Reviews of Rat's Restaurant (Restaurant)

Andrew Singleton

Don't let the name fool you, this restaurant is a cut above the rest. It can be both elegant for special occasions and more relaxed if you are coming from the gardens and just want a bite to eat. Their breads were delicious and the food very well prepared. The salmon, steak and short ribs were all very good, as my table commented. A place that we will definitely revisit.

Kathleen Planz

I love going to Hamilton Sculpture Garden. Rat's is right in the middle of this wonderful place. You are surrounded by art and landscapes that just add to the experience. Food is very good. A little pricey but well worth it.its not just a meal, it's an experience!

Jacques Goupil

This is an amazing place. The food is excellent eating in the sculpture garden os fantastic, recommend going at night for food/drinks and making sure you get to the sculpture garden during the day.

Elizabeth Whiffen

This venue is the best kept secret in New Jersey, perfect for all ages and just a delight. You can follow the street to the grounds with all the sculptures placed on the roadside...very cool Plenty of places to eat, sit and get inside when the heat gets too much. Entrance fee very affordable.

Paxson Godshall

The whole experience of going to Rat's was really great when I went. The food and service were great, they brought us fresh baked pop-overs and touring the sculpture garden either before or after you eat is a must.

Laurice Grae-Hauck

Very nice setting. Drinks were pretty weak. I've not dined here but love the location for drinks after an event at Grounds For Sculpture.

t w

It's a good experience to have with someone. Me and my girlfriend went when we first started seeing each other. The food was pretty good and the staff was very friendly. All in all, a pretty good experience

Shonda Laurel

Love love love this place!! Great food, service and atmosphere.

Jennifer Ng'andu

It really is true. Eating at Rats is like walking in to a Monet painting. The food is exquisite and everything that we had made my mouth water and my stomach sing. Fresh, light flavors for summer. No doubt this seasonal menu mirrors whatever mood and flavors of the time. Service was great, but not exceptional. We had a hard time flagging down folks when we needed things, despite those instructions. Nonetheless, the food and atmosphere is beyond exceptional.

Storming Robots

Way overpriced for its food. quality. Very short list of selection. Burger tasted very gamey. Gave it 2 instead of 1 because waiter was very polite.

Alex

Beautiful views on the outside, rustic wonders on the inside, and a feeling of class combined with casualty, Rat's is an absolute delight. It is a serene environment whether inside or outside, with both offering their own advantages. The food is equally as satisfying, with tasty appetizers, entrees, and desserts, with a great sense of freshness in their ingredients and knowledge in their seasonings. The Summer menu is also quite diverse, with a quirky mix of French and American cuisine that is unlike many other restaurants. While it can become a bit expensive, Rat's Restaurant provides an incredibly unique blend of food and surroundings, combined with wonderful service, that makes the price well worth it, and, while not often, I would be glad to come back again.

John Burk

Unbelievable atmosphere and top chef prepared menus itemd.. an overall perfect culinary experience

Екатерина Парфененко

Nice interior, not bad atmosphere. But food was not tasty at all! Vine was bad too. Extremely overpriced food. Service just ok.

Jodi Thompson

An experience. An expensive experience.

Partha Bagchi

Excellent place to take a lunch break while visiting GFS!

Marleen Mabry

Love this restaurant and especially enjoy eating on the patio. Mindful of our visit to Monet’s garedoon France!

David Baw

Monet's lotus pond fell like inside a painting, so beautiful.

Carlos Gutiérrez

My wife, son and I were hungry and sitting here was a great desicion. We started with a tomato soup that was delicious, follow by an appetizer with Some humus and eggplant, amazing, and finally I finished with raviolis that I wanted to order more for dinner. Ground for Sculptures is great family trip, and if you also go to this beautiful restaurant you will love it.

Robert Quinn

Disappointing. Will try again but we had a bad service, bad table and my entree was terrible, should have sent it back but you know how that goes. Apps and salads were good, others enjoyed their meals. Location is spectacular, bartenders are competent and service was good at the bar.

