Announcing our new wine shop, Plein Air La Cave! Tastings to come!
For online ordering, please use Ritual (in-store pickup) or Grubhub (in-store pickup and delivery).
Nestled in the University of Chicago Hyde Park campus next door to the historic Robie House, Plein Air is a partnership between Soo Choi and Kevin Heisner (Heisler Hospitality). A French expression meaning “in the open air” that describes the act of painting outdoors, Plein Air is a French atelier-inspired café and eatery seeking to provide a warm, serene environment where guests can savor coffee, food, and design.
Offering coffee executed with care, whether it be drip, pour over, or a classic espresso, the café and eatery will feature a select list of artisanal roasters, changing beans seasonally.
The menu, a collaboration with Art Jackson (Pleasant Farms, Pleasant Pies), will showcase simple, comforting dishes with European-inflected twists that can be enjoyed all day long.
Phone
(773) 966-7531
Location
5751 S Woodlawn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
Hours
Mon-Fri :: 7am-8pm
Sat-Sun :: 8am–6pm
Please click on the categories below for all menus. Thank you!
BREAKFAST
Served 8am-12pm*
*Weekends until 2pm
$11.50
Plein Continental Breakfast
biscuit, cured ham, hard boiled egg, rich butter & house made seasonal jam
$11.50
$10.95
Breakfast Croissant Sandwich
with egg, smoked cheddar & home fries
$10.95
$11.95
House Made Biscuit Sandwich
with egg, manchego cheese, smoked bacon & home fries
$11.95
$11.95
Plein Omelet
with mushroom, spinach, cherry tomato, scallion, gruyere & home fries
$11.95
$11.95
Two Eggs Any Style
with veggie sausage, beeler's sausage, veggie sausage or bacon, sourdough toast + jam & home fries
$11.95
with seasonal jam, (maple syrup extra $1.00)
Mascarpone Stuffed Brioche French Toast
with seasonal jam, (maple syrup extra $1.00)
$9.95
$9.95
$13.75
Veggie Burrito
with scrambled eggs, sauteed spinach, grilled onion, avocado, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, salsa verde crema & side of home fries
$13.75
$14.50
Chorizo Burrito
with scrambled eggs, chorizo, grilled onion, avocado, chihuahua cheese, pico de gallo, salsa verde crema & side of home fries
$14.50
$8.95
Quiche of the Day
with side salad
$8.95
$8.50
Bowl of Steel Cut Oats
with dried fruit, nuts & steamed milk
$8.50
$9.95
House Made Granola & Greek Yogurt
with seasonal fruit
$9.95
(weekend only)
Spinach Royal Pie
with farm egg & cheddar with side salad
(weekend only)
$10.75
$10.75
$10.95
Plein Pancakes
Buttermilk with seasonal fruit
$10.95
$3.75
Thick Cut of Sourdough Toast
with honey & butter
$3.75
$5.75
with almond butter
$5.75
$3.75
Beeler's Hickory Smoked Bacon
two pieces
$3.75
$4.50
Beeler's Breakfast Sausage Links
$4.50
$3.95
Veggie Sausage
two pieces
$3.95
Served 11am-8pm
SALADS, SANDWICHES & BAGUETTES
$14.95
NEW! Vegan Chicken Baguette
Avocado, pesto, lettuce, tomato, pickled onion, mayo
$14.95
$11.95
Chef Salad
with romaine, apple, celery, carrots, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, walnuts, blue cheese & buttermilk dressing
$11.95
$11.95
Kale & Romaine Salad
with quinoa, goat cheese, pepitas & charmoula vinaigrette
$11.95
$11.95
Tomato Avocado Salad
with arugula, cucumber, queso fresco & cilantro-lime vinaigrette
$11.95
$8.95
Ham & Swiss Baguette
with grainy mustard
$8.95
$10.50
Prosciutto & Manchego Baguette
house made fig jam
$10.50
$10.50
Goat Cheese & Sweet Pepper Baguette
