Learn more About Square 1682
Square 1682’s name is a tip of the hat to Pennsylvania's founding father, William Penn, who created Rittenhouse Square and four other similar plazas in order to establish open space in the heart of the city.
That’s the kind of big-idea thinking we like to celebrate here. Like Penn, Square 1682 has a vision for the future, which is why we employ sustainability measures throughout the restaurant, from the energy conscious engineering of the building to locally sourced produce. In recognition of the dietary needs of our 21st century clientele, we offer an array of vegetarian and gluten-free options on our menus. Stop by our bar for a nosh and drink or indulge in a full experience for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Patrick Czerniak
Executive Chef
A native of Trenton, New Jersey, Patrick Czerniak previously served as Executive Sous Chef at University City’s noted Walnut Street Café, and, most recently, as Executive Chef at Cantina Feliz, a favorite in the city’s Fairmount neighborhood. Now at the helm of culinary operations at Square 1682, Czerniak’s culinary specialty, which can be seen on the new seasonal dinner menu, is unique and abstract takes on global cuisine, with the occasional Polish, Asian, and Italian influence and technique appearing in various dishes.
An alumni of Philadelphia’s revered Walnut Hill College – named one of the top 25 culinary schools in America – Czerniak first fell in love with cooking as a kid. His affinity for the kitchen took shape when he would spend mornings cooking with his mom, who worked the overnight shift at a local plastics factory. It was time they would spend together that was special. Czerniak also enjoyed time with his grandmothers, cooking — often — classic Polish cuisine from their family’s roots.