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The Optimist, Atlanta, GA

The Optimist

4.7
4.7
8385 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood
Top Tags:
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.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 89 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu 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
    Brian Horn
  • Private party facilities
    The Optimist has a variety of event spaces that include bar events, restaurant buy outs, private dining up to 20 guests, semi-private dining for up to 50 guests.
  • Private party contact
    our Private Event Coordinator : (404) 355-5311 ext. 212
  • 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, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

Featured in

What 8,385 people are saying

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
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Atlanta Metro

    Seafood

  • Atlanta

    Seafood

  • Atlanta

    Most Booked

8,385 Reviews

  1. JimW

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall4food5service5ambience3
    Great food. Pricey but good. Especially once you've paid for drinks and valet. Really noisy once the place fills up; not what you'd look for in a quiet date dinner setting. Would help if the lame music was turned down probably. Overall good though.

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  2. DowntownDiners

    Seattle

    30 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Salmal was terrific! Everything was perfect. She guided us through the entire meal with spot-on recommendations.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    If you're looking for a slightly high end date night in Atlanta - this is your spot. We have been waiting a long time to go to The Optimist.. and it was well worth the wait. We went here for my wife's birthday and everything was top notch, from start to finish. They had "happy birthday" printed on the menu they provided my wife - which was a simple yet brilliant touch in terms of customer experience! Our servers were attentive and well versed with the menu. Their recommendations were on point and they made sure we had a great overall experience. Now, coming to the food, we ordered oyesters, the grilled octopus and the shrimp for appetizers. The shrimp was finger licking good! The oysters were fresh and flavorful and the octopus was well balanced in flavor. For our entree we got the red snapped and some garlic parmesan potatoes. The red snapped was a good sized portion (just enough for 2 people) and the garlic parmesan potatoes were crispy fried and packed with flavor. Will I go back - Hell yes!!

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  4. JeffreyG

    Atlanta Metro

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Highly recommend this restaurant for all of the right reasons. Excellent food, great service, very friendly staff, and a great overall experience. The pace of the meal was fantastic as well. Well done Optimist! I look forward to future visit.

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  5. RJCeenit

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious and AK walked us newbies through the process like a pro. I haven’t had such wonderful service in a long time. Thank you AK for making this a successful adventure 🩷

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  6. Kandj

    Phoenix

    27 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Excellent seafood, from the good selection of raw oysters to the octopus appetizer and then onto the entrees. Loved the redfish and poached swordfish. Lobster was good, but not as interesting. Service was very good. Sat outside on rather uncomfortable chairs rather than inside, where the noise level is quite high. Still one of the best seafood restaurants in Atlanta.

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  7. Nicole

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    So so delicious, great vibe, friendly staff. Loved the oyster bar! Our waiter forgot about us a couple of times, but otherwise excellent and thoughtful experience - they even separated the soup into two separate servings because we said we planned to share.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The service was fabulous. The food is fresh as fresh to death.

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  9. EastCobbMom

    Atlanta Metro

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Enjoyed a birthday dinner here, and really enjoyed the experience. All the dishes we tried were outstanding. The Branzino was my favorite, but redfish and scallops were delicious as well. Banana pudding cake was scrumptious along with the hush puppies and dinner rolls. Would love to eat here again!

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Great experience overall, but the music did not match the vibe. I recommend a better playlist.

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  11. OpenTable Diner

    Naples

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The Optimist, a seafood haven nestled in midtown Atlanta, and it was a delightful experience. The food was nothing short of excellent, with the oysters stealing the spotlight as the absolute best I've ever tasted. Our server, Rob, added a wonderful touch to the evening with his exceptional service. To top it off, The Optimist's old fashioned cocktail was superbly crafted, leaving a lasting impression. With outstanding seafood, impeccable service from Rob, and killer cocktails, The Optimist has firmly established itself as a must-visit spot in Atlanta. I can't wait to return and savor the experience all over again!

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  12. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great place to eat! IMO Best seafood menu in the city

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  13. Emma

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We enjoyed the optimist!! Our server Layton was great and made great recommendations. We will definitely be back

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  14. Kiko

    Atlanta Metro

    34 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience3
    Great food, very good service. It was packed and a little too noisy for me

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  15. JamesM

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 7, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience5
    I was there for oyster happy hour in the bar. I was raised on Gulf oysters, so west coast are very small by comparison, but also very tasty. Had the arctic char with crispy potatoes. The char was delicious with really crispy skin, but the potatoes were divine! Crisp outside and creamy inside with a saffron aioli and parm cheese. Outstanding! Finished with coconut pie/tart. Very good.

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  16. Shari

    New York Area

    45 reviews

    5.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on September 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was delicious, presented beautifully. Service was stellar. Enjoyable experience all around.

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  17. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fantastic! Best seafood place in Atlanta. I always make it a point to go when I am in town

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  18. DETW

    New York Area

    25 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on September 5, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience4
    Food was hot and miss. Half the dishes were great and the other half mediocre. Shrimp on the seafood platter was overcooked and dry, and the chocolate layer cake was TERRIBLE!! Cold stale & lacking in flavor.

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  19. JanaM

    Atlanta Metro

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and service. Valet parking always goes smoothly with minimal wait times. The music was unusually loud last night making it hard for me to hear conversations without raising our voices. The Optimist is ALWAYS on my list of go-to places for dinner. We will be back. It never disappoints.

