Check in through Yelp and get a free truffle popcorn! It was so delicious. A large bowl of popcorn popped in/drizzled with truffle oil was a great way to start off dinner. The calamari was also amazing. There was just the about of breading on the squid rings. It also came with jalapeno, cherry, and banana peppers. It is supposed to come fried, but we got them with the peppers being fresh, and not fried. The duck breast with parsnips, pomegranate, and sherry was really delicious. There were bits of pomegranates and diced pasrips and the duck tasted like steak. It was really good. The lamb rips were also very good, served on a bed of cheddar grits. The portions were just right, leaving us really content. They also have this wile mushroom ravioli with butternut squash puree that is supposed to be amazing. The dessert menu sounded amazing, but we were pretty full. I can't wait to come back to try their chai creme brulee served with thyme honey blueberries and the lemon tart with blackberries! read more

Order these two items and you won't be disappointed: Bacon wrapped dates (appetizer), Short ribs (entree) You can thank me later. read more

Square 1682 - Bacon Wrapped Dates...perfect mix of sweet and salty...do it!!! - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I had been staying at the hotel and had been to the bar a few days in a row and enjoyed a few different drinks. Service was good and everyone was very friendly. I did find that the a/c just was not sufficient at evening because as luck would have it I decided to try for dinner and TravelZoo had a gear deal. 1 bottle of wine (house label) 1 appetizer, 2 dinners of 27 or 28 dollars each and 1 dessert to share. All for 69 dollars. As well, you could upgrade and pay the added charges which I thought was great! For the price; hands down the least expensive place I have eaten at over the 4 days at the hotel. The food was good and the service was better even though our server was the only one working nearly the whole restaurant as someone called off so compliments to her for doing an amazing job and gaining a 30% tip because she earned it! I believe this restaurant has potential but needs stronger management and management that is engaged with the clientele. It's important to know if your clients experience matches what you want their experience to be and there is a reason that some restaurants go out of their way to ensure a fantastic CX. read more

Omg I had the best time ever and the best drink ever!!! Sad to hear the person that helped isn't a bar tender!! Hire Ed! He made the best hot patron margarita. 5 stars. read more

Had an absolutely fantastic meal here tonight. The service was exceptional. In fact, when we got there our table was ready to go, including a high chair already set up for my son. The tile fish was amazing. The same goes for the rest of the meal. We will be adding this place to our regular list. read more

Square 1682 - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Ok I am not sure what they put in the water here, but it's the best water I have had in Philadelphia! Maybe it's the placebo effect of it being served in a glass bottles...bravo Square, bravo! Ok onto the food review. It's absolutely delicious! I came here for lunch with some coworkers and we ordered the lunch special which came with a soup or salad, one meal and dessert or fruits . I got the cauliflower soup, the superfood salad and the cup of fruit. I LOVED the super food salad it came with quinoa, avocado, almonds, and shrimp topped with vinaigrette. It was way too delicious and flavorful and didn't make you want to nap at 3pm after eating it. The portion sizes were just right for lunch time! read more

Square 1682 - Superfood salad, soup and fruit - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Well this a great option for a quick business lunch in the city, however, before they had the upstairs open with tons of seating but apparently that has closed so we were squished near the front entrance and some small tables were pushed together for us. Not a huge deal, but being near the door when it was hot, humid and rainy out wasn't too great. Also, there were a lot of random flies? So the food is actually pretty great. I was there with four guys from work and everyone enjoyed everything they ordered (pictures attached). I got the spinach salad with Amish chicken and it had awesome light dressing and TONS of flavor, the chicken was pretty good too but parts of it were a tad dry. We ordered the calamari to split between the 5 of us and it was plenty. It was light and crispy and flavorful, the sauce it came with was awesome! We also split the cookie, and it was super chocolatey, and kind of soft, so pretty good! I do love that they leave the water container at the table so we could refill it ourselves. The waiter we had seemed slightly distracted, and a little confused, but maybe it was the bad weather! Our food came out really fast too...during lunch rush! Overall great place if you get a normal table, with lots awesome options and pretty good prices for the quality of food! read more

