If you're looking for a restaurant that puts seafood front and center, put this place on your list! It can get busy, so I'd definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time. No reservation? Don't worry, you may be able to grab a seat at the beautiful bar when you walk in. The atmosphere is fantastic. There's great music playing softly in the background, and as you look around, you realize you're dining inside a beautifully renovated old warehouse. Here's a little inside history: the building was once used to make handles for old hammers and axes. Look closely at some of the beams and you can actually see the hammer marks! Okay, enough history, let's talk drinks! I started with an Old Fashioned made with Sazerac Rye Bourbon. It was very good and served with clear ice, which is always a good sign. My only complaint? They used a red cherry instead of a Maraschino cherry. They definitely need to step up their Old Fashioned game! They also made a great Dirty Martini, or as I like to call it, a "Dirty & Skanky Martini." Now for the food! We started with the Spanish Octopus, which was absolutely delicious. The Bluefin Belly was very good, and the Corn-Milk Hush Puppies were SOOOO good! We also tried the Summer Squash, which was another great addition to the meal. For my entrees, I went with the Wild Striped Bass, WOW! Amazing flavor, and check out the Jonah Crab on top! I also tried the Grilled Swordfish with Brisket Marmalade, and that was another winner. The combination of flavors was fantastic! And I have to give a big shout-out to the service. Everyone was amazing, attentive, knowledgeable, and clearly knew the menu inside and out. If you're visiting Nashville, or you live here, put this place on your list! Great atmosphere, creative seafood dishes, excellent service, and some really memorable food. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Great seafood. Oysters were top notch with tasting notes, fresh shredded horseradish, what I assume was a house hot sauce and mignonette (everything required / desired). The striped bass was good with a nice Jonah crap beurre blanc sauce. Cocktail had a good clear ice large cube presentation and a good balance of bourbon, rye amaro and bitters. I don't live in Nashville but would come back to this place when I returned. The waitress mentioned the octopus as a stand-out which I will try next time. read more

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This is a higher end seafood spot in a beautiful setting. The drinks are craft. We had a large group dinner here (8 people) and tried a bunch of oysters, appetizers & entrees - see the photos. The oysters are super fresh and all the dishes were tasty, albeit SUPER heavy. They also bring a super fluffy rolls with butter to begin with. The staff are super nice :) read more

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Birthday dinner at The Optimist and everything was delicious! We had the Scuttlebutt and Sea Whip for cocktails! We started with the Maine Oysters, shishito peppers, Alabama blue crab, and flounder ceviche with shrimp chips--all were excellent. My husband had the lobster roll with homemade Voodoo kettle chips, and the lobster was cooked perfectly. We also shared the cavatelli with mushrooms, which was flavorful and well-seasoned. My mother-in-law enjoyed the crumbed halibut with brown butter sauce, poached apple, goat cheese and prosciutto, while my father-in-law had the striped bass. Service was great and the ambiance was nice! Our server brought out a complimentary chocolate profiterole for my mother in law and we ordered the Atlantic beach pie which were both great desserts! Overall, a wonderful meal and a great birthday dinner. We'll definitely be back! read more

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I personally loved it, it was my second visit. Very different visits too. The food was excellent, and so was an atmosphere and decor. The portions are on very small side, and this is ok, but it makes prices exceedingly expensive. However, it is 4.5+, closer to 5. Oysters, ceviche, Alabama crab, shrimp cocktail, and swordfish as main course were actually quite good today. So, so, just enjoy the Optimist! What is the alternative, the Pessimist, ah?! read more

The Optimist - Nashville - Swordfish - Seafood Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Being an optimist is definitely the mindset you need to go in with to enjoy a meal here. We made an 8:30 reservation and arrived about five minutes early, then proceeded to wait nearly 20 minutes before being seated, along with four other parties. When we were finally seated outside, I was confused as to what had caused the delay, considering three hosts were having a conversation behind the host stand and there appeared to be at least seven open tables available. Once seated, we ordered appetizers and drinks. The food itself was excellent--everything tasted very fresh, and the presentation was great. Unfortunately, one of our drinks was made incorrectly. My wife ordered the "Brigantine," which should have been made with rum, coconut, banana, and bitters. What we received instead appeared to be an Old Fashioned or something similar. When I informed our waiter that the drink didn't seem to have been made correctly, he told us he would take it off the bill. However, when we received the check, the drink was still included. Overall, 3 stars because the food was excellent, fresh, and beautifully presented. Unfortunately, the level of service didn't match the quality of the food. Customer service, organization, and follow-through could use some attention--especially at a restaurant in this price range. read more

The Optimist was a great adventure for a birthday celebration. The restaurant is fairly busy, but we were lucky enough to be seated near the raw oyster bar and able to watch the kitchen work its magic. There were gaps in between our time seeing our waiter, but we were entertained by the hustle of the kitchen and cocktails. The cocktails were delicious, and the food was divine. The swordfish steak was incredibly flavorful, and I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of oysters available. We got to try a limited menu item, some beignet style cornbread hushpuppies, which were unique to me. The bathrooms are odd (down a hallway in large individual industrial stalls with music that changes every 30 seconds), but overall the experience was great. read more

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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) read more

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fast food and ambience were excellent. It was also very clean Hotel. We came with a large party and they accommodated us.

