The Optimist Raleigh

Amber Parker a month ago

Really disappointing experience. I waited almost 30 minutes just to receive my sandwich, which was frustrating considering it was a relatively simple order. Unfortunately, the bigger issue was that when I finally received it, the avocado appeared to be spoiled or possibly moldy. I noticed a large gray/black and fuzzy area on the avocado and, after seeing it, I didn’t feel comfortable eating the sandwich. It’s extremely disappointing to wait that long for your food and then not even be able to enjoy it because one of the ingredients appears to be rotten. I understand that mistakes happen, but food quality and freshness should be a basic expectation, especially at a coffee shop. I hope they take a closer look at their food preparation and ingredient quality.

Carissa Mitchell 2 months ago

First of all, the vibes are outstanding. It looks like a speakeasy clashed with a plant shop and I could sit in there all day. The shop was busy but our order came out quickly! I can’t speak on behalf of the food, but I got an iced matcha which was the perfect level of sweetness and my husband got an iced mocha which was delicious, as well. The staff was extremely friendly — would definitely come back if in Raleigh again!

Eboni Allen 3 months ago

I love the optimist. I've been coming here for 3 years and always enjoy it. The drinks are great (I love their coffee and tea lattes) and so is the food. I most appreciate that they keep the music at a reasonable level so that you can actually think straight. The chairs are also relatively comfortable. The high chairs are most comfy. The benches are awful on the back imo. I also like the staff. They're friendly enough and the service is always good. I've been to other coffee shops in RDU where this was not the case.

R J 4 months ago

Great Atmosphere, Standard Experience The Optimist is a highly themed coffee shop with a beautiful, earthy aesthetic. The green decor and abundance of plants make it a very pleasant place to hang out and get work done. The service at the register was nice, though it felt a bit automated and transactional. For drinks, keep in mind that ordering a hot beverage takes significantly longer to prepare than an iced one. As for the food, the pastries lacked visual appeal and did not have much flavor, so you might want to stick to the drinks. Overall, it is a very standard coffee shop experience, but worth a visit for the excellent seating environment and vibe.

Raechel Olczak 4 months ago

I’ve been here multiple times and ordered food, coffee, and matcha. The matcha is not very good at all. every time it is not whisked well and there is little to no flavor of syrup. The food is overpriced and underwhelming. The espresso in the latte was alright but again hardly any flavor of the syrup. It has a cute atmosphere and a rewards system and i really want to love it but after a few times of being disappointed it’s hard to want to go back. :(