The fancy restaurant at the grounds for sculpture is pretty upscale offering excellent service and food by the lake with fantastic view. The place looks like an aged french house with cute paintings and decor inside that make you feel like you are back in time. The wait staff and service here is fantastic. They explain everything and very professional. Also, the food is really top notch. A bit pricey but we went for lunch, so it wasn't so bad. But they have beautiful monet-like view with sculptures and fresh air, I think it's a must visit place in Hamilton. Omelette was very well-made and served well. French onion soup is a must try menu item there. It tastes like it was boiled for awhile so the onion flavors are well mixed in the soup and the bread. It didn't smell too strong either. It was very hearty and reminded me of those good old french onion soup from childhood. My favorite was the potato leek ravioli. It was very expensive for the portion but I'd definitely get it again. I could tell it was homemade with real potato leeks and the sauce was one of the best I've ever tried. One star is off for the expensive price though. This place doesn't disappoint. read more

Rat's Restaurant - French onion soup and baguette with shallot butter - French Near Me - Hamilton, New Jersey

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Spectacular view! Great service. French Dip was awful. Brussel sprouts and crème brûlée were great. A nice day.

Last Saturday, my bestie invited me and the other 6 girlfriends to Grounds for Sculpture to celebrate her 29 b- day and we had lunch at Rat's. As soon as you stepped on the Japanese bridge, you pretty much got an idea the restaurant and the surrounding area were built based on Monet's famous of famous painting- the Water Lily Pond, the view on a sunny day is really really nice. Th inside of restaurant is beautifully decorated, it is french country style theme with wooden beams on the ceiling and french country style chandelier. It's just very unique. We were seated promptly upon our arrival, and after reading the menu, we decided that we were going to order 3 appetizers to share and ordered each our own's entrees. Our appetizers were Provencal Mezze, salmon tartine and baby kale salad, all of them were good. The hummus plate were really really good, it's huge portion and great for group to share, the artisanal flat bread came with the hummus dish is super delicious. The baby kale salad is fresh but small, I also noticed some of our friends who ordered seared trouts fro entrees did get kale salad on the side, so if you are going to order seared trouts, you probably don't need to order kale salad. I ordered vegetable risotto as entrees, I think it's OK, I am not too impressed. I tried a piece of the chicken that my friend ordered and it was very tender and juicy. I probably will order chicken or trout if I have ever visited this restaurant again since my friends seemed really like their foods. Service is really good, our waiter Peter ( this is the name shown on the receipt) is superb, he constantly checked us see if our dishes were ok and was very curtious and professional. I took 1 star off because the desserts we ordered fell flat. For a dessert plate that is charged for $9+ , I really think they can do better. read more

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We have eaten at Rat's several times in the past and have never been disappointed with the food. This past we returned for dinner with several friends. I ordered the Steak au pointe and was surprised that the preparation was not like any I have had at other restaurants. I am used to get sautéed medallions (usually tenderloin) served in a rich creamy sauce. What was presented appeared to be a NY style strip steak with a dribble of sauce. It was just ok. If the restaurant is going to deviate from the customary preparation it should be described as such in the menu. Needless to say I won't be ordering it again. read more

Fun ambience with French impressionist artwork all over the walls, upholstered chairs, dark wood furniture and floors. Large sprawling space but with separate rooms that feel like different restaurants so as not to be lost in a sea of people. The surrounding Gardens are quirky and great for photo ops. We had a fixed menu of chicken which looked okay and broiled salmon that was succulent, served on whipped potatoes with a grilled trumpet mushroom. The mushroom was nicely waffled and had the texture of tender squid but I didn't love it. Don't fill up on the grainy bread: save your individual herbed butter for their house-famous puffed egg bread. We had an assortment of dessert samplers that were fun to try but not very good; the chocolate mousse was grainy and the cakes were heavy with butter or oil. Our servers were great and the ambience was beautiful. read more

This used to be the go-to restaurant. We went to celebrate my daughter's graduation. 3 hostesses watched as my handicapped mother struggled to enter. They suggested we go to the bar (no seats and with a minor), seated at a table without enough chairs or settings. Waited 3 hours for our food, had tickets to the grounds and got 5 minutes because Rats was so late. Our food was cold, over cooked, served at different times and lastly... a bug crawled out of our bill! Absolutely gross. Called to complain and flat out said "You could not pay ME to come back, I am so grossed out!" Diners BEWARE!!!! This used to be so great! Now... awful! read more

I have been wanting to visit grounds for sculpture for years now. My friend expressed how much she enjoyed the restaurant on site, Rat's, so I made a reservation for me and my family. We were seated by the fire place which was perfect, and the restaurant itself was beautiful and impeccably decorated. The chairs were velvet and the table is set with chargers covered in art. Our server Angel was very kind and gave great suggestions. They had a seasonal cocktail menu which i LOVE. I got the autumn sangria and it was yummy. My mother got a cranberry margarita and said it was delicious. We were there for lunch so I got the prime rib sandwich, I really enjoyed it was very tasty and i love the way they did their french fries, they were thick crisped wedges. The star of the show was dessert, I had the beignets... when i tell you I'd come back just to have those again I would. They were so absolutely delicious. It came with a raspberry sauce/jam to dip them in and i wanted to scrape the leftover and take it to go it was that good. I think this a great place for a date, I'd love to go back for that. But also of course great for family/friends. I really recommend taking some time to stop here when visiting grounds for sculpture. You can enter through the park or just from the restaurant entrance no need to buy a pass. Gorgeous, and lovely meal! read more

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Great restaurant and beautiful bar area. Had the short ribs which were delicious. Wish there was more sides but staff was great and vibes were really nice read more

Good French food with a beautiful atmosphere in the summer. The bar also makes good drinks and has a fun laid back atmosphere.

The food is just not very good and while our waitress was nice the service was terrible. Our drinks arrived after we were finished with appetizers(the ones that showed up because they didn't bring our other appetizer until they served our dinner). They were out of several items on the menu. The only Vegan dish on the menu seemed more appropriate as a side dish to a main course, the sauce was inedible and it was served cold as was my husbands French dip sandwich, also served cold(which he said made his sick and the meat tasted rotten). He said the French Onion soup was decent but for $15 was the size of a small cup of soup. It's too bad that the food doesn't live up to beauty of its surroundings. If we ever decided to return to the grounds for sculpture again we'll skip Rat's and eat elsewhere! read more

It's not the restaurant it use to be. Had a 25th birthday dinner for my sister this evening and overall it was disappointing. Food was good but the service was some of the worst service I've ever had at a restaurant that expensive. Ordered a cheese board, waiter didn't know the cheeses, ordered coffee everyone had their lattes, 5 minutes later I got my single espresso. She was given a small dish of sorbet with a candle for her birthday that we did not order and we were then charged for the dessert. As we were leaving I had to step to the side and wait to let what I assume were food runners pass me so they didn't run into me. If our entrees hadn't been good it would have been a 1 star review. Have been many times and I am unsure if I will return after this meal. read more

Totally over rated.... walk the grounds... get drinks at the bar... go to Princeton to eat. If you like a smug and rude greeter to start off your night, then this is the place. If you expect fine dining... think again... this place is by far the most over hyped restaurant in NJ. Trust me. I travel this state to dine at all the best and this place is a joke. it may have been good at one time but not anymore. read more

It was my daughter's birthday. I decided to treat her to lunch at Rats. It was not a busy lunch time. We experienced the worst service I've ever had. We ordered a cheese platter for starters and two salads for entree. It took approximately 30 mins to get the cheese platter. After an additional hour of waiting on the salad. We gave up and asked for the food get packed up. The service was extremely poor and quality of food average. Not once did the server recognize it was a birthday lunch.My family and I have visited the restaurant many times. More recently, the quality of food and service leaves a lot to be desired. Rats restaurant needs to do better. Do not rest on your laurels. I don't plan to visit anytime soon. read more

The hostess was very rude to us. I ordered the turkey croissant sandwich. The meat was smoked and tasted not good. I took 1 bite and complained to the server who could care less I didn't like it. The hostess also didn't care. Service was very slow. Food was overpriced and everyone at our table (7) wasn't pleased. Would Def not recommend. read more

We decided to check out the happy hour and I have to say I was pretty pleased. I don't know that I can afford to eat an entire dinner there however, it is a very nice treat to sit on the deck with a nice glass of wine and some very flavorful food. Glass of wine or five dollars. They have small plates specials and when they say small they really mean small. Half of them were definitely not worth 3 to 5 dollars. Two stars were the brussels sprouts and cheese curds. Although I didn't see it mentioned anywhere in the grounds for sculpture membership or the rats website we were informed that the discount is not available during happy hour. read more

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A favorite chosen for our anniversary - disappointed. The service was mediocre, the food was mediocre and the price was not mediocre.

We arrived at Rat's at 1:15 PM. Wonderful ambiance. Upon arrival I spoke to the front desk hostess and asked if she could seat us sooner than our 3 PM reservation, in any configuration, since we were tired. She said she would and to return in 20 minutes. Upon my return she said it would be another 10 minutes. My husband then went in and inquired why we could not be seated as there where many open tables on the terrace. She told him "That is not how it works'. He replied: "So you had no intention of seating us at all until 3 PM. The hostess replied again "That is not how it works." We then left Rat's, as we had waited for more than an hour and it was 90 degrees outside. Having been there before the pandemic (when you did not need reservations), we were very disappointed and we thought the service was very unprofessional. Did not get to experience the food. read more

The front was very unorganized. They ran out of menus and they are unprofessional rolling their eyes when someone asks for something. If you can get by the front desk the food is good and the servers are very friendly. read more

I've been here a handful of times simply for the ambiance. The food is pretty hit or miss. Scallops are solid, some of the apps are as well. We went a couple of weeks ago and it was one of the most bizarre dining experiences I've ever had. It was a Sunday evening and we were a party of 7 (6 adults and 1 toddler). We had a nice round table right up against the pond. After we were seated, a hostess came up with a flustered look, asking if we had a reservation and accused us of walking in and stealing the table. Um, sure, we walked in, helped ourselves to a high-chair and the best table outside on a sunny evening, and sat down? Of course we had a reservation. Weeks in advance like everyone else. Two of our party ordered the filet mignon Rare. Both of them came out well-done and everyone at the table had a good laugh about it when we cut into them. We were gracious, but understandably sent them back and requested them to be cooked properly. A few minutes later the server brought the steaks back out, saying "the chef said the lighting is different outside, these are medium, which is basically close enough" and refused to cook them again. We were flabbergasted by that, given the $50+ pricetag and the cookery that looked like it was done by a blindfolded child. I'm tempted to upload a picture but that would be even more slanderous than just sharing the story. They planned to leave the steaks on the bill until we said spoke to the manager and she kindly took them off. The cocktails were also poorly made and inconsistent each time we ordered them. I think there's a serious management/staff issue here because they consistently missed the boat on basic hospitality. I don't think we'll be back. read more

Ate there last night with a large group of friends. We all had the special lobster pot...which last year overflowed with seafood...this year skimped on the seafood. Wonderful wattress and good drinks...but 45 minutes of waiting for dessert which was absolutely awful and a few attempts at cold bitter coffee we were still cheerful until the nasty manager came over...she was so rude i cannot believe they let her go near customers. For me I would no longer recommend Rats too many other restaurants to try read more

Mother's Day Brunch - good food, buffet is set up in their kitchen. We were seated on the second level so we had to take the stairs or elevator to the buffet on the first floor and then back upstairs to our table. This was not great because my mom is 82 and carrying plates and navigating a tight kitchen buffet aren't optimal for her. The food was good, not $75pp good but $50pp would have been fair. The location setting and grounds are always spectacular. read more

Made the mistake of selecting Rats to celebrate two special milestone occasions - wedding anniversary and birthday on a Sunday afternoon. After sitting for 20 minutes with no waiter coming over, we began to get parched. The interior doors were open and the 90 degree weather was unforgiving. After discovering there was no brunch option, we decided to place our orders from a largely soup and sandwich menu, with some artisan cheese and meat appetizers sprinkled in It took 45 minutes to get a simple cheese and chartreuse tray. It took another 45 minutes to get our entrees (sandwiches). All of the food was luke warm when it finally arrived 2 hours after we sat down. Their excuse was that it took a little longer because of the prime rib sandwich, which I subsequently refused since it along with the potato wedges weren't even hot. The waitress, nice demeanor, besides going long stretches before noticing empty drinks, kept dropping the heavy silverware onto the wooden floor as she cleared the table causing the small interior space with low hanging wooden ceilings to amplify the noise and cause us to jump. That was followed by another waiter dropping two heavy ceramic plates on the ground immediately after. I began to wonder if it was retribution for voicing concerns about the food and service. One of the drink glasses had to go back because it had food stains from prior use. Just all around terrible food and service. The manager was nice in that she listened to my concern but did nothing but remove the sandwich I refused to eat from my bill. Nothing more. The front hostess turned her back on me as I spoke to the manager. The body language of the hostess spoke volumes about her customer care capacity as much as it did about her lack of respect for the manager since she felt comfortable doing it in front of her with no concern for correction. So to this experience a say "Rats! I should have found another place to celebrate our special milestone occasion" read more

