Rat’s Restaurant offers a modern French cuisine in Hamilton NJ. The area is spectacular with 42 acres of stunning views and sculptures. The ambiance really set the mood for a romantic evening and service was top notch. Rat’s had all of the ingredients for a phenomenal dining experience. But one major problem, the food was very very average. From the appetizers to the entrée, everything was surprisingly bland. When the bread is the tastiest part of the meal, we have a problem. The spicy crab pasta sounded great in theory, but it wasn’t spicy and you couldn’t taste crab…it was just basic pasta. How do you make escargot taste bland? 🤷‍♂️ I wanted to like Rat’s, the service was wonderful and the ambiance was perfect but the most important part of the dining experience is the food. Until that is addressed, I wouldn’t recommend Rat’s Restaurant.

The place is pretty nice but the service and food are not as expected. The service is VERY SLOW. We had to wait about 50 minutes for our appetizers. The staff seems very careless and don’t even try to satisfy the customers. Our waiter seemed to be seeing people complaining before as he even called the manger to come and hear our complains before we even asked. Even when the manager came, she couldn’t offer any solutions or answer to our complaints or questions. The food was horrible. Non of the entrees that we ordered came as we asked for. We were a group of 10 and literally all of our food was messed up. Either the well done steak was burned or the medium duck was rare and cold and when we asked to cook it more, they brought it back burned. The manager was able to take it off the check however we ended up not eating. As a French restaurant and being in a great area Iike that and with these high prices, we were expecting much more. I even checked the recent reviews and found that all of them are saying the same points of dissatisfaction. Overall nice decor and atmosphere but horrible food, service and management.

Waiter was nice. It was a bit hard to hear with the mask on which is understandable but he could have spoken a little louder. Food was good. Octopus had great texture and cooked well but no flavor besides the char. Duck was phenomenal, wish I'd order two. Dessert was also great. Would definitely come back. Atmosphere was astounding.

Really great restaurant on the grounds of Grounds for Sculpture. The decor is warm and rustic. The bar has a cool looking metal bar top. The cocktails were expertly crafted. The food and service were excellent. Best french onion soup. Charcuterie board served very high quality meats and cheeses. Octopus could've been a touch more tender, but delicious and nicely presented. Seafood risotto was creamy and super fresh (needed a pinch of salt to my taste). Chicken dish was cooked perfectly. Moist and crispy. Nice desserts as well. Prices were a bit on the high side, but that didn't deter the packed house. The quality overall was excellent and worth the price. I'll definitely go back. Must reserve a table in advance.

Highly recommended for a special occasion, for business or any time. The ambiance, service, and food quality were above and beyond. Rats decor is themed with the book 'Wind in the Willows' on the grounds of the most impressive sculpture gardens I've ever seen, Grounds for Sculpture. Weather permitting the best location is the outdoor seating by the lake. We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon lunch on the patio in the midst of the Monet painting 'Water Lilies' setting, which is a surreal experience by itself. Starter: a delectable artisanal cheese platter and multi-grain bread with herb butter. Main: We enjoyed a delicious fresh seafood salad, roasted asparagus, and sliced turkey on a homemade croissant. All were very yummy. For sure we will return again. Until next time, Rats!

Delightful! Service was amazing. Branfon, Sara, and Stephanie were so accommodating and helpful. Food was tasty. Grounds are genuinely fun! Was a perfect place to hold a party.

Not my first time there but my first time post- pandemic. The menu and quality of food had changed but most surprising to me was the change in service. We walked in on a Wednesday for lunch and were told we couldn't be sited because they were booked solid for the whole day. We went back to the gardens and after talking about how reservations were available online and the place was practically empty. We decided to make a reservation and turn right back and wouldn't you know it, they were able to sit us without issue. I don't know the reason to turn down a customer like that but I guess if you are set on eating there and they turn you down, try to make a reservation online and walk into the restaurant again.

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.

Excellent restaurant. Great service, great drinks and delicious food. The land and building itself is a great on its own. Well worth the visit. Outdoor dining has great heaters and is covered.

Like all the reviews say, the service is really slow, but we planned ahead for that by not being that hungry when we went. Other than that the food was good, not amazing but not bad definitely worth to come check this place out atleast once. The presentation was good and our waitress was really nice! The drinks were nice and strong and the ambience is definitely unique. Definitely check out the mens bathroom for a surprise decoration.

The ambiance is outstanding and incredibly serene. Food is well prepared and fresh, with some unique options. Would definitely recommend their take on Escargot and the Coq au Vin. Service was pretty slow and inattentive. Overall, would recommend.

This place is a good way to cap off your day after exploring the sculpture garden. It’s a really cool atmosphere with multiple rooms and a good lounge area. The place wasn’t overly crowded and they take reservations which makes life easy. The cocktails are complex with high quality liquor which is usually my first measure of a restaurants quality. The French onion soup is the best I’ve had. The seafood risotto is filled with quality pieces of seafood and a generous portion size. If I find myself back at the sculpture garden I’m sure a I’ll visit Rat’s as well

This restaurant is located at Grounds for Sculpture, one of my favorite places to visit in New Jersey. The restaurant has a beautiful drive up, with lovely sculptures surrounding it. The inside ambiance is very upscale and classy. The table settings themselves are really a work of art, but you can’t eat on these plates. The french onion soup is full of flavor. The eggplant dish was bland, until I realized that the eggplant needs to be enjoyed with the accompanying sauces, which elevated the dish and made it flavorful. The mushroom dish was excellent. Very well cooked and great flavors. Excellent service. This place is a must visit.

Rated top 100 US scenic restaurants for a reason. A truly French Bistro experience with the scenery atmosphere service attention to detail delicious French cuisine. It does not disappoint a must try! You immerse yourself in a little French town they go up and Beyond to accommodate and provide a unique culinary experience. Located in the grounds for sculpture you are already surrounded with beautiful architecture and art. Highly recommend reserving in advance as this place does get crowded. Everywhere you turn you are greeted with beautiful artwork. The restaurant is very clean and well kepted. The food is amazing! I had the Mansour sandwich very flavorful and fresh! My friend had the turkey croissant we shared the escargot served with buttery sauce over a flaky buttery puff pastry crust. We ended our lunch with the classic creme brulee perfectly prepared. You will not regret this experience be sure to request outdoor seating so you can enjoy the pond with beautiful sculptures and friendly ducks.

Dinner was exquisite. Broccoli Caesar Salad Dressing was perfectly balanced. Four Gras was delicious -smooth and slightly sweet. Duck over root vegetables was the best I ever had. I had no room for bread or desert by my husband loved the popovers and lemon blackberry bread pudding. I give 4 stars only for the high cost. It would be difficult to come for dinner regularly at this price.

Undoubtedly it was one of the most scenic restaurants I have ever visited. Breathtaking view of Monet's garden, the smell of waterlilies, koi fishes gathering at the shore everything together made the dinner a memorable experience. We couldn't get a reservation online but enquired with the staff when we reached the ground of sculpture and they were able to get a table for us on a Saturday evening. Very courteous staff! The food and drinks were upto the expectations. We had a mezze and short ribs, both of which were delicious.

I'm usually not the 5 star across the board type but this place really deserves it. The food is unbelievable and the staff was fantastic. I've eaten dinner there and hosted a private event. I wasn't disappointed with either. Hamilton is lucky to have such a beautiful & scenic place like this.

A very nice french restaurant in the hamilton area! The food was amazing. We ordered pasta and onion soup and both of them were really delicious! On top of that, the location and the ambience was really top notch! 10/10!! Didn’t know that the whole town is so pretty with beautiful sculptures all over. Highly recommend this place. It was a great experience! Will definitely visit again!

After attending the grounds for sculpture my wife and I went to the restaurant. After thinking to have no reservations we will not enjoy, Dining with Matt at the bar was the best‼️ Froze 3 rounds… My wife also left chefs a message which was posted on there wall in kitchen. Thank you for the beautiful experience

Actually, one star is for the management, and four stars are for the food. This is an absolutely different place than it was a few years ago (before the pandemic). The menu got simpler; the service got worse. We faced the same problem many people already mentioned -- they tell potential clients the restaurant is fully booked even though more than half tables are still empty. The restaurant was almost empty, thus I asked if we could be seated and served for lunch right now. The maitre d' told us she couldn't do it because all those empty tables were booked. After some not quite pleasant dispute, we were led to a table and seated. We were lucky. Our waiter was good. Thank you, Peter. The food we ordered was good but a bit average for this price category. During more than one hour we spent having the lunch, we noticed that only about third the outdoor and indor tables were occupied. I’ve attached a photo so you can see what I mean -- a lot of tables were empty but the potential clients were told they couldn't be seated and sent away. It's strange but it seems nobody cares about clients at this place since there is no feedback to any review neither from the owners nor from the mangers.

After living in Hamilton my whole life I’ve finally made it to Rats. Upon entering the restaurant the first thing I noticed was the cool layout of the place and the cleanliness. We sat out by the pond for lunch, it had a really nice ambiance. Our 4 year old loved watching the Koi fish swim about! The food was absolutely spectacular and service was great. It was very busy for a Thursday at noon, so there was a bit more time between courses than we would typically like, but we were in good company so it wasn’t terrible. Our only complaint was that a few people in our party ordered the bacon (a $2 up charge) for their burgers and they came without. They didn’t charge for the bacon but still a bit disappointing. Other than that it was a wonderful experience and I cannot wait to return for their dinner service with my wife!

