The Optimist has always been one of my favorite restaurants and it never disappoints. I celebrated my birthday here most recently and I must say the service was TOP TIER! I went during oyster happy hour before dining and our waiter Robert was AMAZING! He was extremely attentive and friendly. He truly made the entire dining experience worth while. The food was great as always and the entire atmosphere was pleasant. This will be forever be one of my go-to places to dine! read more

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

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Massive shoutout to the culinary team and our incredible waitress, Raquel, for going above and beyond to accommodate my Whole30 diet this month - she even researched the program after I placed my order and worked with the kitchen to pivot my dish when soy was in the original prep. Truly above-and-beyond service. Chef Ford even gave recommendations prior to. Just above and beyond customer service! The Optimist has been a go-to for date nights and special occasions (even a birthday dinner!). It's on the pricier side--entrées range mid $30s-$40s, with sides $12-$18--but the quality and creativity consistently deliver. Pro Tips: * Grab a seat at the seafood bar from 5-6pm for happy hour drinks and oyster specials. * The complimentary rolls are dangerously good (when not on Whole30, of course). Favorites we've loved: * Bluefin Tuna with chimichurri (a fresh, unique twist) * Summer Yellowtail with peach--perfectly sweet and savory * Shrimp A La Plancha * Crispy Haddock * Half-Roasted Chicken (crispy skin, juicy inside) * Char and Sea Scallops are also hits Beautiful space, great for any season. Always a standout experience. read more

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Ok where do I start? We missed our flight out of Atlanta and looked for a nice restaurant to go to...little did we know we would find one of the best ones around...the service, atmosphere and best of all, food, were 10/10!!! We had the oysters, deviled eggs, grilled oysters, tomato salad and scallops and everything was done to perfection..at the end of our meal Genna brought us out some homemade chocolate ice cream and while I'm not a huge ice cream lover normally, this would rival ice cream from the gelato I've had in France...just overall an amazing experience and can't wait to come back!!! read more

Everything was amazing! From the valet attendant making sure I had an umbrella, to the hosts getting me seated quickly with my party (since I was running late) to our phenomenal server Michael! Food was delicious! Roasted oysters were hot and tasty. The she crab soup was extra creamy and flavorful. The hush puppies were sweet and savory, recommend saving them for dessert but do whatever you like! I had the rice and broccolini and both were splendid. Then, I tasted my dinner mates' trout and got jealous. Delicious! Oh and the complimentary dinner rolls were so soft and buttery. This is my new go to for a slightly fancy seafood dinner with a completely relaxed vibe. 10/10 I will definitely be back! read more

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Celebrated a birthday with a friend here. We had a long list of places to try. We weren't quite impressed with the restaurant pics online. The pics was giving very casual fish house. We wanted someplace sexy with great food. Since The Optimist had great reviews we settled for it. We were pleasantly surprised. The restaurant definitely gives the sexy vibes we were looking for. Even more impressive was the service. From the front door, to the bartenders to our waitress Autumn everyone was friendly, warm and professional. Autumn was very knowledgeable about menu items and gave great recommendations. My friends and I got many items and enjoyed everything. As for parking there is $5 valet offered by the establishment which was super convenient. Street parking was super tight. There is a parking garage in the same complex.... But I didn't take note of it's open to the restaurant patrons or not. I look forward to going back even by mystery to sit at the bar for happy hour or date night. read more

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My parents come here a lot so I decided to meet my dad to see what the hype was about. Very cute space! My dad loves the rolls and they are delicious. Crispy and fluffy with a good salty butter. We kept it pretty light. I did she crab soup and peel & eat. If there is peel & eat on the menu I am going to get it lol. It seems they are known for oysters and sadly that is just not my thing. My dad loves their octopus and we tried the chicken. I can't say I like it. It was kind of flavorless but the puree they paired with it was good. Our server was really nice and gave recommendations. I would go back to give them another chance and try so more dishes. read more

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My manager took me here while visiting for work. It was really good. All of the food was incredible. I really enjoyed the variety of dishes. The oysters were outstanding. read more

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Food was great. Especially the burger! Happy hour prices weren't bad. Parking lot attached. Friendly service. They gave us celebratory shots for our special occasion! read more

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Back here again after a while and SO happy we decided to come back! Ambience is still exactly how I remembered it -- you can make it a more upscale dinner or keep it relaxed/casual depending on where you sit, which is something I really love about this place. Our server Rolanda was amazing... warm, attentive, and just such a great vibe. We ordered our usual favorites -- the octopus and the shrimp a la plancha -- both still perfect. We tried the fried oysters for the first time this visit and I'm so glad we did... such a great choice. The basmati rice is always a must for us here too. Even though we moved to the west, this is one of those restaurants we will continue to come back to whenever we are in town. We're here for a conference this week and made the trip back -- and honestly, worth it every time. read more

