Over two decades, Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran have built a restaurant empire on 13th Street in Center City. On Friday, they unveiled their newest masterpiece, Darling Jack’s Tavern, at 104 S. 13th Street in Midtown Village.

According to the website, Darling Jack’s is a return to simple comfort foods with refinement. The 75-seat bar, restaurant, and chef’s counter will offer a taste of everyday, classic foods inspired by local neighborhood joints worldwide.

In 2002, Turney and Safran had a grand vision for the stretch of 13th Street between Chestnut and Sansom Streets. They saw something special in it and poured their hearts and souls into it.

“We’ve been here for almost 21 years,” says Safran. “This is our home turf. We adore this place. It’s comfy, cozy, and adding something new and fresh to the mix feels amazing.”

The pandemic was a rough patch for the restaurant industry, but they’re seeing a resurgence now. “This neighborhood is on fire,” declares Turney.

Darling Jack’s Tavern is the fourth restaurant they’re currently operating in the city, in addition to two retail shops, Verde and Open House, and two eateries at Philadelphia International Airport.

The concept for Darling Jack’s was already in the works before the pandemic hit, and now it’s finally a reality.

“After all these years of not opening any new restaurants, it feels good to dive into it again,” says Safran.

The menu has twists on classic dishes and “stuff we love to eat,” such as linguini and clams and “tavern-style” pizza. They’ll even slice it up party-style for you into little bite-sized squares.

Darling Jack’s Tavern is now open for business.

---

If you like what I do, throw me a coffee or a stiff drink!
I’m a *REAL* person and your support means the world to me!