PARKING: They have (very few) signs vaguely directing you to a parking garage. I was on HOWELL MILL RD and followed one sign to turn right onto 8TH STREET. I saw no other signs except for EIGHT restaurant and it was the same color so I just followed it. I stopped at the Valet inside the parking garage, but they told me to keep going and turn right to the OTHER valet for The Optimist. I found it eventually, but kinda weird signage? Either way, I spotted the restaurant easily and was going to circle it anyways (with or without signage) until I found the correct parking! Not a big deal, just thought I'd mention my experience. AMBIANCE: I came on a Saturday night, so definitely their busiest day. It was dark, no TV's inside so you can enjoy the food and company. It's VERY LOUD and echos inside the restaurant. That was probably my ONLY dislike about this restaurant. You have to yell in order for the person next to you to hear you. FOOD: $0 (free) BUTTERED SWEET BREAD: These are NOT ON THE MENU! They are completely FREE, but only available upon request. Someone told me to get these, I didn't know they were free until I got my bill. What a happy surprise! They are toasted Hawaiian sweetq rolls with melted butter and flaky salt on top. Comes with 2 rolls. Delicious! $20 HALF DOZEN OYSTERS: you custom pick your oysters from list which states their taste, size and where they're from. You can pick as many as you wish there is no set amount, they are individually priced and average about $3.50/oyster. I loved every single one I tried! It comes with grated horseradish, hot sauce, cocktail sauce, mignonette and HOMEMADE CRACKERS to cleanse your palette in-between oysters. Nice touch! $18 TUNA CRUDO: Every dish that I ordered is extremely Asian inspired. This one was refreshing with peanuts, fresh citrus, Thai basil and Vietnamese sauce (they same sauce traditional Vietnamese use for spring rolls). It had tons of flavor! I would say the most pungent flavor was the peanuts and I tasted a strong sesame oil flavor. For $18 I feel like the portion should have been larger. There really was barely any tuna on the plate. $19 SPANISH OCTOPUS: Again, extremely Asian inspired dish. This was AMAZING! I would absolutely order this again and was probably my favorite dish of the night. The octopus is flash fried and is both SWEET & SOUR (from the vinegar flavors). It also has mustard seeds which gives it a lovely crunch that made the textures mix perfectly. SO many flavors in this dish, but they all work wonderfully together. MUST ORDER! $14 SPICY KALE SALAD: I was NOT going to order this dish, but the bartender recommended I order it, so I did. It was flavorful, but I feel like this dish fell short and would not recommend unless you just want to get some greens in. They "tried" to make it very flavorful when you see the ingredients included, but it just didn't work for me personally. They use baby kale and it has fried chorizo (to the point of it being very hard and crunchy, not a drop of moisture left). I can handle very spicy food, so I tasted zero spice in this salad what-so-ever. Not worth it, but now I know. I don't think the bartender should be recommending this dish to customers. Maybe he was just trying to upsell me? And I guess it worked. OVERALL: I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant for their delicious food! I will absolutely be back to try all their other dishes. I just couldn't possibly eat anymore in that visit! Suggestion to have better parking signage, even though it's not too hard to find without it. I probably missed the first sign honestly, since it was my first time here and I was just trying to not pass the restaurant, so take that suggestion with a grain of salt. Come during a weekday if you want it quieter inside. read more

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The Optimist is one of the best place in Atlanta for oysters and seafood. The decor makes me feel like I'm by the ocean and very calm. The service is always top notch. They are friendly, attentive and helpful. I'm a regular (once a month) for happy hour and come here for dinner for with girlfriends, hubby, and for special occasions. We begin with fresh oysters and bubbles. The charred octopus is divine as are the hush puppies. If it is happy hour then that is where our evening would end. If staying for dinner then my flavorites are the lobster roll or Mahi Mahi. I go back and for the between these two melt in your mouth meals when I visit. read more

Absolutely everything expected and more. I'm an not a sophisticated oyster consumer, but I ventured out and tried the recommendations by our waiter. They were excellent! Fresh and tasty. Reservations highly recommended Hostess friendly All Wait staff courteous and helpful Everything we ordered was fresh and delicious! Drinks were perfectly made. Desserts were delicious I highly recommend and will be returning! read more

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The most optimistic restaurant . It was horrible . The chips were soggy the burger wassoooo greesy and I mean greesy . The one good thing was the waitress was amazing her first night. She was lovely. I will never return . The bread was purr dough. read more

