One star for the hush puppies. One star for our friendly server. Sadly, I can only give two stars to Wintzell's House in Mobile, Alabama. I should've listened to all of the advice from the locals on Reddit, who warned me that this place has fallen on harder times. The char grilled oysters were funky. I ate them but worried as I ate them. The hush puppies earned a star. They were pretty tasty. The were my favorite thing on the table. However, we asked for butter, and our server gave us packets of butter substitute. Doesn't this restaurant have real butter? The gumbo was fairly tasteless and also, they had chopped up whatever seafood was in there so finely that it all just turned into mush. If there was any seafood in there, I sure didn't taste it. The West Indies crab salad was a shocking disappointment. It was a scoop of crab meat, which they ruined by mixing it up with mayo. That's it. An ice cream scoop of canned crab meat mixed with heavy mayo. It's like they didn't even try. The bread pudding left very little impression. It was a little rectangular square. Our server misunderstood us when we said we wanted it topped with ice cream, and served the bread pudding alongside a bowl of five scoops of vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. It was a very odd dessert situation, but we worked our way through it. Our server was an amusing fella. He kinda/sorta made the evening. Overall, I'm glad I went so I could know for myself. However, I do wish that I had listened to the locals on Reddit. read more

Cute place and busy. We arrived after 7 and it was still packed. Award winning seafood gumbo - different flavors and not as thick as what I had outside of Alabama but the flavor was surprisingly good. It's got a little kick, aka spicy. We had plenty of gumbos on our RTJ trails trip and this is probably the best. Raw oysters (wild caught) - raw, the best way to enjoy good and fresh oysters. The right size too. So so good. Mahi Mahi salad - fish and shrimps were overcooked and dried Shrimp & Grits - it was ok. I wished there were more sauce. And those shrimps were tiny. Cajun seafood pasta - flavor was ok. Scallops were overcooked and tough. Redfish Bienville - fish and shrimps were overcooked. Sad And not sure if it was the way our waitress carried the trays or something but the plating looked sloppy. read more

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My last night in Mobile and I needed some good oysters... One of my Uber drivers suggested Wintzell's earlier in the week so I felt the need to follow thru. I'm enough of an oyster snob that I felt the need to belly up to the oyster bar and do it right. Amazing HUGE wild oysters (young dude shocking suggested the wild) but I've had some of the farm-raised in the area so I got 6/6. So flipping good and SO huge I didn't need much for dinner and these were more than plenty! Young man's Dad was also at the bar and had a nice chat with both. Great young man and it's clear where his character came from. Next time I'm in Mobile I'll be back and bring others with... read more

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Oysters were actually good. But the service was terrible. Very slow and it took over 25 minutes after ordering to get the oysters. The restaurant was pretty empty too as it was a weekday afternoon, all the servers were just standing around chatting with each other. The chargrilled oysters did come out sizzling hot though so at least they served them pretty immediately after the kitchen finally decided to cook them. They tasted great but it was weird that they didn't include bread for dipping. I would've ordered more but it was so slow. Also a waitress walked by and spilled her entire tray including used cups of water that splashed on us, hardly an apology. Also had to wait around quite a while for the check. I wish the service was better because I thought the oysters were actually pretty good. read more

Wintzell's Oyster House - Half dozen chargrilled - Seafood Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

Great service and a fine meal. We started off with crab claws - half fried, half sauteed, very tasty indeed. Next we had gumbo again, tasty as always. Then we all had the catch of the day (red snapper), 2 grilled and I had blackened, all were cooked perfectly. The sides were also tasty. Our server did a great job throughout. It was pretty quiet on a thursday night at 6ish. We will be back. read more

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Wintzell's Oyster House on Dauphin Street never disappoints. This wasn't our first visit, so we came in expecting a bit of a wait--and that was fair. The staff was down two servers, and the hostess was truly doing it all, from greeting guests to busing tables, just to keep things moving. Major kudos to her for hustling and keeping the crowd flowing with a great attitude. As for the food, you must get the seafood gumbo. Do yourself a favor and pay the extra $2 for the bowl. Worth. Every. Penny. Rich and flavorful, the way gumbo should be. We stuck with the lunch menu and were really impressed by the prices for the quality of food. The red beans with chicken and sausage were absolutely amazing. Despite being short-staffed, the experience was good, the food was excellent. A little disappointed on the wait between the gumbo and the food. That isn't the standard that you expect. We'll definitely be back... and yes, ordering the gumbo again. read more

