Andy Mossack enjoys the hospitality of Square 1682. A Philadelphia icon.
There is something rather satisfying in being told that what you’ve just ordered has been an ‘inspirational choice’. I feel very pleased with myself that somehow I managed to pick the one item on the Square 1682 Philadelphia menu that surpassed all the others, and took a moment to glory in my success. I liked the feeling so much I wanted to keep the roll going with my choice of wine too. So gave it a shot and thankfully scored a bulls eye there too.
These little things make a big difference to a customer and full marks to the waiting team at 1682 who managed to really make feel special. There are only two things that matter for me when I’m in a restaurant. The food and the service.
Yes, there are some other pretty important factors like price, location, comfort and ambience of course, but frankly, get the first two wrong and you won’t be coming back no matter how comfortable or affordable the place is. Thankfully, Square 1682 provided me with great food along with the excellent service, so I was a very happy chappy.
Square 1682 (a homage to William Penn’s founding of the city and his vision for a city with green squares) can be found in the Kimpton Palomar Hotel, a luxury boutique property close to Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square. And in the short time it’s been open has already made quite a name for itself not least because it is registered as a Leader in Energy and Environmental Design and shows that you can successfully build and run a luxury hotel using sustainable and energy efficient products.
The restaurant echoes this policy in its design and it’s culinary practices but in a very understated way, so you can enjoy a fine meal and at the same time feel that you’ve contributed in a positive way to the environment.
Talking of food, Head Chef Caitlin Mateo has had an impressive history learning her trade having studied culinary arts at Philadelphia’s The Restaurant School, Mateo began cooking at the age of 18, with Chef Marianne Cuneo Powell at the popular Little Café, just over the Ben Franklin Bridge,
Mateo honed her craft as Sous Chef for renowned Philadelphia Chef Marcie Turney and she seems to be revelling in the challenge of producing excellent dishes using only sustainable and organic ingredients. In fact you can watch him whilst he revels in 1682’s open style kitchen.
I visited at lunch time, (although the restaurant is open for breakfast lunch and dinner) and my starter of Serrano ham with saffron, san marzano tomatoes, manchego cheese and sourdough bread at $8 was inspired. This was followed by an equally delicious King Salmon with green lentils and Korean chilli glaze $14. There were also by the way, some hand crafted potato chips that were quite simply the best I had ever eaten. There, I’ve said it.
And what of the drinks? The bar downstairs has its own Master Mixologist who mixed me a stellar cocktail and judging by the size of the crowd down there, the feeling was pretty mutual, and the aptly names Emily Wines, one of only 15 women Master Sommeliers in the US has put together a wine list of some distinction.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Square 1682, which proved that you can have high end service and quality without the high end price tag. Highly recommended.
Tell me more about Square 1682.
Starters from $9 Mains from $18 plus taxes.