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This was my first time at the Atl location of the Optimist. The space is very cool, though a little too dark. I literally saw people using the flashlights from their phones to read the menu. Service was great. Starters: Bread rolls, Spicy Kale Salad, Octopus, Lobster rolls The bread were balls of buttery goodness. The kale in the salad was so soft and the perfect texture, though I personally wasn't a huge fan of the dried chorizo. The octopus was very delicious; I just wish there was more of it for the price I was paying. Same goes for the lobster rolls; they were fantastic, but be warned, they are TINY (almost bite sized). Main: Chicken Schnitzel The schnitzel was tasty and came with a nice salad and garlic aioli sauce. Portion size was huge as well, so I was satisfied. Dessert: Sticky toffee pudding and Sorbet of the moment (pear) Both desserts were winners of the night. If you like sweet chocolatey desserts, definitely order the pudding. The sorbet was fantastic as well-very refreshing. read more

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Excellent ambiance. Fantastic staff with a chef that was willing to go above and beyond to deal with my husband's onion allergy. Amazing fixed dinner menu for our event. We'll ba back! read more

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The food here was phenomenal. My most confident 5 start rating. Everything was delicious and the service was impeccable. We came in early for a same day reservation and the food did not disappoint. Get the Shrimp a la planchata whatever you do... truly amazing. read more

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I love everything about this restaurant. 10/10 service. I dined alone, yet the server made me feel so welcomed and shared her favorite recommendations. Easily some of the best oysters in Atlanta. read more

We chose The Optimist for a milestone celebration dinner and, unfortunately, left disappointed. When we arrived, the valet attendant told us they EXPECTED a tip on top of the valet charge of $6. If you pay through the parking app with a credit card, there is an additional fee of nearly $2. No one greeted us or opened our car doors when we arrived or departed. This left a poor first and last impression. We love raw oysters and were excited about The Optimist. Since it was our first time dining at a restaurant centered around oysters, we were unclear how it worked. After overhearing another server explain the oyster and main menu options to a neighboring table we learned (mid way through our meal) that there were oysters available from both the main menu and a separate oyster menu. A first-time guest shouldn't need prior knowledge to navigate a signature offering. The food itself was good, but the overall experience fell well short of expectations. Between the valet experience and the lack of guidance, it simply wasn't the experience we were hoping for, and we do not plan to return. read more

This was a spot we went when we first started dating and we just got engaged today and decided to do a tour of our favorite date spots. Shout out to Matt our server and Genna (pronounced like Jenna don't mess up my girls name lol)... also another stellar server and Wolf and Mia behind the bar! These folks made our night magical! So excited we decided to start our evening here. I'll be back for that oyster happy hour and this crew! read more

My friend recommended us go here during my visit to Atlanta. So happy we did. Lively atmosphere on a Saturday night. During the evening you will notice it's a very dark restaurant. Ambiance lighting was in full effect. We were given fresh, complimentary bread when we got seated. Our party of 3 never felt rushed and were given some great recommendations. Robert, our server, was excellent. We ordered a handful of items. The hiramasa yellowtail was lovely. The razor clam ceviche was refreshing and extremely tasty. I'm obsessed with deviled eggs so they were good. Not extra ordinary and the anchovies in them were very faint, not overpowering. I wasn't a big fan of the blowfish tails, many because of all the mini bones. The coconut tres leches dessert was perfect to end the night. I can assure you I will be putting this on my Atlanta list so I can come back here. read more

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Some of the best seafood I have ever eaten at a restaurant. We sat outside and had the wood roasted oysters--if you peep my profile pic that's my jam--she crab soup, roasted lobster, scallops, and some other things I cannot recall. Service was professional and friendly. read more

We arrived for our reservation and were seated with a few minutes. It's a beautiful space but a tad too dark. Wish they'd turn the lights up just a wee bit to better see the food. Sid came right over and offered water and asked if we wanted to order drinks while we looked over the menu. They then brought the most amazing year rolls to the table. Warm, light as air and dosed in butter. I could eat a dozen by myself. Note: Sell them to go!! Our entrees came out shortly and the only words I have are perfection!! Scallops perfectly cooked, topped with crabmeat and the poached swordfish was beyond! Meaty and rich, with the counterbalance of the mushrooms in a super rich broth with duck confit on the side. Omg! We also had a side of hush puppies which were more sweet than savory, that arrived with a dusting of powdered sugar and a side of cinnamon butter. Sid was fantastic! Checked on us often, made great suggestions and was very friendly and personable. Overall a fantastic meal and am experience that will be repeated soon! read more

