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    The Optimist - Nashville

    4.4 (498 reviews)
    PriceySeafood
    Open 4:30 pm - 11:00 PM

    The Optimist - Nashville Photos

    Business Info

    THE OPTIMIST - NASHVILLE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Grilled Swordfish
    Heather F.

    I was excited to try this place after so many people recommending I try it. I joined a couple friends for an early dinner after a matinee show. I love how this area of town is shaping up, and the interior of the restaurant represented that fresh, new, sultry vibe. Our server was kind, though awkward at times. We tried a range of menu items. Nothing wowed us about the food, which was disappointing for a restaurant of this caliber. Because we were early, we found free street parking. Depending on the time of day you go, you might have to pay to park or use valet. Love: bread (warm & swimming in butter); proper chips (hot & crispy); No Booze Cruise (fruity & refreshing) Like: She-crab soup (creamy & filling); swordfish (overcooked but the short rib ragu was flavorful); service (kind enough) Dislike: hushpuppies (not a fan of the powdered sugar on the savory bread); oysters (not very flavorful); grilled squash & corn (crossed the charred line & was burnt - ruined the flavors that should have been good)

    11.8.2025
    John H.

    We sat down at The Optimist at 8 PM on a Saturday night, November 8, 2025. It's a lively spot in north Nashville near the Cumberland River, and a friend of ours booked the reservation. What a great choice! The atmosphere was energetic, and the food and drink options were outstanding. Our server checked in at all the right times without hovering, and the overall pace of service was just right. I can definitely see us coming back to this place on a future trip to Nashville.

    Swordfish
    Kleopatra G.

    5 years later after my first visit and Optimist is still providing the best quality seafood dishes in Nashville. This is a treat yo self type of situation, be prepared, financially speaking. It's worth every penny. I really enjoyed my rum cocktail this time. The swordfish dish was perfect, and my friend really enjoyed the artic char and her oysters.

    Shrimp à la plancha
    Lauren D.

    Such a great date night spot! Their rolls are to die for and everything on their menu is so delicious. Their shrimp with the red sauce is the best thing I've ever had. Loved their scallops too!

    Arctic Char
    Christina D.

    Unfortunately, this experience missed the mark for me. I got here early with another one of my friends before aour reservation so we decided to head upstairs to Le Loupe for drinks. The space was really cool, very viby and fun. We found a place at the bar and waited to order. After a little while, we noticed that no one had even acknowledged us. The bartenders were busy I could tell, but none even looked in our direction or came by to tell us they'd be with us at any minute or anything. They just kind of kept walking past us without acknowledging us. Finally, after we grabbed their attention, one of them took ours orders. I went with the Crazeologie, and honestly, it was a little bit of a letdown. I thought the flavors were kind of flat and just not really that fun of a drink at all. My friend's drink wasn't all that much better either. We also ordered some fries to much on while we waited. They took a really long time to make to the point where eventually we had to go downstairs for our reservation. The bartender was kind enough to let us know that she would bring down the fries when they were ready which was super nice of her. We finished our drinks, headed downstairs, and were then showed to our table. While we purused the menu, the fries came down. Unfortunately they were a bit lukewarm and not very crispy by that point, but the sauce that came with it was delicious and sort of made up for it. We liked the sauce so much, we decided to order another set of fries and hoped that these would be a little bit fresher. They were much fresher which we liked, but the sauce came with was different than the one upstairs and not as good as the other one, but we still generally like them. We then ordered our food and we found our server was a little bit snippy when we asked questions about the menu which just left a bad taste in our mouths. We pushed through and settled on some oysters to start with and then our mains. For my meal, I have the Arctic Char. The fish was well cooked and paired fairly well with the sauce, but the presentation was underwhelming and the dish just overall wasn't anything special for me. The asparagus that we had as a side that was pretty good as it was well seasoned and grilled. One of my friends got the Prime Skirt Steak, which arrived more cooked than she asked for. She didn't wanna flag it down given the energy of the table and how snippy our waitress had been, so she still ate it, but it was disappointing it wasn't made properly. Overall, we enjoyed each other's company, but found the food to be underwhelming and thought service could have been better. I don't think I'll be coming back here sadly.