with smoked paprika & arugula
$10.50
$10.50
Smoked Turkey Sandwich
with brie, plum aioli, pickled red onion and arugula on sourdough
$10.50
$11.25
Tuna Salad Sandwich
with arugula, red bell pepper, red onion, celery and basil aioli on sourdough
$11.25
$10.95
Brioche Grilled Cheese
with manchego cheese, piquillo pepper and caramelized onions on brioche
$10.95
$12.50
Roasted Chicken Poblano
with manchego cheese, poblano onion crema and arugula on baguette
$12.50
$14.50
Chipotle Chicken Club
with manchego cheese, lettuce, bacon, tomato and chipotle mayo on baguette
$14.50
$11.95
Vegetarian Chipotle Club
with avocado, manchego cheese, lettuce, tomato and chipotle mayo on baguette
$11.95
$12.95
Mushroom & Kale Pie
assorted mushrooms, kale, scallions, white wine & parmesan with side salad
$12.95
Bowl $5.95
Soup Du Jour
Bowl $5.95
TARTINES & PLEIN BOWLS
Served 11am-3pm
choice of quinoa or butter rice
Plein Grain Bowl (Vegan friendly)
with roasted root vegetables, arugula, spinach pesto & pepitas
choice of quinoa or butter rice
$12.50
$12.50
choice of quinoa or butter rice
Jalapeno Chicken Bowl
with grilled chicken, tomatillo, cilantro & jalapeno salsa
choice of quinoa or butter rice
$14.50
$14.50
choice of quinoa or butter rice
Al Pastor Bowl
with grilled pork, pineapple, grilled onion, guajillo pepper, cilantro & salsa roja
choice of quinoa or butter rice
$14.50
$14.50
$12.50
Roasted Root Vegetables Tartine (Vegan)
with spinach pesto, kale, avocado & pepitas served open-faced on sourdough
$12.50
$14.50
Savory Meatloaf Tartine
with mashed potatoes, mushrooms, and marsala gravy with watercress
$14.50
Plein Air La Cave
PLEIN AIR LA CAVE: WINE AND BEER TO GO
Sparkling
$85
Georges Laval ’16 Extra Brut Garennes, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Champagne, FR
Rich, ample and inviting, with all the textural intensity that is the signature of Laval. Expect a rich, boisterous wine with dried pear, hazelnut, and crushed flowers. This wine is rare and of thought of as one of the world’s best champagnes by those in the know.
$85
Charpentier, Terre D’Emotion, Blanc de Blanc, Chardonnay, Marne Valley, Champagne, FR
Meticulous biodynamic growing practices yield the best fruit. This cuvee is made entirely of Chardonnay grown on limestone, clay, marl and sand. The new vintage is blended with 15 to 20% reserve wine aged in, either Meursault or Champagne barrels. Fine, creamy bubbles. A delicate and enticing nose, hints of citrus fruit followed by meringue and fresh butter, hallmarks of its specific terroir. Rich, mineral and silky on the palate. The finish is fresh, underscored by salty, herb deliciousness. One of the most quaffable and digestible champagnes we’ve ever had.
Pierre Moncuit 2006 Grand Cru Millesime, Chardonnay Cote des Blancs, Champagne, FR
100 percent Grand Cru fruit aged to perfections. A rare and sumptuous treat, with distinctive aromas of yeast, parmesan, citrus and pome fruit. Rich, complex and completely satisfying. This will make even the most pretentious connoisseur bend a knee.
. 375ML
Pierre Moncuit, Grand Cru, Chardonnay Cote des Blancs, Champagne, FR
Sometimes the best things come in small bottles. Moncuit’s non-vintage Cuvee is typically rich, powerful, and crisp, displaying notes of chalk dust, white peaches, subtle bees honey, brioche, and yellow plums. Medium-bodied with gorgeous persistent effervescence, and a dry, laser-like finish.
