The OptimistThe food was just the rightThe food was just the right amount and prepared with great care. It was good.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMBest fish in ATL!Phenomenal food paired with an energetic setting with a distinct identity. This place will transport you to the beach the moment you walk into the oyster bar. The dining room is gorgeous and edgy. The food is spectacular. From the oysters and mussels to the cornmeal crusted fish offering to the southern beignets, this is one of the best meals I've had in ATL!6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding ServiceMy husband and I had dinner at The Optimist for our 10 year wedding anniversary and it was perfect! The food was excellent and the service was outstanding!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMLike its title it's all good hereThe service was excellent and very knowledge about each of the dishes. The food was very fresh and delicious. I tried things that I wasn't sure I would like but after eating those choices they are addictive because they are so good. For the food, drinks and atmosphere the price was very reasonable. The vibe was very upbeat with music and a great sound system to bring it to life. I definitely want to go back again and will make it one of my regular rotations for dinner and drinks.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMCan't get enough...Love this place and the vibe. I think the Oyster Bar is my favorite and transports you to the beach while being in the middle of the city! The food is excellent too! Haven't had anything I didn't like.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMLived up to the HypeThe Optimist was everything I'd hope it would be. We came to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary. I don't eat seafood - so the chicken was outstanding (if a little heavy on the pepper.) The yeast rolls were like hot pretzels for adults. The arugula salad - I cleaned the bowl out. Save room for dessert! The salted caramel ice cream is drool worthy. My husband had a lot of fun learning to eat oysters. He's an East Coast man now.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMEclectic celebrationAnniversary celebration upon recommendation.
Loved the fresh Grouper.
Open and fun environment.
Can't wait to go back and have their salted caramel ice cream again and again. The very best.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMToo cool for it's own goodnessThe salted sourdough rolls were wonderful and the oysters were fantastic and that's why I would go back. Unfortunately I'm not a fan of the cocktail sauce - too sweet & the horseradish, while freshly grated, was lackluster. Their rendition of shrimp scampi as an app was way too heavy on the mushy bread - perhaps the bread should be half in/half out? More shrimp less ham- I've had better beet salad and glazed carrots in less expensive restaurants.
The frog legs were fantastic! The ambiance is beautiful and loved the setting. Service could not have been better. Our waiter was extremely knowledgable. While this is probably "the new place to be seen" - the bar area for apps/oysters is where I would return. Wine list is right on. Go try it-6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMOptimistic about the OptimistLoved the feel of this restaurant and the food was great. The tuna was perfect and the crispy whole snapper outstanding. Our Little gem salad was a perfect starter. Our waiter was helpful and his suggestions were helpful. We look forward to returning.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMA Legitimate Raw Bar in ATL?You bet! We sampled nearly half of the menu, and there wasn't a single dish that disappointed. Oysters were by far the best I've had in Atlanta; also a nice touch that they had a variety of oysters from which to choose! Food was fantastic, service was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu, and it was an all-around great experience. One of the best restaurants at which I've eaten in Atlanta!6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesomeLoved this place. Live music outside by the oyster bar, great oysters, will definitely be coming back!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMFood melted in my mouth!Fried oysters, lobster roll, wreckfish and hush puppies melted in my mouth. I took a friend there for her birthday because it was her choice and I was so impressed I will take another friend soon for a birthday lunch!
Now it is my choice for special occasions!5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMBirthday LunchWe had a lovely specail occasion lunch at The Optimist and the food was over the top and the service was over the top but the noise level was not good when we first arrived at about 1:15 for lunch. The music and all of people talking was too much but as the crowd started to leave it became very nice and we enjoyed the rest of the meal. I recomment going at later for lunch to avoid the noise, but some people might like it that way.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and service but noisyThe food and service were truly 5-star. The restaurant is EXTREMELY loud due to warehouse atmosphere and crowd; thus the downgrade to "very good" overall. NOT the place for one-on-one conversation over dinner.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved it!Food was fantastic, service was fantastic, cocktails were fantastic! The grilled octopus starter was cooked perfectly, the aioli was so fresh, I used my bread to sop it up! The mussels had a Thai flavor and spice that was perfect with the fresh herbs and you got A LOT of mussels with your order. I had raw oysters and fried oysters and both were fresh and the fried version was cooked perfectly. If I hadn't gotten so full from the mussels, I would've definitely tried an entree!! Next time. Oh, and the basmati fried rice was really tasty, but had a strong curry flavor so only order it if you like that type of flavor. I can't wait to go back!5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMCreative SeafoodWe enjoyed the creative way Optimist used all of the usual seafood. Everything was very good. I liked the way the menu alerted one about those spicey items. I can't do spicey so I liked that very much.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMCool place, excellent foodI loved this place. One side is like an open beach bar, the other a renovated warehouse with open kitchen and lotsof seating.
