Cart 0
Atlanta Nashville
Cart 0
 
opti_banner_full-logo-01.png
 
opti-nash_web-banners_02.jpg

“BE OPTIMISTIC”

Ford Fry’s The Optimist brings a seaside fish camp experience to landlocked Atlantans. From fresh oysters from the Alabama coast and Maine sea scallops to whole roasted Georgia trout, guests enjoy high-quality, sustainable seafood from the country’s best suppliers. Tucked in an old ham-aging house, The Optimist serves up beer, wine, and handcrafted cocktails with hickory-roasted fish and raw oysters, while beach-food classics like hush puppies and lobster rolls transport you to your favorite coastal haunts.

 
wave_gif_05.gif
 
 

“As I ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and as I drank their cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of the wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be happy and make plans.”

A Moveable Feast

 

The Optimist — ATLANTA

914 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30318
Tel: 404-477-6260

 
 

Give the gift of The Optimist experience
Purchase an e-gift card today!

 
 
 

PATIOS & DINING ROOMS

DINNER

Monday - Thursday 5:00 - 10:00
Friday 5:00 - 11:00
Saturday 3:00 - 11:00
Sunday 3:00 - 10:00

OYSTER HAPPY HOUR

Monday - Friday 5:00 - 6:00
Saturday + Sunday 3:00 - 5:00

 
 
opti-nash_web-banners_18.jpg
 

 MENUS

 
 
 
opti-nash_web-banners_06-2.png
 

“Sure, but what’s it like there?”

 
opti-nash_web-banners_19.jpg

PRESS

 
Press - Atlanta

“The Optimist is just about the biggest, prettiest, first-date-iest seafood temple you can imagine, with the added advantage of offering peel-and-eat Georgia shrimp, which may be the tastiest crustaceans you'll ever put in your mouth. ”

GQ City Guides: Atlanta, GQ

“A soaring, convivial spot, the Optimist has a hopping oyster bar shaped like a surfboard, a first-rate cocktail program, and seafood cooked with old-school expertise over a wood fire. The term Optimist refers to a type of sailing dinghy used for teaching kids, and is an old moniker for a fisherman awaiting his next big catch. But judging from chef Ford Fry's exuberant cooking, it might also be a reference to his outlook on the world.”

Restaurant of the Year, Esquire

“Esquire's own John Mariani even called the opening of The Optimist the most exciting of last year...[G]o; just go. Georgia is on my mind, and I wish I could go back tomorrow.”

A Love Letter to Atlanta, Esquire

“"You’ll find America’s best seafood [...] also in Atlanta, where seafood meets southern society over oysters and putt-putt at the Optimist."”

Best Seafood Restaurants in the U.S., Travel + Leisure

“The old-school fish house has been reborn in this outsize seafood emporium, outfitted in sleek white tile and floor-to-ceiling windows. The vibe of the vast, high-volume space is nautical-chic. The seafood-centric menu is built to match, with head-on Georgia shrimp in a buttery chile-lime sauce and clam and lobster rolls that would make any New Englander proud. ”

50 Best New Restaurants 2013, Bon Appétit

“[The Optimist] has a knack for rich, deeply flavored dishes that will convert the most ardent steak lover. Whatever you do, don't skip the sides, especially the corn-milk hush puppies and basmati 'fried rice.' Sometimes the best meals happen when you least expect them to. It helps to be an optimist.”

#7 Best New Restaurant in America, Bon Appétit

“[In Atlanta] a new wave of chefs is creating a uniquely Southern mash-up of regional and international flavors. Where We're Eating & Drinking: The Optimist.”

Editor's Welcome, Southern Living

“The Optimist's basmati fried rice evokes the colonial Anglo-Indian dish kedgeree, pairing subtly smoky fish with toasted curry powder.”

Trendipedia: Fried Rice Remix, Food & Wine

“Dish to get: The lobster roll, served on a buttery toasted bun, is the best in Atlanta.”

70 Best New Restaurants in the World, Conde Nast Traveler

“Readers Pick Best Restaurant To Take Visitors & Best Seafood”

Best of Atlanta 2014, Creative Loafing

 
opti-nash_web-banners_16.jpg

 EVENTS

EASTER LUNCH

On Easter Sunday, The Optimist will be open from noon to close serving lunch and brunch options from 12-3 pm and dinner from 4:30-9:30 pm! Oyster Happy Hour will resume on Monday.

PRIVATE DINING & EVENTS
Host your next event or celebration at The Optimist: our light-filled, semi-private dining area is perfect for corporate functions, receptions, showers, and parties. If you wish to host a wedding or completely private event, The Optimist can be closed to the public for you.

View Sample Menu and Event Space Information

For more information about a private dinner or group event at The Optimist, please email:
EventsTheOptimistATL@rocketfarmrestaurants.com

 
 
opti-nash_web-banners_17.jpg