. 375ML
Roger Coulon, NV 'Grande Tradition Heri Hodie' 1er Cru, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Reims, FR
Coulon crafts beautifully expressive Champagnes. One of the distinctive attributes of these wines is the significant presence of Pinot Meunier in the cuvées. Aging in oak brings added texture without being dominant or overpowering. Grande tradition is 90% Meunier, from Premier Cru sites, with the addition of 10% Chardonnay. It pours a bright straw hue and is savory with aromatics of red cherry fruit, saline, and fresh flowers. Full-bodied, it has wonderful intensity and a fresh lift of salty earth on the long persistent finish, with a note of orange zest, a lively mousse, and a rounded mouthfeel with nice purity of black fruit.
Vin Des Potes X Brand Bros 2022 "Flat Nat" Pet Nat, Riesling, Bockenheim, GER
Collaboration between Vin des Potes and Brand Bros wineries, who produce natural wines in Bockenheim, Germany, with precision and respect for their land. "Flat Nat" is a "Pet Nat" bottled slightly late! The grapes were hand-picked and fermented with natural yeasts in stainless steel vats.
Jousset - Exile Rose Pet-Nat, Gamay Loire FR 2020
A Pét-Nat made from 40-year-old Gamay vines planted in clay and chalk soils. Luscious palate with lively, red-berried flavors. Fermentation was started in older, large barrels and then finished in bottle. Lise and Bertrand Jousset moved to the Loire in 2003 seeking the freedom and reasonable cost of land that Touraine afforded to aspiring vignerons.
$15
Santomè, NV, Prosecco Rose, Glera, Pinot Nero, Veneto, IT
Prosecco in its Rosè form, where the freshness and aroma of Prosecco meets the elegance of Pinot Noir.
$15
Aromas are intense and fresh. Strawberry and raspberry follow with delicate hint of rose and hawthorn flowers. Its pleasant, aromatic, fresh, smooth-flowing. Well- balanced, with a dry, sapid and persistent
finish.
$8
Le Colture Fagher, NV, Prosseco Superiore Brut, Veneto, IT
Crisp and focused, this Prosecco lights up the glass with notes of honey-crisp apple, white flowers and crushed stone. The vibrant palate emulates the nose with a touch more flint on the zippy finish.
$8
$17
Enguera, Brut Cava, Macabeo, Chardonnay Valencia, SP
This organic Cava is mega fresh. The two grapes in this blend Macabeo and Chardonnay, were harvested earlier than usual, and then made into this sparkling wine using the traditional Champagne method. The end result? A savory wine with toasted biscuit aromas a creamy texture, and a green apple and grapefruit zing finishing with a chalky pull on your cheeks. Bone dry, delicious, and easy.
$17
Rose / Skin Contact / Orange
Stefanago, 2021 Macerato, Pinot Grigio, Lombardy IT
This wine is made from 30 year old vines, planted on clay soils. Grapes spend one week macerating in stainless steel tanks, followed by spontaneous fermentation with ambient yeasts. The wine spends six months on the lees while aging for that time. Textural and great with food.
$36
Ruth Lewandowski ’19 Chilion Skin Contact, Cortes, Mendocino, CA
Ruth Lewandowski’s Chilion skin contact is an orange wine made from 100% Cortes grapes from Fox Hill Vineyard. Over 6 months of maceration on skins for a wine that shows amplified spice, herbs, and phenols. He only makes so much each year. Get it while it lasts.
$36
Robert Sinskey, 2022, Rose Vin Gris of Pinot noir, Carneros, CA
A rosé for all seasons - this organically farmed, whole cluster pressed Vin Gris of Pinot Noir deserves attention year ‘round. The glimmering salmon color provides a clue that this wine is a pure, vibrant, and well crafted. Bright, spring strawberry leads into summer raspberry, guava and peach, contrasted by notes of juicy winter citrus like orange and Meyer lemon. High tone rose petal and lavender add to the allure.
