Atmosphere was incredible, quiet, beautiful silence, you could actually have a business meeting here with bullhorn. The food was on point, had the Marfly Farms ribeye, perfectly marbled with the fat only in one concentrated area. Kitchen accommodated our requests without a hitch. This was only my 2nd visit, takes 3x for my 5 stars. I don't anticipate any issues with 5 stars on the next visit. So our bill for 2 was $180+ for meals & 2 Oban 14, but the peace of eating with comrads & not having to shout, along with the attention to detail of the staff & Mgr, was worth every penny. Want a great meal after 9p in ATX without a gazillion screaming people, well this is at the top of the list! read more

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It started in the wrong way. I made a res for valentines, specifically because the menu had things that appealed to my partner and I. But, we showed up and there was a very limited fixed menu (that hadn't been disclosed anywhere at any point ahead of time) that didn't meet either of our dietary limitations for double the price. I went ahead and told them about my allergies, and, after telling me they didn't use that ingredient in any of the dishes, proceeded to bring out a dish with my allergen inside. On top of it all, they forgot our drinks, and everyone came by every 2 minutes and made super awkward conversation with us. The manager asked us "what are your jobs" as his hello, the waitress told us all about her life uninvited, and this was on Valentine's Day when we were trying to have a nice time with each other. An insane experience. read more

I was pleasantly surprised! My boyfriend took me here for my bday because he wanted to take me somewhere that I havent been. (Ive been to many restaurants in Austin) It was Wednesday evening and was pretty empty. My boyfriend was bit nervous about his choice. We started with meat and cheese board which had local cheese and such then had rib eyes and scallops and finished with chocolate mousse and lemon bar. Cotes du rhone was an excellent choice too. I loved loved loved the food! Also they were kind enough to put candle on my desert and gave my flowers! This is such a hidden gem. Don't let perception on hotel restaurant fool you. This is worth the shot. I'm happy with the dining experience here! read more

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Had a fantastic experience here. Service was fantastic, food was flavorful, presented beautifully, and great portion size. Pork belly was my favorite! read more

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My daughter and I ate Easter brunch this year at The Carillion. While the salad bar (and salad bar manager) was great!!!, the rest was very disappointing. The entree selection was not impressive, there were no mashed potatoes, the beef on the carving station was only available on the rare side, (wasn't very good and was not warm by the time I got back to our table). Service was mediocre at best: water levels not kept full and we had to pile used plates on adjacent table - at least 2 - 3 plates high before they were removed. This was our 2nd or 3rd time here, but I would not recommend doing special event / brunch here - especially given the high price. read more

My friends and I went tonight for the first time to celebrate a friends birthday. The atmosphere was exquisite, staff was impeccable, food was amazing and the Manager Elliot was so awesome!!! For the dining experience we had, they should be charging 2-3x more for their food and we would gladly pay it. It is a small restaurant so reservations are needed to make sure they have availability. I highly recommend The Carillon Restaurant, it's truly a gem. We will be back very soon read more

I have never had a more unbelievable meal and experience. For a Resturant that I assumed wouldn't be much, I was blown away. The cocktails had high quality ingredients and were generous pours, the meals were phenomenal and full of fresh ingredients, and deserts were delectable. The staff went above and beyond! The service was the best part. Wow. Come here. Don't pass it up!I would give it 10 stars. read more

The Carillon - Pork shank - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Ordered Thanksgiving take away . Food was good but they shorted me all the a la carte items...had to supplement from HEB. Trying to contact them seems impossible...still trying for billing adjustments....was paid for in OCT!!! read more

Found this hidden gem on out way to a concert. Extensive wine list and cocktails Unique Texas menu with good seafood, beef and poultry choices The service is excellent, ambiance quiet and elegant. Awesome dessert choices An elegant choice for dinner in Austin!! read more

