This place was just amahzing! And that's NOT just my dieting, fat starved self talking. So sit back, turn off the phone, grab some tissue and close the door cause this meal and review is epic. Like "Gone With the Wind" epic. Or for those foodies out there, like "Debbie Does Dallas" epic (and the kleenex will be used for something entirely different :). Bff took me here for my birthday last nite. We'd been wanting to try this place out for their 2.56 Happy Hour for a while (apparently 2.56 is half off 5.12...get it? 512??? Yeah maths is lost on me too), so our plan was to get there for hh at 5:30 and then we had a 7:00 dinner reservation. We sat at the bar and quickly befriended our bartender/tour guide/fellow Dallasite/new best friend, Eric. He handed us the 2.56 hh menu and we saw all these wines and beers for $5.50 to $7.50 and apps for $10-12. When we asked him about it, he kinda hmm'd and said that yeah, they don't do the 2.56 specials anymore and they really shoulda taken that off the menu and the only hh specials were the drinks listed and not the apps, etc. I should knock some stars off for this disappointment but the whole experience was so great I just can't (and besides Bff was paying so what do I care?? :). I ordered the sole discounted drink, The Bell, which was vodka, grapefruit juice and creme de violette and I must say that after 2 1/2 weeks of no drinking, this was fantastic! Bff got some Albarino for $5.50. We then ordered two apps, the nairagi tartar and the mussels. The mussels came in a tarragon wine sauce with crostini stacked on top like firewood. The sauce had so many slivered almonds in it as to give it an amaretto flavoring. The mussels were good but really played second fiddle to this crack sauce that we sopped up with the crostinis. I had to put aside my inadequate little mussel fork and scoop it all up in a soup spoon. The nairagi, which we learned from Eric is marlin but resembles tuna, was out of this world good! Each thin sliver came topped with fig, meyer lemon, a sprig of herb and a tiny ball of chevre (see that gorgeous pic!). Upon eating, me and bff both exclaimed at the same time (we do this often after 30 yrs of friendship), "It's like Willy Wonka!" It was just like WW's gum, with an entire meal's worth of flavor in one bite....tart followed by savory followed by sweet and finished up with the chevre (glad I didn't end up turning into a goat!). Simply incredible. It was at this point that I said, "This is so fucking good!....oh, shit we're in a nice establishment, I should tone my language down a notch." And not 10 seconds later, Eric asked how we liked the apps and I practically yelled in my enthusiasm, "It's so FUCKING good!!" as Bff just shook his head. We were having so much fun at the bar that we decided to just eat our entire meal there with Eric, and he very graciously volunteered the info that we could do the 3 course prix fixe for $48 which consists of 2 apps and an entree and we could count the two apps we'd already had. What a swell guy! So for our next apps, Bff got the seared escolar with a pistachio topping and blueberry sauce (somehow it worked), and I chose the pork belly in "diablo glaze". I'm always a little afeared of pork belly cause it can be too fatty, but this was the best I've ever had. None of that gelatinous, sticky fat, just 3 very large chunks of crispy salty pork topped with sweet Asian pear slivers. A great combo! And just when I thought I couldn't eat any more, we got our entrees. Bff ordered the rack of lamb and I the beef short rib. He loved his rare lamb lollipops that came with this great mint yogurt slaw stuff. My plate was gorgeous. I was so excited to see that tiny quail's egg (or was it Egg of Angel? Don't they nest?) on my rib and I showed Bff how I could just touch the meat with my fork and it would fall apart. The little egg just made the beef so much richer and it was topped with crunchy, nutty sunflower seeds. Even my side was interesting. I'd never had grilled romaine before and it was so good with a distinct char flavor. I ate every bite of every course and was satisfied. And just when we thought the goodness was over, Eric surprised us with two free glasses of Ruinart champagne for my birthday! After all that rich food and a couple of drinks, I do believe I fell in love with Eric right then. Bff told me last nite that some people complain that Yelp reviews are too sexual and my reply was, if you have a great meal and don't get that warm feeling in your uterus, somethin's wrong. The Carillon left me needing a cigarette :) read more

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Foie Gras is like crack wrapped up in french toast with a side of caramel and balsamic reduction. Oh wait, thats not crack, thats what they serve every night of the week at Carillion. What does this mean to you, my dear reader? It means that you need to commit grand theft auto and haul ass to the Carillion now. Not later, not Friday night, not in 10 minutes, but right now. If they are closed, camp out, bring marshmallows and a fifth of jager and make an event out of it. Then run inside and eat this damn thing as soon as possible. It is so rich, so sweet, and so amazing, that you will likely have a diner room orgasam. These are all good things, by the way French food is my friend Gabriel read more

The Carillon is hands down the best restaurant in Austin. From amazing appetizers, to main course and a stunning dessert all wrapped in excellent service, this looks unbeatable. This is sophisticated food in a good way, not pretentious, but endlessly fascinating tastes. I had an impossible time even guessing how some of the dishes were created. The setting is definitely different. High archways repeat down the length of the dining room. Each has a set of quotes on it. I think we figured out what they represent, I won't spoil the fun of figuring it out. The kitchen is open to the dining room and it's an amazing kitchen. I like the open kitchens, nothing to hide it great when some is preparing my food. It's pricey, but not unreasonable for what you get. Plan on a long, unrushed dining experience, enjoy each dish. In my mind, this is a must visit restaurant in Austin. * I used a Yelp coupon, nice. read more