The food was amazing! The bread with the salt and butter... I could go back just for the bread. The potatoes and collards were delicious as well. I love the atmosphere and service was impeccable read more

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Superb service and a journey to tastebud heaven. The complexity of flavors in their dishes was truly uncanny. The champion of our meal was the Whole Ga Shrimp a La Plancha, it had a melt in your mouth buttery finish, every bite was as decadent as the first and I was tempted to lick the plate. The runner up was the collard greens with bacon, words cannot describe this dish, you must experience it for yourself. The main dishes were good as well, we had the duck fat swordfish and the scallops, however, the appetizers and sides (definitely get hush puppies) are the reason we will be returning. read more

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One of my favorite places to eat oysters in ATL hands down. The oysters are always clean and the she crab soup is one of the best things on their menu. Other recs: hamachi crudo - light, zingy, and refreshing PEI mussels Tip: Come for happy hour: M-F 5-6p for discount oysters and $20 pitchers read more

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Great food, except that they didn't give us the complementary bread... The oysters recommended by the waiters are better than the ones we chose on our own, but everything was delicious read more

I'm truly so obsessed with The Optimist. I can't believe I waited so long being in Atlanta for the past few years. We came for a Saturday Happy Hour as we were craving some oysters. There is paid parking nearby and I paid around $4 for two hours. For a Saturday happy hour, they did not have any available inside dining besides the bar, but it was nice outside and there was a good amount of patio seating (and they have heaters as well for colder times). Service was spectacular and our server was so knowledgeable and on point. Came by a good amount of times but never over bearing. One critique is she never filled our waters and all of our waters were empty 80% of the way through dinner. We ordered 2 baker's dozen of oysters ($19 each), 12 total of the other happy hour oysters ($1.50 each), Fish & Chips ($20), GA Apple Salad ($14), and the Tuna Crudo ($18). The oysters here were SOO good. Absolutely to die for. So incredibly fresh and delicious especially for the price. Can't beat it. My friends enjoyed the Fish & Chips, but didn't think it was anything too exciting and fries could do with some salt. GA Apple Salad felt like it was missing 'something' to take it to the next level. Tuna Crudo was alright too. In the end, oysters were IT here. I'm already planning to be back ASAP for another happy hour! read more

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We were invited to a private dinner with our the law firm we work with and it was amazing! The space is pretty big and they even have a raw bar on site where you see all the fresh seafood on ice. The staff and service is top notch and everyone is friendly. We started off with a seafood tower that served an assortment of fresh seafood. Such as ahi tuna, smoked fish dip, cocktail shrimp, small lobster tails and raw oysters with plenty of dips to choose to from. We had a three course dinner. First course you had an option of a green apple salad or smoked fish chowder with oysters crackers. The chowder was amazing!!! You get a flavorful creamy taste with peppers, carrots and celery for added texture. Definitely a great start. Second course I chose the artichoke char with a salsa verde sauce. The skin was perfectly crisp and the was seasoned and paired well with the sauce. We had three sides which were hushpuppies, fingerling potatoes and collard greens with bacon. All three sides complement each other. For dessert there was a choice of apple pie pudding with chantilly cream and chocolate peanut pie. I loved the apple pie pudding but not the chocolate pie so much. Overall I enjoyed my first time here and would love come back again when I'm in town. read more

I had such a great dinning experience at The Optimist. The restaurant was a bit busy on Saturday, so reservations are best. It is pretty big inside, which was not expected. The raw bar is fun to look at while you wait for your table & there are plenty of seats at the bar as well. Service was amazing. I cant remember my waiter's name but he has great customer service. He was very knowledgable about the menu (which is updated everyday). He let us know they receive their fish fresh daily. He made great food suggestions & always remembered to come check on us at the right times. Food! I ordered the oysters to start, which they have a variety of options. For the main course I went with the Red fish & Brussel Sprouts. Other than there not being as many Brussel sprouts as I would have liked everything tasted great. The fish was cooked to perfection & paired well with the vegetables. We even received a complimentary desert that we would have had more of if we weren't so full from dinner. The drinks were decent enough. I had a french 75 along with an Irish Coffee. First time trying both & definitely a new fan of the French 75. I cant wait to come back! read more

