Allen Hastings Named Restaurant Manager of the Year

Allen Hastings Named Restaurant Manager of the Year
Allen Hastings, general manager of the Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores has won the 2016 Restaurant Manager of the Year Award presented by the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance. Hastings began his career in hospitality washing dishes as a teenager at the Original Oyster House in 1991 but quickly moved up the ladder to cook, shift leader and then into management. He has held management positions in both Gulf Shores and Mobile locations and has been an important part of the company growth over several decades. As the general manager of the Gulf Shores location, Hastings oversees all aspects of the restaurant operation and serves over 2,000 guests daily during the season. He is a dedicated family man who loves deep sea fishing and camping.
Hastings found early in his career that working at the Original Oyster House is a great fit because he loves to cook, loves to mentor others and especially loves service work. Hastings’ excellence in customer service has helped brand the Original Oyster House as one of the top referral restaurants for vacationers. He lives the Original Oyster House mission of exceeding customer expectations. “We are all in the ministry of service,” said Hastings.
Back in 2000, Allen was baptized at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Fairhope and met Deacon O’Brian. Although at the time Allen was hesitant to be involved, Deacon O’Brian convinced him to administer to the sick. Six months into his volunteerism visiting the sick, Deacon O’Brian suddenly passed away. The impact of their relationship changed Allen’s life and what started as a burden became a blessing. He has been visiting the sick weekly ever since and cherishes the opportunity to pray and talk to the sick. He also became a Life Teen volunteer about 6 years ago, working with the youth of St. Lawrence. Hastings is always the first to offer help and regularly shows up at fundraisers to cook for crowds. Hastings attributes his career, his spiritual growth and his love of service to his mentors Mary Lou and Joe Roszkowski, co-own