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The Optimist

4.3 (2.4k reviews)
Closed • 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

By appointment only

Updated 2 months ago

The Optimist Photos

Business Info

THE OPTIMIST ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Trendy
Dogs allowed
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - The Optimist

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Reviews With Photos

Chocolate Delice & Strawberry ice cream. (Reminded me of the strawberry shortcake popsicle from my childhood)
Raina G.

Ford Fry can simply do no wrong. The Optimist is hands-down one of our favorite spots in Atlanta.. and our top pick for seafood, period. We always make sure to save room for dessert, and this strawberry chocolate cheesecake situation was to die for. If you haven't been, fix that immediately.

Trout dip
Melissa G.

I enjoyed this restaurant during my short trip to Atlanta so much that I had dinner here 2 nights in a row. It was fairly easy to make a reservation on Open Table but they also had seats available when I arrived. The first night I sat at a table by the oyster bar. The second night I sat at the bar in the main dining room and has great experiences both times. Despite it getting busy and full after I arrived, service was quick and attentive. The dining room is large so it can get pretty loud when it's busy. They have lot of seafood options to choose from so I sampled a few different items each time. It is definitely on my list of places to return to when I'm back in town. P.S They also have a small 3 hole mini golf outside to enjoy m.

Oysters
Rena Y.

came here during happy hour and did not disappoint! I am an oyster Grover and always enjoy going around the city to find the best oyster happy hour spots. Paired it with a nice cocktail and fries would definitely come again!

Bread service + espresso martini
Ryan B.

Went to The Optimist for a last minute date night, very unsure of what to expect, but now I'm very happy we went! The bartender Mia made the absolute besttttt espresso martinis - smooth, potent & delicious. The bread service was so simple yet amazing. The chargrilled oysters + chard entree were the perfect combo & im still dreaming about the sauces. I'll definitely be back soon.

Roshni C.

I had an amazing time at the Optimist! I came here for my birthday and really enjoyed the service and food! Our waiter was great and knowledgeable of the menu. He even brought out some champagne and icecream on the house for my birthday. The food is always delicious here and have no complaints aside from the beignets - they were a little too syrupy and sweet for me - but otherwise everything was a 10/10. I love the vibe inside the building and it wasn't too busy when I went either. Id recommend to always make a reservation before you come though! Will be back soon

Kimmy H.

I came here years ago with my nephews and finally had the chance to come back. Wow!!!!! They've completely remodeled the restaurant! I absolutely love the aesthetics and the overall vibe. The space is beautiful, welcoming and perfect for a date night. The food was fresh, flavorful and everything came out perfectly. A special shoutout to Carrie for providing amazing service and making our experience even better. She was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. If you're looking for a great spot with a cute atmosphere, delicious food, and excellent service, definitely check this place out. I'll definitely be back!

Shareen C.

I had my birthday/graduation dinner here and everything from the atmosphere, food, and staff were amazing! The menu has the date stamped and if you're celebrating your birthday there is also birthday stamp! The staff was really patient with explaining the menu and answering any questions we had. All the food we had was delicious and can be great for sharing. Their complimentary salted butter bread was soooo good! I would come back just for the bread! This place is able to sit bigger groups but it is also a bit pricey so I would recommend coming here for celebrations or special occasions with a reservation. The parking at the restaurant is also valet only FYI. Overall, I highly recommend coming here for the vibes and fresh seafood!

Monkfish
Lily S.

Was in the neighborhood, can't stop thinking about the shrimp Al plancha and the milk bread, we stopped by Sunday evening at 9:15. Still having residual diners finishing up, Chris our server was attentive and patient Curry rice w chili oil: 5/5 amazing with lump crabs, great rec by Chris, paired with the blackened red fish in a creamy avocado sauce; Roasted oysters: 3.5/5; not as good as C&S but still yummy and buttery; fried oyster: 1/5; was too juicy and big, not a fan; Shrimp al plancha: 5/5; my personal fav here, however first time trying the peeled version. Like the no peeled better but this is way less messy.

Crispy Haddock
Joseph S.

