coupled with relaxed modern atmosphere. Food is spectacular. You must get the grilled octopus! Raw oysters were the best set-up and freshest I've ever eaten. The flourless chocolate dessert rocks too.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome food, awesome experienceThe space is beautiful, the food was fantastic and our server was outstanding. I think his name is James?5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat seafood!Great seafood and great atmosphere. Took my wife here recently for our anniversary and we had a wonderful time. Stand our dishes were the grouper, fried oysters, scallops and the best octopus we have ever had. I highly recommend!5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful!We were celebrating my mom's birthday and it couldn't have been better! Our waitress was attentive and knowledgeable and the food was outstanding. Would definitely go back and highly recommend it!5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect mealThe charred octopus appetizer is one of the best things I've ever had. Perfect entrees and sides as well. Service was excellent and corrected a mistake by the bar staff without me mentioning it. I'll definitely be back.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMI had the seafood gumbo andI had the seafood gumbo and the scallops, both of which we absolutely delicious. The warm bread with sea salt and butter was a great snack while you wait. Order a side of the hushpuppies, they are a must.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAlmost perfectWe have been to this restaurant twice, and we are already planning to go again. The food is terrific, and the wait staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. It is a little overpriced, and it therefore is not somewhere we can go too often. The cheapest entrées are $18, and the more expensive items exceed $30. They do have a good and reasonably priced kids menu, though, and it would be possible to get a full meal with an appetizer and salad. With the exception of the expense, this is one of the better and more interesting places we have been to in a long time. We are very excited it is here.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMTop shelf food and serviceI took my girlfriend here for date night. Food was unbelievable good and I'm not even a big seafood fan. Cocktails were also awesome. Just be prepared to drop some $$$.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellentPerfect spot for a date night. Everything was excellent - the food, the wine list, and the service.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMFUN FOR "OUT-OF- TOWN' guests!Excellent form begin to end! Lovely food and great service. Highly recommended to anybody interested in"food and atmosphere" ! I hope you enjoy as much as we did!5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMOysters not to be missed!We took a couple of friends from Maine to The Optimist and it was a home run! I decided I really wanted two of the appetizers instead of starter and a main. I had the fried oysters to start and they were perfect, crunchy not soggy on outside, sweet and slightly briny on inside and enough to share with my friends. I then had the Mussels in Curry appetizer as my main course and again, so many lovely mussels, I ended up sharing because I couldn't finish all of them! Wonderful evening—noise level was energetic so if you have issues ask for a table to the side or at a banquet.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous!Everything about The Optimist was great except the speed of service. There was a 30 minute wait for our desserts however the waitress knew it and acknowledged it and said a manager would be over. A manager came and comped our desserts and it reall did not matter because everything else was so great. Everyone needs to go visit soon.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurant overall.Great restaurant overall. Food was amazing and staff was knowledgable and attentive. Only down side was leaving smellin like the hardwood smoke. Smell of campfire lingered on my clothes.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMSeafood in Atlanta? Yes!I've longed searched for a good seafood place in Atlanta and The Optimist is that restaurant. The razor clams were amazing and the charred octopus somehow managed to outshine the delicious tuna that it accompanied. Follow that up with a house made push-up pop and you have a delightful meal.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMOptimist is everything weOptimist is everything we expect, each and every time we dine there. This is a true
Atlanta gem that holds the crown as one of the very best.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place! The food wasGreat place! The food was cooked perfectly , the staff friendly and attentive and a great decor.
The only negative would be that they were out of both the entree and dessert that one of my friends wanted to order.
Would deffinitely recommend!4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThe best dinner you'll ever eat!I have been fortunate to eat at the Optimist 3 times now and each visit has been a fantastic experience. This was a birthday dinner for my husband and he is very picky about seafood. He was totally "over the moon" with the food. Everything was excellent and Kevin, our waiter was sublime. My only critcism was the noise level which unfortunately cannot be helped in such a cavernous room. It was difficult to talk to each other even though we were just across the table from one another. The next day at a brunch I told everyone about this restaurant. I also eat at JCT Kitchen which is another favorite. This is a winning combination.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing, one of the best mealsAmazing, one of the best meals I've had in Atlanta!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMA lively place filled withA lively place filled with folks of all ages enjoying tasty, mostly healthy food. Some dishes were rather spicy and I think our server should have mentioned that when we ordered those dishes, but if you are sensitive to highly seasoned foods, I would ask about that as you order. Menu is largely creative, food is colorful and tasty. We will be back!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMDid not disappoint!!!You know how sometimes things get so hyped up and then it is a let down because you have built it up so much in your mind? Well I will have to say Optimist did not disappoint. We went there for the first time after several friends recommended it. It was excellent. We had reservations for dinner but opted to stay at the raw bar when we got there. The service was excellent and the food was so good. I would definitely recommend this place.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AM"Aside" from the fact that"Aside" from the fact that entrees don't come with sides, it was great. The bread before the meal was delicious as well (a little buttery, but that just made it better). We did order the bok choy to split as a side, and it worked well for two of us with our fish.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful oysters!!!!You guys need a rating for noise other than "energetic" - too many restaurants are so loud that you can't hear your friends; this one had more noise than I would have hoped but less than some.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMLove this plce!My husband and I celebrated my birthday at the optimist, first time we go, definitely not the last one! Loved the scallops!4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was our first time we enjoyedIt was our first time we enjoyed the meal however my dinner date made a comment the bread toasted was to hard other then that it was a great experience overall and our server Kira, was great.comment4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for lunch. Service wasGreat for lunch. Service was friendly and knowledgable. Food was good. Binget were amazing!!!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food! The fusion wasGreat food! The fusion was very different and crossed many different regions. We especially enjoyed the mussels in a thai cilantro sauce. The tuna was also amazing. Fish and chips were great too!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMDid not dissapoint in any way.Best overall experience in ATL I've had to date. Outstanding menu, superior service, beautiful design, food of the gods. Recommend x100.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Optimist is a MUST-TRY!The Optimist is a MUST-TRY! The food was fantastic, the staff knowledgable, and the environment very pleasant and comfortable.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfectionThe food and service are impeccable. The Optimist has quickly risen to one of my favorite restaurants in the city!4/24/2013 12:00:00 AM