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The Optimist, Atlanta, GA

The Optimist

4.8
4.8
9051 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood
A photo of The Optimist restaurant

The Optimist

4.8
$31 to $50
Seafood
West Midtown

Make a booking

2 people
21:30
Booked 100 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
  • Good for groups
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
  • Area
    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
    Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Featured in

Experiences

  • Ring in the New Year with The Optimist!

    US$125.00 per person

    31 Dec 2024 only
    Spend this New Year’s Eve “coast-side” with a four-course, prix-fixe meal from executive chef Eddie Barrett! $125 per person with wine pairings available for an additional $45 per person. Premium wine pairing option available for $85 per person. Menu choices include tuna crudo, lobster & potato bisque, duck fat poached swordfish, special desserts and more!

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 9,051 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Atlanta Metro

    Seafood

  • Atlanta

    Seafood

  • Atlanta

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Optimist is a seafood lover's paradise, celebrated for its "amazing food" and "exceptional service." Diners rave about the "freshest oysters" and "outstanding hospitality," making it an ideal spot for special occasions. While some find prices high, the "vibrant atmosphere" and consistent quality make it a must-visit.

9,051 Reviews

  1. Kurt

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything from walking through the door to wait staff to the service and the food was perfectly done. I will be back.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Jamie

    New York City

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    From the moment you walk in the door you know you are in for a treat. The smell of fresh wood burning and the cozy, warm lighting make it feel inviting from the beginning. The food was OUTSTANDING. Starting with the warm dinner rolls with the perfect amount of flaky salt through to the oysters, tuna curd, beet salad and on and on through the blueberry pudding cake. Amanda was our server and not only was she friendly, she was also very knowledgeable about the food, the ingredients, where they came from, when they arrived and how things were prepared. She was a total delight. I would come back to Atlanta just to eat there again

    Is this helpful?

  3. Jazar

    Atlanta Metro

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food is good, the service is great. The valet parking is outrageous. I didn't see any parking other than valet parking. When you valet park, they send you a text message to pay and have your car retrieved. The payment is with a credit card. On top of the $6.00 I was charged, they tacked on a $1.78 "convenience fee", and then offered a tipping option in the app that starts at $5, $10, and $15. It suggested a $10 tip. Seriously! a $10.00 tip on top of a $6.00 parking charge, on top of a "convenience fee". By the way, they only moved my car about 20 feet from where I dropped it off. This restaurant is pricey, so the valet parking should be complementary... The parking may be why I don't return to this restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Vivian

    Charlotte

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Restaurant ambiance, really nice! Food was delicious but the service is why I truly would go back ... our server was very attentive and so nice!! Thank you for such a nice experience!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Stefon

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The waitress we had was very pleasant and funny. She made our date feel special.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Anthony

    Corpus Christi

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic seafood - great desserts- oysters were excellent

    Is this helpful?

  7. Savannah

    Atlanta Metro

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best seafood in Atlanta. Everything about this restaurant is spectacular. You can’t go wrong with anything you order. Every menu item is beyond flavorful & fresh. We had Michael as our server who went above & beyond. We’ll definitely be back!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Janice

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent restaurant. Service & food are fantastic. Been multiple times and always happy with our meals and experience

    Is this helpful?

  9. Shane

    Las Vegas

    11 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Very high quality seafood as usual, but the sauce for the fluke was way too salty.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Christopher

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 27 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the best in Atlanta . After years ,it is still a standout

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Optimist offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (404) 477-6260.

The Optimist is rated 4.8 stars by 9051 OpenTable diners.

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

A photo of The Optimist restaurant

The Optimist

4.8
$31 to $50
Seafood
West Midtown

Make a booking

2 people
21:30
Booked 100 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
  • Area
    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
    Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining
  • 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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