Common Craft, Open in Southie

James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Messina is officially back in action this week with the opening of Common Craft in South Boston (85 Damrell Street), a brand new neighborhood restaurant built around seasonal cooking and New England producers.

Messina has partnered with founder Larry Leibowitz to bring the concept, sister to the original Common Craft location in Burlington, to town with a menu built around local  ingredients and the people behind them. At the center is The Current, a rotating feature that spotlights a different maker or producer every six to eight weeks. It kicks off with Boston seafood supplier Wulf’s Fish, setting the tone with briny, coastal flavors in dishes like warm Parker House rolls with garlic butter and Cape Ann sea salt, and Peekytoe crab dip with cheddar and butter-fried saltines. Scope out the debut menu below to see what’s in store.

The space also features a cocktail destination in The Stillroom, where Beverage Manager Shelby Mastrodicasa is mixing botanical-driven collection of Curated Libations designed to complement the kitchen’s efforts. Expect spruced up takes on the classics like a Boulevardier made with bourbon, campari, sweet vermouth, Black Infusions Dark Cherry and orange peel, an Aperol Spritz with Aperol, strawberry puree, rhubarb syrup, prosecco and soda, and Pineapple Last Word made with gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, lime and caramelized pineapple puree.

To start, Common Craft South Boston is now open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 4:00pm, with weekend lunch and brunch service expected to launch in April. Consult their website to see all their offerings or hop over to their IG for updates and intel. Once you’re ready, you can book a table online here to be among the earliest of early birds.