The Optimist
Reviews
Superb seafood! The Spanish grilled octopus was heaven... it was just the right texture and the flavors were wonderful. That dish is HIGHLY recommended. The service was also amazing. This place is great for a nice date!
I've been looking for lobster rolls, and found a STANDOUT example on their lunch menu. Went in on a Friday afternoon, sat at the bar in the main dining room, and tried a couple of drinks with my meal - everything was delicious. The fries served with the lobster roll were great, and the gentleman behind the bar surprised me with an awesome cocktail made with a splash of beet juice, of all things!
The Optimist has been great for: - Some of the best fish preparations I've had in this city. Each time I've tried a fish I've never had (or heard of) before. The latest was cornmeal crusted tautog prepared with charred okra and a pepper jelly - excellent! - A leisurely, no-cell phone dining experience with friends and loved ones. And it was good to see most diners did not have phones out but were enjoying the company and food. - The most delicious salty and buttery yeast rolls. I could shamelessly eat a plateful (I haven't) and not share. Get your own. - A well-thought out wine list - One of my favorite things to eat in Atlanta - a clam roll! - Celebrity spotting. At least 2 of the 3 times. Well, let's say 1.5 of the 3. I don't want to count a "Real" Housewife of Atlanta. But I absolutely will count Aaron Paul. Breaking Bad Bread, bitch! I would absolutely count The Optimist as a place I'd take guests, it has been a consistent representation of stellar food in Atlanta. Cheers!
YUM. The Octopus is one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. Oysters, halibut cheeks, swordfish, fried rice? Yum, yum, yum, yum. I love the ambiance of this restaurant. Will definitely be returning!
By far, this is the best Ford Fry restaurant and I've dined at all of them. The bar area offers a solid range of drinks and some darn good fare, including a spot-on lobster roll. The dining room is rustic but chic with a much larger menu. The Shell-On GA Shrimp is flavorful and finger-licking-good. The Octopus is cooked perfectly. These dishes and many more are why it's still tough to land a weekend reservation (but well worth the wait).
