This is my second time coming to this restaurant, today I celebrated my birthday here with my family . It's very accommodating with our extra member that came and they were very nice about it. Our server was very nice and made me and my sister feel special on our day. The ambiance of the place is definitely unique since it's a little ludicrous to have rats in a restaurant. I quite thoroughly enjoyed my burger that I ate it pretty quickly, the alcoholic beverages are pretty refreshing too as well. If you're ever in the grounds for sculptures, I recommend stopping by to get a nice cool drink and a very delicious lunch. read more

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I came here for my birthday and was not impressed. Given that this restaurant shows up as $50-$100 per person I expected a higher quality of service. We had an 11:15am reservation. For starters, we had one host who walked us halfway to our table, only to turn around and tell us to wait. We stood there for 2 minutes and then another hostess walked us directly to our table (?!). Not a crime, but definitely felt like they were not ready at opening. My boyfriend has a gluten allergy and they sort of accommodated. Our waitress offered him bread, which he declined as obviously he cannot eat gluten and told the waitress that beforehand. There was no alternative for him, so he just watched me eat my bread. He ordered a chicken salad with baby potatoes as an entree, but they left the potatoes out. Quite the oversight. He eventually got his potatoes, although he had to ask twice. The lack of staff training took away from the experience, but the food was alright. A reviewer said that if you want French cuisine with good service, you should go to Kristine's in Princeton, and I agree. Plus, if you are gluten free, they provide you with crackers so you don't feel left out. read more

Service was good, ambiance great, but the food... I was completely unimpressed and will not go back. Especially for these prices. Unacceptable. Grilled octopus, potatoes, black ink sauce The octopus texture was wrong. Maybe it was previously frozen? Congealed black "sauce" was an unnecessary addition. This is such a simple dish, screwing it's up like this is an insult to the life of the octopus. We couldn't eat it. Mushroom tartare As the only dish that didn't suck, it still wasn't anything I'd order again. Beef Stroganoff pappardelle Looks beautiful, but the pasta was thick and gummy. This ruined the dish. Meat tasted like liquid smoke. Whole branzino, butternut squash purée, white bean cassoulet Cooked after it was filleted, the fish was, unfortunately, firm. While butternut squash purée is delicious, neither it nor the mushy cassoulet belong with a piece of fish. Strange pairings. Drinks: spiced pear martini, pomegranate cosmopolitan The pear martini was a thick concoction with no balance of flavors. The cosmo was dark and heavy on the juice. read more

disgusting steak and horrible service and way overprice, 27.00 for 3 shrimp awful place to eat! Save your money! read more

Had a lovely experience at Rat's. I had been to grounded for sculpture but this was my first time eating at Rat's. We had initially made a reservation to eat outside but due to our dinner being later in the evening and the seating being by the pond, there were a lot of bugs so we opted to sit inside. I had a watermelon frozé and scallops for my main course. The scallops were served with radishes and bacon over a corn purée. I ate every last bite of my meal so you can say it was delicious! My husband had the short rib and gave it a 5 star rating! We definitely hope to be back to check it out for lunch! read more

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We've been here many times over the years and it seems to have highs and lows. Unfortunately It's currently at a low, as always the setting and ambiance are stunning and the main draw. So on this visit the place just looked really worn and tired. The landscaping at the front door was gone, there were empty garden beds etc. Inside it seemed dirty and worn. The service was attentive although a little clumsy, we were served our entrees but had no silverware. There were many empty and still dirty tables that never were cleared while we were there, they were clearly understaffed. I hate to say this but the food was just not good, it was really disappointing. I had the mussels and they were really bland, the clam pasta as well was flavorless. We had ordered a cheese plate to start and for the price, it was lacking. The menu said 3 soft cheeses and we were served 3 hard ordinary cheeses. The popovers were good though, always a plus. I hope they can turn it around, it's a really cool spot. read more