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We travel from Fort Worth, TX to Pensacola at least twice a year and we always kick off our Gulf of America vacation with a stop at Wintzell's for raw oysters. Wintzell's is old school oyster bar ambiance greatness located in middle of Mobile's historic Dauphin Street district. We always sit at the oyster bar which in 2018 was dedicated to Willie Brown, the legendary shucker who presided over the bar for 47 years. Reggie now carries Willie's mantle as master shucker extraordinaire here at Willie's Oyster Bar. Reggie knows my petite wife loves humongous oysters while I prefer smaller ones and he fills the trays accordingly. A couple of visits ago another shucker waited on us and Reggie explained to him, "The lady like the large ones and the gentleman the smaller". LOL. This is just such an enjoyable way to begin our visit to the Gulf Coast. We enjoyed yesterday an unusual second visit to Wintzell's this trip. We drove to Mobile from Pensacola to dine at one of the city's most famous restaurants. Unfortunately our fish dishes were so unhappy as to warrant a return to the kitchen. We had finished an appetizer and had a nice bottle of wine so we decided not to reorder or try another entree. 'You know where we're going now?", I said. "To see Reggie...". And we did. read more

Wintzell's Oyster House - Reggie at the bar. - Seafood Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

I have eaten here several times, and have had fairly good service on every occasion. This is a comfortable restaurant with very friendly vibes, especially at the bar. It is somewhat quirky and touristy with its overall decorations. The food is routinely very good, the only issues consistency. I'm my last visit for lunch. I got the seafood plate and the fish and shrimp were fantastic. Unfortunately the oysters were fried to death. They were so bad, that the server said they were going to have them re-fired when he delivered the plate. My question is, why even plate them if they look that terrible. They did make good and re-fire those oysters and they were delivered a nice golden brown. Taking in prior experiences and food quality, I would firmly rate at 3 1/2 stars if we could do so. read more

Wintzell's Oyster House - Lunch menu - Seafood Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

Really enjoyed this place while traveling. Ambiance was casual and open. Very large with several rooms. TVs here and there. Bar area. The food was very good (Redfish Bienville and Cajun seafood pasta), and the wait staff were prompt, friendly, and funny. But the highlight of the entire experience for me was the bread pudding. It was so good, I had to come back for a second visit before my 5-day visit to Mobile was over. Yes, it was that good. I wish I could have taken a platter of it home with me. Amazingly tasty. read more

Wintzell's Oyster House - Delectable bread pudding - Seafood Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

Had a wonderful lunch while driving back to New Orleans. We love this Wintzell's location. Our bartender, Ben S, was super quick and friendly. I had the best Sangrias! If it was Louisiana, I would have gotten one to go. We had cold boiled peel & eat shrimp, and a dozen Monterey oysters. So good. My husband had Red Beans, chicken and sausage. I had a shrimp BLT. We both had sides of boiled corn on the Cobb. It came with 2 each! We had a great meal and good time. read more

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We have eaten at various Wintzell's and always enjoy the oysters. We stopped in for happy hour and they were $1each from 4-6pm. We a shared 3 dozen and they were delicious. Service was quick and efficient. We sat at the bar and it was a great place to chat with the locals. read more

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Super sad. This restaurant had great reviews and honestly, what's up with people? From the start this places smelled like sewer. I expected fish not sewer. I got hit so bad everything became a blur Service was ok. He did ask if we needed anything but as usual at the most inconvenient serve time possible so I kept not getting my water refilled. The eyes for detail were out of stock when it was his turn to get them. Food was over priced and $20 for a dozen oysters during their season? I could be wrong but that's high as that's what I usually pay (a little less at some places) year round at a restaurant back at home. This felt like Marbella flashbacks from Mexico . I expected $.50 or so a piece. Am I dreaming of a white Christmas? I literally came here for the oysters. I'm so glad I asked what the "market" price was . I'm a foodie and one thing I will not overpay for is food. Specially mediocre food. Nope. I ended up having meh food. The fact the place has been there since the 1930's blows my mind. I come to find out it's a chain? Good for them honestly but I won't be back to any of them if I have a say . I'm happy I did not get sick so moving on... Anyway, there were some good in the visit so here we go, the baked oyster that I had (Parmesan something) was very good. Kids had a blast with the captain Morgan statue (even though I kept telling them it's not a park) and I made a mistake I learned from. That's it. Moving to the next, I ordered the Po-boy and the sampler plate. The bread on the Po-Boy was hard, gooey and flaky all at the same time. Not my favorite. The shrimp was ok but fresh. The hush puppies were good. The plater is sad, two baked oysters, two shrimps and half of a fish filet. Fries were served on a cup. Like the tiny fries box in the McD happy meal... more like a sad meal. I think my Barbie's had more fries on their toy fries , even this emoji has more fries, ha! Overall... nah for me. read more