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One of my faves! The oyster happy hour was the perfect start to our girls day. Everything was amazing and I still can't get over the bread!! And don't leave before your get the wood roasted oysters read more

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The fried oysters were the absolute best I have EVER had in my entire life!!!! It was my first time at The Optimist but will definitely not be my last. read more

The Optimist - Fried oysters - Seafood Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I never leave reviews, but when a restaurant goes above and beyond it feels necessary. I've gone to the Optimist many times over the years and the food has always been incredible. Their oyster selection is extensive and unlike anywhere else in Atlanta. Though the food is divine this review is about the service! I was at another restaurant enjoying caviar when the fire alarm went off and it was evacuated. The Optimist made it up to me by offering caviar service and champagne! As someone who has been to many Michelin star restaurants all over the world I can easily say this is Michelin level service! Thanks again for turning a bad situation into a wonderful night. read more

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

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I have been to this restaurant multiple times, I did not take photos every time, if I did it would be an entire album. To start off, the oysters are as fresh and delicious as you can get considering everything must be imported into Atlanta. One of my favorite dishes is the Thai fish with this spicy lemony sauce. I also go crazy for the fire shrimp dishes and the garlic bread that comes with it. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of that delicious fish, just trust me when I said I've ordered it on multiple occasions and it does not disappoint. The service is always good, one thing I love about this place is their menus will change from time to time so there's always room to try new dishes from a restaurant that already you know is good. I have never ordered a single dish here and did not absolutely love it. read more

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It's been years since I first visited the Optimist. I had a good experience and I'm not sure why it took me so long to return. I decided to return before a Yelp event nearby at Indiehouse. Valet was available. I was alone and sat at the bar. The staff acknowledged me immediately and brought out a complimentary roll that was mouthwatering. I started with the windjammer cocktail. It was bourbon based and contained flavors of passion fruit and macadamia. It was delicious! For an appetizer, I ordered the shrimp a la plancha. This is one of the best appetizers I've had in a while. It's shrimp in the most delicious cream sauce and comes with "sopping" toast. For my entree I got the redfish and side of basmati fried rice. The flavors were outstanding and I enjoyed everything. All of the staff that I encountered were amazing and the food was excellent. I am looking forward to returning soon. read more

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Came for the oyster happy hour. Wasn't disappointed. The quality of food and service is excellent. They have some classic cocktails too which I didn't try this time but would come back. They have great draft beer selections to pair with oysters. The place is conversation friendly and offers valet parking read more

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We visited the Optimist for my daughter's birthday and It was a great vibe and the food was pretty tasty. Service could have been better. DJ was our server and he did a good job. But the service was very slow. We had a party of 12 and maybe he needed to have a partner to work such a large party. He was a nice guy but the service was entirely too slow. I didn't want to leave 3 stars but please improve service time. read more

If you're looking for a seafood spot that never misses, The Optimist is it. The fried oysters were a perfect start crispy, briny, and served with just the right kick of sauce. The cod cheeks? Tender, flaky, and so fresh, they melt in your mouth. And the butter burger... chef's kiss. Juicy, buttery, and downright addictive. The vibe at The Optimist is upscale yet relaxed, and the service is as smooth as their cocktails. Pro tip: grab a seat at the oyster bar if you can, it's a whole vibe. Highly recommend for a date night or a seafood fix done right! read more

The Optimist - Scallops and Basmati Fried Rice - Seafood Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Bread service is seriously the best in Atlanta and I dream about the wood roasted oysters here. Such a fun a place and the wait staff is always AMAZING. Definitely recommend for date night and with a big group. read more

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I love the high-quality seafood and a stylish, modern atmosphere, this spot is absolutely worth visiting. Just make sure to secure a reservation well in advance! read more

Looks like I'm in the minority on this one: A coworker recommended this place to me very enthusiastically. I kept meaning to try for weeks but something always came up. I finally had the time to go this past Saturday. First, you either have to park via valet or pay to use the garage. Not crazy expensive to do it yourself but I tend not to revisit places where I need to park to eat. Because most places downtown are expensive enough, tbh. It has a nice ambiance to it, both inside and out. I kind of felt like there wasn't much of a system in place with which server was supposed to take my order, because about 3 or 4 different people came up to me seconds after someone had already gotten my stuff. Better than being ignored, but I did have to repeat the same thing a few times. Nothing was bad, per se, but just very okay, especially when you consider the prices. The scallops are $40 and were honestly less filling than any of the appetizers I got. The warm roll was the best part, tbh. I had heard their hush puppies were amazing but I didn't realize they were basically just sugary donut holes. Not bad but I don't think I'll be going again. Overall, it's a pricey place for decent food. read more

