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The Optimist, Atlanta, GA

The Optimist

4.7
4.7
9166 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM

Select a time

Booked 73 times today
  • 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.

Additional information

  • Location
    914 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, GA 30318
  • Phone number
    (404) 477-6260
  • 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
  • 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

Featured in

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 9,166 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

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.
9,166 Reviews

  1. Lindsey

    Atlanta

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 1 day 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!

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  2. Lynne

    VIP

    New York City

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 1 day 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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  3. Gioo

    Seattle

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 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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  4. Laurel

    Atlanta

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 2 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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  5. AndreaP

    Charleston

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined 3 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.

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  6. Rotonda

    Atlanta

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 3 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!

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 3 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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  8. NotQuiteVeg

    VIP

    Atlanta

    28 reviews

    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The warm dinner rolls alone are worth going back for! Everything was delicious, from the cocktails to apps to main to dessert . It’s a vibe w/ a side of phenomenal.

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  9. Whitney

    VIP

    Phoenix

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible service and the best menu we found in Atlanta!

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  10. Chanel

    Miami

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The ambiance was very nice but the food was definitely the highlight! Everything was so delicious and you can tell the chefs are back there plating that food with love. Great service as well. The only thing I would say is that our alcoholic drinks felt like juice but they weren’t crazy- priced. Can’t wait to go back and try everything else.

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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 9166 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 73 times today
Google Map for The Optimist

914 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, GA 30318

Additional information

  • Phone number
    (404) 477-6260
  • 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
  • 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

Featured in

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