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. read more

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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. read more

The Optimist - Nashville - Swordfish - Seafood Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Outstanding seafood, service, and atmosphere. Kudos to our waiter Charles. We will return!

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. read more

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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! read more

The Optimist - Nashville - Shrimp à la plancha - Seafood Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Such impeccable service, food, and atmosphere. The optimist went above and beyond to make our evening meal truly special! We cannot thank the optimist enough for such a special evening. We had appetizers, Drinks, sides, and mains and everything from start to finish was amazing! Cannot recommend enough!! read more

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. read more

The Optimist - Nashville - Arctic Char - Seafood Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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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. read more

The Optimist - Nashville - Variety Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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. read more

The Optimist - Nashville - Deviled eggs - Seafood Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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! read more

The Optimist - Nashville - Seafood Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Bam - located in Germantown this is a must go to for great seafood and service. Weather you dine at the bar, a table or with a group, no one will go away dissappointed. read more

I wish I could give them six stars! The food was phenomenal, I had the chicken and it was some of the best chicken I have ever had. The oysters were excellent and the steak was done superbly. The ambiance is really inviting and warm. The service was beyond good. Everyone worked as a team; however, our waiter was amazing. The assistant mangers were also very invested and made sure everything was great. All in all, a wonderful meal. read more

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 read more

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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. read more

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Parking is a hassle. We got there before their valet service was set up. Their menu seems to be pretty limited. I'm going to stick with Eddie V's. read more

Fresh fish was outstanding, from the Cod, to the Flounder and Sea bass, delicious. Service was a little rushed, we did not have time to enjoy our cocktails, but the waitress was accommodating. Ambiance was awesome, young people, fresh and lively! Totally recommend this place, two read more

Beautiful restaurant in a beautiful up and coming area! Service was incredible, seating was comfy! the lighing is so romantic! 4 stars only because my actual date sucked and I didnt like the way the octopus was cooked, but everything else was top notch!! Great for a fancy night of seafood out! read more

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. read more

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I was unsure about this restaurant because of the handful of less than perfect reviews, but I'm glad I didn't listen to them. We had a the best time at The Optimist. Food and cocktails were delicious. Service was great. We were seated right away for our reservation for a party of 6. We were celebrating a birthday and they stamped, "happy birthday" on her menu with the date which was a sweet little keepsake. I will definitely be back. read more

The Optimist - Nashville - The opportunist with extra single oysters - Seafood Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

One of the best meals I've had in a very long time. 10/10. Everything was perfect. Our server, Noam, was very knowledgeable of the menu and was able to make great suggestions. We enjoyed some very fresh Canadian oysters, the yellowfin tuna crudo with citrus soy and black truffle, a spicy kale salad that still has me drooling, and then wrapped it all up with the most perfectly cooked skirt steak I've ever had. It was beautifully charred on the outside and medium rare in the middle, with a delicate romesco sauce on top. It melted in our mouths! We were hesitant to order meat at a fish-forward restaurant, but had ZERO regrets after the first bite. And do not, I repeat, do not sleep on the kedgeree- a smoked fish fried rice with crispy garlic. The most flavorful rice I've ever had. Already planning another trip back to Nashville just to eat here! read more

Completely blown away. Beautiful restaurant, AMAZING food. Got the octopus, wood fired oysters, raw oysters, arctic char and mushrooms. Our waiter Charles was lovely and gave great recommendations. Will be thinking about this place for a long time. SO in love read more

The Optimist - Nashville - Octopus and wood fired oysters - Seafood Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Oh my, where do I begin? The mahi mahi at Optimist rivals the mahi mahi I had at Mama's fish house in Maui, Hawaii. That is a great compliment, considering that Nashville is not near the ocean. This is definitely top 3 fish dishes I have ever had in my life. The beurre blanc sauce was amazing and that crab topping was plentiful. The grilled oysters were good as well but I felt were a little too small, portion size. The fried rice and the pole beans complemented our main dishes really well, and honestly could be eaten on their own. To prove this, I had the leftover fried rice and pole beans for lunch today and am feeling quite fulfilled. The service here was top notch. My friend has a severe tomato allergy and our server took the time to talk to the chef and cross out the items that had tomato in it. Talk about amazing service. The ambiance here is very romantic. It was pretty dark, not overly loud, so we could still carry on a conversation during dinner. I had the Germantown to drink which is their twist on an old fashioned. I have to say, that was an excellent version of an old fashioned. I wish we had something like The Optimist back in Vegas. read more

