The Optimist - Atlanta (GA)

5 /5 Shanru: Great experience — from the start, the service was amazing. Our server was very knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. Wide selection of wines and drinks, and I enjoyed the rolls that came with our meal. All of the seafood tasted very fresh. I’m not normally a big fan of oysters, but the ones we had were fresh and tasted great, especially with some lemon juice. We had a larger party, so would definitely recommend reservations if that’s the case. Valet parking offered (in the deck next door).

5 /5 Boujee on a Budget Traveler: We had a 5:30 PM dinner reservation and the service was impeccable from start to finish. Our waitress was fun, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable about the menu, with great recommendations that made the meal even better. Food was excellent. We ordered the cod, a dozen and a half oysters, and I shared the fall veggies with my husband—yum. I ordered the chicken with roasted sweet potatoes — everything was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. My cocktail was also fantastic. We loved the vibe here: upscale but relaxed, lively without feeling overwhelming. This is a great spot for a date night or a special dinner, and I definitely recommend making a reservation. Bonus for value: we used our Chase Sapphire card and received a dining credit, which made the experience even better. Extra bonus — we took a Waymo from Midtown, which was such a fun way to get there. Highly recommend and will absolutely return.

5 /5 Daniel: Impeccable. I came here for a calm birthday dinner with my family, and right away I was blown away by how hospitable the staff was. Our server, CJ, was extremely polite, attentive, and accommodating. He was a class act and honestly the perfect example of what great service looks like. His hospitality felt genuine and never forced, which I really appreciated. The rest of the staff was just as warm and welcoming. The food was delicious and beautifully presented, and the atmosphere was exactly what we were hoping for. The oyster selection was amazing too. Overall, it was just a really great dining experience. CJ, you killed it. And thank you to you and the staff for the little gift you sent us home with. That was incredibly thoughtful. A true 10/10 experience at The Optimist. Thank you all again. I’ll definitely be back.

5 /5 Angela Riess: Met three friends for dinner at the Optimist tonight. We ordered small plates, appetizers veggies and desserts, and we shared everything. The food was superb! The She Crab Soup and Octopus ceviche were our favorites. Our server Eddie was amazing. I told him at the start I was Gluten Free. He came back with a menu that he and the chef had marked showing items I could eat and modifications that could be made for other dishes. It made it so easy to choose yummy items. Eddie provided great service and recommendations throughout the meal too. It was a very lovely evening!

5 /5 Lindsey Barlow: We ate here a few days before Xmas. One of the top 5 meals of 2025 for me. Derrick was our server for the night. He was friendly, helpful, and super knowledgeable about the menu. Poor guy, we made him choose our wines and even some dishes haha. I’m sure everyone else working there is great too, but we’d def ask for Derrick next time we visit. On to the food/drinks: - Cocktails - Rockefeller center was like a winter red sangria, quite enjoyable; the sake gin lychee one was amazingly unique and delicious. - Dinner rolls - ridiculously fluffy and buttery as everyone reports. - Octopus cooked perfectly - best weve had in a while. The sauce reminded me of the mole from a certain Chattanooga restaurant. - Cod cheeks - probably the best preparation Ive ever had of these. They melt in your mouth. Better than lobster and crab IMHO. - Green salad with herbs and buttermilk dressing was so delicious. How do they make a salad so darn tasty??!! - Duckfat poached swordfish - interesting texture. Wasn’t a huge fan but when ate it with all the toppings (pepita, nduja, and whatever anis-y herb on top) it was pretty spectacular. - The redfish was very very tasty. Had some PTSD from super fishy redfish from our time in FL. Not the case here! - The greens were soooooo tender and smokey. Can’t wait to go back!