We got seated in a table in the corner. Getting the "best" table is something that F and I strive for whenever we go out and often times the hostess will try to sit us at the crap table near the kitchen, bathroom, exit, etc. and we have to suggest that we get sat at one of the many nice tables that are empty. The ambiance was perfect - linen tablecloth, lounge music in the background, and an intimate feel about the whole place. In addition, there was an array of wonderful people serving us. They were seamless in their timing so that they weren't congregating around us all the time like a gang (because that's what gangs do). The 7 foot basketball player water girl didn't seem to mind me staring at her as it took a minute for her to fill up F's glass. She poured it from a super tall bottle (it matched her) and only a little came out at a time going, "Glub, glub, glub," so I just looked her up and down wondering if they had to fold her in half and put her in a hatchback trunk to get her to fit into a car. Our waiter had square black rimmed glasses and, even though he wasn't my father, sported a full beard. He noted that my reservation stated that I was a vegetarian and he pointed out several options that I could substitute for the lamb (I love lambs... alive) and the pork tenderloin (that poor piggy didn't get to the market). The bread boy had blond hair whipped up in a faux mohawk, but because of his friendly and casual attitude, he was able to pull it off as more Austin cool than hipster d-bag. The garlic bread was a moist sourdough and it was so tasty that I couldn't stray and try the olive bread. The butter was served with a dash of multi-colored salts, some which appeared to be pink Himalayan salt which has a slight pink color due to the iron oxide content in the place it was mined from. It's supposed to have more positive health qualities than regular salt. Each course was timed out nicely so that it didn't seem like we had a conveyer belt to our mouths. With each new item, they did an awesome job of describing each of the elements. Being a foodie and lover of words, this really added to the full appreciation of the dish. I want you all to be able to enjoy the anticipatory joy of the description yourself, so I'm just going to say that we every single one of the courses was fantastic and at the end, we were perfectly full. My main recommendation would be to try the sea bass. The waiter emphasized that it was exactly like a Chilean sea bass, but it wasn't overfished because it was caught off the coast of Japan. I raised an eyebrow at F and then said asked the waiter, "Uhhhhhhmmmmm... how recently was it caught 'off the coast of Japan'?" The waiter had it in him to laugh and say, "Well, not that recently, and it was more in the ocean near Japan." I warned him, "If I walk out later tonight and begin to glow, I'm coming back for you." I'm not sure if he didn't seem worried because I'm petite and he thought he could take me or because there was really nothing to worry about. Although I couldn't force myself to leave one sprig of a delicious fresh herb on the plate to ask the waiter about, he was able to identify it as "micro cilantro" and I told him I really enjoyed the mild taste and different texture (small leaf sprouts vs. flat leaves). He explained that they grow micro herbs there, which made me even happier to know that the source of yumminess was nearby. Prompted by our smiling tastebuds towards the end of the fourth course, F and I toasted our waters: "To D and C!", my bro and sis-in-law who gifted this meal. I was so full of gratitude that I had to consciously stop myself from cheering the glass too hard. I rarely buy clothes at full price or wear jewelry that's worth more than twenty bucks. I can eat a Power Bar and a banana from the yellow gas station and call it a meal. I brush my hair (usually), but never really "do" my hair. All these things lead me to conclude I'm not much of a diva. However, I discovered that it's a slippery slope and after dining at both Uchi and Carrilon within days of each other, I have been spoiled, perhaps beyond repair. "I'm ready for my amuse bouche now," I declared as I sat patiently at my office desk at lunchtime. No one came. The service is terrible here! read more

I can't describe how amazing this place is! But this is a review, so I guess I'll try anyway. :) The Carillon is now at the top of my list of fine dining restaurants in Austin. Even higher than Barley Swine and Uchiko, which had both been holding their top spots on the list for a while. There's nothing not to like about this place - except maybe for the price, but even that's hard to argue with once you've tasted the food. Every single dish is presented beautifully and tastes even better than it looks. The cocktails are fantastic. The desserts are downright sinful. The waitstaff are all very attentive, courteous, and knowledgeable. Almost everyone else has mentioned the crispy porkbelly in their reviews, and for good reason. It's delicious. But then again, it's porkbelly... how hard is it to make fat taste good? The real winners in my book are the bits of unexpected awesomeness like the smoked duck breast, miso marinated mero, free raised veal, and the clove sorbet dessert. Every single course is mind-blowing, and every dish hides surprising flavors that you'll never see coming. My favorite part is the open kitchen. Watching the chefs work is a wonderful experience. Seeing them taste-test sauces again and again to make sure they're just right, watching them arrange each dish on its plate, and then seeing them meticulously dash spices, add garnishes, and pour sauces in just such a way as to make sure there's no question about how much pride they put into their culinary art. And the cooperation and smoothness at which the whole operation moves. It's like a well-tuned machine. Maybe I've watch too many reality-tv cooking shows, but these guys operate at a whole other level. So, yeah... I'll definitely be returning to The Carillon again (and again). And I'll be telling all my friends about it. And I'm recommending it to you right now. You'll be glad you went. Oh, but one other thing... their website says they validate parking for the garage at 20th and Whitis, but there are two parking garages at that intersection. The only one they validate for is the one on the Southeast corner of the intersection, on the same city block as the restaurant itself. Just FYI. read more

I feel really terrible for Josh Watkins, the executive chef. He made some lovely food but he had no support from anywhere front-of-house. It was like seeing a Bach violin concerto played on kazoos. I read on Eater Austin that The Carillon was doing a 3 course meal special for the month of November, so our 'foodie group' decided to go. The space is very nice (if a bit hard to find, it's IN the AT&T conference center), beautiful arches and a nice warm color palette - however it felt pretty stuffy. I guess I am more comfortable in my south Austin "wear jeans anywhere" state of mind. We arrive at 6 pm (happy hour still on) and go to the bar to grab a drink first. The guy behind the bar openly tells us he 'isn't a bartender'. Okay, great... so why are you making drinks then? It was really weird that they didn't have a bartender around for dinner service. And as for the drinks he did make... all I can say is "bless his heart". After we're seated, the waiter explains the menu, etc. We are sent an amuse bouche which was great - grapes and goat cheese, in a nice little one-bite presentation. At this point, a few in our group have had to ask for drinks twice. The first course comes and it's lovely - although they had to substitute a different white fish for the nairagi (which I was pretty excited to try -oh well). At this point, our water glasses are half full, but cocktails arrive. The main course is short ribs - they are wonderful, fatty, flavorful. The grilled romaine on the side was not great, it was just kind of there. At this point, our water glasses are empty. They are never refilled. Then began the waiting. It was easily 30 minutes before dessert came, with no sight of our waiter. Dessert was unfortunately pretty inedible. The financier was too tough to cut with a spoon and the apple sorbet did not bind correctly. Then, another 30 minutes before the waiter comes by again. We ask for the check and settle in to wait another 20 minutes. The drinks we ordered during happy hour were not discounted, but at that point, we'd been there 3.5 hours and just wanted to leave. So, I am sorry, Chef Watkins. Thanks for coming by to say hi (that was nice!), but either something melted down in your kitchen or FOH needs to bind better than the apple sorbet. read more

