CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER NAMES THE OPTIMIST ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST NEW RESTAURANTS

It’s smooth sailing at Chef Ford Fry’s award-winning restaurant, The Optimist – the sustainable seafood spot has navigated its way onto Condé Nast Traveler’s list of Hot Tables of 2013: The 70 Best New Restaurants in the World.

“This is an incredible honor for our team, and we are thrilled that we were selected to represent such a talented area of the country,” said Fry, who also owns JCT. Kitchen & Bar, No. 246 and King + Duke.

To compile the list, the editors of the magazine turned to their most-trusted food critics, bloggers and writers and asked them to recommend their favorite new restaurants in foodie destinations around the world. Restaurant critic for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution John Kessler described The Optimist as a “nouveau seafood restaurant” with “sustainable fish smartly and simply prepared.” For his top-dish pick, Kessler chose the lobster roll for its “buttery toasted bun” calling it “the best in Atlanta.” Additional items Kessler highlights include the “platters of iced oysters served with house wheat crackers and hot sauce, fried clam rolls spiced with kimchi vinegar” and “pan-crisped fillets of red snapper…in an inspired bath of lime juice and Thai fish sauce.” 

Executive Chef Adam Evans’ menu features fish and shellfish expertly prepared using the wood-burning grill and oven. Evans draws on his boyhood fish camp experiences to produce classic yet creative seafood dishes with bold flavors. Since opening in May 2012, The Optimist offers landlocked Atlantans a modern and memorable seafood experience in a relaxed and casual atmosphere.

The Optimist and Oyster Bar at The Optimist are located at 914 Howell Mill Road in Atlanta; 404-477-6260. The restaurant is open for dinner nightly and lunch on weekdays. For more information, visit theoptimistrestaurant.com or the restaurant’s Facebook page. For more information regarding Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot Tables of 2013 list, please visitcntraveler.com.