Revamped family-style restaurant in Ocean Springs brings home-style buffets to your table
Kenny Ward has switched his flow after 20 years operating a fine-dining steakhouse.
38 Degrees Family Dining is Ward’s home-cooking replacement and a vision he’s had for many years. Still located on Bienville Boulevard in Ocean Springs, 38 Degrees separates itself from its predecessor with a 7-days-a-week schedule and a food served for both lunch and dinner.
The restaurant was busy on opening night earlier this month and has seen a steady inflow of patrons eager for the buffet-at-your-table experience.
We decided to do the same and see what Ward’s new digs is all about.
Vibe — 2.5 out of 5
38 Degrees lets the food do all the talking here. There’s LED strips under the bars, fish hanging out in a tank and a little mouse man who sits on the piano.
But, otherwise, it’s quiet. And that isn’t a bad thing. It felt a bit like walking into a saloon as an out-of-towner, but it quickly accepts you and your empty stomach.
There are two dining areas, a full service bar and dessert in the glass case. Country music softly winds through the doorway that separates the dining rooms.
The customer service is a core feature and they do a fine explaining the rundown, and there is a rundown.
Food — 5 out of 5
The process here is simple. There’s a menu with five proteins to choose from — chicken-fried ribeye, Gulf fried or grilled shrimp, fried or grilled catfish, Southern-fried chicken and smoked barbecue chicken.
Once you’ve ordered your main course, then come the salad bowls. They’re small samples of iceberg lettuce served in bowls chilled to 38 degrees. The salad is made with apple cider vinegar and olive oil and subtly carves out itself a noticeable moment in your meal.
That is served with biscuits and butter, which also does an impressive job of standing out. The butter is distinct and the biscuit is cloud-like.
Then, finally, the spread arrives. On this occasion: Southern-fried chicken and grilled shrimp. Each meal is served with mashed potatoes and white gravy, sweet cream corn, green beans and white beans. The white beans being a rotational vegetable of the day. It’s a lot.
And what’s more? The sides are refillable for as long as you can handle them. This was great news, because on this night the mashed potatoes disappeared with expedience.
Right away, the shrimp are fantastic. They taste like they were made on the backyard grill to absolute perfection. The chicken is bountiful and cooked just right for light crunch and white meat.
The mashed potatoes and corn were tops on the list of my sides. My wife asked very nicely for an extra helping of biscuits.
Pound for pound, top to bottom, 38 Degrees delivers. We have our first 5 out of 5 of the year.
Value — 4 out of 5
The deal here is straightforward. A meal is $21 per adult. It doesn’t matter how many adults you arrived with, you will leave filled and satisfied. Maybe a little too satisfied.
“You will definitely not leave here hungry, that’s for sure,” opined the server as she walked by our side-splattered table.
If you remember to save some space, there are finishers on the menu. Cobbler comes in apple, cherry and brownie. There’s also banana pudding.
My advice: Dive into that brownie bowl. It’s rich, warm and all-around life changing. And it has ice cream.
Address: 1224 Bienville Blvd. Ocean Springs
Hours: 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
This story was originally published February 1, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