Gila Fogelmanunger

Excellent food and great service

Kelly Washington

Our burgers were all way overcooked, but because it took a long time to get our food, we didn't send it back. The manager did give us a portion off our bill. I wasn't impressed with the food, and I thought the prices were too high for what we got. The atmosphere and ambiance were lovely though.

Wendy Diaz

Fabulous food at a spectacular venue! We went for a wine and tasting menu dinner and we were more than happy with our experience.

D.A. Mercado

The cuisine is exquisite. Staff is courteous. Location is perfect.

geoff steck

The views and dining rooms are great fun. Food and service matches the decor. In combination with stroll in GFS it's always a treat.

Taras Stashkevych

Highly recommended! The menu is very interesting with nice dishes that you will not find in many restaurants. We had a duck breast and bouillabaisse and it were delicious. Desserts were very tasty, chocolate mousse and carrot cake are the best. 5 star!!! By the way, prices are moderate.

Beth Kodran

Delicious meals were had by all! GF friendly. Clambake, Coq au Vin, Short Ribs, Steak Fritte and Three Cheese Mac n' Cheese were all well prepared. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Always a very special experience.

jeff saldarini

Great food however it is a little bit pricey

Barbara Woodruff

As owner of The Floral Design Group, I had the pleasure of providing flowers for the Scillia wedding rehearsal dinner on June 14, 2019. Not only are the grounds and restaurant fabulous, the staff is outstanding. Mario could not be more professional and helpful. It was an absolute pleasure to be on the premises and enjoy your staff. Barbara Woodruff, The Floral Design Group

Dennis OBrien

Rat visit after a walk on the Grounds of Sculpture. Excellent dinner. Had a great bottle of wine from a very good list. Tomato and onion soups for apps. Fish and duck dinners were nicely displayed on the plate with grains and veggies. Cappuccino and Expresso were spot on. And dessert of brownie and ice cream and blueberry cake were very tasty. Enjoyed the event definitely to be revisited. Last time we only had time for the Grounds visit. That takes some time.

JOANNA London

It was beautiful and wonderful, overlooking water, waterlilies, and an arched bridge, like living in a Monet painting. It was adjacent to Grounds for Sculpture, where many paintings come to life.

BillJules Reviews

Attention to details and a fantastic staff make this a go to place to celebrate

Lanny Stein

The steak I ordered was all grizzle. I told the waitress and she said she would let them know. However it was ignored and she came back and asked if we wanted dessert and never said anything about the complaint. No one came over to apologize or do anything to rectify the problem. We ordered dessert and she had someone give us the bill. No deduction and no appology. The restaurant was almost empty and the service was horrible. I have been to Rats several times, but will never go back.

Exportcity Group

Food with picturesque dining experiences! Sit in dreamy 3D Monet lotus pond painting truly a dreamscape experiences. French escargot to simple chicken sandwich. Highly recommend and prior reservation.

denise wilder

We had a lovely dinner for our anniversary

Liana Urban

We had our wedding at Rat’s yesterday on the patio and in the pavilion. We are so happy that we chose Rat’s! Dana was so helpful and wonderful in helping us plan our event. The atmosphere and scenery is amazing for a special event and pictures. Everything went perfect and the service was amazing. Everyone raved about the food and service. Thank you Rat’s and Dana!

Barbara Shapiro

Atmosphere, surroundings, good food.

Bill Maurer

Very scenic grounds. Enjoyed the plants and fish. The restaurant had a ton of gnats. Service was very slow and the waitress never cracked a smile. Prices were high and portions were just okay. No desire to return. Give it try, who knows maybe you'll like it better than I did.

Christopher Kelly

This was my wife and I first time here. The appearance and atmosphere are incredible. You feel like you are in an old world French cottage. The service was excellent from the start. We had reservations and were immediately seated without any issues. The room we were sat in was being serviced by Ty and Scott. Both servers were excellent and assisted and complimented each other perfectly. Now the important stuff. The food was absolutely incredible. Much better than what I had anticipated. This is a must do for anyone in the area.

