While we were home, Hubs and I spent a day with our\u00a0niece and nephew at TopGolf<\/a>, 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).\u00a0 I was — naturally — placed in charge of selecting a venue for lunch.\u00a0 Having done some research before arriving in Atlanta, there were a few restaurants in the neighborhood (including Bacchanalia, which is most unfortunately\u00a0only open for dinner).\u00a0 I settled on The Optimist<\/a>,<\/strong> a highly regarded seafood destination in West Atlanta.<\/p>\n

As the title of this review might imply, I have never ordered so poorly at a restaurant.\u00a0 First of all, let’s discuss what went right before we focus on what went wrong.<\/p>\n

Pros<\/h2>\n

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• The ambiance.<\/strong> Nailing that West Atlanta loft\u00a0vibe perfectly, The Optimist is incredibly airy and bright.\u00a0 With a moderately open kitchen, it’s a fabulous place to people watch.\u00a0 Aim to nab one of the booths, if possible.\u00a0 The restaurant is also home to a large bar and lounge, so there is plenty of unique seating.<\/li>\n
• The drink selection.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/li>\n
• Our server.<\/strong>\u00a0 First of all, shame on me for not getting her name – because she was probably the best server of our entire trip.\u00a0 She was warm, genuine, and really ‘read’ our table.\u00a0 She even gave us a great tip for dessert — outside of the restaurant!\u00a0 Pro tip: check out Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams<\/a>\u00a0nearby for simply amazing flavors.<\/li>\n
• (Some of) the food.<\/strong>\n
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  • Hush puppies.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Can you say cane sugar butter?\u00a0 Part hush puppy with a bit of beignet, this starter can serve as an appetizer or a dessert.\u00a0 Honestly, this is a dish that’s worth stopping in and ordering (without anything else).\u00a0 At USD$7, this pile of goodness quickly disappeared.<\/li>\n
  • Shoestring fries.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>My niece was particularly enamored\u00a0with this tiny variety of fry.\u00a0 When I didn’t finish my scallops (reasons below), I pretty much made a meal of the small starch.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
  • A learning opportunity.<\/strong>\u00a0 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?”\u00a0 We had a discussion about the experience.\u00a0 Even though I do not have children, I think it’s essential to empower young diners.\u00a0 They have every right to question what they are eating, and why they like or dislike something.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Cons<\/h2>\n

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    • The food.\u00a0<\/strong>\n
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      • Scallops.<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 Let me be upfront.\u00a0 If I hadn’t have been dining without my niece and nephew, I would’ve sent these straight back.\u00a0 Yes, it was a teachable moment, but I also didn’t particularly feel like being High Maintenance Courtney\u2122 at the time.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The texture was therefore slimy, the temperature wrong, and the color off.\u00a0 Having had some excellent seafood during my trip, this was a total fail.<\/li>\n
      • Shrimp Po’ Boy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Basic AF.\u00a0 Especially for USD$18.\u00a0 Really, this was a case where plating was a complete letdown.\u00a0 A po’ boy can be done very well, and this was not one of those versions.<\/li>\n
      • Fish & Chips.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Considering my nephew’s stomach hurt him later, I’m not sure what was going on.\u00a0 The serving size looked okay, but he wasn’t too sure about the breading.\u00a0 Similarly, I think the pricing of USD$18 is about $3-5 too high.<\/li>\n
      • Weird carrots.<\/strong>\u00a0 The octopus starter was perfectly cooked and seasoned, but the chunky, almost raw carrots served no purpose on the plate.\u00a0 I can think of other veggies that would’ve been a better fit.\u00a0 When putting together a dish, everything counts!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • The wait.\u00a0<\/strong> Honestly, while we enjoyed our starters, the delay between courses was about 10 minutes past what I thought was reasonable.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The venue was busy, but not packed for lunch on a Tuesday.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        So, based on all of this, why would I go back?\u00a0 Why would I give the venue another chance?\u00a0 Honestly, I see the potential (especially in the dinner menu).\u00a0 Am I being too — wait for it — optimistic?<\/p>\n

        Would I go back?\u00a0 Er, for dinner, yes!<\/p>\n

        Who is The Optimist best for?\u00a0 People who are better at ordering.\u00a0 Those in the neighborhood.\u00a0 A good first date place.\u00a0 I’m not sure the venue is worth crossing Atlanta traffic for.<\/p>\n

        Have you been to The Optimist?\u00a0 What did you order?<\/strong><\/p>\n

        <\/a><\/p>\n