Coming soon: A James Beard award-winning chef has a new role in Southie. Tony Messina (Uni) will oversee the culinary program at South Boston’s Common Craft (85 Damrell St.), slated to open in March.
It’s the second location for the business, with an original location in Burlington (75 Middlesex Turnpike). There, you’ll find taprooms, a wine bar, a speakeasy, and a restaurant in one breezy venue, with a broad menu: dumplings, cheeses, charcuterie, flatbreads, tacos, and burgers. Messina will put his own stamp on the Southie food program.
Openings: Remember Tiffani Faison’s Tiger Mama in the Fenway, home to Thai, Malaysian, and Vietnamese delights like spectacular milk bread and clams with chile jam? It closed in October 2021, but now there’s Tigerbaby, Faison’s fifth spot at High Street Place Food Hall (100 High St.). On the wide-ranging Southeast Asian menu: crab rangoons and apricot sauce; tangerine or Thai basil chicken; Korean pork tteokbokki; veggie lo mein; and Vietnamese iced coffee and Thai iced tea. The food hall is open Monday through Saturday.
Inside Burlington’s Sorella, the newest restaurant from Tuscan Brands.Handout
In Burlington, a new concept from the folks behind Tuscan Kitchen: Sorella Cucina Toscana (2400 District Ave.) arrives on Friday, Feb. 20. It spotlights a greatest-hits menu from the brand, including Maine lobster arancini; black truffle tagliatelle; and braised short rib ravioli; plus negronis in sunny, spacious surrounds. Visit Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. and weekends from 11:30 a.m.
Swingers Back Bay also opens on Friday, Feb. 20 (777 Boylston St.). The 23,000-square-foot megaspace offers carnival games, indoor golf, and Detroit-style pizza from Emmy Squared. Visit from opening day until Thursday, Feb. 26, and get 25 percent off tickets (use code OPEN25).
In the North End, Tony Susi’s lovely Little Sage introduces a weekday cocktail-and-snacks menu. Visit the bar from 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. for negronis and Aperol spritzes, with potato croquettes; toasted brioche with stracciatella and caviar; mozzarella, speck, and tomato jam sliders; and more.
Kara Baskin can be reached at kara.baskin@globe.com. Follow her @kcbaskin.
Dining and Cooking