As it has happened, every anniversary since our 5th, we have found ourselves dining in a Hotel Restaurant....odd....our 8th found us at the Carillon, a very typical looking hotel restaurant in a complex I never even knew existed on the UT campus. I must say, we got the deluxe treatment from the friendly welcome to a surprise and complimentary dessert offering at the end. What lay in the middle wasn't bad....sometimes really good, even.....but more often than not, fell short of expectations for the price. Take the Hamachi crudo for example: Very good fish, but currents, nuts, celery and chili oil as a preparation was entirely too schizophrenic and did nothing to make the fish dance. Mixed greens salad with "short rib croutons"? Salty, salty, salty. And those croutons were a tad dry and out of place. Sea Scallops? Again, good meat, but the cauliflower, vanilla citrus sauce was oddly sweet. I had a very clever and accurate description of it at the time but it is totally escaping me now... PEI Mussels? These worked. The sauce was very creative and out of the box. Not the usual tangy, tomatoey, overly winey sauce. More of an earthy, creamy sauce with apricots amongst other things. It almost overpowered the tiny shellfish, though, but it was enjoyed. We continued along the theme and went for fish entrees. The Mero was dynamite. A great fish perfectly cooked with a bold preparation that put it's brother, the steaky Hawaiian Blue Snapper to shame. Overall, a couple of hits, a couple of misses.....but all was forgiven when the complimentary desserts came out. The chocolate terrine with coriander ice cream was a hit as was the cherry vanilla bread pudding with limoncello gelato. One could tell that exceptional focus went into the desserts. Very solid. Not mind blowing, but entirely appropriate and very appreciated. One could argue that, for the price, a greater share of the dishes should have stood up and saluted as opposed to lying prostrate in a ditch. However, enough things went right, including a waiter who tried really hard, a nice amuse bouche, an unexpectedly good wine offering and the aforementioned desserts that I could round up to 4 stars. But I won't. Maybe I'm just growing tiresome of anniversaries spent in hotels. read more

Now that I stay @ AT&T everytime I am in Austin, I've been here a handful of times, and to be honest, I don't know if I'll eat here again. Nothing is horrible, but nothing is great either. A lot of things sort of blobbed together. I've been for breakfast and lunch (lunch was buffet only). The choices varied, and my little sister (freshman @ UT) was like a kid in a candy store because she had been eating dorm food for so long, but to be honest, the food just wasn't up to par. I mean you see this well-designed dining room (the repetitive arches are stunning), and then there is this grandiose, open kitchen with chefs running around and you are under the impression that they are Top Cheffing your meal in there, and when it comes out or is on the buffet line... you're just let down. Location is convenient, establishment is upscale, food ...eh. read more

We recently came back for the 3-course deal again. For my starter I had the Nairagi (marlin) Napoleon, with smoked chevre, grapefruit, lemon zest. I also sampled my companion's scallops. Both appetizers were delicious and the scallops were perfectly cooked. And who knew grilled cauliflower could be so tasty? For my entree I had the Hawaiian Barramundi, accompanied by heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. This is one of a limited number of places in town to get excellent fresh tasting fish that can stand on its own. For dessert I ordered something (not memorable) that I ended up trading with my companion for his dessert, the fabulous cherry vanilla bread pudding, which continues to earn it's spot in my "Top 10" desserts list. Their wine by the glass offerings are consistently solid and I enjoyed another excellent Pinot Noir (or two), the Martin Ray '07. read more

I said hot damn! Took the lovely wife to Carillon on Thursday night and was amazed (again). You know, Carillon is like Mike Tyson in a tux. Respectable enough to lull you into a sense of complacency, but it always keeps that culinary hand cocked back to deliver a knockout blow. The short ribs were a light jab, just firm enough to keep their form, yet just tender enough to cut with a fork. The grilled romaine lettuce in the salad hit me with an unexpected hook, delivering an intense smokey flavor. Of course, the knockout came from the petit bass cheese sauce, which upped the savory quotient to new heights. Like cool hand Luke, I just don't know when to stay down. I busted out the smelling salts, and immediately began plundering the wife's duck leg confit. The perfectly cooked duck continued the assault. Befitting a meat cooked in its own fat, it was juicy and delicious. But the star of the show? The unexpected running double uppercut of the evening? The cannellini beans. My god man, the beans. I suspect more than a little duck fat made its way into those beans. And that was it. Count me out, put me on the stretcher, take me home. A lovely meal, made just a tad lovelier by groupon. I'm tempted to deduct half a point for leaving Shiner off of their "better beers" section, but knowing how fiercely devoted Texans are to their Texas brewery of choice (I'm looking at you, Lone Star drinkers), I'll leave well enough alone. ProTip: Unless you're going for brunch, make a reservation. They do a wonderful job of making sure Carillon never feels crowded, despite being solidly booked. You can typically find parking on the surrounding streets, though they do offer valet service. The location also makes it the perfect jumping off point to explore UT, or head downtown for further ribaldry. An evening stroll around campus after eating is a phenomenal way to wind down. read more

My boyfriend and I came to the Carillon to celebrate his birthday and I must say, we were absolutely blown away by our experience here. The restaurant was beautiful- but more importantly the people working there were spectacular. We were visited and greeted by the manager, who gave us a wonderful narrative of the origins of wines we had questions about and even provided a wine tasting of them for us. We were later visited by the chef, we showed our appreciation for his cooking and he ended our night by complimenting us with a luxurious and delicious dessert platter. Along with their impeccable personnel, the food was some of the best we have had in Austin. My boyfriend and I make a habit to try and make it to all the top rated restaurants here, and even so, the Carillon's food was of the utmost. To go to a high end restaurant and have delicious food is no surprise, but to pair that delicious food wile also providing a custom experience is what makes the Carillon exceptional. read more

