Got a hankering for seafood?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best high-end seafood hot spots in Atlanta, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture when cravings strike.
1. The Optimist
Topping the list is The Optimist. Located at 914 Howell Mill Road in Home Park, the cocktail bar and music venue, which offers seafood and more, is the most popular high-end seafood spot in Atlanta, boasting four stars out of 1,429 reviews on Yelp.
The Optimist is tucked into a one-time ham-aging house, but seafood is definitely its theme. One of top Atlanta restaurateur Ford Fry's establishments, it says it strives to provide "a seaside fish-camp experience in landlocked Atlanta," with sustainably sourced offerings including Georgia trout and Maine sea scallops. For those who like their seafood as natural as possible, there's a long list of oysters from both Northern and Southern waters and crudos of swordfish, salmon, scallops and tuna. Lobster rolls are another feature.
Yelper Sheena G. wrote, "One of my best culinary experiences in America! ... The menu is so vibrant with interesting offerings that it's a bit of a challenge to choose."
2. The Capital Grille
Next up is Buckhead's The Capital Grille, situated at 255 E. Paces Ferry Road NE. With 4.5 stars out of 405 reviews on Yelp, the steakhouse and wine bar, which offers seafood and more, has proven to be a local favorite for those looking to indulge.
If you like some turf with your surf, this representative of the national chain is an elegant and traditional choice. Menu offerings include seared tenderloin with butter-poached lobster tails. Sea scallops, sushi-grade tuna and sea bass are among other offerings, as well as lobster mac and cheese. The 350-bottle wine list covers the Old World and New.
Yelper Karnesha S. wrote, "I had the lobster bisque, which was so rich and creamy and full of lobster! I will dream about this soup! I had the sea bass for my entree — it was cooked to perfection with a nicely seasoned crust."
3. Kevin Rathbun Steak
Inman Park's Kevin Rathbun Steak, located at 154 Krog St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the fancy steakhouse, which offers seafood and more, four stars out of 764 reviews.
Rathbun's was judged one of America's 21 best steakhouses by the Robb Report, but its seafood offerings also win praise, including grilled ahi tuna, pan-roasted diver scallops and delicate Dover sole, when it's available. It doesn't hurt that Rathbun's is in one of Atlanta's hippest neighborhoods. Yelper Nauman B. described it as "where style meets taste."
4. Ray's in the City
Ray's in the City, a sushi bar and traditional American spot that offers seafood and more downtown, is another pricey go-to, with four stars out of 654 Yelp reviews. Head over to 240 Peachtree St. NW to see for yourself.
Ray's in the City is the downtown branch of the venerable Ray's on the River, a suburban mainstay that has managed to thrive in the competitive Atlanta restaurant scene since 1984. Close to the major convention hotels and, appropriately, the Georgia Aquarium, Ray's in the City offers a casual-but-classy approach that ranges from burgers to an ever-changing list of fresh, market seafood, including jumbo lump crabcakes and a platter with lobster, fish, shrimp and scallops. There's also sushi, sashimi and poke.
Yelper Joel C. wrote, "Great food and great service. What else can you say?"
5. St. Cecilia
And then there's St. Cecilia, a Buckhead favorite with four stars out of 557 reviews. Stop by 3455 Peachtree Road NE to hit up the Italian spot, which offers seafood and more, next time you're looking to go big.
A Ford Fry project like The Optimist, St. Cecilia offers an Italian-accented menu with handmade pastas, including squid ink malfaldini, and seafood entrees like braised monkfish with spring vegetables and prosciutto brodo and harissa marinated swordfish with salsa verde. It also has an afternoon apero hour on the patio, with apertifs such as port and sherry and digestifs like oysters, olives and assorted salumi.
Yelper Katelyn W. wrote, "Everything about it was perfect! Came here to celebrate my birthday — it was elegant, sophisticated and, most importantly, delicious!"
This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
