There will be lots of opinions on this one , I bet .
Since you mention open-grained wood (stained only) , I'll say that most polishes that are O.K. for 'bare wood' will work , typically citrus oil based (lemon/orange) .... many have liquified beeswax & other stuff in them too .
The problem with open grain is that the polish will tend to 'fill' the grain over time & actually "gunk" it up .
Dirt & dust will adhere to just about every form of wax in the world , and can act as abrasives to finishes & bare wood alike .
There's products that will clean out open-grained woods that have been heavily waxed/polished for years , though .
My favorite for this is Tung oil .... not exactly a high-gloss finish , and it builds over time (I usually apply Tung oil once a year to a couple of cabinets I've kept kickin' around) .
Problem with Tung oil is that it is an actual wood finish , which builds a wonderfully fine patina eventually .
To 'polish' this furniture , I simply give it a quick rubbing-down with a clean old cotton t-shirt (after dusting it first) & it's done .
Since you're using your oak item as your diningroom table , I'd be concerned about watermarks , stains from spills & etc .....(including your Duncan-fire-table son) ...
but what the heck , if you want an 'unfinished' table , you oughtta have one !