I hate surprises. No, correction; I hate not knowing exactly what's going on. So I was nervous when my boyfriend refused to tell me where we'd be having our first date. I'm not from Austin and I'm unfamiliar with most of the restaurants. Mentally, I exclaimed "What the hell!? We're eating at a conference center?" as we neared The Carillon. I prepared myself for an awkward night and mediocre meal. I couldn't have been more wrong. My fears were comforted when I saw the golden, warmly lit interior. The amount of space makes it seem like a bit like a cafeteria but the tables are intimate. We both went with the three course dinner. Each guest gets two appetizers and an entree. They recommend you get one hot app and one cold app. The boy ordered the white asparagus salad and the seared escolar. The white asparagus salad was delicious. I don't remember the escolar but it wasn't bad. For my cold app I got the hamachi, it was good but not my favorite. The flavor combo reminded me of fancy tuna salad. My hot app was the crispy pork belly. Delicious! I could have just ordered two of those. Perfectly tender, sweet, a little spicy with freshness from the asian pear. For the entree he ordered some fish dish. It was good but honestly I was too distracted by the absolutely amazing duck confit I ordered. I hate using the word orgasmic to describe food but really no other word is fitting. It caused the funniest moment of the night. My date looked up and there I was...mid O face as I bit into the perfectly cooked, crispy, yet still juicy duck meat. It rendered him useless for the night. Nothing was going to compare to this dish. The seasoning was perfect and the dried cherry demi sauce was a great complement. I thought the cannelini beans were undercooked but the flavor was nice. I'm not sure it was the best side for this meal though. In retrospect, the pork belly and duck confit was a bit heavy back to back but I regret nothing. The only loser of the night was the dessert. It was a bitter, dense chocolate terrine with coriander ice cream and a tart orange glaze. I don't know why we ordered this. It was one of those things that sounds so crazy it just might work. Well, it didn't. The coriander ice cream tasted like taco seasoning. The terrine wasn't very sweet at all and the orange was out of place. Still, it wasn't enough to ruin the night. I'm still not sure what exactly The Carillon is but I will go back as many times as it takes to figure it out. read more

The Carillon really wants to be a 5 star dining experience. So did I. They aren't bad, they area actually quite good. However, when you charge a lot of dough for a very high end meal, you invite more criticism and nitpicking. To be fair, I was here for a wedding rehearsal dinner. So, they were bringing out 30+ plates for each course and this may have affected the overall experience. We had a choice of arugula salad or hamachi. I chose the hamachi, it was served with some black puffed rice and mint toppings and a sauce. The puffed rice was more stale than crunchy but this was a great appetizer. The main course was NY strip w/ potatoes or Mero (bass) in a carrot reduction w/ mushrooms. I tried some of both. The Mero was great but the miso taste overwhelmed much of the flavor. The NY strip was delicious. The dessert was chocolate ganache or goat cheesecake with beets. I tried both, I really hated the peppermint buttercream on the ganache. The cheesecake was great but the beet powder tasted too much like dirt. The service took FOREVER. We were there from 6pm to past 10, there was an hour and a ton of downtime between each course. It sucked. I would give them a 3 for that, but am hoping there was some wedding personalities that complicated the delivery of the food, i'm giving them the benefit of doubt. I don't know if this is a place I would visit again, if I'm going to spend that much money, I'd go with a sure bet or something more exciting. read more

My fiance recently surprised me with a date night out to The Carillon. What a treat! We had Groupon's for the six course tasting menu and opted to upgrade to include a wine pairing as well. I would definitely recommend doing that if you have some extra bucks in your wallet. Each course we were served was better than the last. Some of the high points included my new favorite obsession, pork belly, a seared scallop and a lamb loin. The pork belly was the best I have ever had - no offense to my all time favorite pork belly sliders from Odd Duck but this was better! The scallop was divine. But oh, the lamb. I know very little about lamb and rarely eat it but this made me want it regularly. It was the most tender piece of meat that I have ever put in to my mouth. It barely required chewing and the flavor was out of this world. I'm starting to drool just thinking about it again. Aside from the fabulous food I really liked the vibe here as well. It was very different from other "fancy" places I have been in Austin. It was just plain classy! I loved the arches in the ceilings and how high the ceilings were. I felt like the nice outfit that I chose to wear that night was actually put to good use here. Final thumbs up was for the superb service. Our waitress obviously loved her job and respected the chef - she spoke very highly of him and was great at explaining the courses to us along with her wine pairing. She was a total pro and really made our night. read more

So I had heard this place was good. But it was amazing. Located off MLK and University, it's kind of an odd spot since it is in the AT&T Executive Center on the UT Campus, but this place is awesome. The ambiance is great and our waiter knew a lot about food and what good quality of food they use here. First course: Hamachi Starter - cold app. Celery salad, chili oil, flat pounded hamachi...wow. The heat took it's time to hit your mouth and the fish was like butter. The celery salad on top was an outstanding flavor contrast that perfected this starter. Second course: bacon encrusted scallops, with one fried quail egg over croutons, fingerling potatoes and hollandaise sauce. OMG, it was like a king's breakfast. I could eat this everyday I think. The Hollandaise was not too thick or too rich, just perfectly flavored with a hint of sweetness. The egg and croutons was a delicious texture combination and the scallops - encrusted in bacon. enough said. I never knew bacon could have the texture of breadcrumbs, but WOW. Loved this. Now my entree - Ahi tuna with blood orange and fennel salad. Outrageously good. WHY CAN'T I EAT LIKE THIS EVERYDAY?!? It was healthy and one of my favorite dishes ever. I will go here again and again. Until I have tried the whole menu. read more

Excuse me sir, but I'd like some more bang for my buck please. The Carillon is pretty...okay. After hearing good things about this place, we decided we wanted to get our fancy on. The complimentary breads were the BEST part of the meal. They're baked fresh and you get 2 spreads at the table. Things started off okay with the ahi poke (tuna tartar) appetizer. A little spicy, a little citrusy, a lot salty...the avocado did help mitigate the saltiness though. So far...eh. . We went on to the pork belly, and I am happy to say, it lived up to the hype! It was flavorful, juicy, a little sweet, and the fried mint was a perfect complement. DELICIOUS. But then the entree came out. I had ordered the veal, and it was not that great. In fact, I didn't even want to bring it home with me. The veal was cooked right, but the flavors didn't really resonate with me, and the brussel sprout gratin was too overwhelming. Sweet breads were good though! For the amount of money we spent, I felt a little disappointed. I would have been better off just ordering 3 plates of the pork belly. The decor is pretty great though--an old school European feel. And for any food TV junkies out there...there's a Hell's Kitchen kitchen! read more

