Nestled on the sprawling 42-acre Grounds for Sculpture campus, Rat's provides a relaxing and exotic escape that delights the senses from start to finish. From the moment you arrive, you'll see why this extraordinarily charming venue is a favorite for fine dining, celebrations, and corporate events.
Named for the beloved character Ratty from the classic children's storybook The Wind in the Willows, Rat's Restaurant will make you feel like you've stepped back in time into a cozy French countryside caf-offering a one-of-a-kind dining experience you will not soon forget. Rat's is proudly managed by Constellation Culinary Group.
Named for the beloved character Ratty from the classic children's storybook The Wind in the Willows, Rat's Restaurant will make you feel like you've stepped back in time into a cozy French countryside caf-offering a one-of-a-kind dining experience you will not soon forget. Rat's is proudly managed by Constellation Culinary Group.
Services
Ground For Sculpture and Constellation Culinary Group offers a full complement of resources and services for a wide range of social, private, and corporate functions. So many events-from weddings and holiday parties to trade shows and lectures-have been inspired by the unique interplay of nature and art.
For your ceremony, we offer both indoor gallery and outdoor locations. Be sure to ask about which exhibitions will be on view in our galleries at the time of your event. Coordinating dcor and floral arrangements to the artwork provides a stunning and unique environment. And don't worry about the weather; we'll always have an indoor back-up location for you in case of inclement conditions!
Whether you're planning a business meeting for 10 or a gala reception for 400, our unique facilities and dazzling location make it New Jersey's premiere event destination. We'll help you plan memorable business meetings, team-building retreats, conferences, cocktail outings, and client appreciation dinners.
Rat's Restaurant is currently seeking seasoned professionals to fill both front and back of the house positions. If you are someone with fine dining experience and have a genuine interest in exploring the world of food and wine, then Rat's Restaurant is the place for you. With an innovative wine list and a cuisine described as "The Well-Travelled French Kitchen, ".
Reviews (24)
Sally L.
Jan 24, 2022
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William T.
Jan 06, 2022
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Came to Rat's for Christmas Eve lunch and really enjoyed my meal. First, our server did a fine job, but I was a little surprised by various staff cursing (one of the hostesses said GDI to another hostess right in front of us as they were figuring out our table, and another staff member dropped the F bomb a few feet away from us when we were eating). Not the biggest deal, but kind of brought down the classiness of the place, I think.
Anyway, I got the escargots for an appetizer and it was decent, although pretty filling (and thus a mistake in a day full of food!). For my entree, I decided
Anyway, I got the escargots for an appetizer and it was decent, although pretty filling (and thus a mistake in a day full of food!). For my entree, I decided
Meghan G.
Jan 02, 2022
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We took our kids to Grounds for Sculpture to close out winter break and made reservations for lunch at Rat's. It exceeded our wildest expectations of a place to grab an elevated lunch while keeping our three kids under 10 engaged (which almost never happens). From the moment we walked in, Sasha, the host, warmly welcomed our family and kids and set the tone for the lunch. Our server, Austin, was incredibly patient with us and our kids and knowledgeable about the menu (I can never make up my mind). As we were leaving, our oldest ask when we could come again!
Dave Finnerty TheMadAdmin
Dec 28, 2021
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Kevin K.
Dec 13, 2021
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I was happily surprised with the quality of food at Rat's! We came to celebrate a friend's birthday. They provided complementary madeleines at the end.
The service was very nice but on the slower side. We were there for 2.5 hours, and it's not like we were particularly slow ourselves.
The charcuterie board was standard, but good! The escargot was not how I expected it to be served. Flavor was good but the price point is debatable.
Of the 4 entrées we ordered (short rib, prime rib, duck breast, hanger steak), the hanger steak and duck breast were the most notable. The hanger
The service was very nice but on the slower side. We were there for 2.5 hours, and it's not like we were particularly slow ourselves.
The charcuterie board was standard, but good! The escargot was not how I expected it to be served. Flavor was good but the price point is debatable.
