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The Optimist vs Mary Mac's Tea Room
Both establishments are rated highly by travel writers. On balance, The Optimist is preferred by most writers compared to Mary Mac's Tea Room. The Optimist comes in at #3 in Atlanta with accolades from 10 reviewers such as BlackBook, Frommer's and Travel + Leisure.
The Optimist
Fodor's
Zagat
BlackBook
Gayot
Travel + Leisure
Show All Reviews
914 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30318
From $31 /night
Fodor's
"Named Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurant of 2012, the Optimist lives up to the hype, serving top-notch seafood in a dazzingly refurbished warehouse space."
Full review
Zagat
4.5
"This Westside seafooder from owner Ford Fry (his JCT. Kitchen & Bar is just a clam's throw away) baits crowds with a range of raw to roasted fin fare and beachy cocktails."
Full review
BlackBook
"Upscale fish spot from chef Ford Fry raises the oyster to an art form."
Gayot
14.0
"Styled after a fish camp, The Optimist fields both a restaurant and a raw bar operation adjacent to the main dining room."
Full review
Travel + Leisure
"Whether you swing by the first-come, first-served oyster bar or go for a full meal at the barrel-vaulted main restaurant, it's clear that chef Adam Evans knows seafood."
Full review
Mary Mac's Tea Room
Fodor's
Travel + Leisure
BlackBook
Gayot
Zagat
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224 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308-1938
From $1 /night
Fodor's
"Local celebrities and ordinary folks line up for the country-fried steak, fried chicken, and fresh vegetables here."
Full review
Travel + Leisure
"If you only have one meal out in Atlanta, make sure it’s in the yellow-painted, country-kitchen-style dining room of this 60-year-old Atlanta institution."
Full review
BlackBook
"From bambinos to blue hairs, the clientele at Mary Mac’s share an affinity for traditional Southern grub."
Gayot
12.0
"Owner John Ferrell keeps Mary Mac's looking bright and lively, with good lighting and vivid colors."
Full review
Zagat
4.0
"Iconic spot for Southern fare classics."
Full review