We returned to the Optimist - not so much because we were so satisfied with our last meal - we weren't. However, it's Mother's Day weekend and there was little availability. The meal last time was good - however - portion sizes were some of the smallest I've seen. In addition, the entrees have NO SIDES - not a little potato or veggie - which I find disturbing because the average price of an entree is between $30-40 - sides are $10-$15. Get it? Okay enough of that. I ordered the Blackened Red Fish. I didn't finish it - I can't remember the last time I didn't finish a piece of fish that cost $40!! It had no flavor - even a slight fishy taste! I was in disbelief! Luckily, my partner has ordered the Crispy Haddock - which she had the last time. It was amazing! Last time - the size of the haddock was as big as a McDonalds fish filet - there's a picture attached! This time, it looked like a piece of beer battered fish I would get in England !! It was as large as any I've seen - the beer batter coating was fried perfectly and the haddock inside was as tender and tasty as you'd expect from this classic white fish!! She gave me half of her order - and that was my meal!! We also ordered the thick chips (fries) that were very good - and the Hush Puppies. I'm not sure why the Optimist increased the size of their Crispy Haddock, but that's the dish you should order!!!

Doreen C.

Came here with a party of 6 for dinner and it was great! Highly recommend coming here with a larger party so you can try more things. The dishes work very well family style. Everything we ordered was very tasty. The dinner rolls are free and they are SOOOO GOOD. we had 3 plates. Out of the thing we ordered I particularly liked the cod cheeks, local lettuce salad, redfish. The sauce for the cod cheeks was sooo flavorful and we kept dipping the bread in the sauce. The service was amazing too. Overall a great dinner place to celebrate a special day. Highly recommend and one of our favorite places in Atlanta!

Optimist Lobster Roll (maine style, house potato chips)
Deja' M.

The Optimist has some of the freshest seafood I've ever had. I went for the first time to celebrate my husband's birthday and needless to say I will be back! We made reservations which I highly recommend. Our waiter was so amazing and he set the tone of our evening. The ambience and decor is perfect for date night, celebrations, or catching up with friends. For drinks I ordered the Second Sunrise (jasmine green tea, lemon hibiscus, soda) and it was SO refreshing! For my entree I ordered the Blackened Redfish (garlic confit beurre blanc) and the Braised Greens (bacon, potlikker, hondashi). The flavor of the food was delicious. The fish was fresh and buttery and the greens were a hit! I love that they included the potlikker, it gave them so much flavor. My husband ordered the Optimist Lobster Roll (maine style, house potato chips) and he loved it!

Greens
Jennifer L.

We had an excellent experience. Chris, our waiter, was so amazing. He gave excellent recommendations, was very approachable, and checked on us regularly. The deviled eggs were delicious and packed with flavor. The Optimist (a cold seafood platter) was very fresh and a good portion. The Shrimp a la Pancha was definitely a highlight. It was packed with flavor and comes with bread so you can enjoy you and more of that creamy goodness. Our waiter said that the greens were disrespectful because of how good they are, and he was not wrong. They are absolutely amazing, filled with bits of bacon goodness, and could easily be eaten as a full meal. The redfish was good, but after enjoying so many other delicious items, we would have been fine not having it. It was a little loud, but we could still hold a conversation sitting next to each other.

She Crab Soup - Good flavor, some chunks of crab with a piece of shrimp toast
Chris M.

We had a wonderful dinner at The Optimist, start to finish. We brought our 8‑month‑old with us and were promptly seated, no stress at all. Our daughter spent the first few minutes waving at the staff, and they genuinely lit up every time -- such a warm, welcoming vibe right from the jump. Starters We kicked things off with the she‑crab soup, and that's when we knew the meal was going to be special. Tons of rich crab flavor and chunks of crab. The crispy shrimp toast was another hit -- crunchy, savory, and a great pairing with the soup. We also ordered the Baker's Dozen oysters, chef's selection. All 13 were fresh, clean, and briny in the best way. Next up: the Spanish octopus, and honestly... top five octopus dish we've had. Cooked perfectly -- tender, melt‑in‑your‑mouth texture. The salsa macha added just the right amount of heat, and the marcona almonds brought a great crunch with the cilantro, lime, and mint brightening everything up. What a beautifully composed dish. We finished with the Halibut and Lady peas. The Halibut was topped with lobster and served with a lobster butter sauce, chives, and capers. Rich, buttery, flaky, and perfectly cooked. The lady peas (fava beans, asparagus, and a generous mound of blue crab) were another standout. So much flavor, but everything complemented each other instead of competing. One of those sides you keep looking for more of when it's gone. --- Overall Every dish was thoughtful, balanced, and executed at a high level. Service was warm and genuinely kind -- especially with our little one. 10/10 would recommend

Duckfat Poached Swordfish

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The Optimist Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Optimist

How much is the lobster roll what's the range?

$40

Do you have a happy hour menu?