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Casual seafood restaurant. Service was very nice! Their garlic bread is always perfection. We enjoyed the entrees we got, but the sides were very par. BUT their bread pudding was phenomenal Cajun Seafood Pasta - I was surprised how good this was Shrimp and scallops seasoned with Creole herbs and spices. Tossed in a creamy alfredo sauce. Shrimp & Grits A southern favorite! Topped with crawfish sauce. Sides: Okra: too much breading for me. Made it where I felt like I was eating just a ball of fried, barely tasted the okra Cajun rice: very bland and dry read more

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Had an amazing dinner here. The chargrilled oysters were delicious. Our salads were crisp and fresh. The grilled salmon with lemon basil sauce was moist and flavorful, the fried okra crispy. The JO Seafood Platter my husband had was fried, very tasty and not greasy at all. No wait at 4:45pm on a Monday, fast service and Dylan our server was the best. Highly recommend if you're in Mobile. read more

CJ was the greatest server I've ever had anywhere. Snapper was great. Beer was cold. Good vibes inside. read more

Wintzell's Oyster House - Oyster Bar - Seafood Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

My wife and I came here with some friends back in May and this was a nice meal overall. Jay was our waiter and he was great, providing excellent suggestions, great conversation, and great customer service. Our drinks were delicious and a tasty way to start out the meal. The food overall was very good and we particularly liked the chargrilled oysters. The shrimp po'boy was also good, but the crab claws weren't the best. Overall it was a great place for dinner and we all enjoyed our meal. read more

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Was a recommendation from the hotel. Will not return. Food was mediocre and restaurant was extremely dirty.

What a pleasant surprise! The service was prompt and attentive. The receptionist was welcoming and complimentary of the food! The ambiance is nice standard oyster house decor. The food was delicious. The oysters were very good. We had the oyster Rockefeller and the sampler. Worth the trip! The fried green tomatoes were next level and The main course was plentiful and fried to perfection! The gumbo was traditional and had the right amount of rue to make it thick versus runny! When in Mobile...give them a try! read more

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Sat at the Bar near some locals and that told me the fish Tia is are the best they have ever had. Plus they were $5 on Tuesdays. Pretty good endorsement so I decided start with their suggestion. On their weekend drink menu they had homemade sangria so that's where I started. Great flavor in the drink! Had to drink at least a second. The fish taco arrived hot with jalapeño, purple cabbage slaw with a lime. Both tacos were loaded with the white fish that was seasoned and crispy! I agree with the locals on the fish tacos and for $5 on Tuesday if I lived here, this would be my Tuesday spot! I can't come to an oyster place and not try the oysters. I went with the beinville oysters (shrimp, crab meat and Parmesan cheese) as my second course. Sipping my second sangria while waiting for my oysters...... The oysters were outstanding. She gave me crackers so I ate the shrimp cheese and oysters on the crackers which hit the spot. The cheese on top was roasted. The lemon salt and pepper was all thy needed. Round three I ordered the sautéed crab claws. They are served with hush puppies so I am excited to try. This will probably be it for me tonight. Waiting patiently...... The crab claws were a special treat that I only have ordered one other place in all my travels. They were fresh and tasty and were a huge portion. The hush puppies were as good or better than anticipated. I recommend Wintzell's for anyone who enjoys great food, in an energetic atmosphere with great service. You can't go wrong here. Cheers! read more

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A diner style seafood and oyster house that sadly is not as delicious as it is charming. You'll have fun reading all of the handwritten Southern-isms on the walls, which was the most exciting thing about our experience. The oysters were no nonsense and clean, with no grit. The chilled boiled shrimp were overcooked. The crab claws were good if very small. They gave you a lot of them, which was nice considering their size, but for $32 I would have preferred half the amount for half the price and without the overcooked hush puppies. My wife got the mahi-mahi and shrimp cobb salad, the protein of which was over cooked and over seasoned. The shrimp were also obviously cocktail shrimp, which is never acceptable for an entree salad. Being so close to the Gulf, mediocre seafood is always disappointing. Considering the number of reviews (and positive ones) it's obvious this place is popular. Maybe it was an off night, but I wish we would have had a better overall experience. read more

