Grounds for Sculpture and Rat’s Restaurant in Hamilton, NJ – Perfect Together
Woman Around Town recently had the pleasure of visiting Grounds for Sculpture for their Night Forms: Infinite Waves exhibition and the fine dining restaurant on their premises by Constellation Culinary Group, Rat’s. Located in Hamilton, New Jersey, the venues are close to the Princeton area and can be easily accessed by car from New York City and Philadelphia. It’s a wonderful excursion for our readers.
Grounds for Sculpture – This extraordinary, unique destination has 42 picturesque acres with nearly 300 stunning sculptures. Explore the rotating exhibitions in six indoor galleries, enjoy performances, lectures from premier creative minds or create an art project at one of their workshops. Grounds for Sculpture was established by the visionary founder, Seward Johnson, and features works by artists that include Clement Meadmore, Anthony Caro, Beverly Pepper, Kiki Smith, George Segal, Magdalena Abakanowicz, and Isaac Witkin. The bucolic surroundings offer gorgeous landscaping with thousands of exotic trees and flowering plants.
Grounds for Sculpture – (Photo Credit: Michael Howarth)
Grounds for Sculpture is currently presenting Night Forms: Infinite Waves through April 2nd. This special evening event has been created through lighting, sound, and video projection mapping, a process pioneered by Klip Collective. The after hours, multi-sensory experience is designed for guests to engage with more than a dozen of the outdoor art and horticulture collection. Building on the success and popularity of last year’s exhibition, Night Forms offers a new route through the grounds that will fascinate guests of all ages. Stroll, pause, and appreciate the incredible sights and sounds.
Grounds for Sculpture requires advanced time ticket reservations to ensure entry for Night Forms. The exhibition hours are Thursday to Sunday, from sunset to 11 pm. For more information, visit their website.
Rat’s Restaurant – This upscale dining experience is the premier restaurant located at Grounds for Sculpture. It has a rustic, old-world charm with charming architecture and décor inspired by painter Claude Monet. With multiple dining rooms, there are seating options for all size parties. Open for lunch and dinner, there is even a kid’s menu so you can bring the whole family. The service is excellent, ensuring a fine dining experience.
We visited Rat’s for dinner early on a Thursday evening. The restaurant features a delightful selection of French inspired dishes for all tastes and styles with ingredients sourced from local producers, farmers, and gardeners. Some of our favorite dishes include a great table share, the artisanal cheese platter. Generous salads include the savory broccoli caesar with charred broccoli. Entrees such as the tender braised short ribs, Maine scallops, roasted eggplant, and roasted duck breast are guaranteed to please. Tantalize your taste buds even more with scrumptious desserts like the bananas foster bread pudding or beignets. Rat’s also has a top-notch beverage program that includes an extensive wine list and signature cocktails.
Rat’s presents an unforgettable dining experience that you won’t want to miss when you visit Grounds for Sculpture. Reservations are highly recommended. The restaurant is located at 16 Fairgrounds Rd, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619. For menus, hours of operation, and more information, please visit the website for Rat’s Restaurant or call 609-584-7800.
Top Photo: Grounds for Sculpture, Credit – Ken Ek
Rat’s Restaurant photos courtesy of Constellation Culinary Group