Joined with friends at The Optimist for a birthday celebration. The ambiance of the restaurant is intimate and cozy. Seating set up makes you feel less like you're in a restaurant and in a comfy living room. The restrooms are also neat and cool. Of course, the food is what you'll be coming for. The oysters are fresh and delicious. Ones I tried were almost buttery. There is also a delicious octopus dish (try it!). The wait staff and our waitress Brittany was accommodating and very helpful. Will definitely return. read more

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The Optimist had been on my list for quite a while but it's not the easiest to get a reservation that 6 people in their mid-20s can all make. But we were able to snag one for a friends birthday dinner this week! There's valet parking outside as well as self park. Walking in, you can immediately tell this is a higher end restaurant. There's low light, lots of candles, gives off date night vibes more than anything. It's definitely a place I would feel out of place in if I didn't dress up. We got 20 oysters to split. Our waitress was great and gave her recommendations - I'm always a big oyster fan and these did not disappoint! The bread service was heavenly; perfectly buttery with garlic/sea salt. I had the 2019 Muscadet which paired perfectly with the oysters, definitely recommend. It was a great dry white with undernotes of sea salt and tart apple. I had the GA Peach Salad for my main - not the best but not the worst. I should have gotten the vinaigrette on the side - I got to the middle of the salad it did get a good bit soggy and overwhelming. Our reservation was 7:45p, we were a few minutes late due to flooding in midtown, but they were very understanding. We didn't get our main dishes until 9:30p however. Not horrible, but for someone who lacks patience, I do wish we would have gotten each course a bit quicker. Not a place I'll revisit often by any means, but I am looking forward to trying out oyster happy hour! read more

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This was my first time going and I had a wonderful experience! I ordered mostly based on what other people on Yelp had suggested and everything was delicious. The free sweet buttered bread is seriously addicting and they replenished it throughout the night. For appetizer we got the Shrimp A La Plancha which was my favorite of the night. Very decadent and even had a slight amount of heat that I enjoyed. For entrees I got the Lobster Roll (warm and with butter but you can also get it cold and with mayo) and my husband got the whole roasted Maine Lobster. Both were great! My husband did think that the lobster was a little small. The sweet hushpuppies are also a must have. As for service, we had made a reservation and were seated very soon after we arrived at the restaurant. Our server was very nice and knowledgeable about the food. Also, they offer $3 valet if you don't want the hassle of finding parking along the road. It's a little expensive overall but we knew that going in since we were celebrating! We'll definitely be back! read more

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Y'all. We hit two for two IN THE SAME DAMN WEEKEND with the brilliantly talented Ford Fry! (check my review on Beetlecat) IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD! I mean AHHHMAZING! I mean no shits and giggles! My best friend was set on trying fresh oysters and what BETTER place than The Optimist?! We tried a delicious mixture of East and West Coast oysters on the shell! We also tried the Smoked Fish Dip and it was finger licking good! But the breeeaaaaaaaaadddd *slow slides down a wall* FORGET YOUR DIET and GET THE BREAAAAAAAAAD!!! Ok bye now! read more

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Went to this Restaurant about 2 weeks ago with my sister. I had heard about this place from coworkers who like to take guests from out of town here so I was really excited to try it! When we arrived my sister told me her stomach was upset from lunch earlier but, still wanted to come so I ended up eating by myself but having the company was nice! To start they brought out bread and asked about drinks where I decided to try a beer and the waiter ended recommending their Lemon Meringue Pie when I mentioned that I liked sours and it was perfect! I've even tried to find it locally since my visit but no luck yet :( but I guess that just means I'll have to come back! For the meal I ordered the red fish, cornmeal hush puppies and their Cara Crakine Chocolate Delice for dessert! Overall, the meal was delicious and the restaurant is beautiful! The hush puppies were actually my favorite part with the special butter they have on the side make it so unique and not like your ordinary hush puppies in the best way. One thing that I also loved is that list their suppliers on their menu which makes you feel good to know where your food is coming from and that they're supporting local and small farms! read more

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We had a great time at The Optimist. Our server was super friendly and gave us great recommendations for the oysters. The oysters were really good and fresh, the smoked fish dip was also delicious. The bread they gave us was also perfect, nice and soft with salted butter. The lobster roll was good too and was served with bbq chips but I would have preferred it with salt & vinegar or regular potato chips instead. The crispy potatoes are as described and didn't disappoint. Last but not least, monkfish had great texture and paired nicely with the veggies. We liked the lobster roll more! Overall we had a great time and would definitely come back to try new dishes! read more

