About

Barrel Aged Hospitality is a restaurant hospitality company led by the father-son team of Art and Tyler Mendoza. Having opened over a combined 100+ restaurants over the past 25+ years, Barrel Aged Hospitality focuses on concept and team development across a wide variety of restaurant styles. BAH believes that each restaurant is our home, every team member is apart our family, and every patron is a guest in our home.

Art Mendoza

With nearly three decades of experience covering all facets of the restaurant industry, Art Mendoza brings a wealth of talent, insight and knowledge to Barrel Aged Hospitality. The native Californian studied Architectural Engineering and Design, and began his career with the Marriott Corp.

In 1990, Mendoza joined Chili’s Inc. (now Brinker international) and quickly moved up within the company to Area Director, overseeing multiple units across the Midwest. While there, Mendoza was tapped by Lettuce Entertain You, Enterprises (LEYE) founder and CEO Richard Melman Mendoza and accepted a partnership with LEYE in 2004 as named V.P. Operations for the Shanghai Circus and Wow Bao division, responsible for the growth strategies and evolution of the department.

In 2010, Mendoza accepted the COO position at JNK, overhauling all aspects of food and service at Bombay Spice, Los Taquitos, Puro Gelato, and Nobuo at Teeter House. He next opened up the 18,000 square foot, Michelin rated, restaurant and nightclub Untitled where alongside his operational responsibilities, Art grew their beverage program to house the largest collection of American whiskies in the world. In addition to Untitled, Art played an integral role in developing Michelin rated Roka Akor in 2010 and Oak + Char in 2014. Between 2017 and 2019, Barrel Aged Hospitality opened Slightly Toasted, Little Toasted, Asadito, and Wok N’ Bao, all in Chicago’s West Loop.

Tyler Mendoza

Tyler Mendoza is quickly making his mark on Chicago’s restaurant and nightlife scene. His career began as he was running around the Brinker and Lettuce Entertain You offices, soaking in as much as he could. After graduating from Ohio Northern University (2011) with a Business double major, Mendoza began working in management for JNK Concepts, overseeing the opening staff at the Chicago location of Bombay Spice.

Tyler then went on to serve as Beverage Manager at the Michelin rated Untitled, a high-volume nightclub and supper club, and assisted in the development of Japanese steakhouse, Roka Akor. In 2014, Tyler and his father Art opened Michelin rated Oak + Char. Barrel Aged Hospitality continued to expand in 2017 with the openings of Slightly Toasted and Little Toasted, and in 2019 with the additions of Asadito and Wok N’ Bao.

While Tyler prides himself on having a hands-on role in his ventures, he is also passionate about the techno- logical side of the industry. While at Untitled, Mendoza continued to grow his knowledge base, and co-founded Arc Mobile Inc., a software development firm named a “Top 10 Startup” by TechWeek Chicago in 2013. Arc Mobile’s software applications include the hospitality focused Dutch, a mobile app that allows customers to view, pay and split their tab from their phone, and Dono, a mobile donation platform for churches and nonprofit organizations. Tyler also helped develop Barrel Aged Hospitality’s Point of Sale, which is now used by 2,000+ restaurants and hotels across the world.