Lisa Kaste

Unbelievably beautiful setting for a great meal

Hector De Jesus

Beautiful outside seating great food very hospitable.

Jolynn Yurcho

Menu was just eh, i ordered the califlower steak which was the vegan dish, it was raw and cold in the center, and lacked any real flavor, not a seer on it , the best part was the table butter, i felt the server was pretty new which is fine but the atmosphere was very dry and didnt feel as welcoming as expected. We sat outside which would have been nice except the smell of sour milk lingered throughout our experience . I guess i was just expecting more from such an award winning place.

Clyde P Riddlesbrood

This is a terrific and really cool place to visit and have a meal. We just did a murder mystery there and the architecture of the place is just amazing. even the entrance when you first walk in looks like an old fashioned gypsy wagon and they have statues and sculptures everywhere. And by the way the food is top-notch!

GLEY LA

We went for lunch. Burger was excellent! Mac & cheese very good. Service was good. Make sure you make reservations as they're always busy and booked ahead of time.

Murali C

We were here for office Christmas party. Beautiful place and a mini theme park by itself. Many sculptures and lakes surrounds this property. Since this was office party, we ordered food for the group, hence cannot comment more. The food was good overall. But, I say you go to this place NOT for food but experience the ambience. Go there when sunlight is plenty to enjoy.

Audrey Dorofy

I have been here multiple times. The food is great, wait staff is always excellent, love the whole feel of it. Plus it is situated on the property of Grounds for Sculpture, which I also love. The restaurant is a bit pricey so i go upon occasion as a special treat.

Gabriella Bonilla

french food, so good. I will probably become a regular. The bill won't shock you. Menu is like a cafe in Boston I loved.

Edward Sandfort

Nice overall but not nearly as good as it used to be. Too expensive for what they offer. I will say that the bar is very good though, interesting and well made cocktails, but the food is really just average.

Steve Valinski

Sat outside by the beautiful ponds. Enjoyed some drinks and watched the fish. Next time we will try food there as it looked very good.

Benoit Schmid

In an amazing decor and arty garden, this restaurant makes very good american cuisne with a french twist. Definitely a very nice place to eat and drink as the wine list - though a bit expensive - is quiet nice.

Janis Arrindell

Modest menu; great service; reservations recommended for evening.

Hanz T

Very good food! My only complaint is that the bread and butter is kept out in the open; meanwhile flies are buzzing around and landing on it. Hey, you can always opt out of having bread and butter.

Byram Daruwala

Delicious food and a wonderful atmosphere. Service good but not quite at the level you would expect from a restaurant of this caliber and cost. I had the cod which was prepared very well. Everyone in our party liked their meals. The wine was pricey for what was provided. All in all a great experience!

Akavar Dylutra

Rat's Restaurant is a great destination restaurant. They are located next to Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton NJ. The artistic senstivity of the Sculpture Garden is also present at the restaurant The decor is quaint. The exposed beams and woodwork lend an appropriate ambience to the dining experience. There are many windows so that even when you sit inside you have the feeling of being in the sculpture garden. They take food very seriously at Rat's. There is a strong effort to source locally and feature food items from New Jersey. The servers are very knowledgeable about the products available. The service and quality of the food during our visit were excellent. A few suggestions before you visit Rat's: 1. Make a reservation 2. Check the menu for selection and price 3. Plan your visit around a walk through the sculpture garden. Contact Grounds for Sculpture to help reserve tickets for your visit there. I highly recommend Rat's Restaurant and Grounds for Sculpture for a day trip. Plan to spend at least half a day.

Bill Gaboda

Very pleasant French-ish resto on the edge of Grounds For Sculpture. Nice menu, good salads. Beautiful setting and very peaceful. Worth a stop anytime, esp when visiting Grounds.

sheronda

We were there to celebrate my best friend's birthday. The atmosphere was wonderful, as usual! I had not been to rats in the number of years but the food was still delicious! We enjoyed every bite! We had deviled eggs as an appetizer and trout as our main course. DELICIOUS!