The food was all fantastic. I went with my son on our memorial weekend to Atlanta and we both loved it. We shared some fried oysters that were crisp, yet still maintained the tender inside and beautiful briny flavor. I had the seared tuna with charred octopus and crispy potato salad and it was excellent. He had the halibut which was amazing (I tried a bite). The tuna was just seared so the inside was nice and rare which is how it should be. The halibut was browned nicely but still moist and delicious. Beignets for dessert with bacon cashew caramel corn were divine. Overall I would highly recommend it!5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother Wonderful DinnerWe loved the new menu and the service was wonderful. The recommendations were spot on and the cocktails and wine paired with the dinner perfectly.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food. Great atmosphere.Fantastic food. Great atmosphere. Will be a regular5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful SeafoodTrendy restaurant in an up and coming area. Enjoy the putting green or have a cocktail while you wait for your table. Nice outdoor seating with a limited menu or have a full dinner inside. Food was excellent and we loved the wine choices. Very noisy outside but inside a little better. The vegetables have a very refreshing taste. Loved the kale and sugar snap peas.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat EveningLovely evening at The Optimist. Our server was very helpful in making suggestions about food and drinks. We started with raw oysters and steamed mussels which really set the tone for our dinner. The Swordfish was our favorite (I say "our" because my husband was willing to share). My Hake was fine, but not anywhere near the swordfish. For dessert we had the beignets and substituted salted caramel ice cream for the vanilla, which was a perfect pairing. We also had the goat cheese and blueberry tart, which was amazing! We happened to be there on the 1 year anniversary of the restaurant and there was a lot of activity out front along with a live band. Amazingly, the extra noise was not a problem at all and made for a fun atmosphere. Wonderful!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding Experience!!We had an excellent meal and superb service!! 10's all around!!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMNo Pessimist About The Optimist!Another Ford Fry gem! Amazing food, service and setting. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu from the salads to the seafood. Even the hush puppies are a notch above the rest. What are you waiting for?! GO!5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food & service, poor hostessThe food and service were excellent. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner choices of scallops and tuna, respectively. Our waitress was prompt, very attentive and kept our beverage glasses full. She was exceptional.
Our only complaint was regarding the hostess who decides where to seat people. We had a 5:45 PM reservation. The restaurant was only about 10-15% occupied. There were many tables open for a party of two. The hostess chose to seat us at a table in front of the bar area that had 6 to 7 two-seat tables in a row, all unoccupied. She wanted to seat us at the 2nd table in from the end. We moved to the end table. Within 5 minutes the hostess tried to seat 2 other couples in the table next to us. They refused and moved.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible!Food is off the chart -- only topped by the service. Get the octopus and the hush puppies! Oysters were the best I'd ever had.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazingThe 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 AMGreat food and great service.Great food and great service. It is hard to find a good place for seafood in Atlanta, but the Optimist does it right. I would bring clients here for a lively dinner again and again. Highly recommend this restaurant!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 AMWe have been here twice whileWe have been here twice while im Atlanta, does not disappoint. Would reccomend as a must try to any and all. Relaxed, enjoyable and delicious food!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 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 AMGreat dinnerWent here for dinner to catch up with an old friend and from start to finish everything was awesome. Good cocktails, awesome food and great ambiance.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 AMWay too noisy for conversation.Way too noisy for conversation. They need to do something about this. It's not fun shouting across the table!5/16/2013 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 AM