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First off, my waitress was the most friendly out everyone I have come into contact at this hotel thus far during my second visit. As some others have commented, the online menu did not mention a buffet, and The Carillion was not my first choice - Gabriel's Cafe did not open yet until 3pm. I came downstairs to have a little lunch before my conference. I was greeted by the host - will not give her name, but it was Thursday Nov. 18, 2021 around 1:15pm. She was immediately dismissive from the start. I asked for a table for 1 - she looked me up and down, turned to walk away and with her back to me starting saying "We stopped service lunch but can you stay". YOU CAN STAY??? I decided to overlook it - tired from the 3 hour drive from DFW. I said, "OK, so what IS being served?" She said - without even looking at me - "its a buffet, you can take a look and have a seat at the second table along the window". I was too hungry and tired to say anything more. I ate very quickly and left after 40minutes. Management really needs to work on training their staff better, and to learn to be more considerate to patrons who might be travelling, coming out late from a conference or just plain catching a bite to eat, even if they are starting to get the restaurant ready for the dinner crowd. I wish had gotten my waitress' name because she was the nicest most sincerest person I have come across in quite some time. Also...the 20% service charge on a single diner's ticket is outrageous!!!! read more

OMG y'all! This place. The vibe. The FOOD. My first time here and let me tell you, it did not let me down. All started with drinks at the bar, wonderful happy hour with a great selection of wine & craft cocktails. But let's be honest, you don't come here for the drinks. First we started with an amazing cheese board, which had over 6 amazing different kinds, my personal favorite was the head cheese with a little bit of the liver spread that comes on the side! As for the starters, my favorite, hands down, was the octopus if you only have one starter this is it. Although the broccoli & beat salads were a close runner up! Now for the main dish, I loved the gnocchi, made differently than you're regular Italian gnocchi, it was much lighter & fluffier, & all, let's face it all around, much better! But if there is a real winner in the entrees, it would have to be the short ribs! They are melt in your mouth full of flavor! And if you still have room after all that I suggest the cheesecake for dessert, it's light but still so yummy & filling! I would also suggest the toffee cake for you real sweet lovers! Overall it was an amazing dinner & experience! The wait staff was extremely friendly and helpful! Loving the new menu & can't wait to go back and stuff my face again!!! read more

The Carillon - The toffee cake & hazelnut ice cream - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

The way to begin your Carillon experience is to peruse the wine, beer and drink menu, order something spectacular, hug friends, taste their drinks, perform the Angelina Jolie leg pose and, finally, pick up the dinner menu after your second drink arrives. Hubs and I decided to go with the Two Appetizers and One Entree for $48/person. The Grapefruit + Avocado Salad, a colorful concoction of bibb lettuce, fresh grapefruit, avocados and a luscious vanilla sauce drizzled around the plate, was a light and tasty beginning. Eating appetizer number two was like having brain sex. It was a glorious Crisp Pork Belly, served with slices of sweet Asian pear, pungent Fried Mint and a tasty Diablo Glaze. I vaguely remember one of my dining companions offering me a bite of her appetizer and I froze realizing I would have to give up a bite of my salty, crispy, tender, sweet beloved Pork Belly in the middle of our union. My entree, three gigantic slices of incredible Olive Oil Poached Tenderloin (yes, you read that correctly, poached in olive oil) along with crisp Duck Fat Fried Potatoes, delectable and earthy Turnips, and sweet, tender cippolini onions was amazing. It was such a hefty serving that Hubs had to take over halfway through. Our happy ending dessert, a rich Guanaja Chocolate Terrine delivered with unique Candied Baguettes, a glorious Almond Nougatine and Chufa Nut Puree gave me the pee pee shivers. Don't know what that is? Read a description here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/gourdoughs-austin?q=keri+b Finally, just a word or two about our superman waiter, Gary, who handled orders, drinks and personalities at the table beautifully. He made smart and welcomed recommendations, brought out a tasting of some kind of crack Sherry, and was a joyful asset to the evening. read more

