THE OPTIMIST!

Really anticipating a great meal at THE OPTIMIST!  It took my son, who lives and works in Chicago, to tell me about it.  Don't know how it escaped my restaurant radar, especially since I'm in love with JCT Kitchen, but after checking it out online, and then reading reviews, I'm racing over!

Photo Credit: Andrew Thomas Lee via the Optimist

Normally I find it quite annoying when you go to a website and are bombarded with sounds - music, talking, or whatever.  However, I absolutely LOVE that when you go on their website, you listen to soothing ocean sounds.  That's my favorite sound on the Planet!  I seriously kept the page open while I was working, just so I could continue to fantasize about sitting on the beach!  Furthermore, the website has such a great feel - gorgeous photographs of their food and the interior of the restaurant, and the site is visually appealing and easy to access as well.  Again, not something I normally ever comment on, but I'd recommend checking it out before you dine there.

The Optimist

914 Howell Mill Road

Atlanta, Georgia  30318

404/477-6260

www.theoptimistrestaurant.com

Chef/Owner Ford Fry (who also owns JCT Kitchen, and No. 246) has created this restaurant to satisfy Atlantans' seafood cravings.  Their website offers that Executive Chef Adam Evans flies in Maine sea scallops and fresh oysters from both coasts, along with items such as whole-roasted Georgia trout to garlicky clams. And to give you an idea of how this restaurant appears to be doing, I attempted a weekend reservation to no avail, so I'm going on a Thursday evening, and the only time slot available is at 5:45PM!

Here's a Sample Menu from their website:

ON ICE
east coast oysters, fresh horseradish, mignonette / 2.5 ea
peel & eat ga white shrimp, “come back” sauce & lemon / 12. per 1/2 lb.
snap & eat jonah crab claws, mustard sauce / 12. per 1/2 lb.
START
seafood gumbo, “pot luck” garlic bread / 9.
frothy she-crab soup, shrimp toast / 9.
smoked white fish chowder, oyster crackers / 9.
simple salad, shaved celery & herbs, banyuls vinaigrette / 7.
little gem salad, meyer lemon anchovy dressing, croutons, parmesan / 7.
arugula, feta cheese, muscadine vinaigrette / 8.
garlicky tiny clams & pork belly, hand-torn croutons / 9.
mussels, green curry broth, birds eye chile, picked herbs / 9.
fried oysters, smoked paprika mayonnaise, house pickles /9.
whole ga white shrimp a la plancha, “sopping” toast, arbol chile, lime / 11. …(messy, but worth it)
crispy long beans, sea salt, buttermilk-dill mignonette / 7.
fried clam roll, kimchi vinegar, house pickles / 9.
grilled bacon-wrapped figs, toasted almonds, aged balsamic / 10.
spicy glazed spanish octopus, watermelon, coriander / 12.
FISH, WOOD HEARTH ROASTED
black grouper, low country boil, shrimp / 24.
alaskan halibut, garlic cream, celery, calabrese peppers / 26.
seared yellowfin tuna, charred octopus & potato salad, harissa / 26.
fish & chips, ale battered haddock, malt vinegar aioli / 18.
sea scallops, oxtail marmalade, brown butter-chicken jus / 28.
duck fat poached swordfish, green papaya, crispy country ham, peanuts / 24.
speckled trout, charred okra, pepper jelly / 24.
fish & chips, ale battered haddock, malt vinegar aioli / 18.
red snapper, lime broth, herbs / 25.
cioppino, sofrito, tomato broth, mussels, oysters, fennel / 24.
black bass, charred scallions and peppers, pickled shiitakes / 20.
john dory, summer corn, basil / 24.
FARM, WOOD HEARTH ROASTED
wood roasted half amish chicken, almost boneless, salsa verde / 18.
glazed pork shoulder, palm sugar baked beans / 22.
skirt steak, romesco sauce, beef jus / 24.

UPDATE!

So, my husband and I dined at The Optimist last night.  I'm (almost) at a loss for words to describe how much I love this restaurant.  From the exterior, the lounge (Oyster Bar), the putt putt golf out front with seating, the servers, the bathrooms (yes, they were stunning too!) and oh yes, THE FOOD!