Amazing service and enjoyable food. Best to reserve tables before you go. Don't ask the receptionist if you can sit at a specific table, they will always say "no", instead, just ask waitresses, they are more accommodating.

Maybe I came on a bad day. The entrees took a while to come out and when it did , it was disappointing. I ordered the duck , one side was rare and the bottom was well done. It was tough, unseasoned, and cold. My friends branzino fish texture was off and it was also cold, It was inedible and she did not eat it. Another friend got the steak ordered medium rare , this dish was also cold and cook almost well done, she sent it back and it was still cooked horribly. She did say the veggies and potatoes were cooked perfectly. The pear dessert was ok. The bread and the herb butter was actually good. The French onion soup was the best dish. Cocktails trash, had to be sent back. Wine taste cheap. There was a family there that appeared to be apart of a large celebration as they were dressed formally. They walked back and forth several times looking very angry while staff seem to be running around in a panic. I feel this is what may have delayed our food and how the food was allowed to leave the kitchen like that. Here’s my biggest issue, I witnessed a bus boy take a rag and dry wipe the crumbs off a table then put the rag back in his apron. No spray or nothing, crumbs still on the table from the previous guest. Red flag. It’s a shame because from the grounds and the outside of the restaurant it looks pretty. I would not recommend this restaurant.

Try to get outdoor seating if possible. There is a tarp covering the outdoor patio with heaters so that you can stay warm even on a rainy spring evening. The restaurant was charming, inside and out. We enjoyed reading the story of how the name came about. If you didn’t get a chance to sit outside, walk out before or after your meal to enjoy the beautiful garden. Everything we had last night was great, but a few dishes stood out: stuffed calamari as the appetizer (it was the special of the night), duck breast as the main, and grilled kale. The duck breast was so tender (medium rare) that it almost melts in your mouth. The portion was generous, which makes it easy and perfect to share. Don't forget to save some room for the chocolate cake!

This venue is a reliable choice for office gatherings and romantic outings, though it falls short in delivering a gratifying culinary experience. Vegetarians might be disappointed with only two options that unfortunately lack flavor. However, it does offer a kid-friendly atmosphere. If you're in the pursuit of a unique, resort-style experience with child-friendly dining options, then this place may be worth a visit. However, if you're seeking a restaurant that excels in both ambiance and food, you might be better off dining at home before enjoying what this place has to offer.

Rats was amazing, we made a reservation for 14 people and we got an entire room to ourselves. I will say the lunch was good but the dinner menu is better. They have amazing sangria, cider, and ginger pear refreshers. My family all got different dishes and we are liked them a lot, they are definitely not all traditional but they are super interesting and yummy. Either way it’s worth a trip for the beautiful views of the grounds. When you exit the back door there is a koi pond with giant koi fish and ducks and not to mention the sculptures everywhere. Hope this helps!

We celebrated our anniversary dinner here, and OMG!!! It was the BEST restaurant either of us have been to together. From the atmosphere, to the lighting, the history, the service and of course the FOOD was incredible. I’ve never wanted to say compliments to the chef more!!! We were blown away from start to finish. If it was acceptable to lick plates, I would have in a heartbeat!! I got the Coq Au Vin and my other half ordered the braised short rib. Both were beautifully prepared and bursting with flavor. I was thrilled to also be served popovers! They were PERFECTION!! For dessert we shared the carrot cake popover.. and holy moly. It was the most delicious dessert I’ve ever had. Our server was Brian and he was great! Thank you for making our anniversary one to remember! ♥️

12/2023, lunch for three. The culinary experience is simply okay. However, the ambience and venue is what really makes Rat’s fantastic. Enjoy!

We celebrated my mom's 80th birthday here. It was an amazing dinner, impeccable service, amazing food, the restaurant is beautifully decorated! We had a table of 5, two seafood specials over pasta, a cod dish, steak, cooked perfectly and the chicken dish. Appys were French onion soup,, Tuna carpaccio and a cheese board. French food done right! All spectacular! The popovers are amazing! Desserts were delicious too! We had the carrots cake, interesting take on this one, but super yummy. Our server Rachael, I believe was her name, never missed a beat, she was there at every empty water glass and timed the meal perfectly. We were never rushed! A must do dinner lunch or brunch! You won't be disappointed!

From the moment we drove up to the entrance of the venue to a welcoming sculpture of The Rat pointing us toward our destination, it was as if we were in a fairy tale. Our waitress was personally knowledgeable about the menu and was able to answer our questions with ease. The food...scrumdillyilcious. I will share pictures of our meal where you can see the beautiful presentation. I really wish you could taste everything though. Do yourself a favor and check it out for yourself.