The Optimist
Seafood · Atlanta · $$$
Atlanta, GA · $$$
We know the word "fusion" has been wielded about to justify everything from Hula Burgers to Mexican lasagna. But the East-meets-South brand of fusion happening at Poor Calvin's? It's creative; it's innovative; and it's probably unlike anything you've tasted in the ATL. After working in kitchens around the world, Calvin Phan wanted to shake things up a little. And so, into the mac 'n cheese, the Thai spices went. Now, Calvin's giving Southern staples, like sea bass and fried chicken, a decidedly creative Asian-inspired twist (and a nip of spice, too). He has created innovative dishes, approached in much the same way, leave the hands of Calvin Phan day in and day out. His dedication and attention to detail are evident in each dish and dessert. You won't be disappointed. *Last seating 1 hour before close*
“I've been coming to this place for years, and it has never let me down! My go-to order is the lobster fried rice, and if they have that green pound cake.. I've honestly never had a bad experience here. The hostess always greets you with a smile, and the wait staff is consistently friendly, attentive, and amazing. Great customer service goes a long way, and they always make you feel welcome. Yes, it's a little pricey these days (thank you, inflation 😩), but to me it's worth treating myself every now and then. Plus, the portions are huge, so I'm basically getting two meals out of it—dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow. That's my kind of math! I'll definitely keep coming back. Great food, great service, and always a great experience”
“We tried Poor Calvin's for the first time tonight and I'm thrilled to report it was a wonderful experience. The food was approachable but artfully executed. The cocktails were novel and exotic but clearly made by professionals at the top of their craft. Our server Kenny was delightful and greatly improved our experience with her attentiveness and knowledge of the menu. Two of my favorites were the imperial duck and lobster along with the Tom Yum cocktail. Really looking forward to returning to try more of their delicious cuisine.”
“This was legitimately one of the best meals I've ever had. The crab dip beignets were very good. The chef's take on honey walnut shrimp was probably the best shrimp I've ever had. The toasted pound cake with bananas foster is probably the best dessert I've ever had in my life.”
“This place has been on my list for a long time, and I’m so glad I finally got to try it! I honestly don’t even have the words to describe how amazing the food, service, and ambiance were. They completely exceeded my expectations and are definitely giving other Atlanta restaurants a run for their money. Everything we had was incredible! you truly can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Jojo was amazing and so knowledgeable about the dishes. He made everything sound so good, and they were just as great as he described! I can’t wait to go back. It was the perfect way to end the night. Thank you, Poor Calvin’s!”
“One of the best restaurant experiences we've ever had. Service was elite across the board. Drinks were great, food was amazing, since it was our first time we went with their staples of the Lobster Fried Rice and Crispy Beef, both were amazing. Went with the Buttermilk Frog Legs as an starter, which was lights out. Went with the Bananas Foster Pound Cake as a shared dessert which also was amazing. Our only regret was not coming here for dinner the 1st night we were in town 😓 Can't express enough how great everything was”
510 Piedmont Ave, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308, United States
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