The Grasshopper, also known by its Spanish name El Chapulin, is a Tex-Mex restaurant in southwestern Sarasota, less than a 10-minute drive from central Siesta Key. At The Grasshopper, they abide by “Grandma’s secret”: make everything in small quantities so as not to jeopardize the quality of the food.
While some vacationers are captivated by seafood dishes and beach-themed aesthetics on Siesta Key, the family-owned Grasshopper focuses on providing guests the best Tex-Mex this way of El Paso. It features authentic cuisine, made fresh in small batches as the family’s grandma recommends, in a comfortable casual pub-like setting.
The History and Decor of the Grasshopper
While there are lots of great Siesta Key restaurants, The Grasshopper is well worth the quick drive to the mainland. The restaurant first opened its doors in Michigan in 1971 as a family-owned and operated Tex-Mex joint, and remains the same today. Since then, they have opened second and third locations: one in Ohio, and one in Sarasota, FL.
One of the most upbeat places to eat in the area, The Grasshopper is guaranteed to satisfy everyone in the family.
The atmosphere at The Grasshopper is anything but dull. Its terracotta walls are paired with bright green accents and patterned tiles. Hot chilies and floral ceramics hang from the walls.
Diner-style tables are covered with a mixture of simple, white dishware and bright Mexican ceramics in blood reds, vivid greens, and bright blues. The Grasshopper can accommodate a party of any size with a mixture of joinable booths and tables. If you are hoping to find a place to eat with a large group, this is the place to go.
This restaurant delivers on all fronts for visitors on a family vacation craving an honest stick-to-the-ribs Tex-Mex meal on their island getaway.
The Grasshopper, Now in Florida
What began in Adrian, Michigan in 1971 has only recently expanded to Florida’s coast. This is the third Grasshopper Restaurant in the country, with the second in Wauseon, Ohio.
The focus was always on small batches in an effort to retain quality and enhance the freshness of the ingredients used for every dish, and this simple recipe proved to be a hit – enough to warrant an expansion across the country.
The Menu
The menu is chock-full of classic Tex-Mex food with a Grasshopper flair. Siesta Key and Sarasota are buzzing with places to eat, but only at the Grasshopper can you find $4.50 sangrias on Sangria Thursdays over guacamole-stuffed chimichangas.
The restaurant makes sure you are covered with any Tex-Mex food staple you could possibly have hoped for. The menu incorporates some pure American items as well, including French fries, a cheeseburger, chicken tenders, and a few others.
Guests are treated to quite a few salsa options, which they can buy and take home. Patrons are also greeted with a free set of chips, which they can keep going as long as their heart desires.
The Grasshopper Special Wet Burrito is a must-try and a fan favorite. This huge burrito comes with standard ingredients – rice, beans, onions, cheese, and a choice of meat – and is doused in sauce and melted cheese. You’ll definitely need a knife and fork for this one.
Some of the other favorites include the Chile Relleno, roasted Poblano pepper stuffed with meat or cheese, Tamale Plate, and Barbacoa Taco Plate, which consists of pulled meat tacos with a side of rice and beans.
They serve a variety of tacos ranging from $2 to $4 for those who like to mix and match. Chorizo, fish, barbacoa (pulled meat) are among the options.
Desserts include a fruit burrito topped with whipped cream, fried ice cream, and buñuelos – flour tortillas fried and coated in cinnamon sugar.
Specialty Tacos
The Grasshopper’s chefs apply the “simple is better” formula for their tacos and other menu items. There are five main specialty tacos, though any can be customized.
The chefs utilize a home-made chorizo, with a spicy egg and ground pork mix. There’s also the barbacoa taco, a beef and spice mix prepared for nine hours over a roast.
You will only find a few seafood items on the entire menu, including the shrimp tacos and the fish tacos, but they are always made to absolute perfection. The fish tacos include tilapia topped with guacamole and cabbage salad.
The specialty tacos make up the “main” part of the menu, but the Grasshopper covers every angle with simple ingredients and flavorful mixtures. All staples are included, such as:
- Quesadillas
- Guacamole Chalupas
- Enchiladas
- Fajitas
- Flautas
- Menudo soup
It’s the perfect blend of Mexican and American cuisine sifted in a pot with some Texas additions included in the mix. This restaurant is sure to hit the spot for your Tex-Mex cravings.
The Grasshopper Mexican Restaurant and Bar, referred to as “The Grasshopper” by locals, is Siesta Key’s de-facto choice for Mexican-American fusion cuisine. Located just a few minutes from our Siesta Key resort at 7253 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL, this restaurant is worth the quick trip and may become your favorite Tex-Mex destination in Sarasota.
While some vacationers are captivated by seafood dishes and beach-themed aesthetics on Siesta Key, the family-owned Grasshopper focuses on providing guests the best Tex-Mex this way of El Paso. It features authentic cuisine, made fresh in small batches as the family’s grandma recommends, in a comfortable casual pub-like setting.
Lunch Specials
Their “Lite Lunch Specials” offer smaller midday plates Mondays to Fridays. The prices range from $5 to $8. Some of the features include a small wet burrito, a half order of fajitas, a taco salad, and, of course, Taco Tuesday.
Vegetarians can enjoy veggie tacos ($2 each), fajitas, burritos, as well as The Grasshopper’s Veggie Chile Relleno, which is filled with peppers, onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes instead of meat.
“Fiesta Time!” and Drink Specials All Day
The bar at the Grasshopper is equally famous as the restaurant for the drink specials, mixed drinks and festive atmosphere. The Grasshopper embraces relaxation and fun with their own signature Fiesta Time.
It is a Happy Hour time every day from 4pm to 7pm. Wells are $4.25 for Happy Hour, and the Loaded Corona, Corona mixed with Margaritaville Lime Tequila, is only $5.75. Prices subject to change. Drinks, not so much.
For non-Happy Hour drink specials, Grasshopper delivers. There’s a different set of drink specials for each day, including $3 margaritas on Monday and $4.50 sangrias on Thursday. Cerveza Wednesday eases the middle-of-the-week blues with domestics for less than $3 and imports less than $4. Come by the Grasshopper after enjoying many of the local attractions for fun, cheap yet high quality drinks and fajitas.
For the Niños
For the niños, their Little Amigos menu will certainly satisfy. For just $5.75, kids can get a smaller version of the enchilada, tacos, quesadilla, and burrito plates. For kids who are set in their ways, chicken tenders, hamburgers, and hotdogs are also on the menu.
The Grasshopper offers daily happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., and $3 all-day Margaritas on Mondays. They serve a variety of Mexican beers, including Tecate, Negra Modelo, Dos Equis, Sol, and Corona, and their pitcher of sangria is great to share.
Contact and Hours
The Grasshopper is located at 7253 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231. You can call the restaurant at (941) 923-3688 for information about special events, specific dietary details, and other concerns. The restaurant is open from 11am to 10pm Monday through Saturday, with an additional open hour to 11pm on Friday and Saturday. The Grasshopper is only open from 4pm to 9pm on Sunday for dinner only.
This excellent Tex-Mex restaurant has a fantastic main location near some popular Siesta Key resorts like ours. For further details on local restaurants or accommodations, please contact us at (941)-349-1125.
