The OptimistHot 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 AMWas very impressed! I recentlyWas very impressed! I recently had dinner here with 4 other guests and we were all very happy with the variety and creativity of the menu. We each ordered a starter and a main course as well as 6 sides to split between the 5 of us (perfect amount). All of the dishes were very fresh and vibrant and everyone cleaned their plates. A definite for return visits. The atmosphere was very cool, beautifully designed space, bright and fresh, feels like your on the coast. Job well done Optimist!4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time there. Menu selectionsFirst time there. Menu selections were very good, and our waiter was quite knowledgeable about the choices. Could have used a touch of a green veggie on my flounder platter.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMDrinks and food were deliciousDrinks and food were delicious and not the kind of things that you think to yourself," oh I can do that at home".4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGo, and ENJOY!Excellent Overall Experience... Wonderful Entrees- and Amazing side dishes (The Carrots were simple the best in the city). Truly one of the best meals we've had in quite awhile...4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMI'm always particularly impressedI'm always particularly impressed with the hosts/hostess here. it's an Atlanta favorite -- took my friends from NYC down for the weekend and it never disappoints.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good service, and excellentVery good service, and excellent food as well. Good casual business lunch.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and high qualityExcellent food and high quality service that does not disappoint.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time there - reallyFirst time there - really liked everything about it....the food was delicious and our wait staff was attentive and friendly. Will go again for sure.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMFish dishes were nice, butFish dishes were nice, but nothing great. Very expensive for nice dishes that don't come with any sides at all. I've had many better meals for less $. Restaurant is beautiful.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was fantastic! ComplimentThe food was fantastic! Compliments to the chefs and the team at the restaurant. We had oysters and the lobster as starters and enjoyed both very much. Fish N Chips and the Scallops for our main course and enjoyed a glass of wine over dinner. I will come back to sit at the bar and try the other appetizers I saw at other tables.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a fantastic Time! TheHad a fantastic Time! The best service! Food unique and delicious.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat selection of seafoodGreat selection of seafood options. I was impressed with the service and attention to detail. If you are looking for great seafood with alternative approaches this is your place.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, excellentExcellent food, excellent service and very neat space. The acoustics are very loud though, so I wouldn't go if you're looking for intimate and romantic. Oysters are a bit overpriced in my opinion but I realize to get them fresh and in a land locked city perhaps they need to charge what they charge. Tuna was superb. Definitely recommend.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWent for a birthday dinner.Went for a birthday dinner. The food was remarkably good. We're all a bunch of foodies, and there were delighted sounds of mmmmmmmmmmm... with each bite. I'd recommend this without hesitation to anyone.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AM