VENTANAS Restaurant and Lounge — Restaurant in Fort Lee

I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with the handling of our recent holiday party on December 13th for our company Unfortunately, the experience was far from what was promised, and the level of organization and professionalism we encountered was completely unacceptable and disrespectful. I would like to outline the key issues that contributed to our disappointment: In November, we scheduled a meeting with Claudia (the event manager) to discuss our event, which was held at your Ventana restaurant. During this meeting, Claudia walked us through the venue and asked for an estimate of our guest count. I provided an average of 40 guests. Claudia then took us to the red room where we discussed our seating arrangement. We requested that the tables be arranged in either an L-shape or U-shape, ensuring everyone could comfortably engage with one another. The COO also confirmed that we would be in the red room, and Claudia assured us that the date, December 13th, was available for 8:00 pm, which worked perfectly for us. At that time, we also discussed the menu, which we reviewed and decided on during the visit. I later spoke with Claudia to inform some of our staff members from Italy and Canada may not be able to attend, and the final count might be closer to 20 people. I reassured her that I would provide confirmation once I had a definite headcount. After speaking with our team, I confirmed that our staff members from Italy and Canada would indeed be attending the event, making the final guest count closer to 40 people. I promptly informed Claudia of the confirmed number, which included children. I called Claudia to ask about how to pay the balance for the event. She provided me with a payment link, which I forwarded to our admin assistant, who handles all company payments. Once the payment was made, I followed up with Claudia to confirm the menu details, including having our company name and a holiday message displayed. Our admin assistant called Claudia to ensure the guest count was accurate for the red room, and once confirmed, the payment was processed. Afterward, I reached out to Claudia to finalize the menu details and confirm the wording. The Friday before the event, I called Claudia to confirm that everything was in order. She assured me that everything was set up and that she was looking forward to meeting our team. Upon arriving at the restaurant, the COO was informed that we were not located in the red room. This was completely unexpected, as it had been clearly discussed and confirmed with Claudia during our planning meetings. I approached Claudia to understand why we were not in the red room as agreed. She claimed there had been a misunderstanding. However, this explanation was completely unconvincing. It is inconceivable that she could have misinterpreted our in-person meeting, where we specifically discussed the table arrangement and seating in the red room. To make matters worse, the area we were placed in was incredibly cramped and uncomfortable, and the number of chairs provided was incorrect. The entire setup was poorly organized, and it became clear that the event space had already been booked by another company at the same time that was supposed to be ours. Claudia's claim of a misunderstanding is simply not credible. Overall, the food was great and the service from the waitstaff was as well, however it was not enough to overcome the circumstance of being moved from the private room we took extra care to secure into the open floor. This was by far the most disorganized and unprofessional hosting experience we have ever had at a venue. The lack of transparency and communication ahead of time, coupled with the misleading excuses given, has left us with no intention of returning to your restaurant in the future. We are extremely disappointed by how this event was handled, especially after the time and effort we invested in planning it. Given the circumstances, we will be seeking alternative venues for future events and will not be recommending your...

