The Optimist - Nashville

Sort by

Filters

1. RA

   RayA

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Absolutely outstanding service, experience and cuisine! Gorgeous restaurant created in a very swanky style. Our party of six, for my wife's 50th birthday, started at the bar upstairs. We enjoyed various cocktails and absolutely loved the dozen oysters as well. Bartenders are very attentive and clearly skilled in their art of cocktail preparation! Then headed downstairs for dinner where the delight continued! Very articulate and extremely professional server had us all very impressed with his level of appreciation for the food we were soon to be enjoying! Everyone loved the appetizers (kitchen was gracious enough to provide two of them complimentary as gifts to my wife). The gumbo, chowder and salads we all had were absolutely wonderful! Main dishes were absolutely on par! I hardly ever eat fish as an entre but certainly felt very satisfied with the Swordfish they prepared. As was everyone else! Only bit of disappointment came in the selection of desserts. Only three to choose from but none included a chocolate cake of sorts. We did however all very much enjoy the brownie ice cream sundae of which the brownie was fabulous! Considering the extent of drinks and food, I expected the bill to easily be about $100 per person, but was only about $75 per person including generous tip. This was certainly the first of several times we will enjoy meals at The Optimist! You surely will as well! Thank you Optimist team for making my wife's birthday dinner as wonderful as it was!!

   Report
2. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall1food5service1ambience2

   Service was absolutely atrocious. After we were seated we weren’t acknowledged by a server for nearly 10 minutes. The acknowledgment only came after I went back to the hostess stand to see what was going on. The server finally came, but clearly was not sober. He was sweaty, irritated, and continued to repeat himself. He took our entree order three times and I finally had to say something. The first round of drinks were delivered to the wrong table. It took 30 minutes for us to receive something we ordered. Will not go back to this place.

   Report
3. CS

   ChipS

   Nashville

   4 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Excellent meal! Highly recommend the oysters!

   Report
4. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   First time and worth a repeat

   Report
5. K

   Kass

   Nashville

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Such a wonderful evening with my sisters for dinner.

   Report
6. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Seattle

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall3food3service3ambience4

   too much butter on everything w very long wait times in between dishes. Of course the food will taste good when you put a stick of butter in everything

   Report
7. S

   Superhappy

   Nashville

   8 reviews

   5.0

   8 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   The atmosphere was delightful, the food was off the chain delicious and the service was spot on! We had the flounder and halibut, both had amazing flavor and cooked to perfection. We recommend the specialty drinks on the menu, The Pleasure Cruise and The RIP Current, our bar tender Elizabeth was awesome, can’t wait to come back!

   Report
8. H

   Heather

   Dallas

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   2nd time back and we loved it again. Our sever was awesome.

   Report
9. MF

   MFelix

   New York Area

   8 reviews

   5.0

   8 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience4

   The service and food is outstanding. I can’t remember the last time I was treated so well. Everything we ordered was fresh and delicious. Recommend this to everyone! Will come back!!!

   Report
10. RF

    RichardF

    Atlanta

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    I live in Atlanta so have been to the original location several times. Hit the Nashville spot last night and was happy that the experience was similar…cool place, great food and good service.

    Report
11. B

    Becky

    Nashville

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Wait staff was great. Becca is a gem.

    Report
12. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Exclusive

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Perfection!!! Food was AMAZING ! The rolls! Service was spot on. Food was incredible. We will go back!

    Report
13. HH

    HalH

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    My wife and I decided to splurge for our wedding anniversary and thus we decided upon the Optimist. All of our adult children had been here before and highly recommended this upscale dinning experience.

    Report
14. RB

    RobertB

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall3food3service2ambience3

    we were excited to try The Optimistic as several people recommended it. Food was over priced for the quality. Maybe other dishes are better so it's worth going and experiencing for yourself.

    Report
15. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Nashville

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 26, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We went for a friends 30th birthday and it was amazing!

    Report
16. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Jacksonville

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 25, 2022

    overall2food3service1ambience4

    Garth talks waaaay tooooo much. Co-ops the dining experience with his menu monologue. Ruins it.

    Report
17. S

    Smith

    Nashville

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on June 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Special touch - stamped our menus with “Happy Anniversary”. Our waiter Earnest was very attentive! The tuna poke and ceviche were so fresh and delicious. The whole flounder never disappoints. Delicious brownie dessert. Thanks for a great dining experience.

    Report
18. SC

    ShirinC

    Nashville

    2 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 25, 2022

    overall3food2service3ambience2

    The food was not good and the service was very slow. And there was a huge leak being collected by a bucket next to our table.