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If my family is reading this - bury me at The Optimist. I've still got 100 years in me but when it's time, I need the party to be here and if I don't get it, I'm coming back! (And with an attitude, lol) When I first moved to ATL, I kept hearing about this place. Like, my boyfriend told me, my friends told me, shoot, Yelp told me! And I'm wondering, "What in the world is so special about this place?" And then I visited them. Phew! First, know that there is valet available and required, but at $5, it's not too bad of an option! The Valets are always efficient and polite, so worth the 5 bucks and a great tip. As one who believes in making a reservation whenever possible, Opentable has been a godsend and I always book my seat in advance, especially at The Optimist. So lucky me, whenever I arrive, they make it super quick and easy to be greeted and seated - love that. There's seating inside of their beautiful dining room or you can opt to be perched at the Oyster Bar, or if you're like me, you'll opt for their beautiful outdoor seating. With over a half-dozen tables setup, guests can even opt to play on their mini golf turf area as they wait for their food which I always see little ones choosing to do. The outdoor fans always keep it breezy and I love sitting out in the sunshine on their patio. I let everyone know (absolutely nobody asks but still lol) how much I love Oysters. I don't know when my love for oysters truly began or when they became such a comfy (and delicious) crutch for me, but I refuse to look back or go back to my life before I could eat my weight in their yummy goodness. I trulyyyy appreciate a delicious order (or two) of raw oysters paired with a smooth wine and a great view and vibe, and that's exactly what I get at The Optimist. But there's even more to enjoy beyond the oysters! I've tried a few options but my favorites overall beyond the oysters include the Tuna Crudo and She-Crab Soup - OMG. That Tuna Crudo is FANTASTIC!! Somehow so filling but light at the same time, the peanuts and citrus just blend so well, it's insanely delicious and I could seriously eat it everyday. The She-Crab soup is generously filled with crab and sherry, producing a rich, delicious soup that can't be beat. The service is also phenomenal and I love that the team works together to take orders, deliver drinks and to assist overall. Throughout my visits, I'm often approached by other team members checking to see if I need anything while my server isn't around - love that! So everyone who told me to visit The Optimist, I thank you for putting me on. Cheers to more succulent seafood adventures! read more

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My girlfriends and I were on a weekend girls trip here and this place was it! Wonderful ambiance! Friendly and knowledgeable staff! Great options, it was hard to narrow it down! Everything was superb I don't think you can go wrong here. We had wine and sat on the patio because we didn't make reservations and the place was PACKED! The sides are large and definitely meant for sharing read more

The Optimist - Seafood Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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This place is beautiful,fun, cozy seafood place. Everything is fresh, made to order and delicious read more

The Optimist - Oyster menu - Seafood Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Craig- out of this world excellent service! Thank you! Golden hour- delicious, Branzino- out of this world, whole shrimp Alaplancha I mean slap everyone it's so good! Lobster roll was just okay and the apple butter cake was to die far! Very very very delicious! Just go eat here already! read more

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The food was delicious! The service was also really good, and the ambiance was really nice. Great for girls night or date night.

***posting this review from February My boyfriend made a lunch reservation for us on Valentine's day so we came here to celebrate. Parking in this area is limited (street parking or valet for $3), so plan ahead. The valet on the day we came seemed a bit hectic; the messaging for car retrieval didn't seem work and the valet staff were all very disgruntled. It was valentine's day, so maybe the restaurant traffic was more than normal. The restaurant has high ceilings, a beautiful bar that has library-like shelves, and big windows that let in loads of natural sunlight. Upon being seated, our waiter gave us the menu and explained that the menu is printed each day and recommended a few dishes since this was my first time dining here. We got some warm bread that was slightly dusted with flour to start (one each person). They were fluffy and pulled a part easily. Paired with their garlic butter, we couldn't help but ask for extra bread. We ordered the spanish octopus and GA shrimp a la pancha to start. Both are sharing plate sizes. The GA shrimp dish was covered in their very flavorful and spicy sauce. The shrimp shells were crispy but not over cooked. The sourdough bread was toasted and soaked up the sauce, which was delicious. The waiter was very thoughtful and provided us with hot towels to wipe our hands because the dish was messy to eat. As for the octopus, we absolutely loved the sauce, probably the best I've had around Atlanta! The octopus was also very tender and can be cut very easily. We shared a lobster cobb salad. Again, the waiter was looking out for us and split out the salad in two plates for us. There were very generous large pieces of lobster in our salads. The only thing was disappointing part of this salad was that there was too much dressing. I'd definitely consider asking for dressing on the side next time. We also got the corn milk hush puppies. They were dusted with sugar and came with a side of butter. I wish they were warmer when they came out, but they were delicious and a great side to our salad! We finished out meal with two desserts. They chef whipped up a valentine's day ice cream sampler special with two halves of a cookie (see picture). We also got the lemon tart, which had a thin (but crunchy) shell and great custard filling. Overall, we had a very pleasant dining experience and appreciate the staff being so on top of their game when it comes to service! read more

