The cool atmosphere is only the start. Excellent service and execution from the kitchen. Always a stellar experience. It's a little pricey but it's worth it!
Greg
The last time we came, we had an amazing experience. However tonight was a huge let down, from the seafood platter, to the main course. The house rolls were good, but had been overcooked, the top was almost to the point of burnt. The oysters were great, and so were all three small cups in the middle of the plate. I had one shrimp that was fantastic, but the other two that I ate were so mushy, it made be spit it out immediately from how awful it was. Then came out our fish and chips, not only was the fish bland and greatly overcooked, the fries were so overdone, they had the texture of a lost drive thru fry, within the seats of your Camry. Just overall a horrible experience at a place we adored before. To end the experience, we had to flag down the manager because our server disappeared, and hadn't seen him in an aggravating amount of time. We had a rez for 2030, so it is not like the place was packed or busting at the seems. I hate to post such a negative review, because of how great of a time we had a year ago. But this just missed its mark horribly. *Edit I was quickly contacted by the GM, Josh and he listened to everything I had to say. He made me feel much better, that this type of malfeasance shouldn't had happened at all. He even offered to refund my money over the call that we had. I got to say, I highly respect the level they went to, in order to rectify this experience. Hell Yeah yall 🤙🏻
Nicole
If you are traveling from out of state DO NOT COME HERE. They took our drink order and made us wait 40 minutes only to tell us that they would not accept our out of state IDs and would not serve us. Everyone in our party was well over the legal age (25+) and they were very disrespectful so we ended up leaving. Really frustrating since we only had a few nights in town and it ruined our Saturday dinner plans.
Pat
Fish was very tasty , would have liked to see more choices, would have like to see entree include something other than just piece of fish, chips were underdone, salad was tasty and plentiful, service was excellent. The only thing that will prevent me from returning is the smoke from the fireplace which was so irritating that my throat was raw and we were sitting about as far from the fireside as possible and if not for our table being located so far from the fireplace we would not have dined there.
Maritza
From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm, lively, and welcoming. The décor is stylish yet comfortable, and the service was exceptional—attentive without being overbearing. Every dish was perfectly prepared, fresh, and beautifully presented. The cocktails were creative and well-balanced, and the dessert was the perfect finish to a wonderful meal. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just want a great night out, The Optimist is absolutely worth it. We can't wait to go back!
Opentable Diner
Lily, our fantastic bartender and server, made our dining experience enjoyable. However, the food left us disappointed. We had declined two different spots in the restaurant to sit, hoping for a better experience. The first option was a secluded section in the back of the restaurant, while the second was right near the raw bar with heavy server traffic. Ultimately, we ended up at the bar. Our food choices were a letdown. The She crab soup was watery and lacked any significant amount of crab. The greasy shrimp toast was another disappointment. The shrimp ceviche came in a small portion, accompanied by a sleeve of saltines and an unusual oil-soaked house-made hot sauce. The stone crab, priced at $32 for just three claws, was a waste of money. The hush puppy beignets were oily and bland.
Brandy
We celebrated our 9th anniversary and the Optimist made us feel extra special. Bailey was a top notch server and personable. She was spot on with her recs as well as hitting us up with a complimentary dessert. Always a great experience dining here!
Alice
First thing I did when I came back to Nashville for a visit was to make reservation at Optimist. It was as good as I remembered. Food and service were excellent and I was so happy they were as I remembered.
Joyce
The Optimist never disappoints! All the food was delicious! Bailey was a fantastic server! Arctic Char and roasted mushrooms are a must!
Cliff
varied and different offerings with a diverse group of seasonings make this a great choice to experience wonderful food selections that are not like every other restaurant.
Food was great but the staff was even better. They made selecting our wine and food so easy and fun.
Tom
Food and service generally fine, but the money is absolutely wild and there was a long wait for the bill
Anastasia
One of our favorite restaurants in Nashville, and our most favorite spot for oysters. We always have the best experience! Incredible service, fantastic food, and always the freshest oysters and seafood. Thanks for being our go-to date night spot again and again.
Carl
Wonderful seafood and ambiance. Every dish was a delight. We tried four or five of the “deep search” and appetizer plates along with our entrees and left stuffed and happy!!
Jenny
The Optomist is always yummy and a local hotspot. I absolutely love coming back over and over again. The Octopus is my absolute favorite. Always great service.
