Less than 10 minutes from Balcones Woods, The Arboretum is a lush outdoor mall that offers over 40 mainstream retailers such as Gap and Chico’s.
Shoppers can browse and then grab a quick lunch at the Cheesecake Factory or Zoe’s Kitchen, a casual restaurant serving unique homemade Mediterranean dishes with a Southern twist. The fresh and flavorful Turkey Stack — a grilled sourdough sandwich with juicy turkey breast, mozzarella, feta and rosemary oil — is a popular selection.
Kids and their parents find lots to love about The Arboretum. Stores like Gymboree, Janie and Jack, and Gap Kids all provide popular clothing for children ages 1-12. And everyone who loves movies loves the Regal Arbor Cinema, a theater that shows both limited-release festival films and Hollywood blockbusters.
Plenty of Shopping Choices Nearby
The Domain, another posh outdoor mall, offers shoppers about 100 high-end boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Nordstrom, and Tiffany and Co. The Domain also offers incredible dining at exclusive award-winning restaurants such as NoRTH and the Daily Grill.
Residents do their grocery shopping at Randalls, Sprouts, or Whole Foods Market, all within a few minutes of the neighborhood.
There are five more major shopping centers only about 15 minutes away or closer including Lakeline Mall, Shops at Arbor Walk, Gateway and Barton Creek Square Mall. Together, these shopping centers host almost 450 more fine department stores, local merchants, services, movie theaters and restaurants.
Upscale or Down-Home, There’s a Place Close to Home
One of the upscale dining options close to the neighborhood is The Roaring Fork, Austin’s only award-winning wood-fired steakhouse. Featuring market-fresh fish and mouth-watering steaks masterfully cooked over an open flame, the restaurant promises a unique grilled taste that can’t be found anywhere else. Regulars recommend trying the bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin and the green chile mac and cheese, although everything on the menu is well conceived and well executed.
Chuy’s is just a few minutes away. The legendary local Tex-Mex kings opened the first Chuy’s in 1982. Since then, they’ve become an Austin icon, noted for their fun, playful obsession with Elvis and making some of the best Tex-Mex around. They are famous for their Queso Compuesto, a chile con queso with seasoned ground sirloin, guacamole and pico de gallo, as well as their delectable Chuy’s Special — a stack of blue corn tortillas with tender chicken and cheese topped with tomatillo salsa and sour cream.
Many of the neighbors enjoy Rudy’s Country Store and Barbecue, another fun and popular restaurant that’s only moments away. Rudy’s has fused casual dining with terrific food since 1989. All of their meats are hardwood smoked, infused deeply with flavor, and all of them are delicious. Particularly popular are the moist, tender brisket, delicious pork spareribs and their tangy, balanced, and awesome barbecue “sause.” Their banana or chocolate pudding is a delicious and sweet way to finish a meal.