Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Atlanta
  4. Atlanta
  5. West Midtown
The Optimist, Atlanta, GA

The Optimist

4.7
4.7
9129 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 106 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
  • Hot spot
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
  • Website
    https://www.theoptimistrestaurant.com/atlanta
  • 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.
  • Location
    914 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, GA 30318
  • 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

Featured in

Experiences

  • Valentine's Day at The Optimist!

    US$125.00 per person

    14 Feb 2025 only
    The best way to spend the evening with your special someone is "coast side!" Celebrate Valentine's Day at The Optimist with a four-course prix fixe menu Executive Chef Edward Barrett for $125 per person. Two tiers of wine pairings available for an additional $45 or $85 per person. Enjoy oysters on the half shell, coastal inspired cuisine and much more! We look forward to celebrating with you!

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 9,129 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

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

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Atlanta

    Seafood

  • Atlanta

    Seafood

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Optimist is a seafood lover's paradise in Atlanta, cherished for its "amazing" oysters, "fantastic" food, and "impeccable" service. Regulars adore the "knowledgeable" staff and the ambiance enriched by "beautiful" decor. While some dishes could improve, its consistent quality and "thoughtful" service make it a must-visit for special occasions.

9,129 Reviews

  1. Sabre

    VIP

    Atlanta

    21 reviews

    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We love the Optimist and have dined many times. Sadly the pricing like many other restaurants has exploded. Our tuna crudo was good but tiny for $21. Also portions of fish have become small and although an entree, did not come with a vegetable. Now vegetables are a la carte and our French fries (crisps) came in a tiny cup. Overpriced for French fries. Wine has also sky rocketed. $19 for a decent glass of wine in a small glass. We love you Optimist, but at these prices we can’t dine with you as regularly!

    Is this helpful?

  2. brenda

    VIP

    Atlanta

    151 reviews

    5.0

    151 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Grouper cheeks, she crab soup, grilled mahi were all delicious and as usual we had great service

    Is this helpful?

  3. David

    VIP

    Atlanta

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always great food and spot on service. Another enjoyable evening.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Tracy

    VIP

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was outstanding !! Food was delicious! Severer was extremely knowledgeable and everything he recommended was wonderful.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Olivia

    VIP

    Fayetteville

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and service. Friendly and helpful waitress. Lovely evening!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Corey

    Charlotte

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We ate some great seafood and had the best server ,Robert. Def recommend this restaurant for anyone who loves seafood!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Katie

    VIP

    Denver

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    The food and the service was wonderful ….however I felt like we ate in darkness. It’s obvious I’m over 40 and need more lighting. I’m not asking for an abundance of light . Just enough so I can see more of the beautiful craftsmanship of the restaurant and not feel like I’m at a Taylor Swift concert holding my phone up in the air. The amount of people using their phones to see the menu was like an underground rave. Another option is to switch to backlighted electronic menus so no one will need their phone and you can go with the dark moody lighting .

    Is this helpful?

  8. Beth

    VIP

    Atlanta

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    I was disappointed with our waiter. He seemed too busy to help when we asked.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Phyllis

    VIP

    Atlanta

    172 reviews

    5.0

    172 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Sid was our server snd was very attentive. I always love the appetizers especially the tuna crudo. The smoked fish chowder has been my absolute favorite for many years and I enjoyed the latest iteration. The big surprise was the basmati rice side dish. Bravo!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Maya

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This restaurant was absolutely amazing! Even before the appetizers arrived, the buttered fluffy bread was incredible—such a great start to the meal! I ordered the fried oysters, which were a perfect 10/10, and the chowder soup, which was off the charts (100/10). It was so flavorful and delicious! If you’re considering the she-crab soup, skip it—the chowder is far superior. For my main course, I had the redfish, and it was phenomenal—every bite was packed with flavor! The drinks were well-balanced rather than overly sweet, which was a nice touch. Our server, CJ, was exceptional. He gave us fantastic recommendations and delivered excellent customer service throughout the meal. I would absolutely return!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

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

The Optimist is rated 4.7 stars by 9129 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 106 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
  • Website
    https://www.theoptimistrestaurant.com/atlanta
  • 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.

Featured in

Discover
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Our sites
Businesses
  • Delight more diners
  • Restaurant Blog
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo