Rolling Oaks Common

We were very pleased when this retail/restaurant development opened a couple of years ago as it is only a couple of miles from our villa.

It is situated on the 192 about two miles from the 27 and is near the entry/exit for the 429 Toll Road. On the opposite side of the road is the Orange Lake Complex which houses Publix and the new Millers Orlando Ale House.

The development has some small retail units on both sides. There is a very well equipped Nail and Beauty bar that has some fantastic pedicure seats. It even has a couple of little princess chairs for the girls apparently these prove very successful for birthday type parties. There is a Flippers Pizza near the Nail Bar

Although there is still room for a large anchor store the first store to open was a very big SuperTarget. I have heard this store probably best described by a UK person as more of a slightly upmarket Tesco.

I always compare the prices of their cosmetics such as Revlon, L’Oreal, Maybelline and Rimmel as you can get some very good bargains here. They are usually cheaper than the drugstores and often on a par with Wal-Mart prices.

You could quite easily do your food shopping here and their fresh fruit is very good. I like to browse through their wonderfully soft towels as well as their bedroom and kitchen items. Last year we bought a bed in a bag from here (it contained about 7 items) and brought it home to the UK with us.

There are already two restaurants open here and another one is under construction and it looks to me as though there is still space for another one. I believe the restaurant under construction is Bahama Breeze and is due to be opened in the spring 2011.

Olive Garden is one of the restaurants already open and it is very popular particularly with families. Adults can sit at the bar and eat but the bar area is quite small. If you have to wait for a table the time quoted is usually less in reality which is always nice. We enjoy the food, their breadsticks are good and if you ask they will always give you free refills of soup and salad.

If you want a good steak go to the other restaurant Longhorns. As you would expect it has a cowboy atmosphere and all the servers wear jeans. They have a good selection of types of steak and always cook them exactly as you request.

If you are in the vicinity Rolling Oaks is worth a visit to shop or dine.