    Shasta S.

    We were early for our dinner reservation but were seated without any wait. The host and server were both very nice and helpful. We ordered a platter of various seafood. It included some oysters, shrimp, shrimp ceviche (my favorite), and some tuna spread. I never had oysters before, so it was nice to try them. Just not my cup of tea, but they tasted fresh. We ordered the corn bread beignets which were definitely more on the corn bread than beignet side, and we shared an order of fish and chips. Everything was so good, we definitely recommend.

    Variety Oysters
    Gada F.

    One of the best fish and chips dishes that I've had in long time. Super moist and flakey and cooked to perfection. The oyster's were super fresh and delicious.

    Deviled eggs
    Mark W.

    Started out with the deviled eggs. Great presentation. The halibut was delicious and melted in my mouth. Atmosphere is great and be sure to ask about the history. I had one of the best old fashions and when I asked the ingredients I was told they use both a rye whiskey and then mix in some bourbon. Parking is tight but there is a valet service, but it is not comped by any of the business.

    Alexis M.

    Very much enjoyed my dining experience here! The dimly lit ambiance is fantastic for any occasion. The restaurant itself is beautiful and still maintains its original wood interior but has been revamped into a mid-century modern gem located in a quiet corner of Nashville's Germantown neighborhood. Huge shoutout to our server Ernest who was extremely helpful and friendly. They start you off with complimentary buttered brioche rolls which come out hot and fresh. We started off with "the opportunist" which came with 6 delicious and fresh oysters (I definitely prefer the medium, northeast ones), 6 shrimp, ceviche, tuna poke, and the smoked fish dip. Everything was wonderful except I would skip the tuna poke and ceviche next time. For the main we got the flounder which can feed 2 people. It is served table side with garlic herb butter, capers, and lemon- super flavorful sauces to complement the tender, flaky, and moist texture of the flounder. For sides we got the broccolini and fried rice. Good, not great and would probably switch it up next time! To the whole team at The Optimist ... thank you for the fun dining, delicious food experience. This spot is definitely worth a try, and I will be back for more soon!

    Be Optimistic
    Mona W.

    When I tell you this lived up to the HYPE! I went for the oysters, fell in love with the oysters and the entire place! Already planning my next time back to try more of the menu! The only downfall is I can't remember the names of all the oysters I tried but look at the pictures because it's on the ticket!!! Bailey and the entire Bar Crew on 12/30/24 evening shift were GREAT! So attentive, kind and available while tending to all the guest it was awesome! I sat at the bar and the service didn't miss. I would suggest ride share personally, parking is not the best but there are pay lots available. Truly worth the visit

    Ashley L.

    This was such a special date night! While we were already lovey-dovey celebrating our recent engagement, the Optimist staff and food just made it that much better. Before I talk about our food, I want to say THANK YOU to our server, Gabriel for making the night so special. He brought us champagne to celebrate, gave us all the input on what to get based on what we like, and even bought our dessert for us at the end of the night. We didn't catch her name, but one of the hostess also hand-made an engagement ring, flowers and small box and brought it to our table for us. This was way way wayyyyy beyond what we could've ever imagined, so thank you so much for making this night even more magical. The food was incredible. In total, we had two apps, four cocktails, two entrees, three sides and a dessert. Now obviously we were celebrating, but the biggest thing we noticed was while we felt full, we never felt bloated, gross, etc. like you do with some restaurants when you've probably eaten a bit too much. For appetizers I recommend the smoked fish dip! It was the perfect amount and such a nice start to the meal. I had the flounder and thought it was perfect. They even present the fish to you table side and debone it. The sides were hard to decide, but ultimately I think the broccolini was my top favorite. And for dessert we did a pineapple upside down cake and it was everything nostalgic and indulgent. Transparently, this isn't a price point that we could afford to go to on a random Wednesday for dinner. But, this is probably the best "celebration" restaurant experience we've had in Nashville. The sticker price may surprise you (or maybe it won't if you eat seafood out often!!) but it was worth every penny.

