Soces

It’s unclear why more restaurants haven’t thought to pair oysters with a margarita shooter, but it’s definitely the best way to begin a meal at this restaurant near Parc des Buttes Chaumont. Tourists rarely come up this far, so expect to find fashionable locals gathering on the later side for a dinner of predominantly sea-based small plates. Service is friendly and attentive, and the food ranges from simple things like bulots with mayonnaise to more creative dishes, like whole mackerel doused in tandoori sauce and served with a broccoli puree and sliced kumquats. With a throwback soundtrack featuring “I Think We’re Alone Now” and “Dancing in the Dark,” eating here is as much about the fun, feel-good ambiance as the food itself.