Delicious food, friendly staff, all in a beautiful setting. Had lunch while visiting the Grounds for Sculpture. Sat outside near the water and took it all in. Look forward to eating there again. Best to make a reservation!!! read more

What a great place & great time. We were able to see the light show prior to our reservations here which was awsome. We then were welcomed into the cozy restaurant and seated near the fireplace. We love the vibes and decor of the place. Makes you feel like your in another country. We started with some cocktails, which were tasty and quite strong may we add. My husband got the fall sangria which was so good, and I got a pomegranate cosmo, good but his was a bit better. Next we got the octopus to start, it was a touch chewy on the thickest part but after that it was good, and the potatoes it came over were unbelievable. We also got the Mezze platter and it was wonderful. The hummus was amazing. The pita was fresh and soft as it should be. The tabouli was yum. The bread they served us as well was so so good. For our dinners we got the pappardelle with braised beef, wow it was excellent!!! So full of flavor and the portion was perfect and not over baring. My husband got the braised beef with veggies. Wow, it fell apart and was so tasty and flavorful. We skipped on dessert but we will come back for sure to try more! read more

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Came here for a bridal shower and the service was absolutely awful. The waiter cut the bride off mid-sentence when she asked to keep the drinks coming, didn't present or taste test the $100+ bottle we ordered, and forgot silverware for the appetizers. I felt like I had to serve the table myself just to keep things moving. For a restaurant that charges luxury prices and claims to offer a fine dining experience, the bare minimum should be decent service. I ended up telling the front how bad it was -- because someone needed to. read more

Good place for the amazing ambiance, but don't focus on the food. The building is very interesting. Waiters were very attentive, with decent service. My burger was so-so, the chicken was very good but pricey at $34. The kicker was asking for sparkling water and receiving an entire bottle of Perroni which cost $10. read more

Very slow service. Enjoyed the French dip but the octopus and cauliflower was not worth the price. Very small and taste wise will pass.

Beautiful atmosphere and great service. The menu did not offer a good white fish option so I had the clams linguine which was just ok. For the price and caliber of the venue I expected better. Creativity is lacking. read more

It is our 2nd visit and each time is Wonderful service. The food is prepared with highest quality and atmosphere is warm, comfortable. Our server Rob never rushed us. He offered more coffee while we are waiting to take Holiday Photo upstairs. Such a nice experience. We will definitely be back during the summer time to walk around Grounds for Sculptures. read more

Rat's Restaurant - a plate of food on a table - French Near Me - Hamilton, New Jersey

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This place is fantastic for a special occasion or fancy evening out! Absolutely gorgeous view out in the back where you can take a nice stroll. We were promptly seated and served at 6pm outdoors under a nice heater. The free bread was paired nicely with herb butter, and the rest of our food came out shortly after. My medium rare steak came out closer to being well-done, but the sweet sauce, vegetables, and potato wedges complimented the plate perfectly. Definitely consider spending the $$ here and there to treat yourself! read more

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Awesome location near the Grounds for Sculpture. We sat outside and had an awesome view of the water. They start you off with bread and scallion butter. We both ordered the watermelon kiwi punch. Definitely fresh. Also both had the French onion soup. Soup itself was ok, but the cheese was fantastic. Husband got the burger. Asked for medium rare, but was more of a medium well. I tried one of his potato wedges, and they were crispy and well seasoned. I had the Prime Rib sandwich. Usually served with wedges, but I asked for the salad. Also very well seasoned. For dessert, we had the chocolate cremeux and creme brulee, and I also ordered the English Breakfast tea. Really good all around. Service was attentive and friendly, but a little slow. We were there for about two hours. I would highly recommend this location if you're in the area or visiting the Grounds for Sculpture. read more

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This place is magical!! The architecture, statues, portraits and fish-pond are unique. Food was tasty and pretty big portions. The staff is friendly and attentive. Beautiful place for all occasions. read more

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A group of 4 went to Rat's on Sunday 11/2 for brunch/lunch. We all have been here before and enjoyed the food and ambiance. We were seated on a perfect autumn day on the patio (1 Star). We were there to enjoy the company of friends, but the server was there to serve us at a pace that was annoying. We ordered and then the issue began. I ordered the Salmon Brunch Platter from the brunch menu. I mention the "brunch menu" because it is different than the brunch menu on the web site or the full menu. The platter comes with a bagel. I ask the server what kinds of bagels were available, his answer "well I think we use to offer a cinnamon bagel months ago, but now we only have plain." When he served my meal, it only came with 3 slices of bread instead of the bagel. I asked, "where is the bagel?" To which he replied, "Oh, I guess the kitchen ran out." By this time the rest of our party was half finished with meals. After more back and forth about bagels, I sent the Platter back and ordered the Cheese Platter off the regular menu. Well, the cheese platter for $30.00 came when everyone else is now done with their meals. Three very minimal cuts of cheese (lack of cheese description), something yellow and sweet, 3 crostini, nuts and a compote. Add a tasteless Flan for dessert, for a complete disaster. And no apology! read more

Came here today for a bridal shower luncheon. I remember years ago being at Rats and considering it a special, albeit pricey, treat as the setting is inventive and the food was good. Not today! Portions were almost microscopic, and the salmon was not fresh. Service was pleasant, but food was disgraceful. I felt embarrassed for my hosts. read more

Service, view, IPA on tap, cheesecake dessert--all excellent. Unfortunately, the bouillabaisse entree on July 4th at $42 [!] was a puny disgraceful travesty of the real thing--and ruined the experience. Better luck next time! read more

Rat's Restaurant is located at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. Grounds for Sculpture is a gem hidden in an industrial area. The restaurant is beautiful, and was conceptually designed by John Seward Johnson, Jr. with a Claude Monet-styled ambiance. It's named after the character "Ratty" from The Wind in the Willows. My wife and I are members of Grounds of Sculpture, and as such, receive a 10% off discount at Rat's. In 2020 we visited Rat's a half dozen times. During the warmer months Rat's is the perfect outdoor eating destination. From the covered patio you have an amazing view of the pond, statues, and landscaping. Since Grounds for Sculpture is currently requiring reservations even for members to limit capacity due to COVID-19, you cannot enter the grounds from Rat's or enter Rat's from Grounds from Sculpture. I do miss the days of being able to go for a stroll through Grounds from Sculpture after dinner without having to get in the car and drive to the other parking lot. The food and drinks are usually top notch. The menu is French-inspired and typically changes a bit each season. They added a Cheese and Charcuterie appetizer this year which is great because it was always so hard to decide between the cheese or the charcuterie. The servers are always very attentive. Rat's has recently added an in-house pastry chef so the desserts have improved. Expect to pay approximately $150 for dinner for two with drinks. read more

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

It's so amazing restaurant in New Jersey. I recommend everyone has to come here! It's Very nice view nice service. I order onions soup so delicious and Waffle is so good . we'll be right back! read more

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Quality has fallen since the last time we were there over 4 years ago. My wife and I went on a Saturday night and had made reservations over a month in advance. For some reason, they had a water/utensil station and the dirty dish discard tray right next to our table. So we had the constant clattering and din of dishes and utensils being picked up or placed down right next to us. Outside of that, they had some sort of large party taking place in a room directly adjacent to our room with terrible music thumping most of the dinner, completely ruining the ambiance. Service was adequate but for some reason, the server for the table next to us (which was set up very close) decided to stand directly between our table and their table so his rear end was in our face every time he took an order or delivered food. There were no tablecloths. And they mixed up which one of us ordered what. Which is not that big of a deal but there were only two of us and this is supposed to be a high end restaurant. As to the food, my bone-in strip steak was way too tough - major disappointment. I also ordered the chanterelle mushrooms and they were undercooked and terrible. My wife's scallops were good but she only received 4 and no sides at a price of $46. Finally, though it's not the restaurant's fault, some lady was yelling about sh!tting her pants a few tables over. Probably won't go there again. read more