Yes they do. $1.5 from 5 to 6 on Weekedays

Has the oyster happy hour special returned?

Yes. They had it when I was there a few weeks ago!

Is there parking close to the restaurant?

Hi! Yes, there is! There's also optional valet for a very affordable price.

Is there outdoor seating?

There is! And the weather is getting nicer! Come visit us.

Do they still have the oyster bar with the $1 oyster happy hour? I don't see it on the website anymore.

The bar itself is closed due to COVID restrictions as of 7/27/2020. However there is an oyster menu ($3 each ), the prices may vary for happy hour. I went for dinner. I hope this was helpful.

How easy/difficult is it to find parking?

There is valet parking that is currently $3. You pay via their app. They do not take cash.

Can you order dessert or sides at the oyster bar?

Absolutely! During dinner service our full menu is available in the oyster bar. The only exception is our weekend Oyster Happy Hour from 3:00 to 5:00 on Saturday and Sunday. During this time our main kitchen is not open, but we do offer several… 

What vegetarian options are there? Looking to come this weekend.

We have several options and can always customize something for you!

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Yard House - Tap in to great food, classic rock and 100+ craft & local beers.

Yard House

3.1(1.6k reviews)
1.2 mi•Atlantic Station
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The Yard House (Atlantic Station) was a wonderful experience. 5/5…read moreHector our server was fantastic, friendly,accurate, prompt 5/5 The Chicken Tortilla soup was very tasty, The 3 tacos were flavorful, they allowed me to get 1 chicken 1 steak & 1 shrimp, lotsa variety for sure, wifey had the Nachos & thoroughly enjoyed them, the wings very good.. all food 5/5 All the managers came to our table to make sure we had what we needed. It was such a pleasure to hang with our friends, Norman & Shawnette on date night, or maybe Double Date Night!!! Yard House you have been #tonguetested

Yard House 261 19th. St. NW #1100…read moreAtlanta, GA 30363 Fried Calamari (not pictured) 20 Oz. Bone-In Rib Eye When I initially entered the restaurant, the service started off rocky. My girlfriend, her son, and I requested a booth. The hostess told us the wait time would be 20 minutes. Over 45 minutes had passed and we were still waiting for the booth. Another party had several minutes after us and they were immediately seated in a booth. Management admitted they unintentionally seated the other party first and they apologized. To compensate for this mistake, the server still honored the Happy Hour menu; our wait was so long that Happy Hour had just ended. We initially ordered an appetizer that was not eligible for the Happy Hour rate, so we changed our order to fried calamari (not pictured). The server originally still attempted to serve our first appetizer after we mentioned that we wanted the calamari. After this correction was made, the fried calamari was excellent. It was crunchy on the outside while chewy on the inside. The roasted jalapeño tartar sauce and spicy tomato sauces were perfect sides to the dish. As soon as the meal arrived, it was a decent finish to a rocky start. The steak was cooked medium, but still had a fair amount of pink. The cut was tender and juicy. I especially enjoyed the dipping sauce because of its bourbon flavor; I highly recommend requesting a second cup because the sauce also paired well with the mashed potatoes and broccoli. While my experience with the main course was spot on, there was a tweak with my girlfriend's son. He ordered truffle fries as part of his side dish, but it arrived several minutes after everything had already been served. He barely ate any, but he requested a doggy bag. Overall, the experience started off on a negative note with a few bumps along the way, but I was highly pleased with the meal and appetizer itself. If I ever visit this particular establishment again, I most likely will order my meal for takeout. #yardhouse #yardhouseatlanta #20ounceribeye

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Lobster Garlic Noodles - Maine lobster, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, spinach and parmesan.

Yard House - Enjoy a variety of appetizers, like our Chicken Nachos, while watching your favorite sports games.

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HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern - HOBCobb Salad

HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern

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Full bar
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Great tunes, cheap beer, bright and sunny, professional and kind staff…read more What else do you want?

I'm on my burger journey in Atlanta and I had the day off for Labor Day. Plus, I received a $10 off…read morecoupon in the mail for HOBNOB so I thought I'd give this place a shot! This was my first time here at the Atlantic Station location. Keep in mind, the first 2 hours of parking is free and after that, it's $5 and up. So, watch your time or, move your car before your 2 hours are up or find a parking validation. All that said, I chose the Big Time Wagyu ($22.95) -- Double Wagyu Smash Patties, Sauteed Mushrooms, Cave Aged Gruyere, Pancetta, Truffle Aioli, Fresh Herbs, Sesame Brioche and they had Tropicalia on draft so that is a bonus for me personally! The burger came out quickly and almost exactly as it looks on the website. It was hard to tell if it was wagyu beef. It was fine, not great. It could have used a little more salty pancetta or aioli. But it was fine. Not great. I ate at the bar and the service was very attentive between the two bartenders working this evening. Ambiance was fun in a sports bar vibe. Loud music and a few TVs on overhead. Pretty nice overall. I have another coupon that's good until November, not sure it's enough to bring me back for a return visit though even with the great service.

