Address
16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619
Phone Number
(609) 584-7800
Date Visited
07/21/2019
Website
Rats Restaurant (at Grounds for Sculpture)
Description
Rat’s Restaurant is located within Grounds for Sculpture. It’s address is 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton Township, NJ. Parking is available in a lot near the main entrance. Patrons can be dropped off in the circle in front of Rat’s. There are benches here. If coming from within Grounds for Sculpture, walk over the wooden bridge at Rat’s Woodlands to the restaurant. The main entrance has street level, double doors, a stone entryway and another set of doors to the hostess area. If coming from within the Gardens you will enter at the back, patio dining area and walk to the hostess desk at the front.There are several dining areas. Including outdoor patio seating. All of the areas have smooth floors, a variety of seating options and adequate space between tables for navigation. There is also a full-height bar in one of the areas. The second floor dining areas can be accessed by steps or elevator.
Multi-stall restrooms with handicapped-accessible stalls and baby-changing facilities are located in a hallway off of one of the dining areas. There are also single-occupancy, handicapped-accessible restrooms on the upper level. There is an elevator to this level.
Call (609) 584 – 7800 for reservations or assistance.
- Surface of lot: paved
Distance to venue: about 1/10 of a mile
Transportation to venue offered: passengers can be dropped off in front of main entrance
Terrain: flat
Places to rest: benches in front of main entrance
Paths and walkways: concrete and stone
Doors: street-level, double doors
Number of floors: 2
Elevators: to upper floor
Ramps: no
Steps and staircases: 16 steps to second level
Width of aisles: adequate space between tables
Places to sit: banquettes, tables and charis, full-height bar, outdoor patio
Location of restrooms: in hallway off of one of the dining areas, on second floor
Type of restroom: multi-stall, handicapped accessible, and single-occupancy, handicapped-accessible
Ease of entry and exit: OK
Baby changing station: yes
Friendliness of staff: friendly and professional
Rat’s Restaurant is located at “Grounds for Sculpture.” It is “named for the gregarious character in…Seward Johnson’s favorite childhood story book, the “Wind in the Willows”. “The character “Ratty” represented everything a host should be… Seward Johnson likens himself to Ratty.” (It is) designed to make guests feel like they have stepped back in time to Claude Monet’s beloved town of Giverny… The restaurant scenery features Johnson’s own impressionist-inspired sculptures, as well as a lily pond and bridge.” (website)
Walking over the bridge and past the lily pond takes you back in time. It is simply beautiful! We did not realize that we were at the back of the restaurant. This is where the outdoor patio is located. Getting to the hostess desk meant walking through the restaurant to what is really the main entrance. This is where you would enter if you came here by car. You can drive and park near the stone walkway, double – door, stone entryway. This establishment looks as though it has been here for hundreds of years, but in fact, it has not. The illusion is lovely. The décor is French country, with lots of wood and soft colors that just invite you in.
Several dining areas, all have smooth floors,somewhat different decor,and a variety of seating options; banquettes, tables and chairs, a full-height bar. There is adequate space between tables. There are several dining areas on the second floor. This level can be accessed by steps or elevator.
Multi-stall restrooms with handicapped stalls and baby-changing facilities are located in a hallway off of one of the dining areas. Single-occupancy, handicapped-accessible restrooms are located on the second floor.
We weren’t sure if we should make a reservation for lunch or not, but we did. As it turned out, we were glad we had. The restaurant was full. If you do not make a reservation you can leave your name and phone number and they will call you when a table becomes available.
Lunch was lovely. Our server was gracious and professional. Our choices were delicious. That, combined with the atmosphere, made for a very relaxing interlude in our day.
As always, we at Destination:Accessible, advise you to check a venue’s website, http://www.ratsrestaurant.com, when planning a visit, to “know before you go.”
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