We went to this place on Christmas Eve, and it was probably the worst "dining" experience of our lives. In all honesty, the casual bars around here have better food at a fraction of the price with excellent service delivered by truly sincere people--they are your neighbors, and they see it that way. I'm not just talking about a server in the weeds, or something that was less than perfect. The server was rude, dismissive, he didn't ask us if we wanted dessert, skipped bread servings that are supposed to be highlights...I can't use the word I want to use to describe him. Terrible, not even trying to fake it... I grew up in my family's restaurant in this area and I'm no male Karen by any stretch....it was bad, trust me. Rat's in an undeniably special space on some amazing grounds, and it is beautiful outside in the summer. But the way we were treated tonight will prevent us from returning, in spite of the conciliatory tone of the manager on our way out. Just close for the day if you don't have adequate, capable staff, it's understandable. Don't make the money at the expense of members of your community when you can't hold up your end of the bargain. read more

We had a great time ,our server Rob was knowledgeable and friendly. I had the Grilled Octopus and Steak au Poivre We loved the atmosphere and we had a nice view of the grounds. read more

Rat's Restaurant - French Near Me - Hamilton, New Jersey

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Poorly managed restaurant that tries to masquerade as an upscale one. The setting is good. It's a shame that this place is so poorly run. I called to validate whether I could order a burger at the bar after the lunch menu hours and was told that yes during dinner I would still be able to order it at the bar (would have come earlier if this was not an option). Upon arrival, they then said that was not possible and would not even accommodate it after informing them that the hostess (or whomever I spoke to on the phone) had verified that it would be available later. On top of that they were insistent that were was no availability the rest of the evening despite plenty of open tables throughout the entire time that I was there. At upscale places like this you would think that you would get better management but don't expect NYC-level hospitality if you come here. I heard that they had been sold and were under new management and it is very apparent. read more

Only 3.5 starts!? Seriously. Wow. Not cool. This food was absolutely delicious and was straight out of a painting. Menu is seasonal so I won't even bother sharing what I ordered. I was thoroughly impressed. read more

Rat's Restaurant - French Near Me - Hamilton, New Jersey

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We used to love Rats but haven't been in years. If Mothers Day brunch is an indication of what it's like now, we won't be back. They served the buffet out of the kitchen. Maybe they though it was "hip" but it just seemed warm, disorganized and confusing. And the food was just not good. Eggs were grey, shrimp weren't clean, meat was fatty. Nothing really looked or felt fresh, just sad. My $60 meal ended up being a few little fruit tartlets. We had a beautiful table upstairs and i loved the time with my kids and mom, but really this place seems to have fallen very far from the fine dining experience it once was. read more

Seated at dirty, sticky table. Food crumbs on 3 of the 4 seat cushions Flies everywhere Undercooked shrimp I could keep going but thats enough read more

I am not sure what rating should I give I am between 3 and 4 . Location and ambience is definitely a five . Food - ok .

Quite tasty food, quite bad service: didn't bring things we ordered, checked in 3 times over the course of an hour. Also a beautiful spot to eat. read more

Food, service & atmosphere were amazing. We shared an Appetizer which was grilled oysters. Delicious buttery sauce. Trout entree (& the baby book choy) was flavorful & cooked to perfection. Seafood salad was fresh & had plenty of seafood (shrimp & crab) & plenty of avocado. Dessert was ice cream trio (creamsicle / brown butter / chocolate basil) & creme brûlée (lemon thyme flavor was amazing). Jeana was our server who was friendly, funny & provided excellent service. The atmosphere was charming. We sat outside & overlooked the pond filled with Lilly pads, flowers, ducks & a few sculptures. I am already planning my next visit. After lunch we walked around the grounds. Overall an enjoyable day! read more

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We had a great experience at Rat's! We dined on the patio on a gorgeous day after visiting the Grounds for Sculpture. The restaurant and the staff are taking all possible COVID precautions while still being friendly and attentive. We enjoyed everything we ate. I highly recommend the branzino (such a crispy skin), the crab cakes, and the chocolate cremaux dessert. The bread ans popover were also delicious. We were particularly touched by the anniversary message on our dessert and numerous staff members wished us a happy anniversary. We will definitely come back again. Thanks for a great experience! read more

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The place is absolutely charming but the food was not up to its eating. The frittata tasted at it had been microwaved and the ham was beyond salty! I was disappointed since I have been there may times prior. read more

Rat's Restaurant - French Near Me - Hamilton, New Jersey

Certainly the best part of this restaurant is the outdoor dining space. Lovely view: pond, gardens, lighting (dined in the evening) etc.. Bartenders and hostess were lacking in any spirit and service. Our server was excellent so the place slightly redeemed itself through him. Food only ok. Would likely grab a cocktail if going to gardens again. I would put Rats in the "One and done" places for dining. read more

Came in on Valentine's Day with a 7:15 reservation to find little to no parking. We had to park quite a bit away, and checked in at around 7:20 but were not seated until close to 7:45. The drinks were OK, the wine pour was quite light, though. My boyfriend ordered duck, which was chewy and not done properly. My meal (braised beef) was delicious. The bigger issue than the sub-par service was that we were seated outside in a tent with heaters. Fine, but interestingly enough, it was ONLY younger (maybe under 35 years old) couples who were sat here. On both of the heated outdoor areas. Why? I normally wouldn't complain about this, but I booked the restaurant for a romantic vibe and was - literally - left in the cold. The server mentioned the restaurant history and the aesthetics of the restaurant, all of which we couldn't see. It was incredibly quiet, we had to whisper the entire night, couldn't hear music, and overall was left wanting more. It was also telling that they only sat younger couples outside, we received less attention due to not being in the main area, and overall a lacking experience from generally unhappy staff. From the moment we walked in, the staff seemed tense or unhappy. It was fine, but we likely won't be back. read more

Ventured back into Rat's to try their happy hour last month.. I'd tried it before a few summers back and it was ok. This time, I was very pleasantly surprised. We were seated at a cute table near the window, so we were able to see the beautiful Buddha sculpture that sits on the water. Sorta spooky at night, but thrilling! Waiter wasn't the friendliest, but was attentive enough. They changed their happy hour menu for the better, IMO. I had the spiced pear martini.. wasn't strong at all, but very tasty. There was a thai peanuts app that was just seasoned peanuts--DELICIOUS! Salty and sweet which I love. The burger was decent and the empanadas were BANGING!! I would say to Rat's.. increase the amount of liquor in the drinks and I would give 5 stars! :-) read more

I have enjoyed many delicious dinners, happy hours and events (best Halloween party I've ever been too - 3 years in a row!) at Rat's. There is a small space to walk outside and enjoy the lake, some sculptures and just a lovely atmosphere. Sunset is just gorgeous!! The sculptures throughout the grounds are simply amazing. The best thing is that you are not sure, until getting up close, that they are not a real person. Living in Hamilton we drove past the ones on the streets many times and at least half the time I would wonder why some guy was teaching his child to ride a bike when it was raining (Kuser Road sculptures)!! The only caution is that you should avoid attempting to host a special occasion (wedding, reception..) as the STARR Catering Group is not very organized. See my review on FB - https://www.facebook.com/pg/Events.STARR/about/?ref=page_internal read more

Lots of problems. 1. Both the waiter and busboy did not have good English. 2. The busboy asked my wife if she was finished with her salad. She said no but he took it away anyway. 3. Never asked one in our party what she wanted to drink. 4. Very small choice of main courses. 5. Steak Au Porvie potatoes tasted very bad. 6. Some food not very hot. 6. Limited desert choices - nothing available for a diabetic. 7. Seating not very comfortable. read more

We had an incredible time here. Our waitress was Cassandra and she was lovely! I had the branzino and the "Sunset at Monet Bridge" cocktail for lunch. The restaurant is a mini museum in and of itself, and I'd recommend taking a nice look around you while you walk to your table! The decor is so meticulously chosen, and really worth taking a second to appreciate. Rats is appropriate for all occasions, whether it's a quick bite before exploring Grounds for Sculpture, a fancy anniversary dinner, an afternoon catching up with an old friend, or a drink at the bar after a long day spent walking around the Grounds. I can't recommend Rats enough. There's a sense of unique joy there, and it's also reflected through the menu! read more

We have been here a number of times when Rat's was under the old management, but little of the quality from that time remains under the new management. The drinks and the popovers are still great, but they forgot to bring the side dish we ordered, my wife's chicken was overdone and they are seriously short-staffed. (Our server was responsible for more tables than any server could responsibly handle. We felt bad for her.) No longer a place for a special meal at the end of a day spent looking at intriguing sculpture. read more