The Optimist
10 expert reviews
“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.”
– Travel + Leisure
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
On the Grid
"The experience that Ford Fry has created with this intown “seaside fish camp” is so stellar, this is the first place we send out-of-town guests."
Full review
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And if you geek out on a branded experience as much as we do, you’ll be sure to love Smith Hanes’ aesthetic touches from the surf chic décor all the way to the match books and beach keys.
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