Common Craft Restaurant Opening Second Boston Location

Common Craft's new South Boston establishment will be anchored by the culinary expertise of James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Messina. Messina, an East Boston native who won Best Chef: Northeast in 2019, will be a Chef Partner, signaling a food-centric approach for this location, a departure from the more beverage-forward model of its Burlington counterpart. The restaurant is founded by Larry Leibowitz, who is also the co-founder of two well-regarded Salem eateries, Kokeshi and Bambolina. The first Common Craft, which opened in the Burlington Mall in 2022, pioneered a unique concept: a multi-branded space that houses several beverage concepts, including taprooms and a speakeasy, under one roof to spotlight local and independent craft producers. Located on the ground floor of the South Standard residential building, the nearly 8,000-square-foot South Boston space will feature a 133-seat main dining room, two large bars, and a lounge called the Stillroom. The new restaurant is slated to open in mid-March 2026. The menu at the Burlington location features upscale gastropub fare with global influences, such as Korean Short Rib Tacos and a French Onion Burger, alongside a wide array of starters, salads, and flatbreads. The South Boston menu will feature a rotating program called "The Current," designed to explore a single culinary theme at a time, reflecting seasonality and New England ingredients.