YEAH! There's only one problem with Carillon. Well, it's not really with Carillon itself but more with mankind; I hear the name mispronounced more often than I hear it pronounced correctly. There are only eight letters in it, only three vowels - it really isn't that hard! Now that we've covered that, this place is the best. Comparing to other multi-course places in town: -Infinitely more consistent than Barley Swine -Far more choices than Lenoir -Cheaper and easier to get to than Congress -Better in every imaginable way than the horrible Eden East The meat, fish, and poultry dishes are always among the best in town, with great and affordable wine pairings too. It's always quiet, pretty inside, never too crowded, and with a great staff this is a must-try restaurant. read more

Fancy restaurant at the The University of Texas at Austin. It is a buffet, the menu changes from day to day. Food is pretty good but not as good as a fancy steak house. A lot of professors eat here and take their visiting guests for lunch/dinner as well. read more

The Carillon - Lunch buffet (pork tenderloin, shepherd's pie, roasted veggies) - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Excellent food and service for dinner. 3-course meal for $35-good value. Loved their version of a wedge salad and the tamale. Server and other personnel were professional and friendly. Seemed genuinely interested in what I thought of the food. Highly recommend. read more

The prices are high, the portions are small, but the food is good. We went with the 3-course tasting menu for $42 (you can get it for $29 if you order before 6:30, but not with a Groupon which is what we had). That's 2 appetizers and an entree each, so we had a lot of choices to make. We tried the mussels, scallops, beef tartare and hamachi crudo. All of them were good, although I think the hamachi was the best overall. We've heard the pork belly is amazing, but unfortunately it was not on the menu that night. The mussels were good, but not amazing. The sauce include apricot bits and slivered almonds, which were good by themselves but a little odd with the mussels. The beef tartare was good, if a little salty. The scallops would have been better without the cauliflower puree and roasted cauliflower base. The scallops retained too much cauliflower taste and were somewhat overwhelmed. For the main dishes we had the barrimundi (sp?) and the "rack of lamb." The lamb was terrific, really tender and tasty - but it didn't need all the accouterments which came with it, like pea puree, tomato jam and mustard. They were perfect by themselves (although the tomato jam was terrific). The barrimundi was also tender and tasty, and the green beans were apparently heavenly, as my bf sang their praises throughout the meal. The atmosphere was like a university hall, but the tables are very close together around the edges, so don't plan on discussing any salacious affairs or military secrets. And while someone commented that they got their water refilled every sip, that was not our experience. We had to ask for water more than once. But overall the staff was very pleasant and friendly. Overall, I think they try a little too hard with the accompaniments - it could be more basic and just plain tasty without adding stuff just to add it that doesn't need to be there. Oh, and a word about the bread: AWESOME. Really good bread. Yum. read more

Staying at the hotel, we wanted a quick drink and some apps before heading upstairs to get dressed. We popped it quite early and sat at the bar. Service was very quick and friendly. We ordered a variety of cocktails, the one the Bees Knees, I had was excellent. We also had the cheese plate which was excellent and a variety of other appetizers. Alll were very good. If staying here again, I would def. come back in for a full dinner. read more

This is nice and I feel like a lot of people don't know about it. If you want something quiet and not busy away from the hustle and bustle of foot traffic, this is the place. I wouldn't say the the food is amazing but it's consistent and good. To be fair, I am a very hard food critic. read more

Everything about this place was excellent. The food, the ambiance, the service. What attracted me to The Carillon was the $50 three-course option, which is a great price for the quality of food and service you receive. I went here with three other people and we all got the three-course option and ended up tasting a little bit of each others' dishes. For our first courses, between the four of us, we got the -broccoli salad, beef tartare, scallops, and the ahi sashimi. Everything was beautifully presented and even better tasting than it looked. I had the beef tartare, which was perfectly seasoned. The mustard seeds and mustard gastrique provided the right amount of acidity and spice to keep the dish interesting, and the texture of the beef was such that it melted in your mouth. I've never been a huge fan of scallops, but I guess I was geting them cooked incorrectly this whole time, because the scallop dish over here changed my opinion completely. The ahi sashimi was very fresh and balanced with the right amount of acidity. For our second courses, we got the -glazed bandera quail, beef tartare, crisp pork belly, and the (hot) escolar. The glazed quail was amazing, with the perfect amount of sweetness to offset the gaminess of the bird. The pork belly dish was very large for an appetizer portion, and one could probably make a meal out of it. I don't eat pork, but from what I saw, my friend had no trouble cutting through it with a knife because it was like butter. The best dish of the night, for me, was the escolar. The creaminess of the herbed polenta, the acidity of the balsamic vinegar, along with the sweet and spiciness of the candied fresno chilies paired perfectly with the buttery, perfectly-cooked flaky fish. Our main courses consisted of the -chanterelle mushroom risotto, duck leg confit, olive oil poached beef tenderloin, and the braised beef short ribs. The risotto was extremely creamy, and the mushrooms worked very well with sharpness of the cheese, although the cheese was a bit overpowering. The tenderloin was pillowy, moist, and, surprisingly, not greasy as one would expect from the olive oil. I didn't try the duck leg confit because it had some pork in the cassoulet, but it looked fantastic. I had the short ribs, which was a very generous helping of food. The short ribs were very nicely cooked and pulled at the touch of my fork, without the use of a knife. It was topped with a fried quail egg and basque cream, which provided a nice mildly acidic and creamy sauce for the dish. The creaminess and butteriness of the dish was cut with a small side salad of various greens that had been tossed with sesame seeds, and I'm assuming sesame oil and a touch of lemon juice. It was hard to even get dessert because we were all so full, but the thought of foie gras ice cream interested me enough that I couldn't stay away. We all shared the almond cake with tomato jam and foie gras ice cream, which was excellent. The almond cake was a little denser than I expected, but it was very delicious, and it paired perfectly with the tomato jam, which was sweeter than I expected. The foie gras ice cream was also great, but a little tame. I'm glad I made the trip here, because the food is superb, the service is courteous and attentive, and the atmosphere is sophisticated and calming, without being stuffy or haughty. The open kitchen is a great feature and can be really fun to watch. I know I will be back here at least a few more times before the year's up. read more

