If you’re looking for a new fine dining restaurant to try, I recommend checking out the Carillon at the AT&T Executive Education Center at the University of Texas.

I first wrote about the AT&T Center back in Sept. 2008 when it opened to the public. AT&T is a client and I invited media to tour the facility and taste some menu items.

I’ve returned twice since then — once in December 2009 for a three course tasting menu and again last week for a media preview of the new menu.

Highlights include the pork belly, tuna tartar, scallops, braised short ribs, and the olive oil beef tenderloin.

The one menu item I’ve tried twice and just don’t “get” is the white bean soup. To me it has the mealy texture of a bad apple; another food blogger compared it to eating grout.

The candlelit atmosphere of the restaurant is very nice with a lovely open kitchen and excellent service. I’d recommend the AT&T Center and the Carillon for private parties as well. Diners get their parking validated so there’s no need to stress about finding a space. Please note that while the restaurant is open to the public for breakfast and dinner, it caters to University faculty and staff only during lunchtime. Dinner hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Fun Fact: A carillon is an instrument consisting of at least 23 bronze bells and is housed in a bell tower.