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Monday Night Brewing - The Grove - Octoberfest Marzen

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4.5(335 reviews)
1.0 mi•Westside / Home Park
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It's the pizza that's sort of selling me here. Darn it friend. You've convinced me…read more The outdoor and indoor spaces are spectacularly large. The screen outside and many TV's indoor would have a game splashed on so there's entertainment aplenty. The beer selection is pretty great and vast. There's also a pretty tasty food menu. The sandwich I think are so so. But the pizza. Oh my. The pizza's really good! The vibe here is pretty chill. And with so many seating options, accommodating a large group is pretty easy. There is a dedicated parking lot, but with certain nights, the spaces can get filled fairly quickly.

Large venue with spaces for their bar, cafe, outdoor seating, and greenhouse. However, they have…read moretwo small parking lots nearby. When I went on a Sunday afternoon, both were completely filled. I don't understand why the parking attendant at the slightly further lot wouldn't tell others turning into the filled lot that it was filled(?). A bunch of people street park for free along the hill, but it's a short walk. Tried their matcha kiwi lemonade - it's refreshing to say the least. The kiwi definitely overpowers the matcha. But as a lemonade in the hot summer, it's not a bad drink to try (but also it's like $7). Also got a honey latte with oat milk (which is not extra). However, I think the staff member forgot the oat milk because it didn't taste oaty and made my tummy rumble. Plenty of seating. If you want a quiet studying space, this isn't the right cafe. However, if you want a bustling chatty cafe with tvs and entertainment around, this is the place for you. I sat at the couches under the TV, and it was a great lounging place. Most people were chatting, eating, and drinking; however, they also had board games. Free water refilling station and cup water located by the outdoor seating exit.

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Monday Night Brewing - The Grove
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Fire Maker Brewing

4.8(74 reviews)
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The food is ordered from a trailer outside. Good stuff wings, fries etc. The beer was fantastic…read moreand the service was great. They have a variety of beers and make their own alcohol. I went during Tiki Week and watched World Cup and it was a good time. So much so that I went back the next day!!! I really enjoyed the ambiance. The outside patio and around back is another outside area with a bar and seating.

My husband and I were huge fans of Urban Tree Cidery who closed last year and after receiving an…read moreemail regarding their relaunch in partnership with Fire Maker Brewing, we decided to make our way and see what this place was all and we had such a fun time! We arrived around 1 pm on a Saturday and had issue finding parking in their main lot. There is an overflow lot behind the building and there is signage to direct there if needed. When we arrived, we smelled something delicious coming from the on-site food truck, heard some great live music coming from inside and there were a ton of folks inside and outside just having a good ol time. Once we walked inside, there was plenty of beer on tap but I appreciated that there were frozen drinks available and with their partnership with Urban Tree, I was excited to see some of my old favorite ciders. The guy that helped me was super sweet and helpful. He made some great suggestions and I had a vodka blueberry lemonade, came back later for a water-marita which was my favorite. We order some loaded fries from their onsite food truck and the fries were amazinggggg! Huge portion, hot, and just the right amount of food. They have plenty of other stuff on the menu but the fries were good enough for the both of us. I totally forgot what drink my husband got but I do remember he enjoyed them. We had a great time just people watching, listening to music and chatting with folks. This is a good place to just come and hang for awhile for sure and we'll be back sooooooon.

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Holeman and Finch Public House - THEE Burger.

Holeman and Finch Public House

4.2(169 reviews)
1.7 mi•Midtown
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Holman and Fitch is such a wonderful restaurant. I've had their cheeseburgers in the past and love…read morethem from the days when H & F would only serve 24 cheeseburgers in the evening as well as had their cheeseburgers at the Braves ballpark too but this was my first visit and H & F's new location and our group came for brunch and they had our reservation and were ready to serve us. I ordered the insanely great fried chicken and it came with coleslaw and a biscuit. I also had the potato hash on the side that was killer. We ordered some shareable plates of food including the deviled eggs trio, and the scrumptious cornbread covered in butter. The mixed drinks looked amazing although they didn't have bloody Mary's on a Sunday g brunch afternoon for some reason but I just ordered a Guinness to go with my food anyway it's a beautiful restaurant just like the old location and the service was impeccable.