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As we waltzed in for our girly dinner date, I mused to Melissa A. that "Why don't places like this hand you a glass of champagne just for showing up?" Seriously. You're not going to walk out of Carillon without spending at least a buck fifty, so they should commemorate your arrival with free champagne. Think about it, Carillon!!! The atmosphere here is all cold and dark and marble and intellectual and cafeteria and hotel and big. The inscribed archway is so University of Texas. The open galley style kitchen isn't my favorite and lends to the hotel lobby feeling of the whole place, but they do make up for it by somehow still making each table feel intimate, with attentive service, phenomenal food and cozy, dim lighting. We each had tasting samples of four different courses, beginning with a cheese plate and some bread. The flavors were remarkable, they didn't skimp on the bread. Each cheese was introduced to us (and promptly forgotten, but a local goat cheese and gouda are included) and was accompanied sesame croutons, fig moscardo and local honey. Following that we had the Escolar Crudo (fresh, bright, citrus, clean and delicious) and the Tartare, topped with a quail egg. Both starters were eye-rollers, both were incredible in flavor and texture and freshness - great raw protein dishes. Blue Prawns followed, my least favorite dish of the meal, they were served with an interestingly sweet warm creme and toasted seeds. The flavors all went together fine, my issue was with the lukewarm temperature. Our proteins were the Pork Belly (best I've had yet) and it was so phenomenal I can't even remember what she ordered but I'm almost positive it was the scallops. But the Pork Belly with Leek Custard, Fingerling Potatoes, a Tomato Jam and chive is just the most phenomenal dish. The pork was seared to a slightly crisp skin which breaks to give way to the decadent belly. It's full of flavor. It's full of "I shouldn't but I must" and it's perfectly paired and served. The plating is elegant, the dish is tantalizing. I would come back just to order this and a glass of Veuve and sit at the bar. We finished with the Chocolate and Banana Terrine with Coconut Custard. Jaw-dropping. It's so rich, so dark, so flavorful, slightly bitter, perfectly sweet and with the custard, it's heavenly. *This portion is me omitting the review of the wine presentation and service.* ;-) read more

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Amazing pork belly, steak, and sides. Every bite of food was just perfection! Great location - close to the drag and essentially on campus if you want to take a nice after-dinner walk. Or maybe catch an IMAX movie at the Bob Bullock museum? The ONLY criticism i might add is that the atmosphere is a little sterile. Might be brightened up with a few flowers or decor. But not necessary if you're here on a food mission! Otherwise, good enough to keep the review short and sweet! A must - try for Austin foodies. read more

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I am a bit hesitant to post my review -- seeing how this place seems to, for some inexplicable reason, have acquired an almost religiously devout following. But, Yelp aught to be fair to all of us and my palate deserves a say on the subject of this cuisine, just as anybody else's. So, here goes... Sometime during the unimpressive dining experience at The Carillon, a thought dawned on me that this is the pretentious casual dining at it's finest. You have your seemingly built-to-impress dining space, seemingly trained-to-impress staff, and seemingly cooked-to-impress fare. However, the three are not coexisting in any kind of harmony or even interaction. They are separate and, hence, do not constitute more than their collective sum. In fact, they somehow detract from each other and amount to an utterly dissatisfactory aftertaste. I still am puzzled as to how this is possible. Alas, it is. If this sterile universe of standalones is what you are after, look no further. You will feel like you just became the newcomer planet, rotating around the Kitchen (a.k.a. the Sun) and briefly coming into contact with other Guests (a.k.a. other Planets). You will get to frequently interact with your Server and his Minions (a.k.a. your Moons). It will most likely be a very clean, highly superficial experience. Food is not too good and not too bad, but most definitely overpriced. An overabundance of plates that are too large for the amount and the presentation of food they house and the uninspired combinations of ingredients on those enormous plates make one muse of where does exactly the chef get his (or her) inspiration from? For that matter, does the chef have any inspiration? Needless to write, The Carillon is not my cup of tea; although I do love a variety of places in and around Austin that fall in the same category. It would have been impressive, if it was built with something other than the singular goal of being impressive. And that's all I have to say about that. read more

The Carillon - BIG plates, microscopic food: the essence of what The Carillon is all about. - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Wait staff was great. Online menu didn't mention buffet for lunch but we went with it anyway. Cold buffet food is the pits even worse at $22 per person website said $15. Only good part was the "hot" cherry crisp desert. read more

One of the best lunches I've had in a long time. Excellent service! Amazing food for both vegetarians and meat lovers. I had the lunch buffet which was very healthy and flavorful! You must try the Tomato & Sourdough Bread Salad with Capers. I didn't have a desert but from the looks of them I bet they are awesome! Tip was included for just two people so watch out and enjoy! $10.95 Includes Soup, Salad, Pizza, Deli Bar, and Beverage read more

