07-05-2025
Coast restaurant appears closed months after switch away from popular steakhouse
He had such high hopes for the family-style restaurant he opened at Ocean Springs in January, in the building where he owned and operated Kenny Ward's Steakhouse for many years.
Now the building at 224 Bienville Blvd. has 'for lease' on the sign, his Facebook page was taken down and Kenny Ward's dream seems to have faded. His 38 Degrees restaurant appears closed five months after opening.
Ward wasn't available for comment Tuesday afternoon, but he talked a lot about his dream restaurant in late 2024.
'I always wanted to do this concept,' he said after he closed the steakhouse and prepared to open 38 Degrees. The new restaurant was named for a process he uses to brine meat to make it more flavorful.
Prime beef prices were part of his decision, he said, but Ward had been refining recipes and 'practicing' for eight years for his new place.
It was now or never, he said.
Pictured is one of the dining areas at 38 Degrees Family Style Dining in Ocean Springs on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
Ocean Springs has more than 100 restaurants and competition is tough. His restaurant was something different, kind of old fashioned and what people claimed they wanted, he said.
It was all-you-can-eat, but more like grandma's table than a buffet. Pick from among seven varieties of meat or seafood, such as his fried catfish and chicken fried ribeye. Your choice of sides were brought to the table in refillable bowls.
The southern fried chicken and grilled shrimp spread is pictured at 38 Degrees Family Dining in Ocean Springs.
On opening day in January, the crowd was very large, he said, and most people posted positive comments on social media.
Before they tried 38 Degrees, many people who saw the new name posted outside Kenny Ward's fine-dining restaurant declared him crazy for switching his successful steakhouse to family-style dining, he said.
He had envisioned a brisk take-out service, with meals packaged to stack and take home for the nights 'Mama's not cooking and neither is Daddy,' was his concept.
A screenshot of the 38 Degrees listing on Google says the Ocean Springs restaurant is permanently closed.
Ward had years of experience in the restaurant and food industry, learning to cook at White Pillars in Biloxi while he was in high school.
He was the chief operating officer of Dairy Queen, he said, a vice president of Pepsi and opened Taco Bells across the area.
He operated his steakhouse for about 20 years in Ocean Springs, first on Government Street and later on Bienville Boulevard.