The Carillon has quickly become my favorite restaurant in Austin. Some reviewers have criticized the ambiance--which has an old train station feel, and other reviewers criticize the service-- which I would insist they must have just been on an off night. The Carillon's chef tasting dinner with wine pairing is without a doubt the best meal in the city. Our favorites so far, are the pork belly, the beef short ribs (with a quail egg on top-- omg), the olive oil poached tenderloin, and sea bass. You also can't go wrong with the quail-- or any of the salads. Basically anything that they bring to your table--if you have an open mind and open palate-- you'll be pleased with. Also the wine pairing is a must if you go there-- $20-30 is a steal saying as most of the wines you're tasting are probably double that price. Best restaurant in Austin! Ask for Bryn when you go-- he'll treat you well! read more

First off, you should be aware that this restaurant is inside the AT&T conference center at MLK and Lavaca, and really isn't advertised from outside at all. They will validate your parking, so park in the parking garage under the center (accessible from the opposite side of the building from MLK), and then go up through the "Tower Elevators". There are three elevator banks and only one of them will lead you to the Carillon. That out of the way, on to the review. As others have said, the cavernous ambiance can be a bit off-putting, but it's at least different and somewhat interesting. At the very least it doesn't look bad or downscale, so it has that going for it. I will have to say, our server left something to be desired. At a less expensive restaurant, he would not have been out of place, but with the kind of place the Carillon wants to be, it was surprising. He forgot orders and had to ask again, he had trouble understanding simple questions (e.g. "How many orders of the cheese plate would we need to share amongst the table?" turned into a four-minute exposition on the various sizes of all the plates, which eventually happened to take us past the cheese plate), etc. etc., and we got my personal pet peeve, the mid-conversation "How is everything tasting tonight?" question. We had two cheese plates (which was an appropriate amount for our table of four) and then each person had the four-course tasting menu. Add up what you're going to order before you get the tasting menu - if you're not getting two plates from the "hot" menu, it's almost certainly not worth it (despite our server describing it as a "great deal"). The cheese plate was good, albeit hardly inspired (a blue cheese and two soft cow's milk cheeses with fig jam and toasted pecans? Call CNN!). The addition of some honey comb on the plate was an interesting touch. (The amuse-bouche before the meal was not particularly good, but not bad either.) The actual plates seemed to really suffer from serious variability. The ahi crudo was delicious but tiny, while other plates like the grilled quail and rack of lamb were massive but not really all that good. As others have mentioned, the pork belly is very good - seared crisp on the outside, and well-cut with a good amount of meat to keep it from seeming like the hunk of bacon it is. And the desserts are seriously all over the map - I had the ginger bread, which is, I'll just say it, terrible and also very small, and was left envying my tablemate's chocolate terrine. Between the two people I paid for, we had two glasses of wine, a cocktail (less expensive than the glass of wine), a cheese plate, and two four-courses, with tip coming to $200. I struggle with rating this restaurant. On the one hand, it's a decent high-end restaurant, but it doesn't seem to know whether it wants to be a traditional classy restaurant for businessmen or a small-plate cool restaurant for Austinites, and the menu and service just feel rocky and inconsistent. Three stars feels somewhat low, I feel it deserves more like 3.5, but I just wouldn't go again, and I think four stars has to at least mean I would go again. There's nothing wrong with it, but I think the quality-to-value is simply not there. read more

Nice place, good food. Fine dining experiences, I find, are really made by the waitstaff, in the presentation and explanation of the food, assuming the food is well thought-out and executed. My waitress was not very knowledgeable, but she was very polite and the service was good. Another waiter presented one of the courses, and it was an outstanding experience to hear about all the time and effort that went in to the dish, and the explanation of the wine pairing. I had the 5-course menu, and it was very nice. I must say it didn't have the delivery of a Wink or Zoot. Creativity was present, but some of the combinations fell a bit flat - and by that, I mean they were very good, but not amazing. One exception for me: the lamb - it was simply superb. You can get amazing, for this price point, so being a smart shopper, that is what I expect. Hence the 4-star rating. One might argue that it's unfair to rate restaurants on a price adjusted curve. One might argue that it's perfectly fair. One might argue nothing is fair, or there is no such thing as fair. I say, why engage in such pointless philosophizing? Nice place, enjoyed it - but not a good enough value for me to return at regular menu prices, most likely. Restaurant week or Groupon - maybe. read more

I've never had a terrible experience here! I LOVE this place for special occasions, romantic dinners, or just plain treating myself to some delicious food. I've been here for restaurant week, to celebrate a birthday, and even as a gift to myself after a particularly difficult but rewarding work week. Such a great restaurant with wonderful staff who are very accommodating, informative, and engaging. They had wonderful recommendations and were very knowledgeable about their dishes. I will say that this is a lovely place to indulge and I did just that! Crisp pork belly with the diablo glaze (which I would totally swim in) is delicious and perfectly prepared with a crisp outer layer and melts like butter on the tongue. The asian pear and fried mint garnish provide just the right accent of sweetness to pair with the salty porcine goodness. The oil poached tenderloin is a gift from the gods paired with the smooth, buttery, and velvety pureed potatoes. The finish of frito misto was the perfect pungent contrast to the rich and indulgent textures. Oh my god. I have dreams of crisp pork belly. Thumbs so way up. read more

The experience was exactly A-OK for me. Although the food was good, it was not memorable for what the prices were. Ambiance is a bit stuffy. To be fair, between my hb and me, I gave it 7 out of 10. We ordered the 3 course meal, as we wanted to try a bit of everything. Highlights were the raw plates, tuna and escolar was delish if it were colder. Scallops yummy. Pork belly. Funny thing about pork belly, now being a hip and trendy ingredient... this has been around for as long as I could remember. I grew up on this dish, my mom's tastes EXACTLY like this - and for about $2/ lb - found in asian markets. This was considered a peasant's dish in a way, full of fat and sold at throw away prices. So I find this hilarious that we see it everywhere now. However, my husband wanted a try and it was delicious (just like mom's lol), if not obviously over-priced. What irked me, though, was the temperature of all our plates. The raw dishes should be ice cold in my opinion. (Tuna tartare should have cold tuna, right?) The hot should be piping hot. Both our lamb and sea bass were room temperature. In fact, whether meant to be hot or cold, it all appeared room temperature by the time it got to our table, which really bothered me. It wasn't sitting around either, since they have an open kitchen, so what's the deal? I never comment on temperatures of our food anywhere so I am not overly picky about this. Was just really weird, like eating leftovers. Had our dishes been the right temperatures, I think our experience would have changed completely. Uchiko it is not... just a-ok for me. read more

