The Optimist
EXTREMELY LIKELY
ABOUT
I’ve been going to The Optimist one to two times per year since 2013 and it’s still one of my favorite seafood spots in Atlanta today. The Optimist is great for either lunch or dinner. There are several items that overlap, but each menu also has its own unique items such as sandwiches for lunch and more entrees for dinner. It’s great for date night, groups, work events or oyster happy hour. I’ve been for all four. It’s one of my favorite Ford Fry restaurants in town; however, it’s little sister Beetlecat is right next door, so we tend to go there more often.
The Optimist was also recently featured on the new Netflix series, The Chef Show - featuring Jon Favreau & Roy Choi. Some of the cast members of the Avengers as well as the hosts of the show dined and /or cooked with Ford Fry.
WHAT TO ORDER
For a party of two, I would recommend 1-2 starters, 1-2 entrees , 1-2 sides & 1 dessert. Please note that the menu changes often. A lot of the proteins stay the same but the way they are prepared changes often. My favorites include:
Starters: Whole GA Shrimp A La Plancha (messy but worth it) & Baked Oysters
Entrees: Blackened Fish Sandwich, Scallops or Grouper
Sides: Hushpuppies & Basmati Fried Rice
Dessert: Banoffee (Banana + Toffee) Pudding Cake & Chocolate Chess Pie
Their burger (the Opti Burger) also gets a lot of hype, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of it. However, I also had several appetizers before even trying the burger, so didn’t get to fully enjoy it.
DETAILS
Good For: Date Night | Business Lunch | Groups | Oyster Happy Hour
Hours: Lunch: Monday – Friday 11:30-2:30 | Dinner: Sunday – Thursday 5-10 & Friday & Saturday 5-11 |$1 Oyster Happy Hour: Monday - Friday 5-6 PM & Saturday & Sunday 3-5
Last Visit: December 2018
Location: West Midtown
Menu: See the Menu
Parking: Valet with a fee + tip
Price (Including Tax & Tip): The Optimist is pricey but can vary depending on how much you order / oysters. This is just an estimate assuming 1 starter, 2 entrees, 1 side & 1 dessert between two people:
Lunch $35 - $45 per person | Dinner $40 - $55 per person
Reservations: Yes - OpenTable
Seating: Primarily indoor seating but also outdoor seating next to their “mini”golf patio
