<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001251391</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXCELSIOR ABSOLUTE RETURN FUND OF FUNDS LLC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NONE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001376219</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>U.S. Trust CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O US TRUST HEDGE FUND MANAGEMENT, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>225 HIGH RIDGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06905</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Parent of Investment Adviser</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Limited Liability Company Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote 1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This filing is made on behalf of U.S. Trust Corporation (&quot;UST Corp.&quot;). U.S. Trust Hedge Fund Management, Inc., which serves
 as the investment adviser of Excelsior Absolute Return Fund of Funds Master Fund, LLC (the &quot;Master Fund&quot;) and provides
 management and administrative services to the Issuer, is a wholly owned subsidiary of UST Corp. The Issuer invests
 substantially all of its assets in the Master Fund. The filing of this statement with the inclusion of the foregoing
 information shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Act or
 otherwise, the beneficial owner of any equity securities covered by this statement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Vera V. Delson, Assistant Corporate Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-06-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
