The Optimist Restaurant, Atlanta, USA, October 2023

I went to The Optimist for the first time for a work holiday party. I'm a vegan, and I wasn't expecting too much other than side vegetables or salads. Once our server found out I was a vegan, him and one of the female chefs (who used to be vegan) put together an entire three course meal for me on the spot. Needless to say, everything was delicious! Thank you all for going above and beyond.

Superb service, great ambiance, and super fresh and delicious food. Won't be disappointed. This is my third time returning and this time my friend had SEVERE food allergy which I notified the staff when I was making a reservation. From the menu selection to how not to share silverware, everyone at the Optimist made sure my friend would enjoy his dish without having allergic reaction. I really appreciated their effort to accommodate our needs. Will return soon with this type of attention to detail. I can't thank enough for making our night out super memorable.

Amazing food. Great ambiance. A bit pricey but worth it. Wildflower cocktail is delicious.

My best friend and I went there last night for her birthday and everything was delicious! We’ve both already been, so knew we loved the food (hello scallops), but the service at the bar from Justin was even beyond the high expectations we already knew the servers there meet. Great drinks and service. Thank you!

One of the BEST spots in Atlanta. I've been here a few different times and it never disappoints. The raw options (especially the lobster roll) are amazing, the dinner rolls are fantastic but the real winner is the scallops. Absolute perfection. You also can't miss the hushpuppies with cane butter syrup...too good.

Very good lunch. I took my wife to the Optimist for lunch because she had been wanting to try them out for some time. Great experience all around, the food was delicious, fresh and everything my wife had been hoping for. The hush puppies were an out of this world good indulgence. Our waiter, Daniel L was the best, he knew the menu and made excellent recommendations. Will definitely be back soon to try out the dinner menu.

The atmosphere, the staff and the food are all top notch. The food is clean tasting and delicious. I would highly recommend the octopus and the oysters. Facility is clean and nicely decorated. There is no dress code, jeans and a nice shirt are fine. Staff is knowledgeable and asked if there were any food allergies (something someone with allergies greatly appreciates). Will go back again.

What a wonderful and amazing dinner we had. We made reservations to host a handful of coworkers and friends. Ray (GM) and our server (Gary) were such phenomenal host and were very tentative. We couldn’t have asked for a better meal, better service and a better evening. Thank you such a great night of food and fun. We can’t wait for many more.

Fantastic. Oyster were great and they have a happy hour where you can get 13 oysters for $12. But let me tell you, if you like soups get the She Crab. You'll want a bowl rather than a cup because it's so good! Very rich and the side of shrimp puree on toast was incredible. Fun date night for seafood lovers!

Took my wife to dinner for date night and we had an excellent first experience. In short, everything was perfect. The service was outstanding, our waitress was personable and thorough. We had the calamari appetizer which was fantastic. Dinner was very good; I was underwhelmed by the halibut but the grits were phenomenal. We had a special holiday drink that was fun and festive. Overall it was a perfect start to our evening and we will definitely eat here again.