Idlewild, 2022 Flora & Fauna Rose, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, Mendocino, CA
Co-fermented blend of 41% Nebbiolo, 30% Dolcetto, and 29% Barbera and a touch of Grignolino. While the wine is designated as Mendocino County, the fruit largely comes from Fox Hill Vineyard. A bright, fresh and savory blended rosé with citrus, alpine herbs and salinity. Wine has enough structure to pair with food and a crunchy minerality to add interest. Excellent for a late afternoon lunch ☺
Scribe, 2022, “White pressed” Pinot Noir, Sonoma, CA
“White Pressed Pinot Noir was inspired by vin clair, the still white wine before the secondary bottle fermentation of Champagne. We extract only the first two-thirds of the juice normally pressed from the fruit, capturing neither color nor tannins from the red Pinot Noir skins. The result is a pure, energetic, and highly drinkable wine that conveys a sense of place and is true to the deeply expressive Pinot Noir varietal. “ Top quality Cali rose.
Gaintza 2022 Rose, Hondarrabi Beltza Txakoli, SPN
Tucked away on the banks of the Cantabrian Sea, just west of San Sebastián sits the small yet fierce Getariako Txakolina DO. The Gaintza winery was founded in 1923 and continues to make stunning wine. This rose is clean and bright with medium intensity. Red fruit aromas with fresh intense notes of wild strawberry, cranberry and cherry. Finishes salty and clean, begging for another sip.
White
Brisa Sauve 2022, Vinho Verde, Loureiro, Arinto, Trajadura, Minho, POL
An estate wine that will soon have organic certification. Beautiful mix of melon, citrus, stone fruit, and slightly effervescent. This wine somehow always ends up in our fridge. It’s our go to bottle for every party, late afternoon glass and what we drink when we can’t decide what else to drink.
Ariane & Co, 2022, ‘Ithy Bole’ Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Loire, FR
100% Chenin from a tiny parcel on the Montrieux estate. Always miniscule quantities and always delicious. Deep Chenin-iness, with waxy honied texture, citrus, melon rind, crisp stone fruit. Rich, yet epically quaffable. True expression of Loire Chenin…….
Bernard Boudry 2020, Chenin Blanc, Loire, FR
Baudry is unquestionably one of Chinon’s most outstanding producers. They consistently make delicious wines, vintage after vintage. The winery focuses their production on Chinon Rouge, five fine cuvées of Cabernet Franc, but also make an excellent Chenin Blanc / Chinon Blanc. Its a perfect example, pale yellow, with citrus and quince, also a nuttiness and a stony earthiness, like the smell of hot stones just after a summer rain, to balance the fruit.
Knauss, 2022 Riesling Trocken, Wurttemberg, GER
Organic, no added sulphur, zippy, fresh, dry, lovely aromatics, classic yet just a bit funky. Balanced acidity with a fresh lime twist. This Riesling has hints of pepper, ripe fresh apple and winter spice on the finish. A wine which bounces effortlessly between easy, uncomplicated quaffability and classic Riesling aromatics and complexity. Killer by itself, but absolutely sings at the table.
Dupasquier, 2022, Jacquere, Savoie, FR
Dupasquier is located in a southwestern Savoie. The vines benefit from steep, sun-drenched slopes, primarily limestone soil, and the cooling effects of Lake Bourget. They believe that biodiversity is critical for the quality of their wines. This is a light, delicate, bright and absolutely delicious Jacquere, with plenty of mineral zing and crisp acidity.
Paul Blanck, 2020, pinot blanc, Alsace, FR
Domaine Paul Blanck is a superb, quality-driven house, focusing on classics and using only organic methods. This Pinot Blanc is complex and delicious. It shows notes of apricot, brioche and a touch of fresh lemon, with pleasant acidity, honeysuckle and minerals. We love it.
