We had a wonderful dinner at The Optimist, start to finish. We brought our 8‑month‑old with us and…read morewere promptly seated, no stress at all. Our daughter spent the first few minutes waving at the staff, and they genuinely lit up every time -- such a warm, welcoming vibe right from the jump. Starters We kicked things off with the she‑crab soup, and that's when we knew the meal was going to be special. Tons of rich crab flavor and chunks of crab. The crispy shrimp toast was another hit -- crunchy, savory, and a great pairing with the soup. We also ordered the Baker's Dozen oysters, chef's selection. All 13 were fresh, clean, and briny in the best way. Next up: the Spanish octopus, and honestly... top five octopus dish we've had. Cooked perfectly -- tender, melt‑in‑your‑mouth texture. The salsa macha added just the right amount of heat, and the marcona almonds brought a great crunch with the cilantro, lime, and mint brightening everything up. What a beautifully composed dish. We finished with the Halibut and Lady peas. The Halibut was topped with lobster and served with a lobster butter sauce, chives, and capers. Rich, buttery, flaky, and perfectly cooked. The lady peas (fava beans, asparagus, and a generous mound of blue crab) were another standout. So much flavor, but everything complemented each other instead of competing. One of those sides you keep looking for more of when it's gone. --- Overall Every dish was thoughtful, balanced, and executed at a high level. Service was warm and genuinely kind -- especially with our little one. 10/10 would recommend

We have been coming to the ford Frye restaurants for almost 10 years. They've had great service,…read moregreat food and a great time. Over the years we've seen things decrease especially at the optimist. The hosts were great and they always give us great service but the food had been the lacking the last couple of services where the she crab soup lacked crab, the swordfish over cooked multiple times. This time in particular we ordered the whole lobster and was offered to have it taken out of the shell for us. HIGHLY DO NOT RECOMMEND. When we got the lobster we got a full tail but one claw and no knuckles. When we addressed with the server, she argued with us that that's how a lobster is and that there could be more meat hidden on the plate. It felt like she thought we were there to just get more food by saying "so what do you want, more meat" but if we had it in the shell we would have received our full portion. The manager on duty tried to make it up to us by comping the lobster but it was more than that. After going back and forth with the server we just wanted the check to leave. The manager on duty insisted to give us the lobster and take it home. The server wasn't very polite and argued with us about the lobster. I wish I remembered the servers name With that said, the amount of money we have spent there over the years, it's unfortunate that that will be our last time going to the Optimist.

Everything was flavorful and the service was good! We had bread, mezze platter, poulet rouge and…read morefilet mignon. The filet was small but the chicken was generous. I enjoyed the natural to moody lighting over the course of dinner.

I attended Miller Union for dinner on a business trip. It was a very upscale restaurant with…read moreexcellent service. The food left something to be desired. I thought there could be a better cheese selection on the charcuterie board and the beet panzanella was a little too beet forward. I ordered the veggie plate which was a combination of all four veggies sides. The creamed spinach and ricotta dumplings were awesome but I was very sad they only gave me two ricotta dumplings on the plate! The seasonal veggies and farro salad were just alright. My coworkers enjoyed their steak.

Food is great so good Served in a good time of ordering…read more Amazing ambiance Drew Garrard

This is my second time visiting Woodall. I didn't write a review for the first vist. But I can say…read morethe food was delicious. Today our waitress Ms. Crystal was amazing. My cousin brought me in for a birthday brunch. We decided to get a shareable starters and every single dish was amazing. The Charred Okra, the avocado toast, the Gougères, wilted garlic spinach and the Cacio E Pepe was delicious. And that Matcha Cucumber Gimlet was so good and refreshing. I highly recommend everything. Woodall restaurant is so relaxing. Perfect for a date night.

Nice restaurant! They have excellent food options. Everything was so delicious and they have nice…read morequality of ingredients. The Pork Belly and Salt & Pepper Chicken which taste so good. They have nice flavor and well-cooked meat and chicken. I really enjoyed the food while still hot. The food was served pretty quick. The restaurant was good.

Amazing. I wasn't sure what to expect coming here but the experience was stupendous. My biggest…read moreregret is that we came in already full from lunch. The fried green tomatoes were just as outstanding as advertised. And the NOLA shrimp were also excellent. And the waiter was spot on with recommendations. Terrific. Some restaurants deliver on great apps only to disappoint with the entrees. Not here. The fried chicken was wonderfully prepared. The grits were also excellent - some of the best I've had. And actually the trout dish was a delight, with an amazingly crispy skin. The food was so darn good, we ordered desserts even though we were all full to the gills. But darn, that warm butter cake was mouth watering. And the family also loved the banana pudding. And service was outstanding as well. I did get chided for trying to help with clearing the dishes - which was a first for me. No complaints here. I hope to come back for another amazing meal when I'm back in town. Please don't go anywhere!