Stopped by The Optimist on my last day out of ATL and boy.. am I sure glad I did! First of all, if you know me, you know that I'm all about the ambiance. I could literally eat styrofoam if it meant being inside a cool setting (jk, not really). Anyway, the restaurant itself is quite spacious with a comfortable dining layout. It has a hip and vivid vibe for sure. Our server was very sweet and warm, just like the bread appetizer they offer. Honestly, this might be the best bread I have ever had in my life. I think it's called buttermilk bread, but trust me.. you'll know. Just ask for the bread, if it's not already on your table. For food, got some oysters and a fish (forgot the name). I think it was some type of pan seared or crusted fish, but it was quite good - very much enjoyed it! 5/5 for this one - will be coming back for more! read more

The Optimist - Seafood Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Closed out my weekend in Atlanta at The Optimist. Super cute, nice and fresh restaurant. Made a reservation and was seated promptly upon arriving. Service: Service was absolutely amazing. I do not remember out servers name but it was a woman with locs and glasses and she was superb. Knew that menu like the back of her hand and was able to give us suggestions on what we should try. Drinks: We decided not to get anything from the menu and opted for pineapple and passionfruit mojitos. They were sooo good, especially the passionfruit one. Food: For appetizers we had the mussels. The sauce was great. I do prefer my mussels not to be steamed as long as those were but the flavor was still there. Main course I ordered the swordfish. I'd give it a 4/5. Very tasty but just a tad not much but a tid bit on the dry side. My mom had the roasted lobster. I was able to snatch a piece and it was soooo good. The charred flavor with that green sauce was the perfect combo. My stepdad order the halibut, he said he absolutely loved it. The sweet potatoes and broccolini were also very tasteful as well. Definitely would recommend! read more

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Always a wonderful time at the optimist. I've tried a lot of the menu, the entrees are good but the appetizers are the star. I would come here to only eat appetizers. The mussels and razor clams are amazing and nothing beats the bread rolls. This restaurant is amazing overall. I love the food here it is one of my favorite spots. read more

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The food was amazing. Our waiter was very nice and knowledgeable about the menu. The atmosphere was lively. I enjoyed the experience.

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!! read more

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The food was wonderful, the scallops is a culinary creation while the halibut is just completely delightful. The potatoes were a good addition for both. The service was everything you could hope for. The ambiance was delightful and relaxed. read more

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I was optimistic coming to the optimist with a group of friends that I haven't seen for months. We had a reservation was was seated pretty quickly after our whole party arrived. The menu looked really interesting. I was able to try the tuna crudo which was amazing! I also tried the braised greens and brocollini which was pretty good. The branzino is served as a whole fish, which is cool, but sadly was pretty bland. We were also disappointed that they didn't have hushpuppies that night. Overall was a good experience, but not sure if it's worth this price point. read more

The Optimist - Branzino - Seafood Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Yum! Literally the best She Crab soup I've ever had! It's a must try! The mussels were delicious, the broth was great! I wish they served a larger portion like most places but it was worth it. The hush puppies beignet style with that cane syrup butter omgee delicious. These dishes literally had me in love! Every bite was scrumptious! I will be back for the she crab soup! read more

We've been here twice- once outside and the second inside. The second time we were there celebrating our wedding anniversary. The food is great, there have a nice variety and there's great seafood. The ambiance is very nice and isn't pretentious. Our server was nice and accommodating . They even gave us complimentary champagne and dessert because we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. Definitely recommend. We'll be back when we get the chance. read more

The BEST seafood I've ever had. Had the red fish & a ton of mussels & clams. I will always say paying $300 for food is ridiculous but for everything we ate & for the price & customer service I would absolutely frequent this place if the budget allowed lol I forgot the waitresses name but she was super cool & explained things for us very well. 10/10 would recommend read more