I went for my birthday celebration yesterday and the ambience was beautiful. I did like the decor parking was very easy. Valet is only $10 we made reservations so we didn’t have to wait at all. We were seated right away. However, once we sat down and started to order our waitress, i don’t recall her name however she did have glasses with short curly hair was not very attentive. We had to ask other waiters to please look for our waitress and sometimes we had to ask other waiters to bring us utensils and other items. Once the food arrived you will think the waitress will come and check on us ask us, she did not even come once to ask if we were OK if our food was fine and if we needed anything else that was very frustrating because when we received our appetizers of two sushi rolls they didn’t bring chopsticks or soy sauce, we were already halfway done eating because we couldn’t find our waitress ones again… until we found a different waiter and she was nice enough to bring us some Chopsticks and soy sauce. The sushi was bland and the rice was cold. Usually when you have fresh sushi it’s a little warm or at least soft. The sushi orders came out pretty quickly, no really like five seconds after we ordered it came out, so that was a red flag already definitely not made fresh. For Our main course I asked for the lamb chops and I also asked if they had mashed potatoes the waitress said no, but they had slice baked potatoes so I asked for that instead. My boyfriend ordered the lobster tails with the garlic rice. Once the food arrived, I didn’t receive my potatoes. I couldn’t get the waitress attention once again so I had to eat my lamb chops without the potatoes and my lamb chops had a piece of plastic on top of it. I didn’t finish my meal. We didn’t want to say anything because we didn’t want to start any drama and we were running late to my birthday party celebration because she took forever to bring us our check (by the way tip is included so even if you have a bad service, you are obligated to tip 20%) by the time I was finished with one lamb chop that’s when I noticed the plastic wrap on top of the other lamb chop because this restaurant is dark and I couldn’t really notice it right away. My boyfriend finishes his lobster tails however the rice tasted microwaved. We did order the dessert that came with cheesecake lollipops, and the cotton candy that was fine… last but not least the drinks, I ordered an apple martini and my boyfriend ordered a lychee martini. The Lychee Martini was fine however the apple martini had no flavor and it was bland. It was a one time experience. We really wanted to come because it’s only 15 minutes away from our home in Jersey and it was a hype that we wanted to try. Never again I will come to this restaurant not even if somebody else pays for it. I will post a video about my lamb chops look very carefully. You see something really shiny on the top of one of the lamb chops, I took a video not thinking much of it until I was trying to cut the lamb chops. I had to take screenshots of the video because it seems like google doesn’t let you post videos. That’s when I noticed it wasn’t a burnt piece of meat or like a char that some meats may have, but it was a piece of plastic! Like if they took my lamb chops from the trash and just brought it to me. I made the best out of my birthday once we left...

Atmosphere: From the moment you approach Ventanas, the attention to detail and class is evident. The ambiance inside exudes a modern, city-line chic vibe with an open concept and clean lines. The hostesses are tastefully dressed, complementing the stylish environment. The waitstaff, dressed in a neat, dark color scheme, blends seamlessly into the background, avoiding any distractions. Management is impeccably dressed, akin to attendees of the MET or NY Fashion Week.

Food: Our drink orders were simple: water and a tonic with muddled lime and jalapeno. The first tonic arrived without lime, but this was corrected in the second round. We were mistakenly brought plantain chips, which, despite not being ordered, were left at our table. The Roasted Belly Tostones were tasty though a bit messy. The avocado salad stood out as superb. The Udon Noodles, served without shrimp and beef, were flavorful and satisfying. The Broccolini with orange, ginger, and garlic dressing paired well, and the sweet plantains with agave lime syrup were a definite favorite. The food quality met the high standards set by the restaurant's chic appearance, though nothing was extraordinary.

Service: The service was decent, though our waiter seemed somewhat absent despite her kindness and attentiveness when present. The inclusion of a convenience fee and then a 21% gratuity for our party of two was disappointing, especially since we had reservations made a week in advance and discouraged me from leaving my usual heavy gratuity for date nights at establishments like this when I receive outstanding service.

Photos: While I did not take any photos, the restaurant features several neon signs and backdrops that are popular for photos among guests.

Balanced Perspective: Positives: Dining outside in pleasant weather was a highlight. Despite the wind, the setup with gas fires and well-arranged furniture added to the experience. I recommend bringing a light coat for the ladies. Negatives: The restaurant leans more towards a showy atmosphere rather than a quiet, romantic vibe. Smoking is allowed outside, and the dress code isn't strictly enforced, with some guests dressed too casually for the setting.

Personal Anecdotes: The attached courtyard with greenery and a pond adds a charming touch. I recommend making reservations an hour before sunset to enjoy the scenery.

Date & Time of Visit: I visited on Saturday, May 25th, 2024, at 7 PM.

Overall Opinion: During my visit, the restaurant seemed more middle class, with a mix of graduation and celebration parties. The music was not overly loud, and the space did not feel cramped. The crowd was eclectic, with cool cultural vibes. Based on my observations and other reviews, larger parties of more than five guests might encounter issues.

Ratings and Comparisons: Food: 4/5 Service: 3.5/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5

I've been to better restaurants that align more with my style. However, for a night out seeking a North Jersey chic, showy, and modern dining experience, Ventanas fits the bill.

Interaction with Restaurant Management: I did not have any interactions with the management.

Overall, Ventanas offers a stylish dining experience with a vibrant atmosphere, ideal for those looking for an upscale night out. While there are areas for improvement, it remains a noteworthy destination...