We were treated like crap by the hostess. She looked at us like were beneath her and she was barely civil. Awful hostess, we didn't bother to stay and she didn't bother to care. I'm glad we didn't spend the money there because three stars is definitely worth it. read more

The location was so beautiful and the ambiance was lovely but the food and service was lacking. The food was extremely over priced considering the portion and quality size. We went with larger group and everyone had some kind of complaint regarding the food (it coming out cold, steaks being cooked wrong, etc). Def could be a good place to stick to an appetizer and drink if you don't mind higher prices bc the restaurant was very beautiful read more

Food pricey but excellent. Limited menu though. Grilled octopus was smaller than what I had in Nashville...

Today, (01/21/24), we had my daughter's bridal shower in the Rat's banquet area. The banquet room was perfect, the food was absolutely amazing and the staff were top notch! We had chosen three different entrees that the guests could choose from - grilled chicken over mashed potatoes with a brown mushroom gravy, grilled salmon over a layer of grilled Brussel sprout halves and last choice was a vegetable risotto. I personally had the salmon and it was done perfectly and the Brussel sprouts were delicious! I also had opportunity to try some of the vegetable risotto - it was rich and cream with the vegetables a perfect al dente'! The entree was preceded by an appetizer plate assortment followed by a mixed green salad with a wedge of Burrata cheese with a light Balsamic vinaigrette. Dessert was an offering of assorted confections paired with really good coffee! Everything was really exceptional and again the facility and the staff were stellar! Thanks again for making my daughter's special day truly memorable! read more

Warm and welcoming staff. The traffic flow upon entering the restaurant could be improved. Nevertheless, pleasant dining experience here. A few vegan friendly options. The server was very conscious of our dietary restrictions and offered alternatives proactively. Much appreciated! The ambiance was lovely. Looking forward to returning here next time I visit Grounds for Sculpture. read more

Beautiful old building, nice environment by the pond and near the artsy park, the service is good, but the menu is quite disappointing as far as the food choice quality and price, with the exception of their housemate ice-cream read more

This was such an incredibly cool experience. My husband and I were visiting family in NJ and took a little day trip to grounds for sculpture for some adventure and then met my cousin here for dinner. The park was obviously amazing, I'm sure there is a separate place to review that, but the restaurant was so cute and unique! I found out that it's called Rats because it is named after the character from The Wind and The Willows, which is a book that I love. The staff were really great, they let me charge my phone there after it died from taking way too many selfies in the sculpture garden. I ordered the broccoli Cesar salad and the Cod and my husband got the smoked mushroom meal- we were so excited that they had a vegan option! We also got the chocolate cake and carrot cake desert to share. The food was very good, maybe a little over priced, but the ambience was worth it. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you are spending some time in the gardens! read more

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I celebrated my June birthday with lunch at Rat's after a visit to the sculpture garden. My birthday lunch couldn't have been in a more beautiful setting! I am not aware of a more beautiful restaurant setting in all of NJ. If you sit outside during the summer, you have a direct view of the Monet Bridge, lily pads and all. There are beautiful koi fish swimming in the water, plus mallards ducks on the restaurant patio jumping in & out of the water. On one end of the patio, you can see the Leucantha sculpture and flowers and on the other end of the patio, you can see the Portal Rest sculpture and a waterfall. I would've given Rat's 5 stars if it weren't for the 30-minute wait despite a reservation I'd made (and this was on a Tue afternoon, not weekend!). Also, service was okay...not the best. read more

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

Really scenic restaurant on the Grounds of Sculpture. I would recommend making a reservation. They are on the pricey side but it's worth it. I really enjoyed the crab cake and seafood salad. They also serve alcohol. Outdoor seating only right now due to COVID. read more

