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The Optimist, Atlanta, GA

The Optimist

4.7
4.7
9169 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM

Select a time

Booked 86 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Hot spot
  • Lively
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

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 9,169 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
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Atlanta

    Seafood

  • Atlanta

    Seafood

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Optimist is a seafood restaurant in Atlanta praised for its "amazing oysters," "fantastic food," and "beautiful atmosphere." Guests enjoy the "professional and prompt" service, and many highlight servers like Brett and CJ for their "attentive" and "knowledgeable" care. Despite some concerns about noise and portion sizes, the restaurant remains a popular choice for special occasions, with its "wonderful atmosphere" and "thoughtful consideration" of dietary needs.
9,169 Reviews

  1. Christa

    New York City

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic night out with the family! Food was great!

    Is this helpful?

  2. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    I’ve dined here several times and have always enjoyed but this time the quality of the food was nothing like the food in the past. The presentation of the food made us chuckle. The opti old fashioned was served with small cubed ice, not to clown the bartender but any 15.00 dollar drink should be well prepared. The she crab soup had enough parsley for two bowls. The mahi mahi was served in a small bowl and it was one of the higher priced meals on the menu. I thought that I’d play it safe and order the burger and fries but that too was a disappointment as well. The key lime pie had a crust that we thought was candy because we had to break through it for each fork full. Sorry Optimist but you guys failed us last night.

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  3. Lindsey

    Atlanta

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful! The beets and strawberries were amazing, and the Mahi was killer. Shout out to Chef Tyson and Brett! Our server Damien was knowledgeable and unintrusive as we definitely took our time ordering/eating while catching up. We will be back!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Lynne

    VIP

    New York City

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is amazing and our server Damien was incredibly attentive. I would give this restaurant ten stars if I could.

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  5. Gioo

    Seattle

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    It was ok. Glasses have lipstick marks on them. Food was delayed. Wine has glassy/sugary kind of residual on glass.

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  6. Laurel

    Atlanta

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Optimist is in my top three tier of Atlanta restaurants. I am a seafood lover. Ambiance ranges from chilled during Sunday happy hour to exuberant during later hours. Your choice!

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Server was great and food was amazing . Would come back again

    Is this helpful?

  8. AndreaP

    Charleston

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Hanna was wonderful. So personable and accommodating and very kind. She made the dinner experience so much more enjoyable!! We will come back.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Rotonda

    Atlanta

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of my favorite places to dine. The food and service is always great!

    Is this helpful?

  10. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We recently visited for a birthday celebration, and it was the perfect choice! The food was absolutely delicious—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The cocktails were equally impressive, with unique flavors that complemented the meal perfectly. The ambiance was warm and inviting, creating a wonderful setting for a special occasion. If you’re looking for a place to celebrate and make someone feel truly special, this is the spot!

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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 4.7 stars by 9169 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

Select a time

Booked 86 times today

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.

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