Arnie Ginsburg

After a wonderful tour of the grounds we stopped at Pat's for a late lunch. The atmosphere is wonderful and we sat outside on a beautifully comfortable November day. Unfortunately the food was less than spectacular. The chicken schnitzel was overcooked/ too dry. Worse than that, the $25.00 "seafood" salad had only three shrimp and a tiny scattering of crab shreds - very far from the menu description expectation and no where near a $25 value. The atmosphere was great, the food not.

Eleanor Lerum

Very good food, great menu and the service was perfect. We did not have reservations,but the found a cancellation and seated my family quickly.

Jo Jantz

I took my brother to Rat's for his birthday. We enjoyed some cocktails at the bar along with some appetizers. Very enjoyable. The cheese platter was delicious! They had Frose (frozen rose) that looked very refreshing but I stuck to my red wine. Very unique and fun atmosphere.

Anna G

This place should be definitely on your list. The atmosphere is incredible. It is a unique world of sculptures which meet you before you even get to the restaurant. The staff is professional and attentive. They have several dining rooms each with its unique design. I liked the terrace next to the lake. There were the best escargot I ever tried (I'm a fan of escargot). There is different menus for lunch, brunch and dinner. After a nice lunch/dinner, make sure to have a walk in the park. Some of sculptures hid next to the restaurant.

MaryEllen Lyons

On a cold and rainy Friday, friends from Cherry Hill and my husband and I met at Rat's for lunch. It was so warm and welcoming inside - Mike and I had an Irish coffee at the bar while waiting for our friends and we warmed up right quickly with the atmosphere, the friendliness of the bartender and the delicious coffee. When they got there, we were taken to our table in another room, looking out on the gorgeous, even in the rain, surroundings. We had wine and the local cheese offerings as an appetizer, and delicious entrees for lunch. The staff never hurried us, and we enjoyed a lovely afternoon. I highly recommend this dining spot!

PhillyBite Magazine

With lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch fare highlighting superb country French cuisine. Featuring an authentic European aesthetic and exciting French-inspired menu. Rat’s will make you think you've stepped back in time directly into a cozy and welcoming French countryside café.

Jorge Sauda

Small Menu... good quality and reasonable prices...very nice service....We enjoyed everything the place the food and company. Lts of diferents room and patios by the gardens. Love it.

peter marcello

Great happy hour, food is great and a mix of drinks bar tender was very personable

Anthony Mazzeo

Good food. Good service. Decent menu choices. Nice wine and beer selection.

iwona zurawska

yesterday I was the country dinner !!!!was terrible !!! one table for maybe 40 people ,everybody sat very close I can’t breathe! then serve different wine for every meal !!!wine was not even a normal glass of wine !the and Lamb was very very dry !!!

peter liu

Close to the sculptures park and great view while eating. The food is delicious and the service is also great.

Karen Marchese

Food aside, this restaurant appeals to all the senses, and then some. It is comfortable, yet stimulating. The lunch menu is not extensive, but offers something for everyone (although I would not suggest it for children). It is a bit pricey, but worth it. The staff is attentive, but not overbearing. While a visit to the Grounds for Sculpture is highly recommended, Rats itself is worth the visit. #art #food

Suzanne Carrie

Really enjoyed the lobster pot. Everything was delicious. Service was excellent and my membership to grounds for sculpture gave us a discount. Definitely will go back.

Karina Eframian

Beautiful seating outside. Great food & drinks, good service.

Juan D Lopez

It is an amazing and enchanted place, but for the money you pay you should get a better food and service. Overall was a great experience.

bernice elson

The food and service without compare. A wonderfull atmosphere.

Cj McGinnis

Have dined here on several occasions over the last two decades. Each time with different visitors and had a positive, fun, impressive experience.

Allan Reider

Food is incredible with sharp friendly and amazing staffand it is on grounds for sculpture which is an unbelievable place

Meeghan Killeen

Felt like I was in France. Food is delicious!

lisa aufiero

Always a great experience. Staff wait is awesome.