We had brunch at Holeman and Finch Public House yesterday (Saturday). Everything was outstanding…read more This restaurant continues to be an Atlanta institution and one of the best in the city. Holeman and Finch is known for its burger, and deservedly so, but I can't stress enough how good the other food and drink are here. Looking at the current list of Atlanta restaurants in the Michelin Guide, I think Holeman and Finch deserves to be included. I wonder why they got snubbed. Holeman and Finch relocated to Colony Square in Midtown in February 2023. The restaurant validates parking in the Colony Square garage for two hours. We stayed just over two hours and ended up paying $6. I like to enter and exit the garage via Peachtree St NE. There's also an entrance/exit on 14th St NE, next to The Starling hotel. We used to go to the original location in Brookwood/South Buckhead circa 2010 when only 24 burgers were made per night and released at 10pm. Holeman and Finch existed in that location from 2008 to 2020. It was quite the Yelp hot spot: https://www.yelp.com/biz/holeman-and-finch-atlanta-2 This new location at Colony Square is way more spacious and looks great. There's indoor and outdoor (covered and uncovered) seating. The atmosphere is that of a modern, upscale pub. It's nice. Reservations can be booked on OpenTable, so get those dining points. Our server said the brunch menu was served until 4pm. Here's what my wife and I had: Drinks: * H&F Bloody Mary ($14) * Iced Tea - half sweet, half unsweet ($5) Graze: * Naturally Served Oysters ($5 each) - cocktail sauce, mignonette, buttered saltines, horseradish - Lowcountry Cups - Charleston, SC - Dukes of Topsail - Topsail Sound, NC - Dixon Point - New Brunswick, Canada * Deviled Egg Trio ($9) - classic, country ham, and Pickapeppa mayo * Hand Chopped Sirloin Steak Tartare ($20) - capers, horseradish, egg yolk, chips * Simple Lettuces ($15) - citrus vinaigrette, crisp shallots, fromage blanc, pecans Sandwiches: * H+F Cheeseburger ($28) - certified Angus and Hereford beef, onions, Kraft, fries Plates: * Housemade Scottish Gravlax ($18) - toasted brioche, fried Pantelleria capers, lemon dill clabber * Holeman + Finch Vegetable Plate ($32) - "all that is best from our Southern farms" Dessert: * Sticky Toffee Pudding ($14) - vanilla ice cream Everything, down to the sweet tea, was fantastic. The Bloody Mary was strong and so delicious that I gulped it down. All of the dishes were beautifully plated and finished. The oysters were fresh, superb quality, and cleanly shucked. They forgot the crackers, but that's okay. I highly recommend the deviled eggs. They were perhaps the best we've ever had anywhere. If you're unfamiliar with Pickapeppa, it's a sweet and savory Jamaican brown sauce that is used to make the mayo for this dish. There was nothing "simple" about the Simple Lettuces salad. It was pretty much a perfect, tasty, and refreshing salad. As for the H+F Cheeseburger, it's a classic and continues to be one of the best burgers around. Every bite is just so good, and the ketchup and mustard remain distinct. If you've never had the burger before, get it here or at H&F Burger at Ponce City Market. The Truist Park version isn't the same and I've never tried the Mercedes-Benz Stadium version (the old Turner Field version was legit, though). If you like gravlax, wow - the gravlax here is amazing and really well made. The Vegetable Plate was terrific as well. It featured potatoes, okra, beans, succotash, mushrooms, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and more with a fried onion ring on top. It's a great dish to share. The Sticky Toffee Pudding was top-notch - exceptional texture and flavor, and perfectly paired with a scoop of dense vanilla ice cream. Our server was Jonathan R. He was friendly and took great care of us. A manager checked on us too.

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Holeman and Finch Public House - Rabbit/hare tabletop decor and centerpiece flowers in our booth. Nice little touches here.

Rabbit/hare tabletop decor and centerpiece flowers in our booth. Nice little touches here.

Holeman and Finch Public House - Complimentary roll, butter, pickles

Complimentary roll, butter, pickles

Holeman and Finch Public House - Inside. Dining room. Host stand. Facing the front of house and patio.

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Inside. Dining room. Host stand. Facing the front of house and patio.

The Optimist - seafood - Updated October 2026

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