    Broccolini
    Jasmine A.

    I snagged same-day reservations for Sunday with my partner, and parking was a breeze since it wasn't crowded--though I can imagine it's usually busy, luckily with plenty of spots nearby. The place itself? Stunning! The bathrooms are like a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book, each one individually numbered and spotless. We popped in for cocktails and oysters, but that sneaky broccolini jumped onto our order! Ahhh (internal screaming), it was the best ever--pesto (not the average) and pomegranate seeds turned it into a superstar. The oysters were fresh, and my cocktail, Birds of Paradise, was delicious. Nashville doesn't have many spots using Brazilian rum except for the norm, so this was a fantastic surprise. Our waiter Kevin was an absolute gem, and we're already plotting our return for a full meal! Wait! The rolls--I almost forgot about those rolls! Crispy on the top and flaky and buttery. Never ever have we had bread like that! Ok. I'm done.

    The opportunist with extra single oysters

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - The Optimist - Nashville

    Would this restaurant be pescatarian friendly?

    Yes, a majority of the menu items are fish-based dishes.

    Do they have a happy hour?

    Is the patio open year-round?

    Is this restaurant family friendly?

    Absolutely…

    In your experience, Is it comfortable (warm enough) on the heated patio when outside temperatures drop below 50?

    Unfortunately it was a tad above 50, and we were fine. My wife never complained, and when she's cold, I hear it. I've only been once. Sorry.

    Do they take walk ins?

    Yes but reservations suggested. I used OpenTable.

    Do they offer any happy hour specials?

    Not currently

    Is it kid's friendly?

    I believe so. AWESOME ATMOSPHERE and ridiculously good food👌👍🏼

    View All 11 Questions

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    Been meaning to try this place - it's quickly turned into one of my Nashville favorites! Restaurant…read moreitself is located in Germantown and has a lively modern coastal vibe to it. We sat at the oyster bar, which was a cool spot to watch the kitchen in action. We ordered the whiskey rebellion and the gold rush for a drink - both good, but the whiskey rebellion was definitely better. We started with the octopus and smoked fish dip - both absolute must do's! The octopus was so unique - lightly fried and was served similar to calamari. The smoked fish dip was so fresh and flavorful - not your run of the mill smoked dip! For the entrees, we had the mussels and fettuccine with a side of carrots. Mussels were good, but as expected with this dish. The fettuccine was seriously fantastic - you gotta try this one! Living just a couple blocks away, I am excited to have a new favorite within a stone's throw. Can't wait to go back and order new things!

    Visited on a Saturday during Happy Hour with my sister and got oysters and the gnocchi to split…read more The oysters were fresh and due to happy hour one type was $2 per oyster. There was only one wood fired oyster option - green curry oyster - which was delicious. We ordered two plates of it. We each ordered a drink which was $10 because of happy hour, we decided to add the gnocchi after seeing the table next to us order it and it was delicious and after the oysters the perfect meal to split between the two of us. Service was great, everyone was super helpful and we were celebrating a birthday and the menu had Happy Birthday on it. The restaurant was about 50% full and filling up as we ate but still quiet and cozy. Would recommend and would definitely return for the oysters!

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    5th & Taylor

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    Excellent food and service Beautiful atmosphere…read more We had the haddock, spaghetti squash and Tri tips .. all were excellent Interesting and delicious cocktails as well ..and my fav post dinner Digesitvee ..China China !

