The Optimist

Review summary

1. C

   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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2. G

   Greg

   Atlanta Metro

   4 reviews

   vip
   2.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on November 17, 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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3. J

   Jay

   Washington DC

   1 review

   vip
   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on November 17, 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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4. U

   Ursula

   Atlanta Metro

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on November 17, 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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5. D

   David

   Atlanta Metro

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on November 17, 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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6. B

   Buddy

   New York City

   13 reviews

   4.0

   13 reviews

   Dined on November 17, 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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7. k

   kayla

   Atlanta Metro

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on November 15, 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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8. M

   Mo

   Atlanta Metro

   15 reviews

   4.0

   15 reviews

   Dined on November 15, 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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9. J

   Jose

   Atlanta Metro

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on November 14, 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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10. C

    Catherine

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 14, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4

    The apps and oysters were the best part. Entrees and sides were fine. The wait staff was not great. Took a long time to get waited on. We had to wave someone down and ask for a server. Service was slow and we were given the wrong oysters. We ordered a dozen and we given a half dozen. They realized a table close by had ours and we had theirs after we let them know. Then they just swapped them? After both of us had our oysters sitting on our respective tables for a bit until we figured out it was the wrong order. Felt like an odd choice to me to re-serve food. We had already squeezed lemon on ours. This is not what we have typically come to expect from this restaurant and it’s usually one of our favorites. But it was off.
    

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