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Let's start with driving up, and quickly a valet greets us.  We then walk over to the restaurant and are immediately commenting on how cool this place is!  Then, once you enter the restaurant, you feel like you're a special guest.  It's just so inviting and warm and totally current with rustic, industrial chic decor with an open kitchen.

We then were seated and almost immediately met our fabulous server, Jonathan (who had another server, James, who was shadowing him).  We were perusing our menus, and another guy brought us these scrumptious little yeast rolls topped with sea salt.

Photo Credit: Cate Bogue

We then chose our drinks from their newly updated for fall drink menu.  My husband went with a version of a Dark and Stormy, called Release the Kraken.

Photo Credit: Cate Bogue

All I can say here is, "Wow!" It was so delicious!  It was smooth and tasted like a Coca-Cola with a kick.  We were fighting over it actually! ;0)

I ordered an Old Salty Dog.

Photo Credit: Cate Bogue

It was good, but the great thing about it was the salt rimmed glass, as it included ginger, which was yummy.

We knew we wanted oysters, and we've loved the oysters at their sister restaurant, JCT Kitchen.  Jonathan personally hand selected small west coast oysters for us after discussing what kind of oysters we like.  They were so amazing, that we almost forgot to take a picture!  Here is the final oyster about to be gobbled up!

Photo Credit: Cate Bogue

These were just so good.  They were served with a great mignonette sauce, cocktail sauce, fresh horseradish, lemon and these wonderful hard cracker/toasts.

Next we chose a first course.  My husband went with the true star of the evening.  He had (at Jonathan's recommendation) the octopus - spicy glazed spanish octopus, kalamata olives, peppers, coriander.

Photo Credit: Cate Bogue

This dish is just a flavor explosion in your mouth!  We both LOVED it!  I'd go back there tomorrow and order that for lunch, as I'm craving it already.  Yum!

I went with their Simple Salad.

Photo Credit: Cate Bogue

Normally, it's not too sexy to wax on and on about a bed of greens.  But let me tell you, this salad was just perfect.  Everything was fresh and the dressing was fabulous.  It was, for me, the perfect first course - especially given the fact that we were sharing a bit, and did I mention that I'm in love with the octopus?

For our main courses we went with Halibut and Tuna.

Photo Credit: Cate Bogue

This halibut (alaskan halibut, garlic cream, celery, calabrese peppers) was wonderful.  The calabrese peppers added just enough punch to nicely offset the creamy white fish and sauce.  Loved it!

Photo Credit: Cate Bogue

This tuna was great!  The picture of it (seared yellowfin tuna, charred octopus & potato salad, harissa) doesn't do it justice, but the harissa (I'm a big fan) was such a nice flavor change from the usual soy sauce concoction.  And the bits of charred octopus and crunchy little potatoes were a great accompaniment.

We were too full for dessert, but next time, I'll try and save some room.  Check out this fabulous menu:

Photo Credit: Cate Bogue

Check out the middle of the dessert menu - a TO GO section!  Why has no one ever thought of this idea before?  I'm always stuffed right after dinner, and it's rare that I even consider dessert for that reason.  The Optimist has a solution - a small sweet to take with you.  The 2 options on this evening were a Chocolate-covered Frozen Banana or a Key Lime Pie Push Pop.  I just love these options!

Hat's off to Ford Fry and Adam Evans for creating an innovative, beautiful restaurant.  I realize that this review is just ridiculously glowing, but I honestly can't say anything bad about it.  In fact, it may be my new favorite restaurant in Atlanta!  It's a MUST GO TO place!  I cannot wait to go back!

Finally, a shout out to my son - THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME TO THE OPTIMIST!!!

***Follow up visit:
I went back to The Optimist last night prior to going to a Georgia Tech basketball game, and we just enjoyed The Oyster Bar.  It was just as fabulous as the restaurant!  Kumamoto oysters, Lobster Roll and Lobster Fritters - all simply devine.  Great service, and such a fun atmosphere.  Loved it!