Retail Roundup: Briarcliff Area Shopping, Dining and Entertainment

Just about a 15-minute drive from Briarcliff, the Hill Country Galleria is an outdoor regional shopping mall featuring more than 20 restaurants and 80 stores. Some of the most popular retailers include Banana Republic, Chico’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dillards, Eddie Bauer, Relax the Back, Soma Intimates, Victoria’s Secret, as well as White House Black Market, American Eagle Outfitters, and many other popular beauty, accessory and clothing boutiques.

Local foodies and health enthusiasts alike flock to the Whole Foods store in the Galleria for the best organic produce, meats and other groceries and daily needs. A few of the more popular restaurants in the Galleria include, All Star Burger, Amy’s Ice Creams, Buenos Aires Café, Iron Cactus Mexican Grill & Margarita Bar, Jamba Juice, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Madam Mam’s Thai Cuisine, Mimi’s Café, Panera Bread, Schmidt Family Barbecue, Tadashi Sushi, and Tony C’s Coal Fired Pizza, among others.

More than just retail shopping and dining, the Galleria is home to a small outdoor amphitheater that hosts local musicians for an ongoing, all-ages concert series the entire family can enjoy. There is also a Cinemark theater, as well as offices, apartments, condominiums, and 50 acres of green space. 

Distinctive Dining and Entertainment in the Hill Country

When Briarcliff residents get hungry for great food, music and jaw-dropping views, they go to the Iguana Grill on Lake Travis. Serving classic Tex-Mex dishes along with live music, the Iguana Grill is a lively restaurant.  The Iguana Grill’s classic Alambres a la Parrilla consists of delicate cuts of steak marinated in beer and bold spices, grilled to perfection and served with rice, beans, and fresh handmade tortillas.

On special occasions, locals dine at Hudson’s on the Bend, a critically acclaimed steakhouse famous for serving the finest locally sourced ingredients and adventuresome, inventive dishes featuring wild game. Freshly caught game and the best produce and dairy from local farms and ranches are expertly prepared for a truly distinctive and unforgettable Texas flavor. Their signature dish is Espresso Chili: tender elk backstrap smoked and rubbed with chocolate, then topped with generous chunks of fresh blue crab. More adventurous souls can also try the mixed grill that offers exotic game such as bison, elk, and even rattlesnake.