The Optimist
New American restaurant · East Germantown ·
Oysters, seafood plates, cocktails, and robust wine list
Oysters, seafood plates, cocktails, and robust wine list
"Located on bustling Howell Mill Road, this seafood restaurant from Ford Fry includes a designated oyster and raw bar and a full dining room serving everything from tuna crudo, smoked fish dip, and PEI mussels to whole roasted fish, a Maine lobster roll, and Spanish octopus. Pair dinner here with cocktails or a bottle of seafood-friendly wine. For a more relaxed restaurant vibe, head over to Beetlecat, Fry’s oyster and seafood bar and cocktail lounge in Inman Park." - Molly Harris
"At Jacqueline, the seasonal walk-up patio bar attached to The Optimist, you’ll find a mix of people in polos and cocktail dresses waiting on their dinner reservations, as well as neighbors in graphic tees drinking Ranch Waters and watching their kids play on the astroturf courtyard. This fancy tiki closet works well to start your night, end your night, or make it your whole night (they do great oysters, fish dip, and burgers). It’s also a pretty sweet silver lining to the restaurant’s 90-minute wait—their frozen painkillers don’t hurt, either." - adam sloan
"Paging New England: you’ve left a whitewashed seafood shanty in the middle of Germantown. And like any northeastern beach shack worth its weight in shellfish, you’ll find oysters, ceviche, and fruity cocktails at this outdoor summertime pop-up from The Optimist. Just know the bocce court gets brutally competitive." - ann walczak, jackie gutierrez jones 2
"Paging New England: you’ve left a whitewashed seafood shanty in the middle of Germantown. And like any northeastern beach shack worth its weight in shellfish, you’ll find oysters, ceviche, and fruity cocktails at this outdoor summertime pop-up from The Optimist. Just know the bocce court gets brutally competitive. photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks Pause Unmute" - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
"If there’s one thing Nashvillians can agree on, it’s that getting annoyed about the traffic and paid parking situation has no place on date night. That’s why the whole Le Loup/The Optimist/Star Rover Sound trifecta in Germantown just works. It's one of the few options in town where you can knock out three date night experiences and only have to park once. You can start with a few complex cocktails at the ocean-themed Le Loup, which tees you up for a sexy meal of freshly shucked oysters and wild-caught scallops downstairs at The Optimist. Then, pop into the neighboring Star Rover Sound for some live music and brown butter saltine crunch soft-serve ice cream. It’s the easiest date night itinerary in town." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, ann walczak