The Optimist

“The atmosphere in this place is what initially sold me! Perfect for a date night. So cozy yet elegant and upscale. The service also is another stand out! Genna was so attentive to our table the entire night. She recommended several main courses and she was so accommodating and friendly. The manager Vicky was also great! The food was seasoned lightly however I appreciated the wide variety of options.”

“The Optimist continues to be one of our favorite restaurants in Atlanta, especially when we're in the mood for exceptional seafood. We shared the oysters, shrimp a la plancha (easily the best I've had outside of Spain), halibut cheeks, and their outstanding burger. The complimentary rolls were fantastic as well. We celebrated our anniversary during the visit. While there wasn't a complimentary dessert, the menu was personalized with a "Happy Anniversary" message, and both the host and our waitress took the time to acknowledge the occasion, which was a thoughtful touch. Most importantly, the food quality remains top-notch and as impressive as ever. We had a wonderful evening and look forward to returning. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”

“Went to The Optimist for a birthday dinner and had a really nice time. Craig took great care of us and his recommendations were spot on, especially since it was our first visit. We ended up with a great selection. The Hamachi was super flavorful. The asparagus with beans and blue crab was good, just not something I’d get again. The NC flounder was easily one of the best dishes we had. Scallops were a solid pick too. The kedgeree was delicious and a standout, just a little spicy, same with the octopus. Corn milk hush puppies were good, a little sweet and almost more like dessert. They also brought out a complimentary key lime pie for the birthday, which was a really nice touch. Overall, really enjoyed it and would go bac”

“Place was great. It was packed but we had a reservation. Didn't wait too long to be seated. Server was attentive. Good menu options. Appetizers and bread were delicious. The benigent meatballs were sooo good!! The mussels were good too. Oysters were good. Everyone ssid they enjoyed their food. Although someone ordered the scallops and only 4 came so disappointed with the portion size of that dish especially because of the price at $41 and no sides included but they did say it was tasty. I had the haddock basically fish and chips (have to order separately) and it was really good. My water never got low. Overall great food and service.”

“Amazing service!!! Really recommend for any special occasion. We went there for dinner. We ordered Duckfat poached swordfish, She crab soup, fried oysters, Butter Burger, braised green, fingerling potatoes and some cocktails. All the seafood tasted amazing and fresh. Their salted breads were also amazing. The dessert also nice. They surprised us will special occasion drink and lovely notes at the end. Great experience dining here.”