Popular MA Eatery to Open Second Location in South Boston

The new Common Craft restaurant will be led by a James Beard Award-winning chef.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A popular Burlington eatery, Common Craft, has announced plans to open a second location in South Boston. The new restaurant will be located at the base of the South Standard apartments building and is slated to open in early March. The culinary director and 2019 James Beard Award winner Tony Messina will lead the new location, which will focus more on dining with table service and ingredients rather than a beverage-forward concept.

Why it matters

The opening of Common Craft's second location in South Boston is a significant development for the local dining scene, as it brings a well-regarded restaurant with an award-winning chef to the neighborhood. This addition diversifies the food options available to residents and visitors, and it also signals continued investment and growth in the area's culinary landscape.

The details

Common Craft was founded by Larry Leibowitz in Burlington in 2022 and serves as a multi-room drinking and dining spot at the Burlington Mall. The new South Boston location will feature a culinary rotation called The Current, which will highlight new people, products, and ideas with new menus and events. In addition to Common Craft, other new eateries are also opening in the South Boston neighborhood, including the Italian-inspired Si Cara and the Spanish restaurant Dalia.

  • Common Craft South Boston is slated to open in early March 2026.
  • Si Cara opened its doors on West Broadway in December 2025.
  • Dalia, a Spanish restaurant, is coming to the South Boston neighborhood.

The players

Common Craft

A popular Burlington eatery that is opening a second location in South Boston.

Tony Messina

The culinary director of Common Craft and a 2019 James Beard Award winner.

Larry Leibowitz

The founder of Common Craft.

Si Cara

A Cambridge-favorite Italian-inspired restaurant that opened a new location in South Boston in December 2025.

Dalia

A Spanish restaurant coming to the South Boston neighborhood, owned by the Broadway Restaurant Group.

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What’s next

The new Common Craft restaurant in South Boston is slated to open in early March 2026.

The takeaway

The opening of Common Craft's second location in South Boston, led by a James Beard Award-winning chef, is a significant addition to the neighborhood's dining scene. It signals continued investment and growth in the area's culinary landscape, diversifying the food options available to residents and visitors.