“ Dropped into this location before heading to the mall across the street. We parked with ease in the parking deck attached to this building. Noticed that there were other businesses/restaurants on the walk up to the coffee shop. I was accompanied by 2 other individuals and we walked in with no wait to order. Although it was pretty busy from the inside, we found a table to accommodate our party. There are spaces to sit if you are solo as well. At first glance, the menu appears to be reasonably priced. I skimmed for a while and chose the pink matcha with oat milk. I love how pretty the matcha was! I could have gone for a sweeter version but it wasn't bitter as some other experiences I've had! The staff were friendly and happy to assist with questions about the menu and substitutions. There are so many lovely things about this space!!! From the unique private spaces to the collection of books that line the window. I was drawn to the plants and noticed they had a shelf for games. As we enjoyed our beverages, we decided to play, Cards Against Humanity! This made for a fun and interesting experience! There is outdoor seating available and since today was a nice day, the chairs and tables were occupied for most of our visit. If you're looking to get some work done, read a book, or simply drop in to try a new place, I think it's worth a try! ”

“ Good food, tasty coffee, friendly staff, welcoming atmosphere. I've only been to this location twice but have had a nice experience on both occasions. Would recommend. ”

“ My favorite coffee spot in Raleigh!! It's located in a central location that is accessible and has plenty of free parking. This location is welcomed by lots of windows and natural lighting and plenty of tables and outlets for remote working. There is a small room for a meeting space and there is also a phone booth room for meetings as well. This location gets busy during peak times but I've never had difficulty in finding a table. They also have outdoor seating as well. I prefer this location as I love the bright lighting and colors that make the space so welcoming. The drinks here are always consistent too. It's definitely my preferred spot for remote working as they have fast and reliable WiFi. Make sure to visit this spot--it's a hidden gem! ”

“ Good ambience and workspaces with many outlets, wifi and good coffee; however, I wish the food portion sizes were larger for the price. ”

“ Super cute coffee shop! I loved the vibes and people were working on their laptops so I fit right in. The person who made the coffees were so nice and the coffee was good! My cold brew was a bit bitter but still good! Def will return. ”

“ this is my favorite place to stop by every morning for my go-to iced vanilla oat milk latte, and it hits every time! the atmosphere of this new location is so welcoming. there are tables to get work done or meet with a friend, a bar to sit at, a small conference room, and an outdoor seating area as well. the baristas are always kind and welcoming, and they know my order by heart now! highly recommended. ”

“ Atmosphere: The new Optimist location opened in Fiction Coffee's old space, which is across the street from Crabtree Mall. The space is small but has several tables and big windows to let in lots of natural light. Service: The baristas were friendly and our order, especially the drinks, came out quickly. One thing to note was that modifications to some items (like the Hulk Smash) could not be made, but that may change once their kitchen becomes more established. Food: We ordered an Iced Nat King Cole and Cappuccino for our drinks, and a Hulk Smash and The Easy with chicken for lunch. The Nat King Cole wasn't too sweet and had nice hints of nuttiness. The Cappuccino was fresh and had a nice, strong coffee flavor to it. Both of our lunch dishes were delicious, but we thought the portions were a bit small for the price. Overall: As big fans of The Optimist and their original location, we weren't disappointed with their new shop! We're looking forward to watching them expand their offerings at this new location. ”