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The Optimist, Atlanta, GA

The Optimist

4.7
4.7
9124 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 99 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 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • 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
  • Neighborhood
    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, Takeout, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • Valentine's Day at The Optimist!

    $125.00 per person

    Feb 14, 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 9,124 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 Metro

    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.

9,124 Reviews

  1. Maya

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined today

    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?

  2. Matt

    Memphis/West TN

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined today

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and experience overall. I little close quarters for 2 tops.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Marco

    San Francisco

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Portions weren’t enough for me I’m a big boy. Flavor was good. 6/10

    Is this helpful?

  4. Céline

    Munich

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    On of the top addresses in Atlanta! Great food, great service, great ambience!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Lana

    Atlanta

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Definitely recommend, food was fantastic and service was excellent

    Is this helpful?

  6. Glory

    Pittsburgh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Was very loud. We had GREAT service but we spent $120 on a side of fries, two bite sized lobster rolls, and a not very good dessert. Was a busy experience that felt more like fast food than fine dining. I would avoid the sugary hush puppies definitely a strange idea.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Hernan

    VIP

    Columbus

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience from start to finish!!! I highly recommend!!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Shauna

    VIP

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The oysters were amazing and our bartender Walter was very pleasant and made an amazing extra dirty Martini plus the bread there is just too good especially once dipped in the rock shrimp butter.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Joyce

    Atlanta

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on January 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a wonderful evening and Alex was absolutely on point. Thank you!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Aisha

    New York City

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on January 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Evan was a great waiter. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and helped make great decisions. He was also very attentive and personable. We will definitely be back again.

    1 person found 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 9124 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 99 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
  • Neighborhood
    West Midtown
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • 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, Takeout, 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

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