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Made reservations here because it looked like a cute lunch spot. We came on a Saturday at around 2pm. It was really busy and there were several hosts in the front. I believe we were greeted but it was free of eye contact or a smile. Arrived about 10min early and was told I would be seated at our reservation time. We were seated right on time and sat outside by the little pond. The view was very pretty but it was a little crowded. Our server Angel was very friendly and enthusiastic. My husband and I shared the mezze platter and Ratz burger. Everything tasted great. After lunch we walked around the restaurant. There are a couple sculptures beside the restaurant that are outside of the Grounds for Sculpture. The main sculpture area requires you to purchase tickets. Overall a cute lunch spot. I do wish the chairs outside had a cushion to make it a little more comfortable but overall an enjoyable time. read more

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Rat's completely ruined my family's thanksgiving. The poor planning meant hour waits between inedible courses. Full points to the server who was justifiably mortified, but everyone else needs to do much better. read more

It had been a few years since I visited RATS, back when it really was a 4-star restaurant. They've slid a little. Ok, a lot. I was amazed at the lack of quality in their food, and I wonder if they had a chef staff from a temp agency because it really didn't seem like they were qualified. First, we arrived early and had some mocktails in the bar, which were fine. We ordered a cheese platter and a red pepper hummus plate from the Happy Hour menu which were priced at $10 and $6. The cheese plate was a deal because it required no cooking and there was an abundance of four lovely (but common) cheese types. However, the crostini while crunchy, was weirdly hard and didn't break easily because it was old and getting a little rubbery. There was also some very thinly sliced apple, a handful of assorted nuts, and a horrible-tasting "seasonal compote." The hummus ($6.00) was a healthy portion, but only four pita chips were served with it! So almost the whole bowl had to be discarded or eaten with a spoon. How ridiculous. (By the way, the same cheese plate was on the dining room appy menu at $29.00. So, order it at Happy Hour.) Let's move to the dining room for dinner for the eight of us.... Five of us ordered their special "Lobster/Clambake" which was nowhere on their menu but it had been advertised elsewhere. When I made the reservation, I asked the price. I was told $67, then $65, then $75. The photos on their website do NOT represent what is served in a tiny 2-quart pot. Each of us paid $95.25 for this pitiful lobster pot, not including appys, beverages, or anything else. Let me tell you what was actually in it. The lobster: it was one tiny lobster tail from a 1.25 pound lobster, cut lengthwise down the middle. No claws to be found anywhere. Where are the claws?? The lobster meat was tiny, dry and lacked fresh flavor. There were four small mussels in each pot, also flavorless and three were stuck to their shells from overcooking. If you pried them open, they looked like spider webs of mussel meat, sticking to all edges of the shells. There were four clams in the pot, three didn't open. There were four shrimp in the pot, medium size, and thankfully not overcooked but also with no sea flavors. There were also a few potato quarters in the pot, bland and a bit hard. The half cob of corn in the pot was overcooked. This is New Jersey where the farm fresh corn is not mushy when cooked and has a sweetness not found in other corn. The kernels don't stick to the cob like glue. They say they source locally, and if they did, they bought that corn a month ago. It was old and tired. The entire pot was unseasoned making it the most bland and sad lobster pot I had ever indulged in - and there have been many. The server made mention of the very flavorful seafood broth in the bottom of the pot. Yes, a cup of liquid was there, but it was unseasoned water with no taste, no herbs, no nothing. I could have gotten a better lobster pot at a diner or roadside stand. This is an embarassment for RATS and they should remove it from their menu immediately. They were once renowned for their summer lobster pot special - maybe ten or 12 years ago, where they actually gave you a pot with a WHOLE two pound lobster in it. Now you get 2 oz. of lobster meat, overcooked. The three guests who were smart enough to order off the menu instead of opting for this indecent lobster pot, said their food was ok, but not great - two got halibut, and one had a salad with shrimp which looked pretty good, but I didn't hear any raves about it. At least they only spent half of what the others spent on this pitiful lobster pot option. It's a damn good thing they have a renowned and world famous 42-acre sculpture park, museum, and arboretum attached to their restaurant. There's no other way this place could stay in business or get away with charging the exorbitant prices they do for mediocre (or actually, poor) food. And by the way, instead of hanging all kinds of beads and nonsense on the windows in the cocktail area, liberate those windows from all that unnecessary mess and allow your patrons to actually see the beautiful grounds outside! It's the best draw you have. read more