Of the 4 entrées we ordered (short rib, prime rib, duck breast, hanger steak), the hanger steak and duck breast were the most notable. The hanger
Ryan Vacha
Dec 04, 2021
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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
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
Lisa Neal
Nov 20, 2021
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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.
Yeon S.
Oct 28, 2021
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Venue is beautiful- love how you can walk around after dining and also have fun with sculptures placed throughout the venue. It's definitely entertaining- Food tasted delicious as well. All of the dishes I had from there were all very satisfying. I took one star off for cleanliness. I reserved an outdoor table which was a great choice after all but they placed my utensils directly on the glass table without napkins being under it or anything. The table were all glass that's not being sanitized after each party leaves so I felt extremely uncomfortable after seeing that. Our server was
Chef Richard
Oct 25, 2021
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Good crowd for a Saturday, Service was slow but very nice.
Tasty pop-overs like i remember.
Lovely mezze platter, scallops were well seasoned and cooked nicely though fairly small.
To sum it up its been 3 years since we have been there we won't wait that long again until we go back, but hopefully the restaurant will get a refresh it is time for an update.
Tasty pop-overs like i remember.
Lovely mezze platter, scallops were well seasoned and cooked nicely though fairly small.
To sum it up its been 3 years since we have been there we won't wait that long again until we go back, but hopefully the restaurant will get a refresh it is time for an update.
Christine Li
Oct 16, 2021
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Phenomenal experience. The ambience is so peaceful and everywhere you look is gorgeous. The staff is so nice and helpful. We were confused about how to check in for Grounds for Sculpture while we were also checking in for lunch. They were so patient with us! Now onto the food. Fantastic and delicious. Is it pricey? A little bit but for the quality and the experience, it is absolutely worth it. We tried the pan seared Branzino and I one hundred percent recommend. The sautéed shrimp appetizer was good. The poached pear salad was nice and refreshing for a warm fall day. Portions are pretty decent
Yelena M.
Oct 04, 2021
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F. A.
Sep 30, 2021
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Everything was nice: the reservation process, hosts, outdoor seating area, with a gorgeous pond and ducks walking freely under the tables. But then the waiter came along. And I am not saying she did not do her job. She did but slowly and right of the bat there was a feeling of an attitude, which actually ruined our further perception of drinks and food, when all of a sudden they did not seem so delicious anymore.
Const Const
Sep 23, 2021
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NO NO NO. Do not go under any circumstances!!!!!
Food was horrible.
Wait time was 1 hour and 30 min!!!
The time we told waitress to cancel the order and we will be on our way, manager came and said that it is here and we want to take it for to go…. I took it a joke
Look at my pictures.
Ordered
Bronzino. They brought half of it. Nothing mentioned in the menu that it will be half of it.
Foie Grass was as bad as I never had it before!!!!
This is the worst experience I have ever had for the past 15 years!!!!!
Food was horrible.
Wait time was 1 hour and 30 min!!!
The time we told waitress to cancel the order and we will be on our way, manager came and said that it is here and we want to take it for to go…. I took it a joke
Look at my pictures.
Ordered
Bronzino. They brought half of it. Nothing mentioned in the menu that it will be half of it.
Foie Grass was as bad as I never had it before!!!!
This is the worst experience I have ever had for the past 15 years!!!!!
Brian R.
Sep 16, 2021
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If you haven't visited Grounds for Sculpture yet (beautiful park like setting with acres of amazing art that people ages 1-100 will enjoy!), or if you do and haven't tried Rat's yet.......its a perfect one-two combination !
I admit, I take my family to Grounds for Sculpture (GFS) quite often but only went to Rats the other day with my wife and what a treat. Spring and Fall make perfect weather for a nice lunch or dinner on the patio. Food is excellent and the servers are friendly and accommodating. The hand cut potato wedges were amazing, seasonal lemonade and sangria were very
I admit, I take my family to Grounds for Sculpture (GFS) quite often but only went to Rats the other day with my wife and what a treat. Spring and Fall make perfect weather for a nice lunch or dinner on the patio. Food is excellent and the servers are friendly and accommodating. The hand cut potato wedges were amazing, seasonal lemonade and sangria were very
Meaghan G.