    First time here and I would go back to try more items on the menu! It's such a cute space in the…read moreinside with a patio area for seating. Loved the giant wall mirrors and artwork. The service was pretty well overall everyone that came to our table was pleasant. Our server was Parker and overall she was great, could sense mood shift when we had some questions w our order delay & salad . Our entrees took a bit to come out because of my salad remake. The drinks we ordered were good as well. Kudos to bartender. I'm going to dive right in: duck wings were realllyyyy good no complaints at all!! One of the favorites. Nice sweet sauce. Florida rock shrimp was my fav. Reminds you of a nice shrimp scampi minus the lemon, more garlicky. The bread was good with the sauce. My top fav. Short rib was very tender and good. The asparagus was cooked well too perfect crunch and grill taste. Not a fan of dates but it does add a sweetness if you like. Also came with family style mashed potatoes and they were very good as well. We also order the green beans , heavy lemon profile. zucchini fritters surprised me. Not in a bad way, I wasn't expecting a ball so the zucchini was like chopped up inside w/ another mixed. No much described on the menu. sausage cheddar biscuits were pretty over powering with the sausage , I enjoyed the sauce on the plate with it. High pork flavor, biscuits were soft & moist. chopped salad was very copped. It had peppers, radish, mushrooms , cucumbers & cheese and a lot of the chopped items are not listed on the menu, had to send back for a less chopped. I felt it was more chopped items than lettuce. The new salad was great & presentation is nice on how it comes out. Lettuce also wasn't the freshest but it was fine.

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    Came here on a trip to Nashville because I saw great reviews on Yelp and TikTok. I loved the…read moreatmosphere of the restaurant, small and welcoming. I also always appreciate a farm to table restaurant. We got a variety of things to try for our party of four. To start we got the sourdough bread with seaweed butter, kale salad, beef tartare, and yellowfin tuna carpaccio. The kale salad was my stand out app, I loved the fresh black currents in it. For the mains we got the clam linguine, chicken, and snapper. The stand out here was the linguine and the chicken. They make their pasta fresh, and you could definitely tell. The chicken was covered in the most delicious sauce and has garlic confit which was literally chefs kiss.

    Rolf & Daughters has been on my list for a while, and it definitely was worth the hype, especially…read morethe pasta. I walked in without a reservation and they had a table available on the patio, exactly what I wanted! Everyone was so kind and service was friendly and attentive. For starters, I tried the pork sausage dish with clams stuffed in a pepper. It was definitely an interesting and creative preparation and incredibly filling. It was good and I appreciated the flavors but would try a different starter next time! I really enjoyed the spaghetti. It tasted like summer on a plate - light, fresh, and bursting with bright tomato flavor. The sauce was simple but layered, letting the quality of the ingredients shine. Overall, an enjoyable meal and a space I'd love to come back to try other menu items....I have heard rave reviews about a corn pasta here and I'd like to try sitting in the interior dining section which had a cozy, inviting feel.

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    Cozy and rustic interior of Rolf and Daughters restaurant
    Rolf and Daughters in Germantown is the true definition of Farm to Table restaurants in Nashville that are a must visit
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    Rolf and Daughters is a not to be missed with restaurant when visiting Nashville. Farm to Table Restaurant with some of the city's best food

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    Butchertown Hall

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    Tyler is awesome! He really made us feel welcomed coming here…read more We had a ton of time to spare before we went golfing, and it was downpouring rain out so we were coming here to eat and drink but to stay a while too. He was hilarious and kept swinging by to make sure our bottomless mimosas were full. We all got different items but I got the breakfast tacos with different types of meat, an espresso martini, and the bottomless mimosas. It was all really delicious and we all had a great time sitting at our table and being served by Tyler!

    We came here for the first time on a Saturday and honestly left a little underwhelmed. Right off…read morethe bat, the host didn't seem very welcoming. He kind of gave off the vibe that we were an inconvenience and he'd rather be anywhere else. It also felt odd being seated right between two tables when the place wasn't busy. That said, our server was really sweet and did a great job. The menu sounded amazing, so we were excited to try a few things. We started with the bone marrow and queso. The bone marrow was good, and the queso was honestly fantastic, just both were pretty small portions. We split the tomahawk, and while the flavor was there, it ended up being more fat than actual meat, which was disappointing especially for the price. Overall, the food didn't quite match the cost. Not a terrible experience, but definitely not somewhere we will be back to.

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    The Optimist - Nashville - seafood - Updated June 2026

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