Inside: 2182 Bistro

Part wine bar, part French bistro, 2182 Bistro in Brecksville strives to offer locals good, inventive food at reasonable prices that’s close to home.

Food: With a definite focus on all things French, the menu is broken up into two sections: lighter and heartier plates with nothing more than $20.

Under the lighter option, standouts include the super thin and highly addicting pommes frites with rosemary and parmesan; formage and charcuterie board and brandade de morue (gratin of salt cod, garlic toast, olives and truffles).

For something a little bigger, the onglet de 2182 (grilled hanger steak with pommes fondant, shallots and bordelaise) is sure to please. It’s quite tender, rich in flavor and decent in size.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the gratin de macaroni, a twist on macaroni and cheese featuring gruyere, parmesan, goat and cheddar topped with breadcrumbs. By description alone, this dish should be knock-your-socks-off-good. In reality, the pasta was overcooked and, surprisingly, there wasn’t real distinguishable flavor from any of the cheeses and just tasted rather bland overall.

For dessert, the crème brulee sampler featuring cinnamon apple, almond and toffee is a nice way to end the meal. The cinnamon apple and almond brulees actually contained tiny apple and almond pieces inside. This dish would have been better served sans those little extras, but was still enjoyable.

Libations: 2182 offers a refreshing approach to wine. With 150 bottles available at state minimum prices, the restaurant charges only $10 above retail as a corkage fee. If a bottle is too much, try a two-ounce sample or a full glass, ranging from $3-$13. There is also a decent selection of flight options as well as 15 beers and martinis.

Décor: The restaurant itself is long and narrow, which makes it somewhat cozy but also rather noisy. The décor is on the simple side with a decent sampling of local art for sale displayed throughout the restaurant and bathroom.

Service: On several occasions, service was prompt and attentive but not necessarily enthusiastic or knowledgeable about the menu or daily specials.

Crowd: This restaurant definitely pulls from the surrounding suburbs and is a favorite among locals. After work, expect to find a decent happy hour crowd mingling around the large communal table in the bar area.

Insider Tip: Every Tuesday, 2182 offers special wine (and sometimes beer) tasting events starting at 6:30 p.m. focusing on different regions, winemakers or the season.

Bottom Line: If you’re in the area and appreciate good wine, 2182 is worth checking out, especially for its wine tasting events. While some of the dishes were enjoyable, it may not be worth a special trip.