So disappointing. Met friends for lunch, and then an afternoon in the magnificent sculpture gardens. The ambiance is that of an elegant upscale restaurant; it is beautifully appointed. The waitstaff we encountered were all personable and efficient. However... From the surroundings, the menu descriptions, and the prices, we expected a high quality meal. What we got was far from that, sadly. Two of us were lured in by the chicken salad sandwich on sourdough bread with a side salad. This was quantity over quality - a huge amount of chicken salad, obviously all white meat chicken, but flavorless. It was very nearly puréed, so kind of mushy, and no detectable seasonings. It was bland as could be. We both would have been happier with a smaller serving of chicken salad that looked like chicken salad and was more than chicken and mayo. One had the turkey croissant, and he didn't comment one way or the other, so I guess he was satisfied with it. The fourth person in our party is vegetarian and there were a couple of options. He chose the roasted eggplant. It was one small splayed cooked eggplant with some tahini and some chickpeas on top. Not much to look at, not much to eat. Would not come here again. read more

Very attentive service. Great way to end a visit to the beautiful gardens. Pretty setting. Good food.

Took hubby hêtre for our anniversary a few days after Christmas. We ordered the cheese sampler platter. read more

After exploring the grounds, I went to dinner at Rat's. While the ambiance was cozy and the service was great... the food was pretty basic. For the price of the food I expected a bit more flavor in some of these classic dishes like the scallops and beef brisket. read more

Rat's Restaurant - Scallops a la Plancha - French Near Me - Hamilton, New Jersey

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Observations and experiences had both positives and negatives. First of all, our visit on a Saturday evening needed tables to be reserved at least 3 hours in prior. However, the first person who took the reservation seemed to have missed certain key information like time and how many people are visiting them. Half an hour before the visit, we luckily called again to find out that we had to fill in a lit of blanks in terms of reservation. Looking at the crowd for a Saturday dinner, we could say that it is quite popular locally. The wait time to be seated on a table was next to none as the host immediately took us to one. Fine dining, and hence you may need to be dressed accordingly. The space available between tables is very minimal. So conversations next table can be easily heard and can be followed ( if that is your focus area ;) , which shouldn't be the case ). It works both ways when it comes to your conversation. Music was very mild when we had visited. There are some good and cozy tables. Depending on where you are seated, your experience might be different. Light shows happen in the adjoining area of the restaurant and that may have been the reason for the volume of people. Parking area is available and sufficient parking spots were available when we needed to park. Coming to food, it is a relatively short and sweet menu. We started with some bread and cheese flavored with thyme leaves. Then, we ordered Assorted Artisan cheese which was the good part of our experience. They also have a small list of cocktails, wines and beer options. Then came the Entrée. Roasted eggplant had a sauce surrounding it which was slightly bitter. The specialty of the day- slow cooked pork lacked salt and flavor even though it was cooked to perfection. The restaurant is open till 11 PM eastern. The service is average. It took them overall about 20 mins to take our order, 10 minutes extra to ask us for entrée and 10-15 minutes to come back and ask us for dessert/ check. So, the wait time is pretty high and you will need leisure and time at tour hand if you are planning a visit. Otherwise, the person who served us was very sweet and had all information we were looking for. Overall, it was a 2.5 star experience, but as there is only option to rate it a 2 or a 3, we have chosen to rate it 3. read more

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Adorable places hidden away. Just driving to this place makes you feel like you are going on an adventure in an old movie. We sat out side and it was a bit chilly but they had outdoor heaters that worked wonders! The food they had available was very tasty, I was disappointed that they didn't have some of the online options available though. I would love to go back again read more