Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
The Optimist - Nashville, Nashville, TN

The Optimist - Nashville

4.7 (3124)
$31 to $50
Seafood
1400 Adams Street, Nashville, TN 37208

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
9:30 PM
Booked 51 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for business meals
  • Charming
The Optimist transports landlocked Tennesseans to the coast for super-fresh, sustainably sourced seafood. Our menu weaves together classic and modern seafood favorites, cocktails of the season complement the fare, and an extensive outdoor patio and “game” area complete the full experience.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Mike Parhm
  • Private party facilities
    We have 2 areas that can accommodate private events! Our Captain's Room can seat up to 10 guests and our Private Dining Room can seat up to 30 guests or up to 16 guests semi privately. The Optimist is also available for a full restaurant buyout!
  • Private party contact
    Angela Clover: (678) 536-6506
  • Neighborhood
    Germantown
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wine

Private dining

What 3,124 people are saying

The Optimist - Nashville reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Optimist in Nashville offers a memorable dining experience with "excellent service" and "amazing food." The seafood is "fresh," and the "ambiance is great" for special occasions. Notable dishes include the "lobster rolls" and "Arctic char." While some reviews mention high prices, the overall experience is often described as "worth every penny."
3,124 Reviews
  1. Nelson

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a fantastic restaurant, from start to finish - not just for Nashville, it ranks at near top of my list of restaurants from around the world. Highly recommend you give it a try.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Virgil

    Charlotte5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had high hopes for this spot. Cool location and nice ambiance. The service was good, our server was a bit of a talker and let's just say he spent more time talking about himself rather than taking care of our order. The bright spot was the apps and the ceviche. It was my wife's birthday and she loves seafood especially oysters. But of course she didn't order any as I expected her to. We had the ceviche, the deviled eggs, fava beans, and fish & chips. The portions were particularly small when it came to the deviled eggs and the fava beans but they both were delicious (maybe that was why I thought the serving size was too small). The ceviche was excellent; having recently visited Panama, I've become a bit snooty about my ceviche. It was top notch. The fish and chips was what I was looking forward to; it was mid at best. I had high hopes but I will definitely stick to the oysters next time in town.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Sidney

    Nashville1 review

    1.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 1
    Honestly disappointed with The Optimist. I came in excited to try the raved-about lobster, but it was full of shells and hard to enjoy. Portions were shockingly small for the price. The best part of the meal? The bread. Definitely not worth the hype or the bill.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Alex

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was a fantastic evening and everything was perfect

    Is this helpful?

  5. Leah

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We completely enjoyed our dining experience from easy valet through dessert. We had oysters that were super fresh. We grazed through the appetizers including Alabama blue crab, red beets with ricotta, and gulf shrimp a la plancha. It was all delicious! I also loved the scuttlebutt drink. Music was perfect. Our server was excellent. So thankful this was our last dinner in Nashville during our vacation.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Jeri VIP

    Detroit47 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Very disappointing. We had the octopus, smoke house oysters, and fava beans. The octopus was chewy, the oysters tasteless- missing flavor and the fava beans needed more seasoning. The bread was good and the service was excellent. We will not return for another try.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Elodia

    Houston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was tooooo salty… drinks were meh…dessert was boxed pie with some crème fresh…

    Is this helpful?

  8. Anastasia VIP

    Nashville38 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We dine at the Optimist frequently and always love it! We definitely miss the scallops on the menu, but everything we got was as fabulous as always.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Joey

    San Diego6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Our food was exceptional from the oysters to start; the yellow fin small plate; the salad and she crab soup to the red fish and swordfish entrees. The chocolate dessert was a nice ending to the experience. The ambiance also made a nice contribution to our evening’s enjoyment.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Jen

    Nashville13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a great experience returning to Optimist and sharing a meal with family who were first time guests. Our server was super friendly and walked us through the menu, providing great recommendations. Everything from cocktails, to appetizers, mains, and desserts was delicious. Unpopular opinion: we don't think the beignets are as good as the hush puppies! We love how each visit there are new menu items to try though. Some favorite bites included the Japanese Amberjack, beet and strawberry salad, fish and chips, Arctic char, and pineapple upside down cake!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Optimist - Nashville is rated 4.7 stars by 3124 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Nashville
  4. Nashville
  5. Germantown

Make a reservation


Booked 51 times today
Google Map for The Optimist - Nashville

1400 Adams Street, Nashville, TN 37208

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Germantown
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Mike Parhm
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    We have 2 areas that can accommodate private events! Our Captain's Room can seat up to 10 guests and our Private Dining Room can seat up to 30 guests or up to 16 guests semi privately. The Optimist is also available for a full restaurant buyout!
  • Private party contact
    Angela Clover: (678) 536-6506
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - 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