Ventanas Restaurant in Fort Lee Opens, Spring Dinner Plans are Done

We’ve been swooning for months now over the news of Ventanas Restaurant & Lounge, a buzzy restaurant and lounge opening in Fort Lee. It’s the first North Jersey venture for star chef David Burke and the brainchild of Alex Duran of West New York hot spot Son Cubano. We just had a foodie feeling that the swanky spot was going to become the perfect place to pop in for cool cocktails and fab food, good for everything from date nights to group dinners. And now that we got to pay a visit during Ventanas’ soft opening this week, we’re happy to report that it’s exceeding expectations.

The vibe is dramatic. After all, it’s a 7,000-square-foot venue at the base of luxe skyscraper residential complex The Modern. The entry’s giant red doors feel glam and, inside, the stylish space boasts dark woods, red accents, an open kitchen and a massive bar anchoring the room. When the warmer weather arrives, expect an expansive patio complete with a tune-spinning DJ.

With David Burke at the helm in the kitchen, we knew we were in for daring, delicious dishes all with a super fun presentations. (Remember his epic cheesecake lollipop trees from davidburke & donatella?) And that's exactly what we’re getting here. The menu blends Latin and Asian influences and the result is a mix of creative plates that are as design-centric as they are delectable. Think lobster dumplings with a drizzle of miso oil, skirt steak frites and done with a bold truffle chimichurri sauce, salt-and-coffee-roasted whole snapper, wow-worthy skewers of Korean-style wings and calamari, and a smattering of sushi and sashimi offerings. Of course, DB has brought back those aforementioned lollipops, too, so you’ll want to save room for some sweets. (Residents of The Modern, listen up. All this can be yours in the form of pool side or room service. Just a little extra bonus for you in case living in such swanky digs wasn't enough)

As for our favorite menu – the one with the cocktails on it – it’s extensive and filled with plenty of unique and show-stopping boozy options. On our next visit, we Uber.