Thank you Yelp Deals for a great discount on what is now at the top of my best restaurants in Austin list. The decor is nice, but not hip, trendy or cool. The Carillon is a classy joint with superb, creative food and spectacular service. My vocabulary is too limited to describe how I felt about the food (elegant, fresh, inspiring, Californian????). A couple of the dishes are in the same league with dishes I've had at Morimoto's in Napa. We had the 3-course tasting menu and every morsel was delicious, well-seasoned, and different. Each dish had an ample amount of food so 3-courses is definitely enough to fill you up. The most impressive aspect of our experience is how much we felt valued. We had lots of questions, especially about a Lebanese wine on the menu---apparently there is only one bottle left. The sommelier was extremely knowledgeable about the wine and it's history. We spoke at length about different wine making styles by region. It's nice to go to a restaurant where the staff is knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. I love the Carillon. Try and you will agree! PS. They validate your parking. read more

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Prelude to this review: After I wrote my original review I read what other yelpers had to say. People writing a long time ago wrote rave reviews. More recent reviews note the executive chef who made the reputation of the place has left. Whether he did not like management/corporate changes - or he just left on his own account --- that explains what I report below: The Original Review This is a rating of the lunch service - so the dinner service may be better. The lunch at Carillon used to be five stars easily - one of the most elegant lunch buffets in Austin. Food quality has plummeted since then. The lunch service used to be packed. Now the house is only 1/3 as full as it used to be. I was with a prestigious guest and there are not other good options for "gracious" dining near campus - so we we were somewhat over a barrel. An examination of the buffet showed significantly fewer and chintzier hot options (shepherd's pie - the standard mash-potato filler of a house that wants to spend no money --- no fish --- standard pre-processed thin sliced commercial ingredients on the salad buffet) things got worse when i actually put the food in my mouth. there was chintziness and limited attention to cooking in the kitchen. Several dishes were tasteless. Others tasted primarily of "convenience" ingredients. The only strong execution was carmellized Brussels sprouts. Having only one good dish on a three table buffet is not what you want when eating upscale. The price??? Lets just say I could have had a ten day hospitalization for less. Given what they intend to charge you at this joint ... if you intend to go elegant, it is more judicious to spend your money elsewhere. . read more

The Carillon-Austin's French Connection! I visited this fine culinary establishment during Austin Restaurant Week. What a find!! The $35 3-course dinner was spectacular and surpassed my expectations at every turn! read more

Food: We ordered the grilled romaine with radish, citrus, garlic croutons, and bacon powder. The portion was small. I went with yelpers' recommendations on the mero and boy I was so happy I ordered it. The mero came with spinach, maitake mushrooms, and carrot-apple-ginger reduction. It was delicious! The sauce that it came with was just right because it made the fish so much tastier. Service: What can I say, it was excellent! They always had time to refill our waters and I remember always seeing at least one or two waiters near by to help us clean up plates, bring us bread, and such. Parking: We took the taxi here so we did not have to worry about finding parking. However, if you have a car, they do valet. Ambiance: This was a nice and quiet restaurant. Moreover, it was a huge place extending further to the back. If you want to take a date out, this is the restaurant to go to. read more

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This seems to be the best kept secret in Austin. Sure it has received a fair number of reviews. When my husband and I went to celebrate our anniversary the place was only half full. He chose the place and it was a nice surprise! The place was beautiful. It reminded me of the Texas Union with its grand scale. But it was intimate. Clean. New feeling. The service was good but the team did not work well together. They needed to communicate better. At almost each course we were served each others food. No so bad to take away a star though. Now here is why 5 stars.... The food was GORGEOUS, cooked to PERFECTION, plated as if it were a masterpiece of art. And I loved the use of fresh herbs, and how they were paired. Husband had lamb and I had scallops. If this place were not such a nice restaurant we would have both licked our plates clean. LOVED it and am DYING to go back!!! read more

Me and My husband celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and I was looking for a restaurant to book a surprise dinner for him. To our convenience this restaurant was close by where we stayed. They were very accommodating though I changed my reservation twice and very welcoming when we entered the restaurant. To my surprise, they had a custom menu just for both of us right from appetizer to dessert and champagne was on them. I was so impressed and it was very thoughtful of them to surprise us like that. And food was very delicious, especially the dessert and quail. I would say, definitely try out this restaurant. I just read the reviews below after posting mine and I'm not sure if the management has changed in recent times, I did have a good experience here. read more

I had an outstanding business meal here the other day. I had the steak tartare, the (apparently famous) pork belly salad, and the olive-oil poached filet mignon (talk about decadent). We ordered the pairings for wine/beverages and they were perfectly matched. Everything was wonderful: ambiance, food, service. read more

