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Tuesday restaurant update

Emerald Fish to close, Le Bec-Fin chef to open a BYOB in South Philly, and John Mims is back.

Emerald Fish: The seafood BYOB that's been in Barclay Farms shopping center for about 10 years (four years under Mark and Ann Rowand) will be gone after Friday 12/19. Mark Rowand says he simply did not want to re-sign a five-year lease for Emerald Fish in this economy. He also pointed to a downturn for Cherry Hill restaurants after the openings of Cheesecake Factory and McCormick & Schmick at the mall.

Bibou: Pierre Calmels, who recently left the chef de cuisine post at Le Bec-Fin, is about to hammer out a French BYOB at 1009 S. Eighth St. in the Italian Market -- the former spot of Pif. Calmels' wife, Charlotte, will work the front of the house at the 28- to 30-seater. She says the experience will be akin to dining in their own home. (Yeah. Except you get a bill at the end.) Calmels left LBF under great terms, and Georges Perrier himself is talking up this place, which is penciled in for February.

Mims Food & Drink: John Mims, who left Les Bons Temps and Carmine's rather suddenly last summer, has surfaced at the Freehouse (110 N. Wayne Ave. in Wayne). Plan is for him to take over just after New Year's and call it Mims Food & Drink.