Egor Jay

Great service, good food, nice settings. Overly expensive.

Kirk Simon

Had a really great time here. The food is delicious and the service is absolutely fantastic. Ask for a young man named Nick. He is really really good!

Turkish Queen

The atmosphere is nice. I don't like the food. It does not taste good to me. The waiters need training. They are not welcoming and they are not attentive. Needs improvement.

Autumn Awesome

Excellent service. Wonderful cozy yet upscale decor feel. A variety of dishes. And I had the most amazing French Bordeaux rouge from chateaux Nicot. Honestly delightful atmosphere. With great patio views of a lotus pond and water features.

michele reilly

Great atmosphere. Only ordered drinks from the bar. Only wish that we could have sat on patio in front but it was for dining customers only. We had to sit inside at the bar.

Patricia Butcheck

An amazing restaurant located in an amazing spot. Worth a visit, even if not going to the Sculpture Garden next door.

Madeline Moody

I spent a beautiful evening there while attending a wedding. The food and wait staff are amazing!

David Geyer

Lovely service for the wedding reception. Much care went into the food selections,. Thanks from wedding coordinator!

Anna Mi

One of a kind place! Every detail is unique and beautiful. We’ve enjoyed our diner in front of the pond, food is delicious, top level service. This was one of the best restaurants we’ve discovered in USA!

Jessica Pfund

Scenic restaurant located on the edge of the Grounds for Sculpture with a beautiful view of a recreation of Monet's Water Lilies Bridge. Seasonal menu with lots of yummy dishes. Reservations not required but recommended, as there was a wedding party who'd reserved it for later that evening when we went.

Audrey Wary

The views are impeccable, we were a table for 2 and we had an amazing afternoon lunch date. The service however was not top notch, for the price paid I feel like we should have received water refills or offered fresh pepper without having to ask. Otherwise food and everything else was excellent.

Earl Lipphardt

Hamilton's best restaurant. Beautiful atmosphere. Always terrific customer service. The food is sublime. Great selection of adult beverages.

Mary Stanford

The Ground For Sculpture & Rats was the perfect gift for my boyfriend.... My Boyfriend Guy is a Gifted Artist

Edwina Milsted

Loved it! Can't wait to go back!

Stephanie Hammond

Eating here is like eating in a story book. Beautiful establishment, amazing food and amazing service. We shared the deviled eggs and lobster roll as appetizers which were both delicious. I had the burger with fries which were delicious. The burger is juicy and flavorful, while the fries are thin and tasty. He had the steak with a side of mac and cheese, and loved it all. The server was friendly and made the whole experience even better. We will be back!

Rob Miranda

Made reservations for their new years eve event and dinner. Had 10:00pm reservation and was seated at 10:40. Our first table was probably at the worst location in the place right next to the outdoor hallway that led to the NYE venue. That table shouldn't have existed. We asked to be moved to another location because water was dripping down my girlfriends back as well. After about 20 min we were then seated at a much much better location, and our expectations were met fully. I do not think I will return for their NYE celebration, but I will return for dining on any other regular night. The waitstaff was great as was the Manager. They turned my 2 star review to a 4.

Ben H

The food was absolutely delicious and the drinks were incredible! Service was a bit confusing at first since we had 2 servers take our orders plus our meals were delayed by about 45 mins due to the restaurant hosting an event. However, the manager offered complimentary drinks because we waited so long and the food was ultimately worth the wait. Also you can't beat the view when you sit outside near the pond, such a great view and overall experience!

Anthony Loiacono

Wow! Amazing food and service. And the view is fantastic also.

mike fabian

Had a lovely dinner on the patio. Food was truly excellent, but the real star here was the ambiance. Like dining in Monet's garden.

Andrew Holzheimer

Great seafood special for their Clambake Night. Highly recommend it.

Amy Q.

Great place for a wedding reception. Nice ambient and beautiful surrounding.