A breath of fresh air for the neighborhood Walked into The…read moreEmber Room* expecting the usual gastropub vibe and left actually excited about where American food is heading. The space is clean but not sterile: exposed brick, warm wood, and a bar that glows like it wants you to linger. *The food* skips the tired "burgers and mac" checklist. Think short rib agnolotti with smoked corn puree, charred broccolini with miso-garlic butter, and a fried chicken sandwich that somehow stays crisp under a jalapeño honey glaze. Portions are generous without being wasteful, and everything tastes intentional like the kitchen tested it 10 times before it hit the menu. *The cocktails are the real flex.* The menu changes seasonally, but the bar team leans into flavor over gimmicks. I tried the *Oaxacan Old Fashioned* with mezcal, mole bitters, and orange peel that's torched tableside. Smoky, slightly sweet, zero gimmick. My friend went for the *Cucumber Basil Gimlet* and said it tasted like summer in a glass. No sugary syrup bombs here. Bartenders actually explain what's in your drink if you ask, and they're good at steering you if you're unsure. Service hit the sweet spot between attentive and relaxed. Water refills showed up without hovering, and the server knew the menu well enough to call out what's spicy, what's rich, and what's worth splitting. It feels like a place locals will become regulars at, but it's good enough to bring out-of-town friends to. Creative without being precious, tasty without being safe. Sorry I didn't take pictures,

Let's start with the good. The service was really good! I believe his name was Drew. He was…read moreaccommodating and friendly. He answered questions, engaged in a bit of discussion and got everything right! Next, the ambiance. It was a quaint spot. Clean. Wasn't bad but it was empty. Us and two other tables. We asked for intimate and boy did we get it, lol. It was a cool spot but could have used a little more livelihood. I asked if the slow stream was normal and was told it was because it was Palm Sunday. Finally the food. It wasn't bad tasting, it was just not blow your mind amazing. I had the salmon Caesar wrap and the French 75. He had the wings and fries. Those wings were flavorful and fried hard like I like them but were super tiny! I also asked about those and was told small wings was the norm in ATL especially the brunch spots. All in all, it wasn't a bad place but could use some vibes to liven the place up a bit. Oh yeah, the drink....it was okay. Minor adjustments would have made it amazing! It definitely has the potential to be great.

The waiter's service was very prompt, and everyone had a great attitude in the foodie atmosphere…read more The food was also really good. I especially loved the restaurant's smoked fish and smoked meat. I will definitely keep recommending it to other friends who come to visit.

Service is amazing. The manager and hostess Maya was kind from the beginning. My husband and I…read moreoriginally arrived 20 minutes late for our dinner appointment which happened to be 40 minutes before they close but she had such a very good attitude from the beginning! Our server was Robin. He was pleasant and had really good service. He told us to relax and not worry about the restaurant closing. That made us feel better. Maya and Robin told us to come back for brunch so we did. The food during during was amazing. We got the ahi tuna tacos and the edamame and shared the burger and the salad. Everything was colorful and full of flavor. There isn't one item that left us disappointed. For brunch we came back and had the tuna tacos again. My husband loved them so much he ordered them two more times. We also had the bao Benedict and the tuna toast, which came recommended by Maya. All amazing. Also try the fruit salad and the nachos! For drinks we had the cold brew martini and the Caribbean Coffee made by Jess who was also very kind. I told my husband that the good, colorful food combined with the ambience and amazing service made me feel like I was on a vacation. I love this place and have added to one of my favorites. Cheers!

I would love if they turn down the music like 10 notches. When I come to a restaurant I don't want…read moreto not able to hear the person across from me talk or hear my own thoughts.

I brought my cousins visiting from Chicago to Virgil's last evening. Friday evening in Atlanta, so…read moreI made a reservation. We were seated on the rooftop deck and it was a little hot. No ceiling fans, why not? The host (blond headed guy) was super nice and got us seated quicky. Our server Calli was also the bartender. He was very nice and polite, but he was clearly stretched doing double duty as server and bartender. His drinks were on point, but It took forever to get apitizers, and entrees, and it was difficult for him to really check on our table as often as we would have liked. He tried his best. Now the food: The smothered pork chops, fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, collards, mac and cheese was great. Those chicken wings were fried to perfection 10/10. The mac and cheese wasn't really as creamy as I like but it was still really good. I wanted to take my out of town guest somewhere they could only experience in Atlanta. And, I wanted them to go back to Chicago and say what a great dining experience they had. In terms of the food, and drinks, location, they were well pleased and said I picked a winner. Now when the sun went down the music got crunk and the younger crowd started to pour in. It was a bit loud for the 45 up foks, but at least it was good R&B so we adapted.

