Remember Montana’s barbecue? Chef used his mama’s recipes at South MS restaurants
Ken Montana operated popular restaurants in South Mississippi for years and even participated in a food delivery service long before Door Dash and Uber Eats.
People post on Facebook how they miss The Homestead and Montana’s restaurant, which they recall for plentiful Southern dishes and affordable prices.
Montana had a restaurant where Sam’s Club now stands near I-10 in Gulfport. He moved out in 1992 to a new location and John Aust opened the Homestead and eventually another Homestead on Pass Road in Biloxi.
Manager Harry King told the Sun Herald the Biloxi Homestead opened in September 1999, while The Homestead on Old 39 in Gulfport was around since December 1992.
“All the kitchen staff is local, and we do our best to make each dish special,” he said.
Rave reviews for Montana’s
Montana’s Bar-B-Q Seafood & Steak Restaurant moved to Airport Road in Gulfport. People who ate at his restaurants, raved about the experience.
“I was stationed in Biloxi for a year in the late ‘80s and this place was known as the best in the state by all the locals,” one person said in a Yelp review of Montana’s.. “Big wooden barrels filled with mud bugs, corn on the cob, the guy carving the beef asked you how big a slice you wanted by a show of fingers. Barrels of shrimp that you served yourself with a large scoop. I don’t remember how much they charged but it wasn’t near enough,” the person commented.
Another person who lived on the Coast commented: “When I used to live in Biloxi during my high school years, this was THE BBQ buffet to hit and take people to. With a great variety, all the fried southern favorites, down home classics, savory sauces, and of course, enough meat and flavor to have to loosen a few notches on the belt (or just loosen the belt).”
Montana’s catered to families, professionals and hungry construction workers, the person said.
People were equally loyal to The Homestead, the salad bar and its Southern fare and hospitality. “We loved going to Homestead. They recognized us when we walked in the door,” one person commented.
His training and mom’s recipes made the food good
Montana died in 2022, but memories of his restaurants carry on.
He studied cooking at Cornell University School of Food and Beverage Management in New York, and served in the US Marine Corps. After retiring from the restaurant business, he served on the Harrison County Tourism Commission.
Montana was influenced by his mother, Audrey, who was raised on a dairy farm in Poplarville during the Great Depression.
“Her family churned their own butter and grew sugarcane to make syrups,” according to an article in the Sun Herald when she died in 2013.
“The homemade gumbo, vegetables, rice dishes and cobbler recipes that were a part of Audrey Montana’s raising would later show up in Ken Montana’s restaurants starting in 1988,” the article said. Montana’s Barbeque, Smokehouse Ribs, Seafood and Steak Restaurant opened at four locations: Gulfport, Meridian, Lake Charles, Louisiana and Pensacola.
“My mother was right there with us in the kitchen when we started, working 18-hour days making salads and vegetables,” her son said.
Food to go
In 1996, Montana was one of eight restaurant owners who joined a Coast delivery service, “It’s Your Choice.”
The average delivery charge was $3.50 and a driver would pick up barbecue or other meals and deliver them to a home, office or hotel room.
Montana said the delivery service didn’t increase his sales cut, but was still good for business.
“I’ve noticed that some of our carry-out service has dropped off and people are choosing home delivery instead,” Montana said. “It’s a convenience to our customers.”
This story was originally published February 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