The server lied, insulted us and never apologized. One of us had a birthday there and server was made aware. She brought out a slice of cake with a candle on it prior to our entree. We sang the birthday song and blew out the candle. The server came back after saying she brought this out too early and will bring it out again at end of our meal. We saw that she took the same slice of cake and relit the candle and brought it to the table next to us (we blew out the candle so just know that they re-serve items that were served to another table which is unacceptable and disgusting). At the end of our meal we asked where is the slice of cake she promised us earlier. She then brought out an empty dark plate with five candles melted on it. We asked basically wth is this and she said it's because we didn't order any dessert so we oh get the candles on a plate...If she made a mistake initially by bring us the wrong item to the table, she could have just explained and apologized instead of lying saying she will bring that back out after our meal and instead of insulting us by serving an empty plate with 5 melted candles saying it's because we didn't order dessert. The worst part about it that she served that same slice of cake that was already been blown by us to the table next to us. Who knows if we also been served with food that has been contaminated by other people's saliva at another table. read more

My wife and I came here for a birthday meal and we were quite happy with our choicd. Delicious seafood and oysters here. The lobster roll here is delicious albeit a little pricy. The oysters were top notch and the meal overall was quite a treat. Left full and felt the meal and experience was excellent overall. Valet parking is $3 and the service here is wonderful. 5 yelp stars. read more

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At a recommendation for a friend we took a taxi down to the Optimist from downtown. Definitely worth the trip. I loved the ambience and drink menu variety. One of the top five old fashions we have had, and we have had a lot! The bread/rolls they brought to the table was EXCEPTIONAL ! Definitely a staple. The smoked fish dip was amazing as was our lobster roll. I highly recommend this for a date spot or a girls night. I would hands-down send friends here or if they were looking for an Atlanta recommendation. read more

The Optimist - Seafood Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Went there on a late evening to just get drinks so we sat at the bar, and noticed all the oysters that looked good so we had to get them. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful he recommend his favorite drink to us. The oysters were good, but surprisingly the crackers were very good too. We asked the waiter if they were made there an certainly they were freshly made. Will certainly come back here for dinner. read more

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Returned to the Optimist for a birthday dinner, my first time since the pandemic began. Reservations are required(or highly recommended)except for bar seating. The restaurant is taking a number of precautions from masking requirements for patrons and staff as well as cashless valet. Tables are available outside, and bar and indoor seating are socially distanced. We had a group of 7, when we arrived our table wasn't ready so they treated us to a round of bubbles which was nice. The table enjoyed many dishes: seafood tower, peel and eat shrimp, fried rice, octopus, chowder, and more! After you order they bring a round of rolls and butter. A few of ours were burned but still yummy. The bar menu is ok, your better off ordering your drink of choice or wine. Overall attentive service and great food! read more

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Another incredible meal at The Optimist. Met up with a friend for a holiday celebration and really enjoyed it. Excellent service. Welcoming atmosphere too. read more

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Came here for dinner with my boxing crew, already hot and buzzed from a late lunchtime of margaritas. The waiter took a look at the group of us and wasn't scared. He intro'd and we intro'd and he was genuine in the 'where you froms' and the 'why Atlanta?' and the 'what bar you been to so fars'. Told us allll about the menu and asked what we were into eating. So genuinely friendly, if we weren't buzzed we'd be 'New York suspect' of him. Oysters were mine! I try to eat them in every city I visit. (Tampa, FL has the biggest/best so far). These were verry good, with a nice variety of toppings to place on top, I couldn't decide which would be best, and then they were gone. Then I was enticed by the Corn Milk Hushpuppies! The were nicely crunchy outside with a perfect inside texture and dusted with powdered sugar beignet style, which surprised me, but what made it even more southern heavenly was the cane sugar butter to slide them through before the bite. Niiiice. I value my carbs, so these were reluctantly shared. One friend never had octopus, and it seemed like he never would, so the waiter brought us the Spanish Octopus to share. Oh man that was tasty as eff. So when the last bite was handed over to my friend, he actually ate it, and we all waited & he said, Hey that was pretty good, very good actually! Yeeeah! lol I also had the George Banks Scallops, and they were decadent. I hate green peas, so I plucked them off, the vidalia onion soubise sauce it sat on was yums. We all rode back to the hotel stuffed & satisfied with the waiter's handwritten list of great bars in the area to try while we were visiting ATL. read more

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