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Stopped in for brunch. Friendly staff and comfortable seating. Kind of middle of the road hotel restaurant I'd say. Had the blueberry pancakes, which were pretty good. Kind of wish the portion was bigger at $16 but it was a pleasant experience. Cocktail list had a pretty varied list of drinks so I had to get out of the curiosity. Got the Four Reasons Unknown as it had more unusual ingredients in it. Drink itself was pretty good, nice finish. Found it overpriced though at around $15. Had too much ice and of low quality so the drink was watered down almost as soon as it arrived. I think for something at that pricepoint it shouldnt be the case. Other than that, it was fine. read more

Phenomenal brunch experience. The poached eggs on buttermilk biscuits and pork confit was delightful and just the right size. The service was impeccable-- friendly and watchful. My orange juice and water were regularly filled! They had live jazz during weekend brunch, and the restaurant is beautiful and cozy. While the menu is small and can be uncreative, the food is high quality and decently priced for Rittenhouse Square ($12 for the above mentioned plate and $3 for OJ). All in all, a good experience. read more

I was very pleased and happily surprised. Great priz fixe menu. Duck small plate was a killer and loved the pork on the bone. Would return. Good server too. read more

This review is based on my recent visit during their happy hour, and thus I do not have direct experience with dining here are a fully meal diner. Their happy hour food list if somewhat limited, but certainly satisfying. You can combine the sliders, for example, to include both vegetarian and meat items. But based on what I saw during seated at the bar, and the quality of the items served, I would recommend not only the happy hour menu, but most likely the menu itself. The bartender was friendly and attentive, as was the restaurant host. This was like the staff at the associated Kimpton Hotel (Palomar), where they always seem pleased to see you, and are highly professional. Definitely I would come back again. read more

Square 1682 - The Bar, open kitchen in background - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Stopped in here while on a business trip in Philly. I was looking for a place to sit at the bar and have dinner. Turned out to be a good choice. First was the service. Very nice bartender who took the time to make me feel welcomed. Attentive and pleasant. Then came the truffle popcorn which I read in many reviews. Very nice with my glass of a French red wine (sorry, I forgot what it was). The the entree, Duck Two Ways. A right-size platter of duck presented two ways as the name says, sliced duck breast and some pulled duck meat, probably thigh meat. Very nice. So all in all a very nice place and the food was very good. Glad I stopped in. read more