Eliazar Galvez

The staff at the front desk is a group of young people with no experience and little common sense besides distracted, it is important that they give the opportunity to young people to take charge of responsibility but putting anyone there is not a good idea...they don’t even know how to take a reservation right and can't answer any questions if you have a question their answer is sends you to the restaurant's website......GREAT Food,Beautifull Place,Great service.....but need a professional to answer the phone.!

leo tysak

Good service and selection. Staff were very attentive. We definitely go back

Nick Rapagnani

At grounds for sculpture park, great for a date night! Fantastic food, try to go on a non event night!

Dessie Hristov

Maybe we didn't pick the right entrees but we we not impressed at all. My duck was more rare than medium rare. My son's chicken was just ok (coq au Vin is supposed to be mouth watering!). Dessert was good. The semifreddo was one thing that I actually did not regret getting. I asked to have my glass of wine chilled, the server said he will bring ice. No ice was brought ever. My son's lemonade was full of ice for $6. Refills are not free, so every top off is another $6. No, I don't think we'll repeat the night...

Theresa Raducha Meyer

Terrible service, had to ask for water, portions mediocre, and overpriced. Served single short rib, and ravioli entrees, #3 only in large bowl. Noisy, and although advance request for outdoor seating, did not accommodate the request. Overall, disappointing!

Scott Goldthwaite

Fantastic food and service. The weather was nice so we sat outside. The braised rib is especially good.

J P

I've only gone for lunches but the food has been nothing but spectacular. It's a bit pricey so definitely a place I visit on occasion but I always enjoy my time here. The waiters are so kind and attentive. The vibe is cozy and the restuarant is very clean. The potato leek soup is awesome, I would highly recommend you try it! Best time to come for lunches is as soon as they open at 11am because you usually get the seats next to the windows for the best view.

Sean Zale

Great staff, atmosphere and food. Manager Mike went above and beyond to make us comfortable

James Stevens

Food was quite good as was the service, but a bit pricey, especially at lunch. Same prices at dinner. It's located in the Gardens of Sculpture which should NOT be missed. The "Boating Party" is worth the cost of admission alone.

Alan Deng

Amazing atmosphere, view, service. Food is on another level.

LaKisha Lefever

Well worth the years of wait. Unbelievable how big it is and how much detail and attention they give. Would recommend the place. Great place for date night, anniversaries, and events.

Marilyn Velazquez

Enjoy a peaceful dinner by the pond and enjoy this beautiful scenery.

Donna Challender

The food was exquisite. The service was excellent. We couldn't ask for a more enchanted evening out with our friends!

Jeanique Allamani-Morgan

Not only was the ambiance breathtaking but the food was amazing at every course!

Janice Krassowski

Delicious food and the staff is very attentive.

R P

I have never left an online review in my life. A unique and entertaining experience until we sat down to dine. The table service was poor. As a party we were extremely disappointed. The watercress soup tasted like cologne, the escargot were over done and the scallops were ammoniated (tasted like bait). We will never return or recommend.

Rowan Hall

Yummy food and lovely service. When they heard our table had a gluten and dairy allergy, they brought out special bread and olive oil for the bread course. Such a nice surprise!

Bill Wert

Quiet beauty with unique sculptures on the surrounding ground. Attentive wait staff with good food

Peter van Vliet

Fantastic. Wonderful atmosphere. Small menu includes delicious seasonal dishes. We had a great time and I hope to visit again in the spring.

John Blasi

Looking for a great way to spend a few hours on a nice summer’s day. Sitting out on the patio @ Rat’s overlooking Monet’s bridge @ Givenchy while enjoying a beautifully presented & perfectly prepared meal will do it. Take a walk around the restaurant’s garden paths afterwards to work off dessert

Jennifer Juhasz

Fantastic atmosphere. Delicious. Great service. We loved it here and can't wait to come again. It's not on the website, but we brought our kids and they have a great kids menu with huge portions. You can sit outside and still be undercover . We were right next to the gorgeous pond with lush foliage, sculptures and massive koi fish.

Lauren Jurski

Romantic location and decor. Great food. $$$$