Orchid 7
The flavors are bold. The colors are bright. And the Caribbean is calling you, to Orchid 7.
Located in the heart of Dedham Square, Orchid 7 Fusion Bar and Grill is an excitingly delicious spot bringing fresh new flavors to the suburbs south of Boston. Chef-owner Marie Jean-Francois and her husband Claudison hail from Haiti, and have brought the cuisine of the Caribbean with them.
Marie Jean-Francois – Chef/Owner, Orchid 7: “I like to describe Orchid 7 like a big giant living room where everybody is welcome. Our focus here, it's the vibe, the music, the art, the ambience that we offer. And our food is to die for.”
Claudison Jean-Francois – Owner, Orchid 7: “When you come here, not only the food is delicious, we want to create the experience, right. So you don't have to travel to the Caribbean, you can come here.”
And when you arrive, you’ll find a menu filled with dishes that are approachably familiar, but infused tropical twists. The kind of cuisine that can appeal to everyone in the community, even if they’ve never experienced Caribbean cuisine before.
Claudison Jean-Francois – Owner, Orchid 7: “Community is key to what we do. That's why it's not your typical Haitian restaurant. We don't want it to be typical. It's fusion for a reason, because we want to cater to everyone because food is not just a culture, food this taste. Anybody who wants tastes , delicious tastes, could come to Orchid 7, and to us that's the attraction. To gather people around food, I think it's a beautiful thing.”
And they gather in a space designed to transport you to another place.
Claudison Jean-Francois – Owner, Orchid 7: “The first thing when you enter the door, it's an open space that's on purpose, right? There's a screen here. It's a live screen of fish. Because I'm from the islands, so I love to see the fish. And there's painting that showcase the beauty of Port au Prince, Haiti. And you see the colors. It's bright. So when you enter here, there's peace. There is love. You can forget about what's going on outside when you come here.”
Appetizers at Orchid 7 offer a little something for everyone, from Colossal Grilled Shrimp with Pineapple-Mango Chutney, to Philly Cheesesteak Eggrolls with chipotle sauce, to Fried Plantain Sliders topped with slow cooked roast pork and creamy cole slaw.
Marie Jean-Francois – Chef/Owner, Orchid 7: “The cole slaw has a little spice and sweet at the same time. Mixed with the sweet plantain and the meat inside. When you combine it together, it's super good.”
If you’re craving a bowl of comfort, check out the Chili, loaded with angus beef and kidney beans.
Marie Jean-Francois – Chef/Owner, Orchid 7: “My beef chili is to die for, that's what people say. The seasoning in there is well balanced. The little secret spice we put in there, that smoky secret spice we put in there, gave you that little kick, but not overpowered.”
And if the Chili gives you a little kick, the Orchid 7 Jerk Chicken Wings are more like a roundhouse to your mouth.
Marie Jean-Francois – Chef/Owner, Orchid 7: “There’s a kick. No, it’s not a kick, it’s spicy. It’s not just a kick, it’s spicy.”
It also happens to be a closely guarded secret.
Marie Jean-Francois – Chef/Owner, Orchid 7: “I’m not going to talk about our jerk sauce. Sealed. People ask me all the time. ‘What's in there? Why is this so different?’ Yes. Sealed. I'm not talking about that.”
When it comes to entrees, there’s plenty of meat on the menu, like Barbecue Baby Back Ribs basted in apple butter BBQ sauce, a 12-ounce New York Strip with garlicky spinach, Roasted Mustard Chicken with fresh herbs and black rice, and a gloriously messy Jerk Caramelized Pineapple Burger.
Marie Jean-Francois – Chef/Owner, Orchid 7: “Juice is running, your hand is dirty. This is not a burger you eat like this, like that. No. It's a burger you go and I'm ready to take a big bite out of that burger. Get your hands ready because you’re about to be ‘Wow.’”
Another handheld you’ll want to get your hands on are the Plantain Tacos with Cabbage Slaw and Shredded Roasted Chicken, an Orchid 7 original.
Marie Jean-Francois – Chef/Owner, Orchid 7: “You’re not gonna find that taco anywhere. We use yellow plantains. This is a plantain we fry. Then after that we put in a shaper, like the taco shape. And then it gives you the shape that you need. It’s something different, Everybody that tastes it for the first time they said ‘huh, I didn't expect that, but it works.’”
And for the ultimate unexpectedly delicious dish, check out the Mediterranean-Caribbean fusion known as Rasta Pasta.
Marie Jean-Francois – Chef/Owner, Orchid 7: “Rasta Pasta is the rasta into the pasta. It’s a pasta that we make with Jerk sauce. I make it creamy, and it tastes good, and it's very tasty. If you want to eat the real Rasta Pasta, you have to come to Orchid 7.”
And if you want something cooked with passion and pride, Orchid 7 is the place.
Marie Jean-Francois – Chef/Owner, Orchid 7: “I always tell people this, if I cannot serve something to my family, I'm not sending it here. Cooking is really important to me. I still want to make sure when you go home you're gonna think about my food.”