Teetering towards a 3, but chalked up issues with execution to the constraints of Restaurant Week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Restaurant Week's first pass for 2015 starts on January 18th. One place to consider is Square 1682 - which underwent a bit of an overhaul over the past 2 years under the helm of Chef Caitlyn Mateo. Square 1682 is located in Rittenhouse, within the swanky Hotel Palomar. The atmosphere is sleek, with several high-top tables throughout, as well as a 2nd floor that is slightly more formal. For the January 2014 RW, the GF and I stopped by along with one of our friends. Texan's Mule [$10] Tito's vodka, ginger beer, gingery syrup, lime juice This take on the Moscow mule was served with one of my favorite small batch vodkas - Tito's. This iteration of the drink was perfect for the GF, not overly sweet, with great ginger essence. Classic Bizzy Izzy Highball [$11] Rittenhouse rye, Dios Baco amontillado, pineapple juice, lemon juice, Agnostura aromatic bitters Rittenhouse rye tends to speak to me and this didn't disappoint. The whiskey was nicely balanced by the sherry. With the bitters on the forefront and the drink had a nice citrus finish, this was easy drinking. Bread Service Dinner started off with a nice spread of crispy, salty sesame lovash, sourdough, and rosemary focaccia. A big pet peeve of mine though? Cold butter - what is the point if you can't spread it? Restaurant Week Dinner [$35 pp] As is usually the case - restaurant week dinners are on offer for $35 per person - usually for 3-4 courses. Carrot Soup The GF and our friend both ordered the carrot soup, which had nice depth and sweetness. The charred brussels sprouts and bacon brought forth balance and created a wonderful spoonful. Lancaster Duck Toast Lingonberry mustard, buttermilk toast I went with the duck dish, which featured shredded Lancaster duck and frisee on a toast point. The ligonberry mustard sauce brought out some brightness to each bite, though I wished for some more of the duck flavor. Bacon Wrapped Dates [$9] Local goat cheese, piquillo peppers, stone ground mustard vinaigrette Feeling a bit peckish despite the first course and two more to come, I ordered the ubiquitous bacon-wrapped dates an a la carte. The bacon was nicely crisp, with the tang of the goat cheese balanced nicely by the sweetness of the dates. The piquillo peppers and mustard vinaigrette offered some acidity and brightness through the heft of the bacon. Truffle Popcorn [$4] Truffle butter, citric salt The oft-lauded truffle popcorn here had to be tried. The truffle essence definitely emanated through, though the citric salt added the sour salt taste that really made it for me. Amish Chicken Breast Beet fettuccine, cauliflower, autumn apples For mains, the GF and our friend opted for the tender chicken breast, which was well-seasoned. The beet fettuccine was interesting and had a subtle sweetness. The crisp apples brought fresh tartness that was balanced by the bitter greens and the lightly charred cauliflower. Custom Blend Burger + Quail Egg [$1 supp] Smoked portabella, Lancaster cheddar, garlic Parmesan fries I had the burger and added a quail egg for a dollar supplement. I requested it medium-rare, though it came out medium and overall, the beef was a bit dry and lacked seasoning. The tomato was a bit mealy as well. The fries were decent, though the chipotle aioli was a bit watery. Disappointing overall - should've went with the lamb short ribs. Chef's Selection of Sorbet Desserts fared better though. We had a great selection of sorbets including apple cider, raspberry honey, and hazelnut espresso served with strawberries and blueberries interspersed between. A light and refreshing palate cleanser. Butterscotch Cake Mascarpone cream, apple caramel The cake was buttery, with rich butterscotch essence. The mascarone cream was nicely light and the apple caramel brought some sweetness to each bite. White Chocolate Bread Pudding Dark chocolate gelato The bread pudding was nicely moist and oozing with sweet intensity. The white chocolate seemed a bit lost, but combined with the dark chocolate gelato, each bite was a sweet ending indeed. Service was alright, but seemed a bit aloof and uninformed. In fact, they took our bread basket and plates a few minutes after dropping it on our table. We had to flag down the staff to figure out what sorbets were on offer as well. Still, the food at Square 1682 has definitely become more creative 3 years back. While a few dishes could have been executed better, I'll chalk that up to the perils of restaurant week. read more

Had a great eating experience with my family. The environment was low lit and semi interest mate. The bar area appeared comfortable. Our table consisted of eight and our server, Adam did not skip a beat. The whole staff was very pleasant and attentive. Chef "Mack" approached and spent a little time to explain a few items on the menu and answer questions. We greatly appreciated that Chef Mack! Everything we ordered tasted scrumptious: The duck wings, the Lamb tacos, Mussels, Brussel Sprouts, Yuca and I think that was it for the appetizers. I personally had the Rack of Lamb plate and my wife had the Salmon plate. I didn't get to tastes the rest of the food at the table but there were NO COMPLAINTS. The Blanton; Stella and Modelo went down smoothly before and after the meal for me. I definitely plan on going back. read more

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Had a great family meal on Saturday. We had a large enough group where we were able to try practically everything. Each dish that came out was delicious. The duck wings are crispy, sticky, inventive take on a buffalo wing. The lamb lettuce wraps are very savory and have a pleasant heat from the peppers chopped up w the lamb The burratta is smooth creamy coolness if you got a particularly hot lamb scoop. Corn bread was reportedly delicious, but went so fast I didn't get any. There was a mushroom dish that really stole the show during the first course. Among the other small plate offerings, the all-vegetable mushroom dish stood forward as king despite all of us being ardent meat-eaters. Don't miss this one if you're there with a small group. And order two if you're there with many. The middle, pasta course was delicious without being heavy. My favorite was the scampi dish, although the rest of the table picked the oxtail raviolo as favorite. All three were very good. Entrees course rounded out the night. Pork shank was tender and tasty. The whole fish was beautifully filleted and cooked perfectly. The strip steak is served carved which made sharing easy. The sauce poured over the steak is an unholy level of decadence. It made sharing necessary because if one person ate it all they'd probably implode into cosmic singularity of succulence. Lastly was a veggie dish. Rice with coconut & chickpeas. Again, the veggie option refused to play second to the meats. It was so, so good. Definitely a must-order for any return trips. We didn't have room for dessert, so I have no guidance for anyone who can negotiate the menu and still have room for more by the end. tl;dr: Can't miss for dinner. Get the mushroom starter and chickpea rice bowl entree. Or whatever you like. It's all good. read more