We dined with close friends at the Carillon the weekend of February 18th. Valentines Day fell during that week which mean most every restaurant hits the jackpot and is busy busy busy. The top restaurants do big business from the weekend before to the weekend after VD. So, maybe that is why everything pertaining to service was disjointed and uninformed. Every staff member we had interaction with that night was unsure of where they were suppose to be and what they should be doing. From the host person at the front door, to the person pouring water, to the waiter, to the food runners, everyone was out of step, didn't know the menu, and were no where to be found when it counted. Our table choose the 6 course tasting menu and a couple of bottles of wine. Food was slow to come out and some of the hot dishes came out cold. Our waiter did not know the menu and seemed to be in a daze every time he spoke to the table or served us. It caught us by surprise because every other time we have dined there the service has been on par with the food and drinks. It was also a big disappointment because we had suggested the place for our celebration. What happened???? Compared to our previous visits the staff seemed to represent the Junior Varsity B-team. Where were the Varsity starters who had waited on us before? We will go back, but just do not feel the need to do so anytime soon. read more

The Carillon is very, very good. In fact, I think this place has to be one of the best restaurants in the city. It's certainly on par with other favorites like the beloved Wink, Fino, Uchiko and the like. To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect from a restaurant seemingly affiliated with the University's AT&T Conference Center. I still don't fully understand the connection beyond that it's in the same building, although in a separate section that feels far away from anything academic or businessy. It felt like its own private entity, not some gourmet cafeteria extension of the school. Wise move on their part. Anyway, we were dining here during Restaurant Week so we had their prix fixe menu. There wasn't a single dud in the bunch. We started with the seared escolar and beef tartare. Both were awesome. (We were also treated to a complimentary chef's tasting of little 'bites' of tuna and beef. These were also very good). For our main courses, we had the braised short rib and cod (they must've switched that in place of the skate that was originally listed on the menu online). It's really hard to pick which I liked most - we shared throughout our dinner. I have to say, the experience stood out because it was especially exciting exploring all the different textures and flavors that seemed to be happening all over the place (not that the components lacked cohesion). Also, there wasn't a single element in either dish that seemed like it was just there for the sake of tradition or filler. Both entrees were creatively done, beautifully presented and it all worked really f**in well. Dessert was also particularly nice. Who would've thought to put butternut squash in ice cream? The moment you think about it, it makes sense, but I wouldn't have arrived at that combo on my own. I really enjoyed the cinnamon cake as well. Made me think Fall was indeed on its way (even if it's not feeling like yet)...The wine, beer and cocktail menus provided a nice variety of choices and the service was absolutely perfect. The staff was warm and professional, available only when they needed to be, and not too much. I'd say the only part about The Carillon that I'm not 100% sure about is the ambience of the place, though I still enjoyed the overall look and feel. It felt plenty spacious without lacking intimacy. The decor was done in a transitional style -- modern and traditional, even medieval (light fixtures) elements were all working together. The lighting was low, golden and romantic. I enjoyed watching the activity in the open kitchen as well. But maybe it was just that we went on a Wednesday night and it didn't have the same energy that it might have on a weekend. Or maybe it was that something about it felt too much like eating at a restaurant built-into a hotel. Wait, I guess I'm not far off. Whatever it was, it's certainly not a dealbreaker. We had a great night at the Carillon and will definitely be back for the full price menu. Those chefs are damn good. This time though, it'll be a Saturday night. read more

I was fortunate enough to have been a part of an intimate group of four for dinner last evening. Of course our choices in culinary tastes vary but none of us were anything less than blown away by the delicately delicious cuisine and the way it was so artfully and joyfully presented. Bravo to the visible kitchen staff. Being great looking and personable seemed to be a requirement for employment because everyone there was stellar and sweet of disposition. The vibe was cosseting and it seemed that everyone was proud to be working there. Handsome Host/Manager Patrick and his amazing wait staff actually threw us a seemingly private party in the middle of a full room and, frankly I didn't want to leave. I think we spent almost three hours dining and drinking and the entire staff (I promptly fell in love with each of them) at one time or another engaged with me personally and my peers in some way or another but never intrusively so. I regret not knowing all their names yet but will never forget their faces and can only hope that some or all of them will still there when I have the opportunity to return. I was even afforded my own private master class in Gin tasting! And mutual hugs abounded upon my departure. How wonderful is that? Thank you one and all for a lavish and extravagant dining experience and for your new friendship. "WOW" is simply a pedantic way of saying thank you and all hail and bravo to a five star evening. Simply Amazing! read more

The dinner my friend and I had here was fabulous for a number of reasons. 1. The place is beautiful albeit dark. I thought opening he shades or increasing the lights would have helped showcase the lovely woods and tile patterns. The open kitchen is spotless and a wonderful feature. 2. The waitstaff was professional, friendly and knowledgeable. We always had plenty of bread, water and wine throughout the evening and never felt neglected for too long. We were able to pick a very good wine based on recommendations and trying a couple before deciding on the bottle. The bread was wonderful with either olives or garlic baked in. 3. The food was creative and diverse. We started with the marlin which was cured and looked beautiful on the plate. The sauce with it didn't add much flavor, and so I didn't find it exceptional memorable; however, we each received a delicious tasting before the meal (a tiny spoon with a tiny sample). We shared the short ribs and steak and the short ribs was the best plate hands down. The meat just fell apart and the sauce was thick and savory. The steak was prepared well but there was too much gravy and no green vegetables on the plate. I realize most people just want steak and potatoes, but a little something else would have complemented it well. read more

Best resturant on or near campus. I am not sure I can rave enough about this resturant. 5 stars all around. Everything we ordered was cooked perfect with flavors that are out of this world. The staff was friendly and informative about the courses/wine. I highly recommend the goat cheese, cheesecake! Also ask for Patrick... he was an amazing server read more

I eat lunch here sometimes. Usually, if I'm in charge of taking a speaker out for the department, I take them here. Its a pretty nice place. The food is ok. It's buffet style at lunch. There's a salad bar with a pretty good variety of grilled vegetables, pizza and soup. If you want to pay more you get access to some meat dishes. Stick to the salad bar. The meats are all low quality. I had some beef shoulder last time i was there that was tough, bland, and dry. I guess, if you're on campus and you have a lunch meeting, the atmosphere here is perfect - just don't expect much from the food. read more