Stopped in on my birthday outing and sat at the Carillon bar in the restaurant after enjoying dinner downtown hours before. Our bartender, Slavo, hooked us up with some amazing drinks, and we got to try some fried basil lleaves he had prepped for another patron's drink that were really cool and unique. It was an hour before close when we arrived, but before the kitchen shut down, the manager Susie stopped by to simply see how we were doing, suggesting some small treats. We tried a tuna crudo and and hamachi sashimi that were killer. Honestly, who knew this place existed? It's like 5-star dining but the prices on the wine list were actually a bargain, notwithstanding the mixologist Slavo who concocted such drinks as to require a quick herb fry for a single drink. I'm telling you that this is a hidden gem that cannot be missed. I want to return for the 5-course tasting menu sometime soon. read more

The Carillon - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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If you're eating breakfast here and could only eat one thing, go with the waffle. It is the best waffle I've ever had in my life. It's big and soft and delicious and it is shaped like Texas. And, somehow defying nature, the syrup doesn't run through the waffle and make it all soggy. The syrup stays in the squares!!! I wasn't originally planning on eating a waffle. I came here for a free breakfast buffet via vouchers from the front desk. I'm not a breakfast person- this was actually my first and only breakfast I had during my four day trip to Austin. The eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, fresh fruit, potatoes, and smoothie were plenty for me. But the super nice server semi-insisted on the waffle. He even went to the kitchen and made the waffle himself...now that's good service! read more

The Carillon - The waffle - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

I know I just moved to Dallas but since it was a labor day weekend I decided to explore Austin :) I saw before chef Josh Watkins on Iron Chef so I could not wait to try his cuisine at the Carillon. I made a reservation for Saturday night. We started with some appetizers and a bottle of the Seghesio Zinfandel . - Hamiachi Crudo and Escolar Sashimi. Both dishes were great! The fish was fresh, melting in your mouth. - Sea Scallops and Crispy Pork Belly; Scallops were perfectly seared and paired with the tomatillo and yuca crisps. Great flavors and textures! The Pork Belly was amazing! Glazed with sweet and spicy sauce and accompanied with asian pear salad... What an explosion of flavors... And of-course for the grand finale we both had the Seared and Olive Oil Poached Beef Tenderloin. This was the most amazing tender loin I've ever had in my life... I know people say photos are worth thousand words, so I took a photo, but let me tell you... no photo can describe how good this dish is.... Since Chef Josh was not there that evening, the Sous Chef came out and to say hi to us, and shared some of the techniques in preparing this dish. :) mmmm.... I love to cook and I know what I am cooking next weekend :) He also told us about their new pastry chef Sandalio and recommended us the Olive Oil Sponge Cake with Mint Sorbet, Mascrapone and Bacon Brittle. Perfect ending to a perfect dinner! As we were finishing the desert the waiter broth us an aperitif drink, compliments of the Chef. Perfect dinner with perfect service! I am coming back here on my next trip to Austin. Thank you guys! read more

The Carillon - Seared and Olive Oil Poached Beef Tenderloin - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great Happy Hour. Dollar Oysters and an amazing barkeep! I also came here with my parents after a UT Football Game and they graciously sat us. Great wine pairings! read more

Great Service and good food. We walked in at 8:45 pm and our server still made sure we had a wonderful experience. We almost did not eat here since it was late and we had been told that the kitchen was closing at nine, but with a newborn and a hungry ten year old we decided to chance it. I am so glad we did! My son and I choose to dine of the 3 course meal for $30 dollars and my husband tried 3 items of the regular dining menu. I loved my lamb. The eggplant paired wonderfully with the lamb. My son's ribeye was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The pork belly was also delicious. In all everything was well prepared and tasty. Great wine list, great service and good food. read more

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I often bring visiting faculty here for the breakfast buffet, which is typically quite good. However, the quality of both the service and food has been going downhill for a while now. This morning was an all time low where the scrambled eggs were somehow simultaneously overcooked and runny, empty plates sat on our tables for long periods uncollected, and our coffee cups went without refill. It did not help make a good first impression on our visitor. read more

