Jaret Havanchak 

Executive Chef/Owner

For self-proclaimed family man and restaurant owner Jaret Havanchak, food is more than a meal—it’s mostly about family and community.

Residing in Chardon, Ohio, Havanchak, acquired his passion for food at an early age. After harvesting vegetables in his grandmother’s garden at age five and helping his mother in the kitchen growing up, Havanchak received his first job in a restaurant at age 15. He took his passion further and graduated from Pennsylvania Culinary Institute in 2001 and began working under French inspired Chef Rick Boyer at the white table cloth restaurant “Wright’s” in Phoenix, Arizona.

In 2008, Havanchak, began his journey into restaurant ownership and took control of seafood hotspot Lure Bistro, located in downtown Willoughby. Six years later, he opened Square Bistro, located in historic downtown Chardon. Square Bistro specializes in unique dishes in a casual setting, a dozen hand crafted beers on tap and an experience you can’t get anywhere else in Chardon.

When he’s not preparing quality cuisine at his restaurant, he is enjoying the company of his three children, Ava, 15, twins Ivy and Elena, 13, and wife Rebekah. Watching his children grow up in Chardon has strengthened his love for the community and reinforced his push to support local farmers in his restaurant.

Havanchak focuses on fresh ingredients in all of his dishes including locally grown and raised beef, pork and lamb from local farms when available. His vegetables are also acquired from various farms in the local area.