Stayed in Midtown for the weekend and wanted to find a great brunch spot without venturing too far…read more After hearing great things about 5Church, we decided to give it a try, and it definitely lived up to the hype. We visited on a Saturday afternoon and were immediately greeted by a friendly host who seated us quickly. Our server was incredibly kind, attentive, and accommodating, providing excellent service throughout our visit. To start, we ordered the Sushi Tots, PEI Mussels, and Arugula Salad. Each dish was flavorful, fresh, and expertly prepared. For our entrées, we tried the Cacio e Pepe, Chicken and Waffles, 5Church Lamb Burger, and Hanger Steak. Every single dish exceeded expectations. The flavors were on point, the portions were satisfying, and there honestly wasn't a single item we would hesitate to order again. From the welcoming atmosphere and outstanding service to the delicious food, our experience was exceptional from start to finish. I have nothing but positive things to say about 5Church and can't wait to return the next time I'm in the area to explore more of the menu.

The new Chef is my dear friend Amilco and I had to run this place back. The atmosphere is fun and…read morecasual. Reminds me of New york. Greeted with a beautiful hostesses with a smile. The drinks were delicious. The Caesar salad with the shrimp OMG what a great serving. The pork belly is so delicious highly recommend. My friend and I both had The burger was absolutely delicious. They couldn't get the temperature quite white because I do love a nice medium pink and obviously in ATL they love their meat well done however, on the second attempt they got it close enough !! While I waited , the manager was wonderful to send me a lovely champagne glass while I waited. This is definitely a spot. You'll come on a beautiful afternoon with your girls or even a family celebrating birthdays. @KayFallonExplores * 5Church Midtown offers a $16 Express Lunch Deal featuring select entrées paired with a complimentary drink, available Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

I had one night in ATL, and this was the dinner spot I had picked. I was disappointed to learn I…read morecouldn't try it--it seemed reservations were required. So I made my way to the hotel where my staff was staying, and we were seated at the restaurant inside. I flipped over the menu and saw "Hartley Kitchen & Cocktails." I was instantly excited. The food was amazing, and the service--along with the sweet tea--felt like a warm "welcome to the South." Next time I'm in ATL for work, this is exactly where I'll be. "I'm only in town for a night..."

I really wanted to rate this place higher, but it left me somewhat disappointed…read more Here are the highlights: The fried lobster bites, mac and cheese, and collard greens were good! Th bites were a smidge over salted, but good nonetheless. The sweet tea definitely did what it was supposed to do. Things that need improvement: The cornbread was served on a bed of honey and drizzled with butter yet it was dry. No doubt reheated. As someone who bakes a beautiful honey butter cornbread, I was unbelievable disappointed, and underwhelmed. Now let's talk service: Absolutely . Train your staff to be attentive. My waitress was sweet, but every time I needed her I had to call someone else to fetch her and she only had two tables. The restaurant was empty otherwise. Hire staff who can regulate their emotions. The bartender was all over the place, cussing, spewing frustrations about another colleague. Then a new bartender came and he was spewing frustrations about the previous bartender. It wasn't appropriate for a place of business.

Had a wonderful evening at Saints + Council celebrating some work promotions. Reservations here…read morewere easy to make online and we were sat right away. Hosts were very friendly. Our server, Ashley, was really great. Very attentive and friendly. Great recommendations on food & drinks. Food came out timely. The restaurant itself is very stylish with cool decor. I had the salmon for dinner (per Ashley's recommendation) and it was so, so good. Highly recommend. S'mores dessert was fun! Would recommend!!

We stopped at Saints + Council for lunch after visiting the High Museum, and it was a really nice…read moreaddition to our birthday weekend in Atlanta. We took an Uber, so I can't speak to the parking. When we arrived, they gave us special seating because we were celebrating our birthdays, which was such a nice touch. It was a Friday afternoon and not crowded, so the atmosphere was relaxed and we could really enjoy our lunch. The Baked Crab Dip with pita chips was delicious, and the mussels were really good too. Everything we had was flavorful and enjoyable. Our server, DeAndre, provided excellent service and took care of us throughout our visit. They finished our meal with a little birthday ice cream, cookie and candle, which made the celebration even sweeter. Overall, good food, good service and a nice atmosphere. The special birthday treatment made the experience even more memorable, and I would definitely visit again when I'm back in Atlanta.