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The Optimist, Atlanta, GA

The Optimist

4.8
4.8
9038 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood

Make a booking

2 people
23:30
Booked 85 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Lively
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
The Optimist brings a seaside fish camp experience to landlocked Atlantans. The ever-changing menu features high-quality, sustainable seafood masterfully paired with fresh, local ingredients. From sophisticated, daily-catch dishes to crudos and beachside classics, chef-owner Ford Fry’s the Optimist transports guests to their favorite coastal haunts.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–23:00
  • Phone number
    (404) 477-6260
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Eddie Barrett
  • Private party facilities
    The Optimist has a variety of event spaces that include bar events, restaurant buy outs, private dining up to 20 guests, semi-private dining for up to 50 guests.
  • Area
    West Midtown
  • Cross Street
    8th Street
  • Parking details
    $5 Valet service is offered through the Brady parking garage, located on property. Additional surface street parking is available throughout the neighborhood, as well as additional lots in the area.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Wine

Experiences

  • Ring in the New Year with The Optimist!

    US$125.00 per person

    31 Dec 2024 only
    Spend this New Year’s Eve “coast-side” with a four-course, prix-fixe meal from executive chef Eddie Barrett! $125 per person with wine pairings available for an additional $45 per person. Premium wine pairing option available for $85 per person. Menu choices include tuna crudo, lobster & potato bisque, duck fat poached swordfish, special desserts and more!

What 9,038 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Atlanta Metro

    Seafood

  • Atlanta

    Seafood

  • Atlanta

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Optimist in Atlanta offers an extraordinary dining experience with "amazing food" and "exceptional service." Known for its "fresh oysters" and "heavenly shrimp a la plancha," this vibrant spot is perfect for special occasions. While some diners find it pricey, many agree it's "worth it" for the unforgettable flavors and atmosphere.

9,038 Reviews
  1. Austin

    Atlanta Metro

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and great service! Bartender was great as well!

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  2. Corey

    Atlanta Metro

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    End of the week connection time for wifey and I over dinner at The Optimist was perfect. The ambiance, food, and the personableness of our server were all aligned for a great night out.

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  3. Greg

    Atlanta Metro

    4 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 17 November 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We were very disappointed. The fluke fish came with a poor-tasting brown sauce and the expensive scallops order consisted of only 3 very small scallops. The desserts were mediocre. No attention was paid to presentation in any of the dishes. I doubt we will ever dine there again.
    The OptimistResponded 4 days ago
    Hello Greg, I'm truly sorry to hear about your disappointing experience at The Optimist. I appreciate your feedback on the fluke and scallop dishes, as well as on the desserts. We pride ourselves on serving excellent dishes and it's clear we missed the mark this time. I'd like to invite you back in on us so that we can provide the type of outstanding culinary experience that we strive to give every one of our guests. Please contact me if you are willing to give us another chance and thank you very much for dining with us. Best, Mark Cioccia The Optimist

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  4. Jay

    Washington DC

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 17 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great time! The food, service and experience is always stellar

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  5. Ursula

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 17 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious and service was great. The attention to detail made us feel very special. Our waitress was very accommodating.

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  6. David

    Atlanta Metro

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 17 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our server was great and very personable. The food was delicious. We had a bad experience about 9 years ago at the restaurant and we’ve never been back. We decided to try it again. We were so glad we did. We will certainly be back soon.

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  7. Buddy

    New York City

    13 reviews

    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on 17 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Arrived on time…had to wait for table for our 25th anniversary celebration. Table was close to entrance…kept getting cold blasts when door was opened (which was frequent) the entire time. Restaurant is very loud. Started with shellfish tower. Was very good. Shared a couple of appetizers after….tuna crudo was delicious. Halibut cheeks arrived on sizzling plate. By the time we moved from crudo to cheeks…they were overcooked on the hot metal serving platter. 😢 Finished with a blueberry pudding cake with vanilla-basil ice cream. I think they forgot to add the basil. Wine was good. Server Brett saved the night with top shelf service!!! Overall, very good…not great.

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  8. kayla

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    the experience was amazing. the oysters and just to die for so frickin good. the food 10/10 beyond everything❤️

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  9. Mo

    Atlanta Metro

    15 reviews

    4.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 15 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We arrived for our reservation and were seated within 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!

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  10. Jose

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 14 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Please get seat cushions. Rough on the butt after a while. (Pause)

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FAQs

The Optimist offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (404) 477-6260.

The Optimist is rated 4.8 stars by 9038 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
23:30
Booked 85 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Optimist

914 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, GA 30318

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    8th Street
  • Area
    West Midtown
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–23:00
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    $5 Valet service is offered through the Brady parking garage, located on property. Additional surface street parking is available throughout the neighborhood, as well as additional lots in the area.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Eddie Barrett
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Wine
  • Phone number
    (404) 477-6260
  • Private party facilities
    The Optimist has a variety of event spaces that include bar events, restaurant buy outs, private dining up to 20 guests, semi-private dining for up to 50 guests.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
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