I am astonished this place has such a high rating. I ate lunch and had the worst country fried steak and mashed potatoes since I had the same in my 4th grade cafeteria. I walked in expecting semi-fine dining. Take away the atmosphere, and you have something far less than Luby's. read more

Amazing food. Amazing service. We were pleasantly surprised with the quality of a hotel restaurant. 10/10 WOULD RECOMMEND. read more

The Carillon - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Only came here for there Wednesday happy hour deal but everything was top notch. My partner and I were just looking for some snacks and wine and we saw that they have a deal every Wednesday where you get a bottle of wine and cheese board for $25. Score! Wine was excellent, cheese was delicious and the service was amazing. We'll definitely be coming back for sure! read more

Everything was amazing until I cut into my steak very lean and a little tuff maybe they should start buying American beef specially since were in Texas!!! read more

Fantastic food, beautiful decor. I really enjoyed my meal here. I like the open kitchen also. The chef sent out a couple of items we didn't order, and they were magnificent. I do not however recommend the Foie Gras ice cream. I just had to try it but, uh, yuck. Everything else was stellar. read more

Everything about this restaurant was terrible. This restuarant totally ruined our valentine's day with awful and disgusting food. We were forced to get the three course meals because that was the only options they offered. However, the appetizers, main courses and desserts were nasty and over priced. A new york strip steak was too tough and it was completely covered with coffee grinds and big leaves. The sea bass was very fishy and did not taste good at all. Also the sea bass was completely covered by variety of vegetables that looked pathetic and burnt. We could not finish any of these dishes. It just seems like they were playing with foods. The dessert was the highlight of the three course meal because the cake was stiff, stale and the worst dessert i've ever had in my life. I felt like they hire anyone to be their waiters and waitresses. We certainly did not get the service that we deserved for $80 per person for 3 course meal. The foods were, again, absolutely disgusting, and we could not even eat half of the foods. Even though they gave us poor quality of meals and average service, they charged us mandatory 20% tip so we nearly paid over $100 per person. Their three course meal is extremely over priced and didn't worth every penny that they charged for. I would've had a way better quality food with this much money anywhere else. We wouldn't recommend this restaurant to any people unless they are my worst enemies. read more

What a great experience, from start to finish. The service was exceptional. It started off a little rough with a menu snafu and the "last chance wine" being out of stock, but Susie came to the rescue! Susie, the manager and Sommelier, suggested the Krupp Brothers Veraison Napa Cabernet Sauvignon - wow, she really knows her craft! The wine was complex, rich and bold with soft tannins that complimented all of our dishes. We started off with the squash soup - it sounds normal and plain, but like every dish we ordered it challenged our taste buds to dive deeper into the flavors. Next we had the sautéed gulf shrimp. I was expecting more, only two large shrimp and 3 pickled green beans arrived, but again the flavors were complex and very enjoyable. My wife ordered the seared striped bass and I ordered grilled ribeye medium rare - we were both extremely pleased with our entree, once again delivered with exceptional flavor nuances. We finished the night with the hazelnut semifreddo - OMG WOW! From the wine all the way through to the dessert, Carillon delivered perfection. Susie topped it off with a wonderful cab and even a complimentary champagne toast to highlight our 5th anniversary. I highly recommend and look forward to returning. read more

The only reason I'm giving this restaurant two stars was the waitress was incredibly nice and the bread, butter, and wine were good. Unfortunately, the food was horrendous. I had the halibut and I literally had to take bites with water to wash it down. It was incredibly dry and salty. My fiancé has the sashimi and had one piece before telling me she was sorry if she got sick tonight because the fish tasted bad. We both probably ate a cumulative 5 bites. I would highly recommend you avoid this place at all cost. read more