This place is consistently packed but I think that's just because it speaks about how good the food is. Service is also just as great. Ideally speaking, you should probably go to the back bar and have a couple of oystershooters while you wait for your tables to get cleaned up. It's a friendly crowd and everything is moving pretty quickly in and around this place. Two large dining rooms with two bars. Probably best bet to get an idea of what you're going to order at home before you sit down and order. You don't feel hurried at all at this place but you're going to finish your food in a hurry and going to be full just as fast. read more

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Had a craving for oysters, so hit up Wintzell's for lunch. Ordered the sampler. Waitress brought samples of the Gumbo, which was very tasty, and soft buttered bread. I enjoyed the variety of oyster treatments enough to go back the next day for dinner. Gotta say, once is enough. Dined at the bar the second night and the ambiance - bright and busy - which worked well at lunch did not carry over into the evening. Would repeat. read more

This place was recommended by FL friends who lived in Mobile for a time. We stopped by on a Sunday evening. For a casual-dining seafood restaurant, Wintzell's punches well above its weight class. The quality of the food and the creative twists in the preps are noteworthy--and the prices are reasonable in my estimation. We sampled some apps (don't pass on the jalapeño hush puppies!), an excellent baked oyster sampler, a main, and a dessert. Everything was delicious and on-point, and our server, YaYa, was super kind and fun to talk with. Highly recommended! read more

The food was great, excellent price for the portions and amazing flavors as well. The bartender Amanda was super friendly and hospitable. I will definitely return here next time I am in town! read more

Wintzell's Oyster House - Seafood Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

We got a recommendation to come here and whew am I glad we did! There is plenty of seating in the restaurant and I loved all the signs they had on the wall. Even though it was busy our server made sure to check in on us and answer all of our questions. We started off the the oysters and they were delicious, we got the beinvue. The sauce was perfect! Each of us loved our entrees. I got the shrimp and grits since I've been craving it and they didn't skimp on the shrimp at all. Definitely worth it to check out if you're in town! read more

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Rachael was a fantastic waitress. Strongly suggest the oyster platter, the shrimp n grits and the fried j.o platter. Drinks were good also and everything was reasonably priced. Now back to the oysters... fav was the charbroiled. Omg. Great place to go and fun atmosphere read more

Walking into this place felt like stepping into a time capsule decorated by someone who never met a "quirky wall sign" they didn't love. Some might call it charming. I call it a visual headache. Service? Pretty solid. Food? A culinary crime scene. The bread was the only thing worth eating, and trust me--I clung to that basket like it was a life raft. My shrimp and grits? Picture rubber erasers tossed onto a pile of lumpy, bland paste. I managed a few bites before my taste buds staged a protest. My husband's oyster platter was even worse: four styles, one result--dry, overcooked oysters that deserved a much kinder fate. The Rockefellers were so bad they should've been served with a warning label. Final verdict: this place is where good seafood goes to die. Don't waste your time, your money, or your appetite. BTDTNA (Been there done that never again) read more

Food was amazing. Every dish we got was delicious. Highly recommend the Cajun Seafood pasta and Gumbo soup. Other items we loved were the chargrilled oysters and raw oysters. Staff was incredibly friendly and our server was the sweetest. read more

Recommendations App Fried Green Tomatoes Yes get the Gumbo, I repeat get the Gumbo!!! Entreé Redfish Bienville Server was Ally, Very Attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. We sat by the window in the corner, great spot to people watch. read more

This place is amazing! The oyster sampler is the most satisfying meal! My daughter and I were going on a cruise out of Mobile, AL the night before our cruise we come in and try to find a good place to eat so we looked up Wintzell's oyster house and reading the reviews decided to try it out and it was more than we expected! The oyster sampler was very gratifying! read more

Was not truly super impressed!! Oysters were the best thing . So if you like oysters I give them a 4/5 . Drinks were just ok and other food was just ok. Nothing was bad just not fantastic. Cute place !! Very busy but not worth all the hype to me . read more

Wintzell's Oyster House - Seafood Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

Pretty good food. Had a group of 40 people. Service was ok. Mixed up a few orders but overall the team had a good time.