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  20. JonathanT

    Atlanta Metro

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is my favorite place to eat in Atlanta> Service is alays great, food outstanding, I love to feel of the place, although a bit pricey for the quality you get what you pay for. Keep it up its tough out there.

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  21. Yuki

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Awesome seafood and deserved service. I will definitely visit this place again.

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  22. TamiG

    Nashville

    17 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on September 2, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    This is our second time visiting Optimist and the food is always great. Great selection of oysters and the appetizer of hamachi crudo was amazing. My halibut was over cooked but the sauce and flavors were on point. The only reason for 4 stars was the halibut but the scallops were perfect. Highly recommended.

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  23. Falcon

    Atlanta Metro

    20 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on September 1, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience4
    Fish was dry despite being poached in duck fat server was gracious and nice

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  24. NormaD

    New York Area

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 31, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service provided by Alexis! Food is always amazing and the entire staff is so welcoming and accommodating.

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  25. PIETROC

    Guadalajara

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Pasamos una noche muy linda, el ambiente es muy bueno, buena la comida (un poco menos los postres).

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  26. MarkF

    Atlanta Metro

    8 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on August 28, 2023

    overall4food5service2ambience5
    Fantastic food. Clearly there is a shortage of trained staff.

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  27. StephenS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Absolutely a meal that I will never forget. Everything was a 10/10 and looking forward to visiting again.

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  28. GlennH

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    My wife loves seafood, so I took her there for her birthday. She enjoyed the Halibut and the "Brocollini". Being a vegan, it was difficult to find something on the menu. For me, the chef made a special sautéed vegetable dish over Basmati rice which was delicious.

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  29. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall3food5service2ambience3
    Great oysters. Loud room. Waitress seemed very stressed.

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  30. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Enjoyed an anniversary dinner. Our sever was amazing. She made sure we weren’t rushed and at the end of the night brought out some champagne and sorbet for us.

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  31. diamondgirl59

    Atlanta Metro

    57 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    57 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience3
    I have been to The Optimist several and the food and service have been excellent! Last night was my birthday and the server went out of her way to make me feel special! Thank you! Last night, the food was good but not as good as before. The kale salad was tasty but the hard & bitter ribs were not removed. As kale ribs are is so easy to remove, our table was puzzled. The batter for the fish was bland and flavorless but the fish was still perfectly cooked. The chips were a bit overdone and unsalted. As it was a Saturday night, the place was packed as usual but the kitchen and servers seemed to be struggling. The homemade rolls and smoked fish were fabulous as usual! Next time, I will try a week night.

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  32. foodiex

    Tampa

    7 reviews

    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    Lobster roll had very little lobster. wasn't worth the price. Everything else was ok also a problem with the valet. We had a handicapped sticker becasue my sister in law had recently had spine surgery. the valet tried to tell us they had control of the handicapped spot and wouldn't let us park there. Please fix that

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  33. JackieR

    Atlanta Metro

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We enjoyed celebrating our anniversary at The Optimist. The staff made a special effort to celebrate us. Multiple staff members told us Happy Anniversary, our menus were stamped with “Happy Anniversary” and our waiter brought us champagne. Our waiter was super knowledgeable and helped us to make decisions about our meal without bias. Everything that we ordered was delicious. My husband had the swordfish and I had the scallops. We will definitely be back!

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  34. JamesM

    Salt Lake City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food, atmosphere, wine list, and service were excellent. It’s a very loud atmosphere but the energy is palpable. Hands down, would recommend this restaurant to anyone.

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  35. KeithC

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 25, 2023

    overall3food4service2ambience2
    Table for 5 with one chair in the aisle by a he waiter station. Heavy foot traffic and waters kept bumping into the person in the aisle. Bad set-up Server kept pushing the table to order the entrees “so it gets in ahead of the he others there”

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  36. HoustonFoodLover

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great seafood! The service was very attentive and fast! Great options for someone that is on a carb restrictive diet.

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  37. PaulR

    Atlanta Metro

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    food & service very good. noise level was louder than previous visits, but I would definitely go back.

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  38. RotondaC

    Atlanta Metro

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was outstanding! Adding this restaurant to my top 5.

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  39. KMurph

    Coastal Georgia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The extra touches for my birthday were mich appreciated!

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  40. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 20, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience4
    We’ve been to the optimist twice now and have been disappointed. Oysters were great. Servers were good. Food was ok and something is off with their food timing. The first time the food was cold, the last time we waited a long time between our salads and main course. Bread is amazing and vibe is good. If loud is a problem have them seat you behind the bar - it’s quieter there. I really want to love this place.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

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 8385 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 89 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Optimist

914 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, GA 30318

Additional information

  • Cross street
    8th Street
  • Neighborhood
    West Midtown
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • 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
    Brian Horn
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine
  • Website
    https://www.theoptimistrestaurant.com/atlanta
  • Phone number
    (404) 477-6260
  • Private party facilities
    The Optimist has a variety of event spaces that include bar events, restaurant buy outs, private dining up to 20 guests, semi-private dining for up to 50 guests.
  • Private party contact
    our Private Event Coordinator : (404) 355-5311 ext. 212

Featured in

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