"Potes is French slang for “friend,” and you’re probably going to leave this lively wine bar in the 17th having made many of them while you’re here. People are everywhere inside this snug space, getting to know each other at the close-together tables, on the couch in front, or out on the sidewalk during summer. Share a cheese and charcuterie board, of course, but don’t skip the planche poisson with smoked salmon and octopus. There’s no wine menu, so just ask your server for a crisp, citrusy white wine to pair with it. And whether you drop in for apéro or come for a night out with people you like, make sure you have a reservation. " - sara lieberman, tanisha townsend