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26 North: Mike Stollenwerk opens BYOB in Old City

To no surprise, five of the eight entrees on the opening menu are fish.

Mike Stollenwerk - one of Philly's most visible seafood chefs before stepping out of the scene nearly two years ago - is back.

Stollenwerk is in soft-opening mode for 26 North BYOB, which takes a spot at 26 N. Third St. (267-239-5900). Official opening will be Monday, Nov. 23.

With the revived Bistro 7 down the street, this is an intriguing time for the slice of Old City north of Market.

The Jersey Shore-bred Stollenwerk made it to the city radar eight years ago when he took over Little Fish, which was named Bon Appétit magazine's third best place to eat seafood in the USA after the takeover. From there, he added Fish, which had two incarnations in Center City over its wild three-year run, and very briefly Fathom, on Girard Avenue in Fishtown. (Little Fish, which has since moved, is still very much in business and is owned by chef Chadd Jenkins.)

26 North's interior looks sharp, in an industrial, Old City-chic sort of way, with the requisite Edison bulbs (though kept low), exposed-brick walls, slate tile floor, large newspaper-page reproductions (!), white subway tiles, reclaimed wood, and marble eating counter.

Five of the eight entrees on his opening menu are unfussy preparations of fish: pastrami-spiced mahi mahi; Skuna Bay salmon; striped bass; tuna; and of course his signature skate wing. It's all priced in the $20s.

Lunch menu, served Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2;30 p.m., is here.

Dinner menu, served Monday to Saturday from 5 p.m., is here.