The seafood is undeniably fresh and the atmosphere is really stylish and well-designed. However, it's quite pricey and the noise level in the dining room makes it very difficult to hold a conversation. It's a decent place for a special occasion if you don't mind the noise, but I expected a bit more for the cost. read more

The Optimist always delivers great food and service. Came here for a birthday dinner and had a variety of items. My group did everything family style and we loved everything we got from the whole fish to swordfish, oysters, all the appetizers. Always a wonderful time at Optimist and love the seasonal items that rotate in read more

Been here about 6 times (3 for dinner, 3 for happy hr oysters) Potentially best seafood place in town (for dinner). I Even had family members here for their 30th anniversary romantic dinner- asked them to make it special and they did. Service is good, ambiance is classy and rich. Parking might be difficult but I think there's valet (I used to live v close). Octopus dish is still on my mind (and the oysters). obviously happy hr oysters may not be as fresh/good as the dinner options where I usually order from all around the ocean. Enjoy! read more

This place serves woodfired food. The seafood was excellent all the food we had swordfish razor clams, cod cheeks excellent wine list. Excellent I would definitely come back here. Also, the smell is intoxicating of the woodfired grill. read more

The Optimist exceeded my expectations from start to finish. The seafood was incredibly fresh, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. The oysters were outstanding, and every dish we ordered was perfectly cooked and well presented. read more

Delicious Deliciousness. The restaurant is wonderful. The food is amazing and the service is top notch read more

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Broiled lobster tails, She Crab Soup, Pan Seared Scallops. This is a wonderful and beautiful place for dates, celebration, and "loving on yourself" for those moments in time where someone else does the heavy lifting, while you indulge. Service is always great. Food is so good you'll close your eyes and savor each bite. read more

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Heard great things and def was a fun vibe! Just sat at the bar and ordered raw oysters to start. Then split the octopus app (per Jake Shane's recommendation), blackened redfish entree, and side of broccolini as a side. Great date night! read more

The Optimist - Octopus, broccolini, blackened redfish entre - Seafood Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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This is one of the best meals I have had in a while. The service was stellar. We consulted with our server before we ordered anything. We decided to split everything we ordered so we could try more because it all looked amazing. Started off with a nicely mixed cocktail that wasn't too sweet (Make Me Feel Good). The bread was delivered to the table hot and fresh and light and fluffy. It was hard to stop at just one roll, but didn't want to fill up. The friend oysters were crispy but not greasy. The she crab soup was flavorful. The lobster roll was one of the best I have ever had and I cannot rave enough about the housemade chips. They had a bbq flavored seasoning on them. We finished with the blueberry pudding cake which came server recommended and it was delicious. The ambiance was hip and modern although it is very loud once the restaurant fills up. It was sometimes hard to hear what the server was telling us. This place is a must for your Atlanta restaurants to try list. read more

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What an amazing atmosphere. The food was outstanding and delicious. I would return the next time. I'm in town. By the way, the service was outstanding too. read more

The Optimist - Seafood Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I've visited many moons ago so my expectation was low because I hardly remembered my experience (old age memory) anyways...valet parking was easy and the greeting at the front was pleasant. Walking inside was bright and welcoming and the large windows with wooden tables made for a nicely decorated space. We sat in the back in a booth that was large enough to comfortably fit four without the elbow bumping, which was a plus! The waitress graced our tables with the fluffiest bread that was crave-worthy for good reason! Please whatever "no-carb" diet you are on....SKIP IT here! For appetizers we started with the rock shrimp, shrimp a la plancha, wood roasted oysters, and fresh blue point oysters. All apps were absolutely delicious and surprising to our tastebuds in a good way! For the entree the whole roasted lobster was ordered. Please note this dish is not for the faint of heart or for a first date. Yes, it's mainly cracked but to get "all up in there" you have to do some work and it can get messy but totally worth the sweat equity! Fear not, they provide you with hot hand towels and lemon for easy clean up. For sides, the cucumbers were flash fried and danced in chili oil and the heirloom tomatoes sat perched on a creamy bed of ricotta and kissed with basil. These two dishes blended together was HEAVEN! I'm still thinking about it a whole day later! Please do yourself a favor and make a reservation at The Optimist today! You're welcome! read more

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