True to its name, The Optimist is a seafood eatery that diners can really feel good about. This new restaurant from respected chef Ford Fry specializes in specialty seafood, including fresh oysters from the Alabama coast, Maine sea scallops and whole roasted Georgia trout.

The Optimist is housed in a former ham-aging house building, and its menu offers a drink list of beer, wine, and handcrafted cocktails, hickory-roasted fish and raw oysters, as well as while beach-food classics like hush puppies and lobster rolls. Pair your seafood feast with a fine wine, or go for something more casual for lunch with a lobster roll washed down with a cold craft beer. With high ceilings and exposed black beams, an open, airy dining room featuring a floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious bar, and intimate booths throughout, The Optimist is the perfect locale for a business lunch, a first date or a night out with friends.

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