We stopped here before a comedy show on a Wednesday night to grab a bite before the show. It's an elegant spot and the food was very good. Nothing exceptional, but above average. The jerk chicken was somewhat bland, but the salmon was seasoned amazingly. Nice little spot if you are in the area. read more

The bacon wrapped dates are removed from the menu. This was the draw that kept me coming in every few months. I decided in its absence to try the bone marrow ravioli, which was OK. The service is great, but it is a basic hotel restaurant on a block with extraordinary food options. Would likely only go back for happy hour specials, not dinner. read more

Square 1682 - Bone Marrow Raviolo - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Booked a reservation for brunch a week in advance due to the positive reviews on TA. Restaurant part of the Kimpton Hotel Palomar we stayed in the night prior. Arrived 10 minutes early but were seated right away by a very nice hostess. Service was inconsistent after that. Took a while to get our first drinks and a lot of time passed between our waitress' visits to our table. What was excellent, however, was the food and drinks - Fantastic! Highly recommend their Bloody Mary and Breakfast Martini! Our food selections were AWESOME! The Philly Special, Breakfast Sandwich, Rittenhouse Omelet, and Huevos Rancheros were all top notch! We will be back! read more

Last night we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Square 1682. Felt compelled to write and express our appreciation for the wonderful staff. From the moment we arrived they went above and beyond to accommodate one of our party who has special health needs and required several accommodations. They moved tables, shifted the floor plan and did all they could to insure we felt comfortable and safe. Food was delicious-everyone raved about their dinner. Too many wonderful dishes to single any one out. Special shout out to our waiter Adam who was pleasant, helpful and a great sport. He tolerated some of our New York groups silliness with humor and a great attitude. Thanks Adam. Hope we weren't too much trouble, but you made our night perfect in every way! read more

If this was a scale of 1-meh, it'd definitely get five stars. I mean, I get it. It's a business-y lunch place and hotel restaurant. I'm not going to be wowed. But my main disappointment on this place was our waitress. Once she served us our food, it was like she vanished! I really could have used another refill of hot water with my tea, but that clearly wasn't happening... Also, we had to ask the other waitress to get our waitress to get our bill. We waited probably 20 minutes until doing so! She said she had to go get change and that it's a 'mission' to go get it. I understand, I used to work for an upscale hotel myself including the restaurant, but maybe she could've asked the other waitress to check on us in the meantime? This all occurred AFTER the manager had come by to ask us if everything was alright. Everything was alright at that time... but I'm always a little curious when a manager is walking around, like, it's a sign that the place isn't really doing that well. The food was OK. I ordered the cashew salad, which was good, but the chicken was really dry. My boyfriend ordered another salad with the jerk chicken, but they gave him the regular chicken instead. I do like that they give you a little bowl of #trufflepopcorn to start. Again, it's pretty meh, but I'm sure it gets the job done for hotel guests or for your typical business lunch! read more

Popped in with some friends for an after dinner drink the other night. Our friends had visited the bar previously and wanted to share the find with us. It's not a huge place and it is was packed. There were no seats at the bar so we stood around a pub table until a comfy couch area opened up. They had a special drink menu and most of us ordered the Hot Apple Toddy which featured Laird's bonded applejack, grout calvados, cinnamon and cider. It was fantastic; especially on a cold snowy night! Service was friendly and quick. Upon checking in on Yelp i found that we could get a complimentary truffle popcorn. We weren't exactly hungry since we had just eaten, but it sounded like dessert. So, why not?! Glad we tried it! Warm popcorn drizzled with truffle oil. Very good! In fact all of the food looked good. Most folks were there to dine. I will definitely come back for dinner some time. read more