I never thought I would get the opportunity to review a swanky restaurant. I honestly don't know how to. My boyfriend and wanted a fancy date night and he chose this restaurant. We arrived close to 8pm and were greeted with a big smile. The customer service for one was always on point. Everyone that checked on us wanted to make sure we were doing just fine. They were also friendly. I really enjoyed our server. The dining area was clean and softly lit. Now, when it comes to the food... We had no idea what to expect. We gave the chefs free reign so we could have more of an interesting experience. And that we had. I've been fairly sheltered and picky my whole life when it comes to a lot of things, especially trying new foods. So I can't attest to much. But I can appreciate the experience and thoughts that cross your mind while trying something new. I can't even remember the names of the plates we had. But it was seafood themed with raw fish, shrimp, and some other grilled fish. There included a very interesting salad with really good ricotta goat cheese. We also got to try an interesting sample of honeydew that had a Japanese spice, I believe. Anyway, the dessert was my favorite. I honestly didn't know what to think while experiencing all of these new and wild flavors. But I can definitely appreciate the fact that they use fresh and fine ingredients, have chefs that show effort into the presentation of their food, and staff who want to please. While trying all of these new and creative dishes, it makes you think about how people eat in general. Many people just indulge to make that hungry feeling go away instead of eating to experience and truly appreciate the care and patience it took to create your single plate. So, we thank you. read more

The Carillon - Loved the presentation and the colors. Crazy new flavors in every bite. - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

We came to this restaurant with a group, based on other reviewers. I don't know why we didn't have as good of an experience as everyone else, but here goes... The space is like a long, open, tall hallway. I actually thought we were in the wrong place. Because of this, the atmosphere seemed a bit uptight and quiet. Service was good, but our waiter was new, I think. He was very nervous, got mad at himself when he forgot to explain all of the ingredients to us, etc. We also asked him what he recommended and he said, it's all good, or something similar. Then when the last person in our group ordered, he said that no one ordered the pork belly and that was the best thing on the menu (and of course, it was the best dish anyone ordered). What am I missing?? The food was very good. We did the 3 course option for $50 pp. The best combination was the ahi sashimi, the pork belly, and the short ribs. We did not like the kale salad (way too salty), but everything else we tried was very good. I think this would be a good option if a student was taking out their parents when they were visiting, but it wasn't for our crowd. 34/365 read more

We ate here for our anniversary and had the seven course tasting menu with wine pairing. The service was very good and friendly (but certainly not five star). The food was excellent: creative, well balanced, and appropriately sized. The food stood out as the best part of the experience...as it should. The wine tastings were just okay and certainly not exceptional. The ambiance was very good and not particularly noisy. The prices were pretty reasonable for the quality and menu. read more

I picked this place for a date night after reading all the reviews. Frankly, of all the nicer restaurants I read about this one was the only one that had a reservation for the night that we wanted and time. The restaurant isn't obvious from the outside so I think you have to really trust your GPS or know where this place is. We parked in an adjacent lot for $3 and then walked to a building and asked the valets out front if this was the right place. Inside, we were seated and everyone was very nice. Our waiter was attentive and able to answer questions as was anyone else who happened to stop by and serve us--and there were several. We both got the 4 course price fixe deal. I am a big eater and was skeptical that 4 small courses would fill me up. My first meal I chose the hamachi and my husband chose the escolar crudo. Both were excellent. My fish was perfect, melt in your mouth. My second dish was the seared scallops. This was the weak link in my 4 course meal. It wasn't bad, just okay and not up to par with the other dishes. It didn't ruin my meal and would have been considered a hit in a regular restaurant. My husband got the lamb which was awesome. Perfectly seasoned and grilled. My third dish was the pork belly, which was quite good. Again, seasoned well, crispy in all the right places not gooey or too chewy. My husband got the bleu de basques panna cotta which I thought was really delicious. Very creative the way they used all of the ingredients there. The highlight of my already awesome meal was my lemon thyme creme brûlée. I'm a fan of creme brûlée and have had it in many places including NYC restaurants. This one was the best one I've ever had. My husband got the gingerbread which he also liked. I didn't try his because I was already stuffed and because my dessert was so perfect I didn't want another tasted in my mouth. Shockingly I was pretty full after all of that. Either my stomach is smaller or these courses filled me up more than I thought. Neither of us drinks alcohol, so can't comment on that. Coffee was pretty good too--I've been surprised at the mediocre coffee served at fine restaurants. All in all, a great way to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary and for sure we will go here again! read more

I cannot believe I am just getting around to posting a review for this amazing meal. I didn't know what to expect, but had read so many great reviews about this place, I knew we had to try it. Arrived and walked in on a Saturday night. It was quiet (but we were early) and it's a lovely space. A bit sparse, with high ceilings, but lovely for conversation (after several recent trips out to high end places in town that were just too loud). We decided on the 3 course tasting, and it did NOT disappoint. Started with the Escolar - UNREAL. Substantial portions - beautiful presentation - great taste. Also had one of their salads (with blue cheese) - again, delicious flavor, unbelievably fresh, and a great portion size. I moved on to my dinner entree - the olive oil poached beef tenderloin. I had NO idea what to expect, since it seemed an unusual preparation - but WHOA, this was a deliciously tender, perfectly done medium rare, serving of meat. And again, great portion size, beautifully presented. I couldn't finish it all. I cannot wait to go back and do the larger tasting menu (with wine) since I was pregnant during our last visit. This place is one of Austin's best kept secrets. Except that I keep recommending it to people so it might not stay that way for long. Great service. AMAZING food. read more

Consistent! Yay! (I expected as much, but I've been disappointed too many times - mostly in Houston - to get my hopes too high.) Delish, super service, sat by the kitchen this time. Just two small things: 1) Yes, as others have said, the ambiance is kind of stiff and cavernous, but I can deal with it for the service and food. It *is* gorgeous, in its way. 2) So far I have liked the appetizers better than the main dishes. I'm going to solve that next time by ordering three appetizers when I get the $50 three-course. Or maybe just two appetizers - both times I have been pretty full by the time I got to the main course. Had the pork belly this time. I usually loathe fat in any form, but not this fat! One of the most delicious things I have ever put in my mouth. I continue to maintain that the $50 three-course is a *serious* deal. read more