Pepiere, 2022, Muscadet Sur Lie, Melon de Bourgogne, Loire, FR
Muscadet is one of the rare regions where you can still find (and pay reasonable prices for) the best wines from the best producers. And Domaine de la Pépière is easily one of (if not the) best Muscadet producer. La Pepié (100% Melon de Bourgogne) is fresh and crisp, with lovely mineral notes and flavors of orchard fruit and sea salt. It's a blend of many different parcels and is farmed organically.
Ant Moore 2023 Estate Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough NZ
Finally, a New Zealand SB, made with native yeast and organic fruit. A well rounded white, displaying intense lemon flavors with hints of lime. While the nose is subtle, this wine has a great richness, palate length and weight that provides huge flavor intensity on the finish. A drier style, classic Ant Moore style Sauvignon Blanc.
Red
Pierre Andre 2019, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, FR
Some consider Domaine Pierre André to be one of the greatest estates in Châteuneuf-du-Pape. Organic since 1980 and Biodynamic since 1992. This wine is a complex blend of Grenache Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Vaccarèse, Counoise, Muscadin and Picpoul. Showing a relatively light red / garnet color with lovely aromas of tart cherry, red currant, rose and viole. Complex fruitiness on the pallet with notes of earth, minerals and silky fresh tannins. It will age extremely well, but is ready to drink today.
Marino Abate, 2021 Nero D Avola Lapa
Clos Bateau, La pave 2020, Gamey, Cote De Brouilly, Beaujolais, FR
Scribe ’21 Nouveau, Pinot Noir, Carneros, CA
Taking inspiration from the fresh and lively nouveau wines of Beaujolais, the Scribe Nouveau of Pinot Noir is the first glimpse into the vintage and a celebration of the harvest. After a 100% carbonic fermentation with native yeast, bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without added sulfites. This process produces a lively, juicy wine that’s meant to be enjoyed right away. We look forward to this wine very year and always keep a couple bottles to taste in the new year.
Clos Bateau, La pave 2020, Gamey, Cote De Brouilly, Beaujolais, FR
Biodynamic, organic, unfined/unfiltered, no sulfites. Two new kids on the block are making thoughtful, sustainably farmed Brouilly - bringing sunny and loving care to one of the darker styles of Beaujolais. Tastes like a fistful of currants, blackberries and rocks wrapped up in a swath of velvet.
Carleone 2021, Chianti Classico, Sangiovese, Tuscany, IT
Thirty years ago, world-traveler Sean O’Callahan handed in his thesis at a German winemaking school. Landed in Chianti and never looked back. Using organic and biodynamic practices, sean’s vision for Sangiovese is a balance between structure and fruit. This wine is incredibly complex and pure, with red fruit on the nose and palate, with notes of red cherry and strawberry. Nice grip with finely textured tannins for excellent drinkability. Best value in Italy?
Limited Addition, 2021 Old Vine Cabernet Franc, Eola-Amity, OR
Bree and Chad stock are masters of their craft. These two rockstar wine makers, hold multiple vinification degrees, a master of wine, years of vintages and countless innovations, all centered around ethical production. The dusty blue fruit of this wine speaks of untamed blueberry and black currants and the tannins are fine cedar-etched and dusted with fine tobacco. This wine is delicious now, but can most definitely age.
Marcel Lapierre 2022, Morgon, Gamay, Beaujolais, FR
All of Marcel’s vines are located on the Morgon terroir. It is undoubtedly one of the most famous Beaujolais crus! Iconic and absolutely delicious, these wines are always a safe bet. The bottle is structured and lovely, cherries, concord grape and plums abound along with a firm structure, licorice, mineral and taut acidity.
complex aroma, lovely florals, creamy notes and wild fruit. Subtle hints of toasted spice, balanced structure and long yummy aftertaste.
Paras Balta, 2021, Indigena, Garnacha, Penedes, SP
This is a true multi-generational winery. Founded in 1790, Paras Balta is a full-on biodynamic, fairyland, owned and operated by some of the kindest people we’ve ever met. Indigena is 100% made from the Garnacha variety, with
complex aroma, lovely florals, creamy notes and wild fruit. Subtle hints of toasted spice, balanced structure and long yummy aftertaste.