Would give a 4.5 if I could , mostly b/c I almost never give five stars. The food was delicious and the choices were interesting. My husband and I shared the duck wings which were sticky and spicy and perfect. For main courses we had the pork (shank I think) and the jerk chicken. The pork was fall off the bone soft and so yummy. The chicken was very tasty, but I wouldn't call it jerk. The prices were higher than I usually would pay but , since everything was so good, I'd still recommend it. The service was exceptional. read more

I can't say enough great things about this establishment. Stayed at the hotel, and had breakfast here for 3 consecutive days. There is not one bad item on the menu, whether you're searching for vegetarian options or not all Your requests are accommodated! Had the egg sandwich, the salad, and an omelet, the boyfriend had a burger- that onion ham was just that good. They also serve mighty leaf tea, which is a Divine way to end a meal. Their drip coffee is very rich and tasty. Can't wait to be back. read more

This is the tale of two restaurants. As the fancy top tier restaurant they are trying to present themselves as they fail pretty badly. The food is good but the service and the room itself fail. This isn't a great upscale restaurant. What is it? One of the best bar restaurants I have ever been in! We were left standing at the door forever before someone sat us. The service was completely indifferent with different staff members dealing with us. None of that is a big deal accept when it comes to price to quality ratio. The next night when we just went to the bar and ordered bar food... what a difference a day makes. Great bartenders and reasonably priced snacks bar food. So as an upscale special night out place... a generous three stars But as a bar restaurant a genuine five stars!! read more

Square 1682 - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I wanted to like this place, I really did but I left unfulfilled and a little sad. I received a $25 dining credit that was included in the reservation package while staying at Hotel Palomar and thought it only appropriate to use it for breakfast. I rated this 2 stars, because I absolutely loved the decor of the restaurant. We were seated at a table upstairs, where they had a chalkboard wall behind the serving station, funky brightly colored chairs and booths, and had what looked like swing arm desk lamps mounted upside-down on the walls, pointing upwards at the cork-tiled ceiling. However, the decor aside, I did not enjoy my breakfast here. The menu does grab your attention with items such as creme brulee french toast, Mississippi blueberry griddlecakes, shrimp and grits, and eggs cochon de laut (which is what I ordered). Essentially, all the right ingredients were there: eggs, buttermilk biscuits, shredded pork confit, mushroom ragout, and bourbon-bacon hollandaise. My mouth was watering at the thought of all these delicious items combined. Plus, I was starving. What was placed in front of me was much smaller than I had envisioned. But the worst part was how it tasted. All those delectable ingredients didn't mean a thing; as a matter of fact I forgot they were even there. The entire dish tasted somewhat burnt (as in someone had severely burnt something in a pot, dumped it out, and then cooked my breakfast in that uncleaned pot). To top it off, because the eggs were poached, my breakfast became a slimy, burnt-tasting $12 mess. It was the most disappointing meal I'd had in a while. read more

Square 1682 - Eggs Cochon De Lait - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I came here during restaurant week. I am so glad I did, the food and service was great. I ordered the lamb lettuce wraps, which were delicious and the bomba rice. The highlight for me was the cornbread and the salmon (which is what my date had). The cornbread was light and buttery, the best I have had from any restaurant!! That salmon was like heaven in my mouth, it was so moist and had so much flavor.. Even though that isn't what I ordered I couldn't help taking some off my date's plate. I think the ambiance is good for dates or even a girl's night out!! I will definitely go back!! read more

Purchased the TravelZoo dinner for 2 voucher for Square 1682. What a deal! You get 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert, and a bottle of their house wine. The wine is either a Cab Sauv or Chardonnay. We got the cab to go with the steak and squid ink pasta. The steak was very delicious, even with the $6 up charge. The pasta was good, large chunks of lobster and crab. Definitely would order again. We also go the cheese board and corn bread. The corn bread is good but very filling! For dessert we had the crepe brûlée. Delish! But by this time we were super full. I would definitely recommend trying out Square 1682, especially if you purchase the promo. We will definitely go again, especially for happy hour! read more