I mentioned to Alison as we were dining here how my parents would have loved this place - the starched tablecloth & napkins, the cadre of Men in Black refilling water & replenishing bread every seven minutes, and the constant array of tepid food adorning a variety of multi-shaped plates. It's a hotel restaurant dream. It's also a reason I left home at sixteen. If I had a twin sister, she'd understand. I couldn't let go of the notion that The Carillon felt like an elaborate set for a stage play, and they were waiting to strike and store it the moment we left. Everything that needed to be there was there, and everything was in its proper place - I just couldn't get any sense of this restaurant's "personality." There wasn't anything I specifically disliked about the Carillon's ambiance, it was just "there" - you know, like a big hotel dining room. But I think our mistake was dealing with two identical six-course tasting menus - if one person orders it, everyone has to. After two or three bites into each plate we got the idea, and there wasn't much to do except wait for the next course, while deciding whether or not to finish off the one in front of us. Maybe it would have gone better with the additional wine pairing. What I would do differently now is go for two of the Carillon's three-course specials, where you can mix or match two apps & an entrée, share all the plates, and then go nuts ordering all the desserts to share those too. The tab would have been the same. Now I know. Having said that, I'm first to say the pork belly dish from our six-courser was indeed to die for, and the broth from the mussel dish was truly superb. But that's about all that stood out for me. And I didn't have to worry about a breath mint after dinner, because the mint sorbet from the final dessert course doubled as frozen mouthwash. And finally, I didn't even see the parking garage, I just used the valet for five bucks. Some of the Carillon staff who interacted with us were engagingly personable, and some weren't. There were gentlemen around us dining in suits and ties, and other gentlemen in shorts and sandals. I almost wish I was there in a muted but clever ensemble of shorts and tie. Okay, maybe not. The bottom line is the Carillon is on many "go-to" lists, and now it's one less thing I'll have to deal with on mine. read more

Carillon came close to being a fantastic experience. The unraveling happened towards the end, much the same way a perfectly good movie plot goes to hell in the last 15 minutes. The screenplay writers realize they've already got your money, throw in some convoluted plot twist and call it a day. Scene 1: Moving car. Couple is hauling ass down Street X ,attempting to bypass highway traffic. They have 14 minutes to arrive. She: Haul ass. I'll watch for cops. He: Why are we doing this again? She: Because I read that if we order before 6:30 we get the prix fixe menu for $29.00 instead of $42.00 He: Right. Scene 2: Outside Carillon. She is being dropped off to place orders while He parks. She: (internal monologue) This dress looked pretty the way I bought it. It does serve a better purpose blown clean over my head. Thank you, wind. Skip through the bar scene, where I inform the waitress I'm trying to get the prix fixe tasting menu for $29. She whisks me to the dining area. I tell the waiter my plan. He sympathizes and takes my order, which I explain consists of 2 apps and one entree for the boy and 1 app, 1 entree, and 1 dessert for me. 6 total courses, submitted before 6:30. Take note: they will refresh your water on the sip, every sip. Our dude must've come by 10+ times, easy. The waitstaff was cordial, and the food presentation was top notch. I was dressied up, but there were several more casual diners. The food: delicious mussels. I asked for a to-go container of the broth; the waiter thought I was kidding. I was not kidding. Do get the pork belly sliders. Tender, fatty, juicy and delicious, I never thought I'd be recommending something like this. The scallops, we agreed, were too salty. Once the bacon grits had been scraped off they became more palatable. At this point, I was stuffed, but there were entrees. His beef short ribs were good, reminiscent of a pot roast. My lamb rack was fine, the garnishes and risotto nearly outdoing the lamb itself. After the apps I wished we'd gone the route of lighter fish entrees. The finale. This is where the scriptwriters abandon the project, realizing it was not, anyway, Oscar-worthy material. Enter convoluted plot twist. Scene 16: Carillon dining area. He: I'm sorry, this is another table's bill. Waiter: Ohhh yeah yeah I'll fix that. She: I also have a Groupon! Waiter: Ohhh okay, I need a manager to approve that. She: Okay! ... He: That was weird. She: For real. ... Waiter: There you go. He: Thanks... Waiter: I ran your card, thanks! (leaves) She: What the... ... Waiter: Hi! She: Hi, we weren't charged the prix fixe, but instead for each item. Waiter: Oh, you wanted prix fixe? How would that... She: (wtf, screenwriters) He was getting the 2 apps and entree, I got the app, entree, dessert, etc ad naseum. Waiter: Uh. Let me fix that. .... Waiter: There you go! Thanks guys! (leaves) He: Okay... She: (skilled upside-down reader) But... what the... in the... that's the $42 prix fixe. We hauled ass to get here for the $29... He: I'm tired. Whatever. End scene. We limped to the car, exasperated and bursting. The food was excellent, and the service was great - except the last 20 minutes. When your aim is dining on a budget, and you play by the rules, the expectation is fairness. I can't trust the last part of the script next time I hit up Carillon, if ever I do. read more