Sep 08, 2021
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My boyfriend and I went to this restaurant for our anniversary looking for great food and ambiance. The venue is beautiful, especially the outdoor patio, with views of the little river and some sculptures. The food was okay. We had the mezze appetizer which was probably the highlight of the meal- the dips were great. However the pickled vegetables seemed to be out of a jar. I ordered the fettuccine pasta with pesto and I really couldn't get past the amount of oil on the plate, the pasta was doused in it. In addition, the flavors weren't very strong and there was very little tomato and
Vaaance
Aug 25, 2021
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Will A.
Aug 08, 2021
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Rachel K.
Aug 06, 2021
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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
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
Aixa V.
Jul 17, 2021
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This is your top notch, absolutely perfect place for a special occasion. My husband surprised me for my birthday and I must say this will go down in the books as being one of the most memorable. From the warm and friendly staff, to the cozy French style dining area we were seated at, to the 😚 muah! outstanding food.. I just can’t say enough about this place. You must experience it for yourself. I didn’t even feel like I was in NJ anymore- you feel like you’re transported to a cozy little spot in France. Not to mention the restaurant is located adjacent to the Grounds for Sculpture so you
Jessica L.
Jul 13, 2021
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I was thrilled to get an early lunch reservation on a Friday while perusing through the Grounds for Sculptures. We even got outdoor seating which stole the show!
Sadly the pros of this visit stopped there. There were a lot of staff working, at least the day we went, however everyone kind of just seemed all over the place. While we were there we counted over 12 parties confused of where to find the hostess area to tell them they have arrived for their reservations. Very all over the place and very distracting to us as we almost felt like we were working by constantly having to re direct fellow
Sadly the pros of this visit stopped there. There were a lot of staff working, at least the day we went, however everyone kind of just seemed all over the place. While we were there we counted over 12 parties confused of where to find the hostess area to tell them they have arrived for their reservations. Very all over the place and very distracting to us as we almost felt like we were working by constantly having to re direct fellow
Liz S.
Jul 03, 2021
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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
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
Audrey L.
Jul 01, 2021
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I totally enjoyed my special lunch today with our women's group from our Community. It's such a special treat to go to Rats after strolling through the Grounds of Sculpture. Our waiter attended to our specific dietary needs and got everything right. I enjoyed a glass of Malbec snd had a prime rib steak sandwich with fries which was very flavorful and hearty. We ended with a fresh cup of hot coffee. Loved our afternoon in an uplifting venue.
Joe K.
Jun 03, 2021
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Rat's is a hard place to write a review on. After dining there it seems part of what you are paying for is the atmosphere and being able to dine in the restaurant not the quality or taste of the food. If I could, I would give this place 3.5 stars.
I'll start with service. Overall, the staff was generally friendly and courteous. However, they seemed understaffed and everything felt a bit rushed. There also seemed to be a lot of variation between the servers. The table next to us the server spent more time talking about the dishes and food where as our server just seemed to rush through
I'll start with service. Overall, the staff was generally friendly and courteous. However, they seemed understaffed and everything felt a bit rushed. There also seemed to be a lot of variation between the servers. The table next to us the server spent more time talking about the dishes and food where as our server just seemed to rush through
Dave W.
Nov 09, 2020
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Keeping it local and safe, we decided to try Rats for Restaurant week and were not disappointed. The Prix Fixe dinner was $45 with a choice of appetizer, entree and dessert. You can also order off of the regular menu if you so desire.
We started with a First Course of Sauteed Shrimp for three of us (piperade, chorizo, Italian parsley and toasted breadcrumb) and Butternut Squash Soup for our other diner (pomegranate molasses and pepitas). Everything was excellent with the exception that all of our shrimp appetizers could have been hotter - lost that 5th star for this, should be a 4.5). Overall
We started with a First Course of Sauteed Shrimp for three of us (piperade, chorizo, Italian parsley and toasted breadcrumb) and Butternut Squash Soup for our other diner (pomegranate molasses and pepitas). Everything was excellent with the exception that all of our shrimp appetizers could have been hotter - lost that 5th star for this, should be a 4.5). Overall