Square 1682 - Squid ink pasta - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I am a regular at the Palomar for business travel and love so many things about the hotel. This restaurant is great for evenings-- the bartenders friendly, the drinks fun, the appetizers appetizing. I was motivated to write a review though because i recently had breakfast here for the first time and was blown away by its deliciousness. I ordered the yogurt parfait and it far exceeded my expectations-- homemade granola was Perfect, the yogurt scrumptious, the vanilla flavored agave to die for. Will now be a must-have every time I visit! read more

Square 1682 - Yogurt parfait wth homemade granola - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I loved the feel and atmosphere of this place! I was looking for a place for dinner in the area and this was great! The wine is a little over priced but the beer in on point! We started with stuffed figs and beef tartar. It was delicious! Very flavorful and fresh! For dinner we ordered the Branzino and grilled octopus. The Branzino was great and the sauce that accompanied it was nice and light. The octopus had room for improvement. They paired that with blood oranges and it over powered the octopus. The preparation was great but the sauce needed to go. I also didn't care for the policy that you had to sit at specific tables for happy hour. We were already in the bar at a hightop read more

We eat here every time we stay at Hotel Palomar. We really enjoy the menus they have for breakfast, dinner, and their mid afternoon snack menu. They also have a creative drink list with simple and tasty beverages. Service is friendly and very accommodating. *****Noce touch: we were there the day of the Eagles SB parade with 2 kids, they were packed and running out of food....we told them we were hotel guests and they allowed us to order from the dinner menu and cleared a table for us. read more

I ate here once and the food was mediocre!! I was expecting more from this spot!! The drinks and the bartender were awesome tho. Might return for happy hour drinks next time instead of the food read more

Service was great and the cocktails, duck wings and mushroom appetizer were really good! Definitely will return.

Square 1682 far exceeded my expectations. My positive experience was the result of good company, excellent service, large portion sizes, and delicious small and large plate options. We opted to try the Chef's Menu, which allowed us each to order one small plate, one large plate, and one dessert. As self-proclaimed over-analyzers, we immediately asked our waitress for recommendations. She provided us with honest opinions (potentially because she knew I was Yelp Elite) and did not steer us wrong. We ended up ordering the brussel sprouts, which were perfectly seasoned with garlic and parmesan fondue, as well as, the duck wings which had a bit of a kick. Per our waitress's recommendation, we added a loaf of warm cornbread on the side. For the main course, we split the salmon, which reminded me of an everything bagel, and the short rib, which fell right off the bone. Last but not least, we ordered the Cookies and Cream Mousse and the Chocolate Affogato. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed the Affogato much more than the Cookies and Cream. The hot espresso nicely complemented the smooth and rich gelato. For a special occasion or a fancy dinner with your loved one, I highly recommend dining at Square 1682. Be sure to not only indulge in the delicious food, but take in your surroundings. Our waitress informed us that the ceiling is made of cork and the floor tiles have shards of wine glasses. read more

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This is an excellent spot for a night out with friends. The ambiance is very smooth and laid back. Chairs were comfortable. As a party of four- celebrating two of our sorority sisters' birthdays - we were definitely in for a treat! Chef Mack took great care of us. Our server was very attentive and friendly, as well as management and the rest of the staff. The food? My taste buds were pleased for sure. Jerk Chicken, Corn Bread, Watermelon Salad, Bomba Rice - and more- all were delightful. We look forward to our next visit! read more

It was a good breakfast, good for couple but not large groups. The juice is made fresh and the staff was very helpful. It does get crowded since it's attached to the hotel. read more

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I dined here with a co-worker tonight and was impressed by the food. My first impression upon walking in was that the atmosphere was hip and stylish. We were sat in the back window where it was cozy and dimly lit. My cornbread was warm with rich flavor and pulled apart so easily. For my main course I got the grilled market fish which was a fish I've never heard of, but I gave it a chance based on the waitress' description. It came out covered in greens and was seasoned very nicely. The cauliflower was charred with a touch of paprika on top which was a nice side to accompany the white fish. Overall it was an enjoyable night, but I must admit that service was slow. It wasn't even close to packed and took quite some time to get our orders in, as well as the check. The bathroom was also on the second floor which is a little bit inconvenient. I'd say this is a nice spot to dine out with a friend or co-worker with a calm setting. read more

Square 1682 - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The atmosphere is great! Intimate and definitely a must see if you're staying at the Palomar. The hotel is beautiful! It's pricey and the menu is scarce. read more

1Very good food and great service. I very much enjoyed my Old Fashion. Very nice place.

