WEST LOOP — A father-son team plan to open a new restaurant/bar specializing in coffee, toast, whiskey and beer later this month.
With partner John Chesney, Art and Tyler Mendoza will open Slightly Toasted, a Barrel Aged Hospitality restaurant at 22 N. Clinton St., on Monday, Jan. 30, a representative confirmed. Located near the Ogilvie Transportation Center in the West Loop, the spot will serve up housemade pastries, gourmet toast, sandwiches, artisan coffee and an extensive selection of whiskey, cocktails and beer.
Brother-sister chefs Omar Garcia, formerly of Oak & Char and Elizabeth Restaurant, and Brenda Garcia, formerly of Oak & Char and Bunny The Micro Bakery, created a menu for Slightly Toasted that focuses on locally-sourced ingredients and bread that is fermented, kneaded and baked in-house.
Slightly Toasted will feature 170 bottles of whiskey from all over the world, including bourbon, rye, American single malt, Japanese and Scottish varieties. Developed by beverage czar John Chesney, the beverage program also offers 14 rotating beer taps pouring local and small batch brews, 50 bottled and canned beers and handmade cocktails.
The 2,200-square-foot space features reclaimed wood tables, rich blue drapery, woven wooden barrels overhead and a marble bar with seating for 16. When warmer weather arrives, the outside patio seats 70.
Slightly Toasted will be open 7 a.m.-late Monday through Friday, with the kitchen serving food until 9 p.m. Reservations for Slightly Toasted can be made via Reserve.
Mercúrio pop-up
Twice a month, Slightly Toasted will transform into Mercúrio, an intimate, upscale pop-up by Brenda and Omar Garcia.
Tickets to the fine dining dinner party, open on Saturdays biweekly, can be reserved on Tock.
Launching in March, Mercúrio will open at 7 p.m. with one seating each night.
Slightly Toasted, a new toast and whiskey bar at 22 N. Clinton St. in the West Loop this month. [Slightly Toasted]
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