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Last night in Nashville I slipped away from the convention and met up with an old friend for a proper dinner. The Optimist absolutely delivered. It's in a beautifully restored building with a vibe that's both elegant and comfortable. We started at the bar while waiting for our table, but the bartender was so great we just stayed put. He was fairly new, but you'd never know it, service was spot on. We kicked things off with an incredible octopus appetizer, and I went with the swordfish over short ribs. Sounds like a strange pairing, but it worked perfectly. Definitely adding this spot to my "must dine" list for future Nashville trips. read more

Had a great dinner here! There were so many great things on the menu including the chicken dumplings, lobster toast and coconut pie!! It's on the pricier side but definitely recommend it for a special night out or celebration! read more

Husband was craving a nice fresh fish dinner. I was treating my husband for his birthday. I on the other hand can't eat fish. We are not oyster fans -based on what we witnessed if you want fresh oysters this is the spot. However, if you want a nice sized portion of fresh fish, the dinner portion King Fish, very small portion. If you are a landlubber, you are very limited. My side dish vegetable would have been wonderful although it was drenched in butter. So the vegetable just tasted like brown butter, the actual taste of the broccolini was gone. The service- our waiter was great! Sadly birthday boy was still hungry when we got home. Locals not tourists - so many restaurants we've been to in Nashville have more options and larger portions. read more

Starting off with the table bread which was super buttery and light. A great way to start off the meal! Onto the oysters which were good but I have had better in Nashville before. We finished the meal off with fish and chips and Mahi Mahi. We were really looking forward to the Alaskan Halibut but sadly they were all out. Overall the meal was good! We celebrated our 4th anniversary there which they put a cute stamp on the menu for it! read more

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My wife and I have frequented this restaurant for years. The food is well and thoughtfully prepared. For seafood this far from the ocean, it's always fresh, especially the amazing oysters! The vibe is great, chill but upscale. The staff can be spotty, however. This past visit, my wife asked for an outdoor table in the shade. The hostess (with a huffy attitude) explained to her that she could put us at a shaded table "for now, but the sun will move," so she couldn't guarantee it would stay in the shade. It was like she was explaining basic astronomy to a drunken bachelorette. My wife is an MD, and we were there with our kids for Easter brunch. Super weird energy from her! read more

A dimly lit rustic dinner! Our server, Anita was fantastic. Very personable and clicked with our group right away. The food was delicious and came out pretty quick. The sides are family style, which is not my preference for a side. I tried the flounder it was HUGE, piping hot and delicious! read more

Let's start with the obvious: the place is gorgeous. Dim lighting, a moody ambiance, the kind of setting that makes you feel like you should be drinking something expensive and pretending to care about modern art. The service? Polished. The food? Well... that's where things start to slip. This is one of those spots where the menu encourages you to "explore flavors" and "experience the chef's vision," which is usually code for small plates, big prices. The flavors? They're good--clever, even--but at a cost that makes you question your life choices. The calamari and ceviche were solid, the kind of bites you'd happily order again if you weren't too busy mentally calculating the damage to your bank account. But then there's the mahi. A $50 plate that arrives with the kind of portion size that makes you wonder if you accidentally ordered the "tasting menu" version. It wasn't bad, just... fine. And at that price point, fine doesn't cut it. If I come back, it'll be for drinks and appetizers--small commitments in a place that looks better than it tastes. But honestly? There wasn't a single bite that made me feel the pull to return. read more

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We visited Nashville and decided to try something a little off the downtown path. We were so impressed by the food, service, architecture and over thought that went into every part of our experience. I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE ENOUGH We started with a cocktail from the bar. I love dirty martinis with blue cheese, stuffed olives, and they were on point. We were soon seated where we were great by a lovey waitress. We ordered quite a few dishes, and needless to say they were all impressive. My favorite was the octopus and prawns. When we ever return to Nashville, this will definitely be a place we visit again. read more

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Fantastic place for a company dinner. Compliments to the chef, whom our associate knows way back. He took care of us, thank you! I will think about these bread loaves for years to come. I had 4. Incredibly buttery and wet and burnt a little on top. So tearable and soft. I could eat them all day. I got the redfish, recommended by our excellent waiter. It was delicious. The Brussel sprouts on the side were yum and so was the squash mix underneath the fish. Bits of something on the side were so flavorful as well. Dessert of the coconut cake and chocolate cake were good. The chocolate cake was stand-out worthy. Nice lighting and ambiance. read more

The Optimist - Nashville - Bread loaves - Seafood Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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