Retail Roundup: Lakeshore Addition Shopping, Dining and Entertainment

In addition to their beautiful homes and close proximity to Lake Austin, Lakeshore Addition homeowners enjoy easy access to Austin’s best shopping, dining and entertainment.

A unique shopping experience and less than 15 minutes from home, the Arboretum at Great Hills is a favorite for local shoppers. It features a picturesque and relaxed park-like setting that is home to more than 40 fine shops and restaurants. Some of the most popular retailers include Pottery Barn, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Z Gallerie, The Gap and AZIZ Salon and Day Spa, to name a few.

Hungry shoppers can stop for something to eat at places like the Cheesecake Factory, Five Guy’s Burgers, and Blue Baker, known for their custom-made sandwiches, pizza, soup and salads, as well as fresh scratch-made bread and baked goods.

Austin’s Most Exclusive Retail Experience at The Domain

The Domain, a 1,300,000-square-foot upscale outdoor shopping mall, is about 20 minutes away. The shopping center features 100 stores, including high-end retailers like Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and Barneys, is a favorite for restaurants and wine bars, such as Cru, where diners pair pinot noirs and pinot grigios with delicate ahi tartare or a selection of delicious artisanal cheese. The Domain’s Steeping Room is an international teahouse serving natural meats, organic dairy, cage-free eggs and gluten free selections. Vegetable-packed spring rolls are irresistible as are the more traditional tea sandwiches and scones.

Local retail plazas include a convenient HEB grocery, the full service Woodhouse Day Spa and local favorite, Austin Java coffeehouse. In addition, four other major shopping centers are within a 15-minute radius of the neighborhood including Village at Westlake, Gateway, Barton Creek Square, and the Shops at Arbor Walk. Together, these shopping centers host almost 300 more fine department stores, national and local retailers, services, movie theaters, and restaurants.

Tubular Tacos, Hawaiian Fajitas and Lakeside Views at the Hula Hut

Lakeshore Addition foodies enjoy several nearby favorites, including Trento, Maudie’s Milagro, County Line BBQ, Fabi + Rosi, and Hula Hut. Hula Hut, opened by the restaurateurs behind Shady Grove and Chuy’s Comida Deluxe, offers outdoor seating on a pier built out over Lake Austin in a fun, campy resort style. Known as “Mexican Food with a Surfer Twist” there are specialty dishes as well as good old American comfort foods.

The Tiki-Mex cuisine includes delectable dishes such as the Coconut Fried Shrimp, Mango-Poblano Chile Quesadillas, Tubular Tacos, and Hawaiian Fajitas. The Hawaiian Fajitas are a favorite served with charbroiled beef or chicken glazed with a Polynesian Plum Sauce with red bell peppers, green onions and Hawaiian pineapple. Comfort foods include burgers, sandwiches, salads and veggie burgers. Their famous delicious margaritas are a perfect complement to the beautiful lake view.

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts, Truffle Fries and Grilled Lamb Chops

For date night or a special occasion, Eleven Plates and Wine, just over five minutes from home, is a popular spot with the neighbors. Serving inventive, up-to-the-minute contemporary food that is always plated with elegance and panache, frequent diners highly recommend starting with the appetizers. The Brussels sprouts, deep-fried to a sweet caramelized brown and dressed in a lemon aioli, and the crispy tiger shrimp with Old Bay, lemon, and chipotle aioli are both excellent.

For dinner entrees, fans recommend the diver scallops with grilled corn, Spanish chorizo, and lemon aioli, or the grilled lamb chops with grilled asparagus, fingerling potatoes, and piquillo puree. The most popular side dish (though many love the truffle fries and that delicious grilled asparagus), is probably the Gouda mac & cheese with pork belly. People go crazy for this upscale twist on a classic comfort food. The crème brûlée draws a lot of praise, as does almost every other dessert that comes out of the kitchen, such as the peanut butter chocolate cake (with rich, moist chocolate and light, whipped peanut butter), the Sticky Toffee Cake, or sweet corn panna cotta with brown butter sorbet.