“We’re crazy for lobster rolls,” shares Heidi Garbo, co-founder of Garbo’s, a seafood restaurant bringing New England cuisine with an Austin twist. Heidi, the eldest of the Garbo sisters trio, founded and co-owns Garbo’s restaurants together with her sisters, Samantha and Hannah.
The sisters brought Garbo’s to Central Texas in 2015 and now have three locations and food trucks, including a 150-seat, full-service restaurant in Dripping Springs featuring an expanded raw bar and two private dining rooms for special events. We sat down with the sisters to hear their story and find out why their lobster rolls are the best in the Lone Star State.
GARBO FAMILY ROOTS IN THE NORTHEAST
Originally from Connecticut, Heidi, Samantha, and Hannah were born into the lobster industry. Their father was a lobsterman and, for the last 45 years, their family has been catching lobsters and making lobster rolls together. Eventually, they moved to Key West where Heidi started a food truck, Garbo’s Grill, which became the number-one restaurant in Key West. Famous for her fish burrito, this recipe is still used for the sisters’ restaurants and food trucks in Texas.
Heidi moved to Austin in 2013 and started another food truck. The business exploded, and customers began begging for a restaurant—and that’s how Garbo’s was born.
Garbo’s sources its lobster fresh from the Northeast. In fact, the lobster comes from the same lobster facility in Maine that their father started many years ago.
“We save you a plane ticket,” Samantha says. With lobster sourced directly from Maine, you need only to visit this local restaurant to experience a taste of New England in an upscale yet casual environment.
Heidi continues, “This is my last meal. I just keep bringing what I love to eat. Part of us is on every plate, and that is my ‘why.’”
Craving dessert after lobster? Heidi’s son, Connor, founded Connor’s Creamery—soft serve vanilla ice cream ribboned with a flavorful swirl—featured at the Mopac and Dripping Springs Garbo’s locations.
TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY
Garbo’s has been there for its customers through every season of life, from after-pool eats in bathing suits to rehearsal dinners and wedding celebrations, followed by new babies affectionately called “Garbo babies.”
“We’re a tight-knit community, and we love keeping up with our customers—now family—through Facebook and text messages. We receive the sweetest cards and are here for every milestone,” Samantha shares. Garbo’s is eager to jump in and support the community by creating spaces for kids’ activities, hosting classes, and holding fundraisers for the local high school.
The largely female staff is like family, and the sisters credit their team for this shared, thriving culture. “Work ethic was instilled in us from a young age. We learned the importance of working hard and finding ways to get things done,” Heidi explains.
“We hustle, work hard, and have learned to consult each other for everything,” Heidi concludes. "This is best summarized on the wall in Garbo’s that displays, 'No grit, no pearl.’ Garbo’s exists to provide a quality, accessible luxury experience to seafood lovers everywhere."
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“This is my last meal. I just keep bringing what I love to eat."