This is a unique experience for me as I step into a new eatery. It’s a captivating ambiance that momentarily diverts my focus from the food. It’s not just the aesthetic appeal of the timber slats, the smooth contours and the organised space, but the sonorous music permeating the room which is equally alluring.
Situated at Fidelity Studio, Sister 7 is more relatable to the CMAT demographic than the Kid Creole era, albeit the patronage is quite diverse. The establishment is a joint enterprise between Dave Parle and Steve Manning of the popular Big Romance bar on Parnell Street, and Alex Lawes and Alan Wolfe of the renowned Whiplash Brewery. This collective enterprise resulted in the birth of Fidelity Bar, which is located adjacent to what was previously Dice Bar. Robert Hayes and Alex Zhang from Big Fan have been incorporated to oversee the culinary aspects of Fidelity Studio, with Chef Chung Lee leading the team.
Specifically designed by Toby Hatchett in Cork, the music system holds the distinction of being the largest in the country, and every nook and cranny of the studio space is optimised to emit enchanting acoustics. The specially designed sprung floor enhances the sound quality, with the main highlight being an impressive seven-foot sub stack. The tunes are so tempting, you may want to venture into the tiled facilities to understand the change in acoustic quality without buffering. The front houses a well-stocked bar with several tables and comfortable opal-green banquettes. Toward the back, a fluorescent orange booth houses a DJ station where the mixing and spinning take place as night descends.
Enrolling the team from Big Fan to take care of the cuisine was a stroke of genius. You’ll find their signature dishes, as well as new food items that incorporate Whiplash beer. The cocktail menu is top-notch, particularly the basil-infused black pepper Margarita (€13) and the New York sour (€12.50), which comes with a dash of red wine.
The Mushroom Butcher takeaway review reveals that their specially crafted cooking and crème brûlée doughnuts are worth the journey. The tasting menu was en pointe offering varied options. We started with the famous Iberico char siu puffs (€7), two rectangular parcels of crispy pastry filled with minced pork.
The dishes come with an assortment of dips or sauces for added flavour. Chun li, priced at €11.50, comprises six delicate dumplings filled with chicken, celeriac and water chestnuts, served on pickled enoki mushrooms, and coupled with a Whiplash dark sour vinegar.
Then we have scamorza wontons, worth €8, presenting a contrasting texture with its five crispy shells oozing with smoked molten cheese and accompanied by a plum dip.
A highlight of the menu are the Lip sticks. Priced at €8, these are four remarkable vegetable cakes crafted from fermented rice, celeriac, shiitake, yam, cabbage and tofu which have been shaped into rectangular pieces and deep-fried to a golden hue. These vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free bites are a dream, served with a mouth-watering miso and maple sauce.
The Sister 7 bao bun, at €7.50, houses slow-braised beef in Whiplash Slow Life stout, molded into a rectangular patty, coated with barley crumbs and then deep-fried. The result is a crunchy, savoury, delicious treat with a hint of acidity from rhubarb and spice from fermented chilli. It’s definitely worth ordering.
The sweet heart egg, costing €5, marinated in soy, exhibits a pleasant jaminess, resting on thin slices of smoky bonito, and dressed in a garlic and chilli oil. This pairs perfectly with the tangy kimchi, priced at €4.50. Another interesting dish is the Xiao long bao (soup dumplings) for €12, offering three pockets stuffed with minced Andarl pork along with pork stock that pours onto your spoon. The tangy sauce with spring onion and ginger complements it beautifully. As an optional addition, you can go for the Sis7 sauce at €4.50, a fiery black garlic, soy and chilli sauce, crammed with crunch beef floss, representing their version of lao gan ma.
The meal rounds off with cured sturgeon for €14.50, served over pickled daikon and torched to perfection. A fitting finale is the deep-fried mantou at €6.50, which you can dip in condensed milk for indulgence.
Sister 7 offers a unique culinary experience with exquisite, inventive meals in a remarkable setting. You’ll find they serve food until 10pm, drawing evening crowds, particularly over the weekend. Therefore, midweek visits or early bookings are suggested. The experience is certainly worth considering.
For a two-person dinner, complete with a pair of cocktails and beers, the bill amounted to €126.90.
The final assessment: An exceptional dining room offering visually and flavourfully impressive dishes.
Musical ambiance: Enjoy tunes from King Geedorah, J Gooch and Grace Jones.
Food sourced from: Recognised suppliers such as Andarl Farm, Bretzel Bakery, Kish Fish, John Stone, Garryhinch Mushrooms, Toonsbridge, Keelings, and Asia Market.
For vegetarians: Enjoy delightful options like Lip sticks, scamorza wonton, steamed enoki mushrooms, and edamame.
Accessibility: Fully accommodates wheelchairs, including accessibility in the restroom.