Division Villages, 2022 Béton, Red Blend, Willamette, OR
One of the hippest wine producers in Oregon, Division draws inspiration from Loire, Burgundy, and Beaujolais to make cool-climate clones that are more approachable, Biodynamic, and produced with minimal intervention—so you can truly taste the earth in which they were made. Beton, inspired by the classic bistro wines of Paris, is an easy going blend full of raspberry, red berries, violets, and some minerality. Here is to yumminess for any occasion, and deliciousness for one and all!
Santamaria, 2020 Tranoi VDF Rouge , Grenache Noir, Sangiovese, Corsica, FR
Six generations of the Santamaria family have maintained this Corsican estate. They maintain strict organic farming principles and follow the lunar cycle for all vineyard work. “Tranoi” Vin de Pays de L’Île de Beautée Rouge: A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Niellucciu raised in tank. Fresh and lively. A true expression of the island.
Stolpman ‘20 Love You Bunches, Carbonic Sangiovese Ballard Canyon, CA
Fully biodynamic, family owned and operated, Stolpman winery is a bullet proof central coast winery we just love. “Love you bunches”, best served cold, is immediate approachable. Fresh red berry fruit and cherries that we all adore gives way to lychee and pomegranate. Such a crushable wine.
Kewin Descombes, ’19 Cuvée Kéké Gamay, Beaujolais, FR
From 50-year-old vines, this undergoes semi-carbonic maceration and is aged in old wood for five months. It has a confected red fruit aroma with a rice pudding richness. In the mouth it has soft red fruits joined by a sweet, slightly funky note of apple and cinnamon. WE LOVE THIS. Fun but also a little serious.
Les Lunes ‘16 Coplan Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot, Carneros CA
Love this quote: “At Les Lunes we do very little in the cellar because we spend time in our vineyards. Our goal year in and year out is to bring you a unique taste of the distinct times and places. The care that we bring through the entire winegrowing process shines through into the final product.” The 2016 Coplan is a straight up old school CA delight, meaning bright fruit, layered spice, a hint of earthiness and acid to pull everything through. Drink now but be sure to lay down a bottle or two in your cellar.
Barcacan '18 Valtellina Rosso, Nebbiolo, Lombary IT
Barbacàn is Angelo Sega and his sons Luca and Matteo. They grow and collect Nebbiolo, from their 3 hectares of vineyards in San Giacomo di Teglio in Valtellina on the border of Switzerland in the Italian Alps. Steep terraced vineyards 450+ meters above sea level that involve tremendous amounts of hard, back-breaking work to obtain and maintain, 'heroic viticulture' as the Italians call it. A light crunchy Nebbiolo from Valtellina in the hills of Lombardy. Bright red cherries, high acid, fine tannin and hints of spice. Such a pleasure to drink.
Giuseppe Mascarello, ’18 Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont, IT
The Giuseppe Mascarello estate has a long and illustrious history in Piemont, and it is unequivocally one of the greatest Barolo producers. This traditionally-styled winery's origins date back to the mid-1800s, when Giuseppe Mascarello made a name for himself managing the vineyards of other landowners. This Langhe Nebbiolo shows the same attention to detail and respect for the terroir. Deeper layers of blueberry, spice and violets. Stunning!
*los monteros cava 9
WINE AND BEER BY THE GLASS
*cocoricot red (malbec) 12
*santome rose Prosecco 11
*ant moore (sauvignon blanc) 12
*cocoricot red (malbec) 12
*sangria 10
Cocktails
*misoo spritz 9
*sangria 10
*mimosa 10
SPECIALS
side salad
Quesadillas (11am-close)
Mixed vegetables, chihuahua cheese,
side salad
7.50
$14.95
Vegan Chicken Baguette (11am-close)
Avocado, pesto, lettuce, tomato, pickled onion, mayo
$14.95