We were excited to hear about this restaurant opening in Center City. My wife and I love good food and we eat out frequently. We appreciate outstanding restaurants and have eaten all over the US and abroad. The Chef's reputation is well known and we are familiar with other Kimpton locations. We went on Monday night to check it out. We arrived a few minutes early for our 8pm reservation to an abandoned front desk. After wandering around for a few minutes checking out the the sleek bar and hotel lobby, I had to snag the bartender's attention and ask him if there was a manager or host. He feigned surprise then disappeared into the back and presumably called the host or manager as he returned and said someone would be with us shortly. Pretty bad start. A few more minutes pass and the manager came downstairs, offered a weak apology and led us upstairs. She seemed lost and told us they were busier than they had expected and we could sit anywhere we wanted. Now there are about 30 seats and about 20 guests. We sat at a table and waited. And waited. Server was apologetic, awkward and had difficulty describing why there was no bottled water. We ordered the filtered water (they still charge you as if it's bottled water) and a cocktail and waited. And waited. By now we had been in the restaurant for almost 30 minutes without a crumb to eat or a drop to drink. Booo.. We had gotten the apologies, though, so that was something. We ordered a few small plates: Ahi Tostadas- these were very good: Rosy, mild, sliced raw tuna over nice, crispy little tortillas with a spicy mayo and good pinch of salt. Lobster Tacos were not quite as good. A nice, homemade, soft corn tortilla wrapped around flavorless lobster chunks and topped with diced grilled pineapple. There was also a tasty, earthy guajillo sauce with them. Our next round was mixed: Gnocchi with truffle and parmesan were very good. Just right texture, juicy roasted mushrooms and a nice, earthy aroma. The Beet, Frisee and Endive salad was poor. Cranberry vinaigrette would have been good if the salad had not been drowned in it. Garnish of duck proscuitto was nicely gamey, Soft boiled egg was way under cooked with clear white running around the plate. There was no frisee or endive in sight. The greens were all delicate, mesclun style and completely deluged by the dressing and undercooked egg white. Charred Octopus was OK. Nice, lemony olive oil dressing and very welcome raw sliced artichokes, but the octopus needed a little more cooking time. Octopus should be chewy and resilient, not hard and rubbery. Entrees were pretty good. Not great. Chicken with creamy beet pasta was juicy and full flavored with delicious oven-dried tomatoes. Halibut with white sweet potato puree was ok. A little salty and acceptably fresh, but nothing that would make me say even lower case "wow". Desserts were ok. The apple cider fritters were ok. They were not light. They were not delicate, but they tasted good. The ice cream that came with them was weak. I mean weak-flavored. I could not even tell you what the flavor was. Skimmed milk? The pumpkin cream tart was inedible. Pastry was tough, tough, tough. The filling was runny and flavorless. Like canned pumpkin, skimmed milk and raw egg yolk. The ice cream that came with that was grainy and flavorless. I told our server the tart was not good and she took that and my espresso off the bill with more apologies. All this would have gotten the restaurant two or maybe even three stars if the service had even been ok, but the service was so awkward, cold, self-conscious, lacking confidence and uncomfortable that I can't in good conscience give it any more than one. This restaurant needs to smooth out the food, eject the contrived formality and find some solid professional management focused on warmth and sincere hospitality if it hopes to fulfill it's potential. read more

The bar was located in our hotel. We stopped by after an early dinner on a Friday night to get some cocktails after a long day visiting Philly. Service was great, we even got some free popcorn ! I enjoyed it all the more that the Yankees won their game that day. Don't hesite to stop by. Tips : if you stay several nights at the Kimpton and decide to skip on the room cleaning service the hotel will give you a $10 coupon to redeem at Square 1682. read more