The Optimist, the sad case of ordering incorrectly.

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While we were home, Hubs and I spent a day with our niece and nephew at TopGolf, which, for the record, is an entirely excellent way to spend a morning (and if I could franchise the concept in Dubai I would be a gazillionaire).  I was — naturally — placed in charge of selecting a venue for lunch.  Having done some research before arriving in Atlanta, there were a few restaurants in the neighborhood (including Bacchanalia, which is most unfortunately only open for dinner).  I settled on The Optimist, a highly regarded seafood destination in West Atlanta.

As the title of this review might imply, I have never ordered so poorly at a restaurant.  First of all, let’s discuss what went right before we focus on what went wrong.

Pros

• The ambiance. Nailing that West Atlanta loft vibe perfectly, The Optimist is incredibly airy and bright.  With a moderately open kitchen, it’s a fabulous place to people watch.  Aim to nab one of the booths, if possible.  The restaurant is also home to a large bar and lounge, so there is plenty of unique seating.
• The drink selection.  Although Hubs and I weren’t drinking (trying to be good role models and all that), there was a considerable cocktail and wine list, accompanied by a larger than life bar.
• Our server.  First of all, shame on me for not getting her name – because she was probably the best server of our entire trip.  She was warm, genuine, and really ‘read’ our table.  She even gave us a great tip for dessert — outside of the restaurant!  Pro tip: check out Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams nearby for simply amazing flavors.
• (Some of) the food.
  • Hush puppies.  Can you say cane sugar butter?  Part hush puppy with a bit of beignet, this starter can serve as an appetizer or a dessert.  Honestly, this is a dish that’s worth stopping in and ordering (without anything else).  At USD$7, this pile of goodness quickly disappeared.
  • Shoestring fries.  My niece was particularly enamored with this tiny variety of fry.  When I didn’t finish my scallops (reasons below), I pretty much made a meal of the small starch.
• A learning opportunity.  Although my niece and nephew (ages 13 and 15, respectively) are still developing opinions and palates, after our meal, I asked, “Would you order your dish again?”  We had a discussion about the experience.  Even though I do not have children, I think it’s essential to empower young diners.  They have every right to question what they are eating, and why they like or dislike something.

Cons

• The food. 
  • Scallops.  Let me be upfront.  If I hadn’t have been dining without my niece and nephew, I would’ve sent these straight back.  Yes, it was a teachable moment, but I also didn’t particularly feel like being High Maintenance Courtney™ at the time.  We were having a nice lunch, and I didn’t want to disrupt that experience. The scallops weren’t cleaned properly — grit for days, and both burned and not cooked thoroughly.  The texture was therefore slimy, the temperature wrong, and the color off.  Having had some excellent seafood during my trip, this was a total fail.
  • Shrimp Po’ Boy.  Basic AF.  Especially for USD$18.  Really, this was a case where plating was a complete letdown.  A po’ boy can be done very well, and this was not one of those versions.
  • Fish & Chips.  Considering my nephew’s stomach hurt him later, I’m not sure what was going on.  The serving size looked okay, but he wasn’t too sure about the breading.  Similarly, I think the pricing of USD$18 is about $3-5 too high.
  • Weird carrots.  The octopus starter was perfectly cooked and seasoned, but the chunky, almost raw carrots served no purpose on the plate.  I can think of other veggies that would’ve been a better fit.  When putting together a dish, everything counts!
• The wait.  Honestly, while we enjoyed our starters, the delay between courses was about 10 minutes past what I thought was reasonable.  With a hungry (and growing) 15-year-old young man, getting food delivered quickly was really in our best interest, I thought the break between courses was too long.  The venue was busy, but not packed for lunch on a Tuesday.

So, based on all of this, why would I go back?  Why would I give the venue another chance?  Honestly, I see the potential (especially in the dinner menu).  Am I being too — wait for it — optimistic?

Would I go back?  Er, for dinner, yes!

Who is The Optimist best for?  People who are better at ordering.  Those in the neighborhood.  A good first date place.  I’m not sure the venue is worth crossing Atlanta traffic for.

Have you been to The Optimist?  What did you order?