The manager is horrible. We waited 1-1/2 hours for our food. Never got our appetizers. After I went to hostess, two of us got our meal that we were splitting. The rice was overcooked and I took two bites of mine. My husband told the waitress. We just said we were leaving and the other couple told them to cancel their meal. The manager said we had to pay for our meals. The waitress tried to tell her we split a meal because manager said we had two plates. She insisted we pay and called the police. She also called her boss and I told that person. What happened. The manager moved away and would not tell me what the boss said. My husband tried to get managers name and she started with the f bomb. My husband asked where our meal was because we wanted proof if the police came and she said it was gone.I gave the waitress $30 because I had had enough and was tired of waiting for police for 25 minutes. We will never go back there. I don't know why two bites constituted that we ate our meal and had to pay read more

It had been at least ten years since I'd set foot in Wintzell's downtown location. But returning recently was like walking back in time, for everything was exactly as I'd remembered it. Wintzell's is a comfortable spot to drink and fine, certainly not fancy by any means. I took a familiar perch at the bar and received immediate service. Again, just as I recalled, the staff was on top of their game throughout the evening, keeping me well stocked with food and beer without hovering over me. The raw oysters may have actually been better than I remembered! These had a saltier brine that I usually find present on the Gulf shore, and all were meaty and clean. The shucker had also done their job well. It was too hot to eat anything heavy, so I followed up the half-shell contingent with a fried oyster salad. The oysters themselves were again delicious, and the salad's greens weren't bad, but the dish seemed to be missing something to make it truly special. And that's the only thing I found lacking during my visit. Not everyone is fond of visiting downtown Mobile at night. I get it. But this place is a treasure that shouldn't be overlooked. read more

Wintzell's Oyster House - Modelo by the bar. - Seafood Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

A main staple of Downtown Mobile, Wintzell's is the place that everyone from in and out of town find for local seafood. Place is decorated just like any chain crab shack, but is well maintained and clean. Service is on top of their game and seat you fast, have drinks out quick, and food on the table with ease. Prices are decent and the food is delicious. Place was regularly packed and the menu allows for a variety of palates to find sustenance. A+ and would highly recommend! read more

This place is still my go-to spot for oysters when I'm back home. I always request Kasondra because she is the absolute best. Please go visit Wintzells and ask for Kasondra! :) This is and will always be my favorite oyster bar. My favorite is the raw, but I've had them all. Took mom and my friend here for lunch, and we enjoyed it. We had raw and chargrilled oysters, fried green tomatoes, gumbo,and grilled salmon. Our server was AMAZING! If you ever visit, please ask for Kasondra. She will make your experience here worth it. She takes pride in her job and makes her guests happy. She's the reason I have a new level of respect for servers. She keeps a smile on her face always. I highly recommend this location. See you all next time. read more

We stopped by on our way from New Orleans and enjoyed a quick snack consisting of wild caught oysters, grits, and gumbo. All three were very good, as was the service, which was quick, friendly, and attentive.. My only complaint is that the booths were terribly uncomfortable and the women's restroom was nasty. read more

Wintzell's Oyster House - Seafood Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

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I just want to say thank you to the original oyster House on dauphin street. I popped in for a quick snack at a gift card and was warmly greeted immediately by Kim. But prior to that Dee had the most amazing customer service over the telephone and had exactly what I needed ready when I walked through the door. As I stood considering other options, CassSandra warmly made sure I had been help and asked if I needed anything else. Then she offered me something to drink as I waited pondering about my next move. Cassandra also gave me a little tour of the restaurant in case I needed to do anything else before I left. Customer service is not as great as it used to be. So I am very appreciative when I get warm hospitality. Cassandra, Dee, and district manager, you all rock! read more

Just an old Mobile favorite that never disappoints. Took some out of town guests here recently and one said she wasn't a big fan of seafood (now she was from Philly) but she couldn't stop eating the fried crab claws and even ordered a fried fish basket for her entire. She said Wintzell's southern fried seafood had changed her opinion about seafood! And our server was absolutely the best!!! read more

This place is mainstay of Mobile's seafood and tourism community. BUT you need to invest in your restaurant. The floor moves when you walk. I could feel the bounce every time someone walked by. I thought the floor might collapse beneath me. The food was mediocre at best. I had the catfish dinner which was really farm raised catfish nuggets...not what I expected. We also had half and half with fish (frozen tasteless swai fillet) and scallops. And another half and half with shrimp and oysters. Shrimp ok oysters over cooked. Beautiful batter made everything look delicious but was disappointing. The waitress was excellent. Wintzell's do better please you're turning into a run down tourist trap. read more