PLUM CITY — Dave Kerr, now the chef at Nettie’s Volta, has had a long journey with lots of steps along the way, circling all the way back to where it all started.

His Sicilian grandmother immigrated to New York and eventually met a man from Ellsworth after the Korean War where they settled. The family found Ellsworth to be a home, as Kerr’s mother grew up there;f eventually he began to go to school in town as well.

It was never a secret that Kerr wanted to get into cooking one day, as his grandmother always inspired him through her home cooked meals.

Kerr graduated high school from Ellsworth, went to California for college and got into finance and banking.

“Just kind of came to the point where I really wanted to not only cook but enjoy the weather and what southern California has to offer,” Kerr said.

Kerr began cooking for charter vessels including fishing and whale watching vessels, traveling the coast. The experience was crucial for him in the meal planning department, as options are limited when cooking on a boat.

Seafood was a focus of what Kerr cooked at sea, as there is certainly no shortage of it in the ocean.

“Growing up with a Sicilian grandmother as well, we always had a lot of seafood in the diet,” Kerr said.

About eight years ago, Kerr returned to the area with the intention of starting a business. In November 2023, his dream came true, opening Nettie’s Volta in Plum City.

The name holds a lot of significance to Kerr, as it is a tribute to his late grandmother Nettie.

“That’s where I learned and I definitely want to thank her for that,” Kerr said.

Volta has a dual meaning, with the first meaning being vault in Italian. The restaurant is located in a former bank building that features a vault door. He said in Sicilian dialect, it often means a turn or transition, and he felt that was another fitting meaning for their story.

Nettie’s Volta has a focus on Mediterranean food and seafood, but also often has steaks, pastas and more. The menu is a rotating one, giving a different experience every time.

The rotation allows them to always use the ingredients they believe are the best, as there is no pressure to have menu items ready even if the produce required is not in its best condition.

Over the first year of operation, Kerr found many customers enjoyed set course menus. The feedback was crucial for Nettie’s Volta, which now does six or seven course meals that are set into place going into the night. This change allowed for wine pairings to go along with the courses.

“The majority of the guests came in and said no, we’re here for that experience,” Kerr said. “That’s kind of what they were asking for, so yeah, we’ve shifted to that style of menu.”

Nettie’s Volta is located at 401 Main St. in Plum City and reservations can be made at 715-523-3604.

“The menu is unique,” Kerr said. “I really do believe that it’s different than any place in the area.”