The nation’s first restaurant alongside a Crystal Lagoons® amenity is now open in Balmoral.
The Blue Lagoon Bar & Grill is at the community’s award-winning Amenity Village clubhouse, 15808 Crystal Terrace Drive. The restaurant boasts the only sunset in America with a backdrop of perfectly clear turquoise blue water and the white-sand beaches of the 2-acre lagoon, said Uri Man, Chief Executive Officer of The Lagoon Development Company.
“We are proud to bring the first-ever restaurant on a crystal clear lagoon to the United States for all of Houston to enjoy,” Man said. “With such a gorgeous view, it will be easy to imagine that you’re in a tropical paradise.”
The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and features indoor and patio seating.
The eclectic menu is designed to appeal to a wide variety of appetites, with steaks, seafood, sandwiches and burgers. Signature items include Blackened Shrimp and Grits — sautéed red and yellow bell peppers and onions in a scratch Louisiana sauce over creamy cheese grits; Chicken and Waffles — a homemade Belgian waffle topped with cheese grits, buttermilk fried chicken, honey maple syrup and Aleppo pepper; a Kahuna Burger — smoked bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, Jonny sauce and cheese served with waffle fries; and Southwest Eggrolls — wonton wrappers filled with diced chicken, cheese, black beans and corn. Specialty cocktails include the Blue Lagoon Tom Collins, a Chocolate Peanut Butter Old Fashioned and a Habanero Margarita.
“Whether you’re out celebrating a special occasion or looking for something more casual, the restaurant’s dishes will satisfy,” Man said. “It is a dining experience unique to Houston and — with the crystal clear lagoon setting — one unique to the nation.”
The Blue Lagoon Bar & Grill is also available for private parties, weddings and corporate events.
The Balmoral lagoon was the first in Texas to open when it launched in 2018. Since its opening, the lagoon and Amenity Village have won numerous awards, including Best Community Amenity during the 2020 Texas Association of Builder’s Texas Star Awards and Master-Planned Community Amenity of the Year in the recent Greater Houston Builders Association’s Houston’s Best PRISM Awards. It was also named Recreation Center of the Year in the 2019 Houston’s Best PRISM Awards.
Learn more about the Blue Lagoon Bar & Grill at www.bluelagoonbargrill.com.
One of the advantages of making the move to Balmoral is the number of builders that make their home with us. Nineteen award-winning builders offer homes in our community. But with so many builders to choose from, how do you go about selecting one? Here are some tips for ensuring that you and your builder are a perfect match.
Research, Research, Research
Research potential builders before visiting their model homes. Doing so allows you to see floor plans ahead of time, find out what options are available and the price range you can expect. That helps you weed out builders that don’t fit your needs or budget. It also gives you a chance to see what former customers have to say about the building process and the quality of their finished homes.
Use a Realtor
Yes, you can use a Realtor while searching for your new build home. Realtors will listen to your wants and needs and then steer you toward the builders that offer the floor plans, pricing and options on your wish list.
Visit More Than the Model Homes
A model home is a 3D representation of what the builder offers. However, it is just one of perhaps half a dozen floor plans available. Ask the sales representative if the builder has inventory homes available. These move-in ready homes have been or are in the process of being built. Touring one or two will help you visualize what your new home might look like. It’s also an opportunity to check on the quality of the construction work.
Ask Lots of Questions
If you haven’t already done the research, now is the time to find out about a builder you are considering. Ask how long the builder has been in business, what features are standard and what are upgrades, what is the warranty, are energy-saving features built into the home, who will be overseeing the construction, what subcontractors are used, how long will it take to build your home and do they have testimonials from previous customers.
Meet Your Potential Neighbors
There is nothing wrong with talking to potential neighbors about their homes. Drive through the neighborhood and if you see people, stop and see if they will answer questions about their new home. Find out if their builder listened to their needs, if they’ve noticed any issues since they moved in and how quickly the builder corrected them, would they recommend their builder to family and friends and how easy the process was from start to finish.
Choose Your Builder
Balmoral builders include Anglia Homes, Ashton Woods, Castlerock Communities, Censeo Homes, Colina Homes, Darling Homes, D. R. Horton, Empire, Gehan Homes, Highland Homes, HistoryMaker Homes, K. Hovanian Homes, Lennar, Long Lake Ltd., Perry Homes, Shea Homes, Taylor Morrison, Trendmaker Homes and Westin Homes. Visit our community and our model homes and start the search for your builder and your new home.
