When I started thinking about launching this blog a year or so ago, I was intrigued by Longstory, a winebar and restaurant then under construction in the cool space formerly occupied by the boutique Goods & Heroes in Three Oaks. That’s because save for Journeyman, there aren’t a lot of stylish spots for dinner in this town, and this looked to be one.

But since starting this blog a few months ago, I’ve been inundated with new places in the Indiana Dunes, Michiana and Southwest Michigan to write about. How is it I’ve never gotten around to Longstory? Especially as we stopped by there one snowy night just days after it opened?

Still, I run into people all the time who haven’t heard of it, let alone been there. Maybe because it’s just off the main drag? (I’ve encounted several people who never ventured up Maple, just around the corner from the excellent Patelli’s Pizza, and that’s a shame, because it means they missed not only Longstory but the excellent wine store P&E Bottle Shop and Goods & Heroes.)

Longstory, which opened in December, is owned by husband-and-wife team Andrea F. Bucsi and Russ Baer, who bought a home in the area some 12 years ago after visiting frequently, and now live here full time. Though neither has restaurant experience, Busci says she’s always loved “gathering around good food and wine, which inspired us to create a community around those passions.”

Bucsi took on the design of the space, and she’s done a great job, with a cool open-book sculpture on one wall (see photo below). “My main motivation for Longstory was to foster a strong sense of community around good food,” Busci wrote in a note to me. “Having lived in Hyde Park (in Chicago), which has a vibrant community feel, I missed that when we moved to the West Loop. I’m eager to host more events to bring people together, such as live music, game nights, and disco nights, we already have a book exchange, and as a ceramicist, I’m also considering hosting an art exchange for local artists at the restaurant.”

Longstory’s chef, Tony Houser, is from Buchanan. He learned to cook at Chesterton’s beloved Third Coast Spice Cafe and went on to work in kitchens for Hilton Hotels. The menu has some interesting items (a grilled mushroom and feta sandwich, chicken schwarma) alongside burgers, steak frites, salads and a grain bowl. Unlike at many restaurants, there’s plenty for vegetarians and vegans and some interesting starters.

The bar and bar area, with high-top tables, is the place to be a Friday night, when locals pack the place for happy hour. In addition to a wide selection of wines from around the world, Longstory serves craft cocktails and local beers. The chef works with local purveyors (Granor Farm, Harbor Country Mushrooms, Journeyman), to feature seasonal specials.

Though the vibe is adult, there is a kids’ menu as well.

Best news for fans of al fresco dining: An outdoor dining space behind the building is coming in late summer or early fall. And that name? Not such a long story. Says Bucsi: “It was inspired by my life journey, which took me from Budapest to Berlin then to Berkeley (CA), to Chicago and finally to Three Oaks.”

Longstory, 8 Maple Street, Three Oaks, 269-820-2096. Open Wednesdays-Sundays from 5pm-10pm.

Also new in Three Oaks: Al & Ray’s coffee shop, Dreihart Winery, Viola Cafe.