Family Serving Family

The Garbo's name traces back to the East Coast, where three sisters grew up cherishing the local lobster shacks and the catch of the day. The ocean and sandy beaches were their entire life, filled with memories they are thrilled to share with anyone dining at their restaurant. The eldest sister, Heidi Garbo, carried her love for the sea wherever she went—from Connecticut down to the Florida Keys, where she opened the famous Garbo's Grill and met her husband. He somehow convinced Heidi to leave the ocean behind for the only landlocked home she's ever known: Austin, Texas.

It didn't take long for Heidi's longing for the ocean to resurface, and she soon dared to serve her favorite food from home—lobster rolls—in Texas. East Coasters flocked to Garbo's, seeking a taste of home, and many Texans were introduced to lobster rolls for the first time. Austin quickly embraced them! Thanks to the overwhelming support from the community, one truck led to another, and another, until Heidi needed to open her first brick-and-mortar location in Wells Branch, North Austin. Initially meant to support the trucks, this restaurant became a neighborhood favorite. Heidi expanded the menu to feature more nostalgic cuisine from her home, and soon her sisters, Sam and Hannah, joined her in her new pursuits.

In 2020, Heidi set her sights on a new venture, transforming an old crab shack turned beer pub on Parmer and Mopac into another Garbo's location. The building, once Opal Divine's, found new life under Heidi's vision. In 2023, the growth continued with the opening of a second brick-and-mortar location in the heart of downtown Austin—a smaller, 10-seat restaurant on North Lamar, managed with her sister Samantha. Garbo’s on Lamar caters to the downtown energy with a walk-up takeout window, a trimmed-down menu, special pop-up collaborations, and corporate catering packages.

In early 2024, Garbo’s Lobster headed south to the Hill Country and opened a 150-seat, full-service restaurant in Dripping Springs, featuring an expanded raw bar and two private dining rooms for special events. This location is now open, and we're excited to serve you Tuesday-Sunday 11am-9pm.

We've created quite the lobster family. We’re so happy to be able to serve my favorite food to my favorite people. Thank you, Austin!