    Report
19. DD

    DaraD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We scheduled a layover JUST to eat Optimist, Nashville. From the appetizers, dinner and dessert, they were all AMAZING!!!!

    Report
20. t

    tylorl

    Nashville

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 24, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Great Food, friendly waiters, great atmosphere. Will be back.

    Report
21. B

    Bergie

    Nashville

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 23, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Great experience. Oysters were amazing. Halibut was great. One criticism was that the swordfish was dry.

    Report
22. CM

    ChrisM

    Nashville

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Our food was excellent. So happy to have amazing seafood available in Nashville. The shrimp starter is a must. The halibut was so good. Our waiter Earnest was great and very knowledgeable answering our questions. All his suggestions were spot on.

    Report
23. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Nashville

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 21, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Aisha was our waitress and she was phenomenal. Great seafood and great cocktails

    Report
24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 21, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Some of the best food in Nashville! Plan ahead so you can get a reservation.

    Report
25. ZT

    ZianT

    Memphis/West TN

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Our server recommendation were outstanding. The food was amazing.

    Report
26. PA

    PatriciaA

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Welcoming and stylish interior renovation of what I think is either a warehouse or factory. Stunning building. Service is friendly yet professional. Menu is outstanding. Favorites includefrom the Opportunity appetizer/first course chef’s choice of oysters, shrimp, ceviche, smoked fish dip,and tuna poke. It was delightful. Fresh hot roles***** and all of the entrees were amazing.

    Report
27. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall2food3service2ambience3

    The hostess was so incredibly rude when we arrived for our reservation. I can’t understand why someone in that role would be so inhospitable. Our server was great, food was good, but the hostess really brought the whole experience down a few notches.

    Report
28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    This was my third visit to The Optimist and every meal has been outstanding! The service is stellar every visit.

    Report
29. P

    Paige

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This was our second time at the Optimist for a birthday celebration. I can’t rave enough about the food! Definitely a must for locals or visitors.

    Report
30. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Nashville

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Tuna tostada and shrimp and oyster gumbo was to die for. Cerviche and tuna poke were good but over priced for the small amount you receive! Good food but expensive.

    Report
31. BB

    BBar

    Nashville

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on June 16, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Anniversary

    Report
32. JM

    JessMarie

    Nashville

    50 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    50 reviews

    Dined on June 16, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The food is amazing! The service was impeccable!

    Report
33. CS

    ChelseaS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 12, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This place was phenomenal. We started with drinks upstairs at Le Loup (amazing) and then dinner. Our group had the scallops, halibut and swordfish - all were so, so good. We got appetizers of raw oysters, ceviche, and peel and eat shrimp (all of which were great). There was a mix up of tables where an order of steamed oysters were set on our table and we were told to eat them since they were set down - our friend who doesn’t like oysters tried them and loved them. Nothing bad to say about this place at all. We will be back.

    Report
34. LA

    LorenA

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 11, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent service, the waiter was attentive but not overbearing. We had the oysters gulf shrimp, mahi mahi and sword fish - fresh and delicious. We sat out side - so enjoyable, fans provided a cool breeze for a night in June.

    Report
35. L

    Littlegem

    Nashville

    20 reviews

    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on June 9, 2022

    overall4food3service5ambience4

    We loved everything til the entree. My halibut in parchment was horrifically undercooked. My husband wood plank grilled fish came in some liquid, almost soup like. But those issues aside, we enjoyed. Not much of a desert menu. But we might go back. I’ll say well done on the fish.

    Report
36. DW

    DianeW

    Charleston

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on June 9, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great oysters. Exceptional service. Lived up to its reputation as a foodie place.

    Report
37. VL

    VirginiaL

    Nashville

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 9, 2022

    overall3food4service2ambience3

    Server was nice , super friendly. But drinks and oysters came out really slow. And we never got the beans we ordered- not sure if we were charged or not. Like the atmosphere and food was really good. Coconut pie delicious.

    Report
38. L

    Logan

    Birmingham

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 8, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great meal! Really enjoyed the service and atmosphere as well

    Report
39. LT

    LoriT

    Nashville

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 8, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Love this place!! Food is excellent! Best seafood in Nashville! The service is amazing! I have some dietary issues and every time we go, the server has a print out of my issues and everyone is very attentive to that! My favorite restaurant!!

    Report
40. AL

    AbbyL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 7, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The expansive yet cozy atmosphere, amazing food and cocktails and friendly, knowledgeable staff made this the perfect place to celebrate a birthday. We will definitely be back!

    Report