A rendering of the central park area that will be home to Ventanas, a new Cuban-, Asian- and American-inspired restaurant at The Modern in Fort Lee. — Courtesy: SJP Properties
By Joshua Burd
A new restaurant with a Cuban-, Asian- and American-inspired menu is coming to SJP Properties’ two-tower, 900-unit luxury residential development in Fort Lee.
SJP announced recently that restauranteur Alex Duran will bring the establishment, Ventanas Restaurant & Lounge, to the property known as The Modern. The 7,000-square-foot restaurant will anchor a new central park area that will separate its two signature 47-story, all-glass apartment towers near the base of the George Washington Bridge.
Duran, who owns the Son Cubano supper club in West New York, has tapped renowned chef David Burke as the culinary managing director and Ricardo Cardona as the chef for Ventanas, SJP said in a news release. With the new eatery, Duran will seek to capitalize on the restaurant’s unique indoor-outdoor setting to create a modern, energized dining experience for guests that blends Asian flavors with Cardona’s cutting-edge Latin cuisine and the farm-to-table American gastronomy of Burke, a Fort Lee resident.
Guests will have access to three main venues within the restaurant: a tapas lounge, a cosmopolitan bar and a full-service dining room, the news release said. The space will also include a patio with an outdoor bar and lounge and a sweeping pergola.
In total, Ventanas will be able to accommodate 150 guests in the dining room and seating for 50 people at the bar, with a private event space that can fit another 75 patrons. The outdoor terrace will offer seating for 75 to 100 guests, with a location that offers views of the iconic bridge.
“Latin dining is intended to be an immersive experience, with the ambiance just as important as the food itself,” Duran said. “Chef Cardona is recognized for his fusion of Latin, French and American cuisines, and his creativity and dynamism will set the tone in providing guests with an inspired dining experience.
“When coupled with Chef Burke’s unmistakable influence, and the lively, yet elegant environment we have created with our décor, we know Ventanas will quickly become a favorite destination along the Gold Coast.”
Cardona is the executive chef of Lua, Sofrito and Hudson River Café in New York City and serves as the chef for the New York Yankees during home games, the news release said. Burke, a well-known chef, restaurateur and television personality, has opened restaurants such as Tavern 62 and Woodpecker in New York City, Drifthouse in Sea Bright and the recently announced The King Bar and Red Salt Room in Garden City, New York.
SJP is now leasing the second phase of the high-end project known as The Modern. The building is a mirror image of the first tower, while the overall complex will feature 150,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor lifestyle amenities.
The property was designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects in collaboration with SJP, which is developing The Modern in partnership with PGIM Real Estate and Northwestern Mutual. The Bozzuto Group oversees leasing and management.
SJP also announced that Ventanas will provide residents of The Modern with room service and poolside food service at each of property’s two outdoor infinity pools.
“Welcoming Ventanas to The Modern will not only create an exceptional new dining experience for the region, with two renowned chefs, an inspired menu concept and a stunning park setting,” said Steven. J Pozycki, CEO of SJP Properties. “It will also serve as an incredible amenity for residents of The Modern, who will soon be able to order room service and poolside food service as if they were living in a five-star hotel.
“We pride ourselves on providing our residents with the very best in lifestyle services, and this latest amenity makes it clear that The Modern is the true standard for luxury living in the region.”
SJP, local officials hail completion of second luxury tower in Fort Lee (SLIDESHOW)
