Scott Miller, Owner
“Not only did I want to build the best bar in Oak Forest,” he says “I wanted to create a place that I would want to come to every day.” Miller, who spent years as the well-respected sommelier at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, is more than a bartender, owner, and host. He is a visionary and devoted Oak Forest resident bent on bringing his brand of experience to the neighborhood.“We have people in flip-flops come sit on the patio and relax but we also have couples on date nights. We’re the neighborhood spot.”
Kala Dunn, Chef
Chef Kala Dunn has led the Plonk! kitchen since 2015. Her inventive menu reflect her passion for creativity, which is rooted equally in her love of food and her background as a creative writer. As a former university professor, her approach to leading a professional kitchen emphasizes education and personal development. From freshly made baked pasta to hand-cut steaks to seasonal specials, Chef Kala’s menu highlights her love of high-quality ingredients and wine-friendly food.
Seasonal dinner menu | Stone oven pizzas | wine
Small plates | Craft beer | Expansive patio
Created by Scott Miller, the former wine director of Pappa’s Steak House, Plonk! is a wine-focused bistro with a seasonal menu, a temperature controlled wine cellar, and a great craft beer selection. Miller is known for his attention to detail; Plonk! wines are cellared in a glass library held at the optimum temperature of 55 degrees. The beers are also treated with love and stored in a specially designed cooler with a frosty holding temperature of 31.8 degrees.
The architecture of the bar also reflects Miller’s mindful diligence. From the soothing granite bar top – once part of an actual riverbed – smoothed by running waters to the stone pizza hearth made in Bellingham, Washington.
Miller’s wine list will always have something for every taste, and promises to help you discover your new favorite if you don’t find what you thought you were looking for.
