The story
Ventanas Restaurant & Lounge at The Modern brings together restaurateur Alexander Duran — known for Son Cubano — and culinary director Chef David Burke to deliver a menu that treats America's melting pot as a genuine creative brief. The result is a Fort Lee dining room where Modern-American, Asian, and Latin flavors meet without apology, backed by a wine list that earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
Chef David Burke's résumé reads like a masterclass in American cooking. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and a student at École Lenôtre in France, he trained alongside Pierre Troisgros, George Blanc, and Daniel Boulud before earning Three Stars from the New York Times at the River Café at just 26. He remains the only American to receive France's coveted Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Diplôme d'Honneur. At Ventanas, Burke serves as Culinary Director, bringing the same precision and inventiveness that has defined a thirty-year career to a menu rooted in fusion and seasonal ingredients.
Signature dishes showcase the range the kitchen is working with: Lobster Dumplings, Tuna Tartare Tacos, and the Ventanas Sushi Roll sit alongside Burke's patented Salt-Aged Beef and crowd favorites like Clothesline Bacon and Calamari Rings. The Latin influence threads naturally through the menu, balancing boldness with technique. Brunch, desserts, and a dedicated cocktail program round out the offering, and Wine Down Wednesdays give regulars a reason to return mid-week.
Beyond the main dining room, a distinct Red Room provides a more intimate setting for private events — from weddings and anniversaries to corporate gatherings. The team, led by event coordinator Claudia Almeida and maître d' Angel, handles groups of all sizes, with prix fixe options for parties of nine or more. An enchanting patio adds an outdoor dimension that few Fort Lee venues can match.
For anyone seeking Latin-forward fusion dining with serious culinary credentials just across from Manhattan, Ventanas delivers on both atmosphere and plate.
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