The cool atmosphere is only the start. Excellent service and execution from the kitchen. Always a stellar experience. It's a little pricey but it's worth it!
The last time we came, we had an amazing experience. However tonight was a huge let down, from the seafood platter, to the main course. The house rolls were good, but had been overcooked, the top was almost to the point of burnt. The oysters were great, and so were all three small cups in the middle of the plate. I had one shrimp that was fantastic, but the other two that I ate were so mushy, it made be spit it out immediately from how awful it was. Then came out our fish and chips, not only was the fish bland and greatly overcooked, the fries were so overdone, they had the texture of a lost drive thru fry, within the seats of your Camry. Just overall a horrible experience at a place we adored before. To end the experience, we had to flag down the manager because our server disappeared, and hadn't seen him in an aggravating amount of time. We had a rez for 2030, so it is not like the place was packed or busting at the seems. I hate to post such a negative review, because of how great of a time we had a year ago. But this just missed its mark horribly. *Edit I was quickly contacted by the GM, Josh and he listened to everything I had to say. He made me feel much better, that this type of malfeasance shouldn't had happened at all. He even offered to refund my money over the call that we had. I got to say, I highly respect the level they went to, in order to rectify this experience. Hell Yeah yall 🤙🏻
If you are traveling from out of state DO NOT COME HERE. They took our drink order and made us wait 40 minutes only to tell us that they would not accept our out of state IDs and would not serve us. Everyone in our party was well over the legal age (25+) and they were very disrespectful so we ended up leaving. Really frustrating since we only had a few nights in town and it ruined our Saturday dinner plans.
Fish was very tasty , would have liked to see more choices, would have like to see entree include something other than just piece of fish, chips were underdone, salad was tasty and plentiful, service was excellent. The only thing that will prevent me from returning is the smoke from the fireplace which was so irritating that my throat was raw and we were sitting about as far from the fireside as possible and if not for our table being located so far from the fireplace we would not have dined there.
From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm, lively, and welcoming. The décor is stylish yet comfortable, and the service was exceptional—attentive without being overbearing. Every dish was perfectly prepared, fresh, and beautifully presented. The cocktails were creative and well-balanced, and the dessert was the perfect finish to a wonderful meal. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just want a great night out, The Optimist is absolutely worth it. We can't wait to go back!
Lily, our fantastic bartender and server, made our dining experience enjoyable. However, the food left us disappointed. We had declined two different spots in the restaurant to sit, hoping for a better experience. The first option was a secluded section in the back of the restaurant, while the second was right near the raw bar with heavy server traffic. Ultimately, we ended up at the bar. Our food choices were a letdown. The She crab soup was watery and lacked any significant amount of crab. The greasy shrimp toast was another disappointment. The shrimp ceviche came in a small portion, accompanied by a sleeve of saltines and an unusual oil-soaked house-made hot sauce. The stone crab, priced at $32 for just three claws, was a waste of money. The hush puppy beignets were oily and bland.
We celebrated our 9th anniversary and the Optimist made us feel extra special. Bailey was a top notch server and personable. She was spot on with her recs as well as hitting us up with a complimentary dessert. Always a great experience dining here!
First thing I did when I came back to Nashville for a visit was to make reservation at Optimist. It was as good as I remembered. Food and service were excellent and I was so happy they were as I remembered.
The Optimist never disappoints! All the food was delicious! Bailey was a fantastic server! Arctic Char and roasted mushrooms are a must!
varied and different offerings with a diverse group of seasonings make this a great choice to experience wonderful food selections that are not like every other restaurant.
Restaurantji Recommends
Food was great but the staff was even better. They made selecting our wine and food so easy and fun.
Food and service generally fine, but the money is absolutely wild and there was a long wait for the bill
One of our favorite restaurants in Nashville, and our most favorite spot for oysters. We always have the best experience! Incredible service, fantastic food, and always the freshest oysters and seafood. Thanks for being our go-to date night spot again and again.
Wonderful seafood and ambiance. Every dish was a delight. We tried four or five of the “deep search” and appetizer plates along with our entrees and left stuffed and happy!!
The Optomist is always yummy and a local hotspot. I absolutely love coming back over and over again. The Octopus is my absolute favorite. Always great service.
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