Lefkes Burned Down in June. It’s Reopening Next Friday in Fort Lee.
On the morning of June 11, firefighters pulled up to 495 Sylvan Avenue in Englewood Cliffs and found heavy smoke pouring out of one of the most beloved Greek restaurants in Bergen County. The fire at Lefkes was upgraded to four alarms. By the time it was out, the building was a total loss. Nobody was hurt, which is the only good news in that sentence. A restaurant that had become a fixture of the North Jersey dining scene since 2018 was just gone.
Four months later, Lefkes is back.
On Friday, October 9, the restaurant reopens as Lefkes at The Modern, taking over the former Ventanas space at 200 Park Avenue in Fort Lee. It is a comeback story with a twist. Lefkes owner Georgia Dumas is partnering with Alexander Duran, the restaurateur behind Son Cubano and the former Ventanas, to bring the Lefkes concept into a space that already had its own loyal following. Much of the Ventanas team, hospitality, and atmosphere will carry over as the room transitions into its new identity.
The room itself is getting a Greek makeover. White accents, new murals, lighting, furniture, and decorative details throughout. If you have ever seen photos of the Lefkes locations in Greece, you know the energy. The brand traces back to Santorini and Athens, and brings that bright, Mediterranean, room comes alive feeling to every space it touches. Dumas said it plainly in the press release: "Lefkes has always been about the people, the delicious food and the feeling you get when the room comes alive. Our guests come from all over for that experience, and Lefkes at The Modern is its most elegant expression yet."
And the food is coming with it. Guests can expect the same menu that made the original a hit: Greek with a modern twist, alongside an impressive sushi program and craft cocktails. The standouts are all returning. Miso cod. Lamb shank. Grilled octopus. The Berkshire pork chop. Plus the classic spreads, salads, and handhelds that built the following in the first place. This is not a watered down reboot. It is the Lefkes people drove to Englewood Cliffs for, rebuilt four minutes from the George Washington Bridge.
Duran's quote from the announcement tells you why this merger makes sense: "Lefkes already has an identity and a following that people connect with. Bringing it to this space was the right move, and I think people are going to be very excited about what comes next." He is right. Ventanas had the room, the location, and the late night energy. Lefkes has the food and the fanbase. Put them together at 200 Park Avenue and you have one of the most interesting openings of the fall.
The late night angle matters here too. Lefkes at The Modern is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with dinner running until 2 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, brunch on weekends, and the DJ driven, Santorini energy nightlife that made the original more than just a dinner reservation. OpenTable already has the listing live at $50 and over, and it was booked eight times today alone. People have been waiting for this.
What happened on Sylvan Avenue in June deserves one more note. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and the Fort Lee Fire Investigation Unit. The Englewood Cliffs building is not coming back. But the restaurant is. In an industry where fires usually mean the end of the story, Lefkes found a way to write a second chapter four months later, in a bigger spotlight, with a partner who knows the room. Bergen County gets its Greek institution back, and Fort Lee gets a new anchor tenant with a built in crowd.
Reservations are already open. Opening night is October 9. If you were a Lefkes regular, your table is waiting. If you never made it to Englewood Cliffs, this is your second chance, and it is a better room.