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The Carillon

The Carillon

The Carillon is a restaurant located in the heart of the University of Texas at Austin campus. The restaurant offers modern American cuisine and is known for its exceptional service, elegant ambiance, and stunning views of the university’s main tower. In this article, we will explore The Carillon’s history, menu offerings, and ambiance.

History

The Carillon opened in 2008 and was originally called the T-Lounge. It was owned and operated by the Texas Culinary Academy, a school that has since closed. In 2011, the restaurant has renamed The Carillon and continued to operate as part of the Texas Culinary Academy. In 2017, The Carillon became an independent restaurant, and Executive Chef Michael Paley joined the team. Important link

Menu Offerings

The Carillon’s menu is best described as modern American cuisine, with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. The menu changes seasonally, with a focus on incorporating fresh and sustainable ingredients. Some of the restaurant’s signature dishes include:

Lobster and Gulf Shrimp Creole: This dish features butter-poached Gulf shrimp and lobster, served with Creole sauce, chive grits, and crispy okra. Reference

Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder: The pork shoulder is cooked slowly until it’s fork-tender and served with mustard greens, smoked ham hock, and cornbread pudding.

Grilled Double-Cut Lamb Chops: The lamb chops are served with garlic mashed potatoes, fennel salad, and a port wine reduction.

Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff: This vegan dish features trumpet mushrooms, crispy shallots, and a cashew cream sauce.

The Carillon also offers an extensive cocktail menu, with a focus on classic and modern cocktails made with fresh ingredients. The restaurant has an impressive sommelier-curated wine list featuring wines from around the world.

The Carillon

Ambiance

The Carillon’s elegant ambiance is a combination of modern and classic design elements. The restaurant features large windows that offer amazing views of the University of Texas at Austin’s main tower. The dining room has a sleek and contemporary design with minimalistic details, including white tablecloths and elegant stemware. The outdoor patio is a popular spot, with comfortable seating, umbrellas, and a great view of the university campus.

Staff

The Carillon staff is a team of experienced and dedicated individuals who work together to ensure the restaurant’s success. Below are the key roles of the staff of The Carillon:

  • Executive Chef: The Executive Chef at The Carillon is Michael Paley. He oversees the restaurant’s kitchen and creates the menu by incorporating fresh, sustainable, and locally sourced ingredients. Chef Paley also introduces innovative and modern techniques to classic dishes.
  • Sous Chefs: The Sous Chefs are responsible for working alongside the Executive Chef and managing the kitchen staff. They assist with menu planning, ordering ingredients, supervising food preparation, and overseeing kitchen operations.
  • Front of House Manager: The Front of House Manager at The Carillon is responsible for the smooth running of restaurant operations. This role involves hiring and training front-of-house staff, scheduling, handling customer inquiries, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
  • Wait for staff: The wait staff at The Carillon are responsible for ensuring an excellent dining experience for customers. They greet customers, take their orders, serve food and drinks, and assist with any customer inquiries or concerns.
  • Bartenders: The Bartenders at The Carillon are responsible for the bar operations. This includes creating bespoke cocktails, managing the bar, providing excellent customer service to customers, and managing inventory.
  • Host staff: The Host staff at The Carillon are responsible for greeting customers as they arrive, managing reservations, and ensuring guests are seated comfortably in the restaurant.

Overall, the staff at The Carillon is dedicated to providing exceptional service, innovative cuisine, and a memorable dining experience to its customers.

Private Dining

The Carillon offers private dining for events like weddings, corporate meetings, and other special occasions. The restaurant has private dining areas that offer a relaxed and intimate setting for gatherings of up to 100 guests. The private dining packages include customized menus, full-service bars, and dedicated servers.

Executive Chef Michael Paley

Michael Paley is the Executive Chef at The Carillon, overseeing the restaurant’s kitchen and creating the menu. He has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, having worked at some of the most prestigious restaurants in the country, including Proof on Main in Louisville, Kentucky, and Metropole in Cincinnati, Ohio. Chef Paley’s culinary style focuses on incorporating fresh, seasonal ingredients in innovative ways while maintaining the simple and comforting flavors of classic dishes.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a top priority at The Carillon. The restaurant sources ingredients from local farmers, ranchers, and artisans whenever possible. The restaurant also uses compostable materials, recycles waste, and employs energy-efficient practices to reduce its environmental impact.

The Carillon is a premier restaurant in Austin, Texas, known for its modern American cuisine, stunning views, and excellent service. Its elegant and contemporary ambiance and private dining options make it a popular choice for special occasions. Chef Michael Paley’s innovative and sustainable approach to cooking elevates the restaurant to a new level of culinary excellence. No matter the occasion, dining at The Carillon is an unforgettable experience.

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