Wintzell's Serves Over 182,000 Pounds of Oysters Yearly

Wintzell’s Fun Facts

FUN FOOD FACTS

Each day, Wintzell’s Oyster House serves the freshest seafood available, which amounts to approximately 93,000 pounds of shrimp, 182,000 pounds of fresh oysters and  21,000 gallons of gumbo annually.

Dating back to J. Oliver Wintzell’s ownership of the restaurant, Wintzell’s offers a raw oyster-eating contest.  To attempt the oyster-eating record, a Wintzell’s patron only needs to show up at any Wintzell’s location and, in one hour, eat more than the existing record amount of raw oysters on the half shell while sitting at Wintzell’s oyster bar.  Those who surpass the existing record receive a $25 check and their name added to the list of oyster-eating champions posted behind the oyster bar.  The current record holder is Ken Orndoff of Birmingham, who ate 421 oysters on September 11, 2010.

Wintzell’s signature mixed drink is the Dragon Drink, a fruity concoction in a souvenir glass created as a tribute to Mobile’s annual Mardi Gras celebration.  The Dragon Drink was developed as an homage to Verna Dean, a 150-foot long dragon float which has served as the star of Mobile’s Mystics of Time Mardi Gras parade for over 60 years.

RESTAURANT FACTS

Wintzell’s Oyster House has been open since 1938 and is celebrating 75 years in 2013.

There are currently ten Wintzell’s Oyster House locations in Alabama:

  • Downtown Mobile
  • West Mobile
  • Fairhope
  • Saraland
  • Orange Beach
  • Montgomery
  • Greenville
  • Fultondale
  • Huntsville
  • Guntersville

 

Current owners and Mobile natives Bob and Buffy Donlon have over 13 years of experience leading the Wintzell’s organization.

Wintzell’s is actively committed to philanthropic efforts in all communities where our restaurants are located.  Over 75% of the Wintzell’s advertising budget goes to community-related projects.

Wintzell’s Oyster House is the oldest continuous sponsor of Distinguished Young Women, formerly America’s Junior Miss, for more than 50 years.

Wintzell’s was selected by President and Mrs. George W. Bush to cater a meal on Air Force One.

Each Wintzell’s location recognizes and celebrates the Mardi Gras season, as a nod to Mobile being the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the United States.

 
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