The nation’s first restaurant alongside a Crystal Lagoons® amenity is opening soon in Balmoral.
The Blue Lagoon Bar & Grill will be inside the community’s Amenity Village clubhouse, 15808 Crystal Terrace Drive. The restaurant will boast the only sunset in America with a backdrop of perfectly clear turquoise blue water and the white-sand beaches of the 2-acre lagoon, said Uri Man, Chief Executive Officer of The Lagoon Development Company.
“We are proud to bring the first-ever restaurant on a crystal clear lagoon to the United States for all of Houston to enjoy,” Man said. “With such a gorgeous view, it will be easy to imagine that you’re in a tropical paradise.”
The restaurant will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
The eclectic menu is designed to appeal to a wide variety of appetites, with steaks, seafood, Italian fare, sandwiches and burgers. Signature items include Chipotle Pork — pork medallions wrapped in bacon, roasted and served with chipotle hollandaise sauce; Chicken Fried Steak — prime rib pounded, soaked in buttermilk and served with bacon white gravy; and Chicken and Waffles — a homemade Belgian waffle topped with cheese grits, buttermilk fried chicken, Vermont maple syrup and Aleppo pepper.
“Whether you’re out celebrating a special occasion or looking for something more casual, the restaurant’s dishes will satisfy,” Man said. “It will be a dining experience unique to Houston and — with the crystal clear lagoon setting — one unique to the nation.”
Man said the restaurant is expected to open in November. It will also be available for private parties, weddings and corporate events.
The Balmoral lagoon was the first in Texas to open when it launched in 2018. Since its opening, the lagoon and Amenity Village have won numerous awards, including Best Community Amenity during the 2020 Texas Association of Builder’s Texas Star Awards and Master-Planned Community Amenity of the Year in the recent Greater Houston Builders Association’s Houston’s Best PRISM Awards. It was also named Recreation Center of the Year in the 2019 Houston’s Best PRISM Awards.
Learn more about the Blue Lagoon Bar & Grill at www.bluelagoonbargrill.com.
You’ve just purchased your dream home in Balmoral and it’s time to visit the design center. Here you will pick out everything from flooring, cabinets and tiles, but what about your primary bathroom? How do you turn it from functional to spa-like? Never fear, we have some of the hottest trends for 2021:
Freestanding Tubs
As you toured the Balmoral model homes, you may have seen one or two baths featuring freestanding tubs. These whimsical tubs not only evoke the past, they provide a touch of elegance and a focal point. Most tubs are made of fiberglass but see if you can add interest with color or different materials such as stone or metal.
Accent Walls
Accent or statement walls have moved from the dining room and bedroom into the primary bath. They are a fun way to dress up what could be a boring bath. Moody colors such as burgundy, forest green and navy blue are in. Brick and stone walls are in, as well, and provide much-needed texture.
Choose Unconventional Tiles
Square tiles are so yesteryear. Make your bath unique by choosing tiles in hexagon, fish scales, triangles, diamonds and different herringbone patterns.
Add Color
It’s surprising how many people don’t think about painting their bathrooms. Since you are choosing paint colors anyway, ditch the white and add some color. Sage green and light blue are restful colors. Gray and black are sophisticated and trending right now. If you like strong colors don’t hesitate to try red and coral.
Open Showers
Large, open-concept showers have become popular. These showers give the feel of your favorite spa and make your bath feel larger. They also provide maximum accessibility for disabled or elderly homeowners. They can be enhanced with marble seats, multiple showerheads and misting systems.
HistoryMaker Homes has begun sales of their exquisite townhome collection in Balmoral and we have to say, low-maintenance living has never looked so good.
Spacious and well designed, the four available floor plans feature island kitchens and bedrooms that are larger than what you usually find with some other builders’ townhomes. Parking isn’t an issue either, as each townhome boasts a two-car garage with room to store holiday decorations or treasured memories.
The spacious upstairs owner’s retreat offers numerous options for configuring the en suite bath, including large showers and oval soaking tubs. One plan — the Travis —allows you to add a second owner’s retreat. The Houston floor plan sports a large entertainment loft.
The townhomes are priced from the $190s and range from 1,455 – 1,766 square feet. Lawn and exterior maintenance are included so you can spend more time lounging on the Balmoral Amenity Village beach instead of mowing the lawn.
Schedule a personal tour of the Historymaker model home today to see how convenient life in Balmoral can be. Don’t forget to stop by our information center to learn about the fabulous amenities you could be enjoying, including our gorgeous crystal lagoon and GreenBoLT trails.