Dozens of area restaurants offer Italian and American dishes. But until now, you’d have to drive pretty far to find classic French bistro food such as beef bourguignon, escargot, mushroom tart, steak tartare and duck cassoulet.

One of the most-anticipated restaurants in Michigan City is open for business, filling a gaping hole in the area’s dining scene. 

The Heron, a French bistro, is located in a neoclassical building on Franklin Street, built in 1926 as an Elk’s Lodge. It’s next door to the coffee shop Fluid in downtown Michigan City.

Owner Heather Nath, a doctor, longtime area resident and real estate investor, was determined to bring diners fare different from the usual, though still approachable. (Though Nicole Bissonnette, the excellent chef/owner of Fishcamp in Michigan City, has occasional French items as specials.)

Friends and family attended a private dinner Thursday, and more joined for a ribbon cutting Friday at The Heron’s soft opening. The reviews were raves. A friend who is a self-described food snob (OK, he may have said “particular” or “hard to please”) loved everything he sampled, including the mussels, duck-fat fries and creme brûlée. We loved the roasted beets and escargot and our guest enjoyed the tender beef bourguignon (I’m not a meat eater.)

We also liked the riff on the classic French 75 (this one with cranberry juice), and a white burgundy was excellent on a great wine list.

The Heron’s chef, Ryan Kellogg, is from Michigan City and has cooked at Brewster’s in New Buffalo, and most recently, restaurants in the hot Louisville scene.  The Heron seats 18 at a long bar and about 50 in the dining and lounge areas. Prices seem reasonable.

The atmosphere is warm and charming, with matte dark grey walls, vintage oil portraits and cushy velvet seating at the bar, lounge, high tops and standard tables.

The restaurant opens Saturday for general dining; open days for now will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 4 p.m. CT. Of course, you know to always check first, right? Hours and open days at many restaurants change with the seasons in Harbor Country and the Dunes area.

Nath is a collector of fine oil portraits, bought at auction here and in Europe, like the one above, which hangs in the restaurant.

The Heron is not the only news in Michigan City’s restaurant scene: on April 15, the owners of Farina’s Supper Club and Cafe Farina plan to open Rocco’s, a high-end steakhouse, up the street on Franklin.

The Heron, 522 Franklin St., Michigan City, 219-243-0004

An installation consisting of nearly 9,000 pieces of beach glass gathered from 13 collectors primarily along the shores of Lake Michigan. Until recently it was in a collector’s home; now it graces the back wall of The Heron.