grasshopper is a newly opened Asian fusion Tapas restaurant located on College Ave. (at Claremont) in the upscale Rockridge district of Oakland.

My Hon and I planned to arrive there early (around 5:30 pm) on a Saturday night because we didn’t have reservations. When we finally made it there at 6:30 pm, all tables in the smallish restaurant were occupied. The gracious hostess escorted us to the bar, where we remained for the whole meal, despite being offered the first table that opened up about 20 minutes later. Our seats at the bar were directly in front of the big grill, so we were warm whereas the rest of the restaurant seemed a bit drafty.

The décor at grasshopper is urban and trendy. The color scheme is burgundy and mustard, with a lovely mural of the ocean over the bar. The lighting fixtures are impeccably modern and disguise the unattractive features of an open-air kitchen quite well. The wooden seating is limited: tables in the middle and half-booth half-chair seating against the wall. There are decidedly less than fifteen tables total.

grasshopper boasts a full page menu of sake, the Japanese rice wine traditionally served with sushi. Most of the selections were cold sake, and only two were warm. I am a newbie sake aficionado, so I opted for the warm sake I’m used to getting at Japanese restaurants. Of the two, one was the traditional Japanese style that’s served at restaurants- it has a distinctive alcoholic ‘bite’ to it; the other was a less sharp, more sophisticated, top shelf style of sake and that’s what I went for although it was twice the price of the former. It was delicate, buttery and woodsy just like the description. We liked it so well we drank it throughout the meal.

Tapas Tapas Tapas

In case you haven’t already heard the foodie buzz word “Tapas”, it means little dishes similar to appetizer size, but slightly bigger. To me it means you aren’t limited to just ordering one dish, order everything you want, and if you can't eat it someone else in your party will! Here are the dishes I sampled and what I thought of them:

*Carrot Cumin Soup- A whole lotta cumin goin’ on! That’s about all I tasted when I tried this soup. It was served too hot and gave me a bit of a burn.

*Shredded Green Papaya Salad- Refreshing but rather bland. It was served with very thinly sliced cucumber in a vinegary dressing. Probably wouldn’t order this again.

*Roasted Dungeness Crab- Topped with peanut sauce and drizzled with basil oil. The huge crab legs were pre-cracked, but I still found them difficult to open. Once inside, the crabmeat was divine. I didn’t think the peanut sauce would be a good match, but I really enjoyed it anyway. I don’t think I would order this again due to the messiness. Save it for Crustacean!

*Escolar Skewers- Can you say YUM? Escolar, sometimes known as Butterfish due to its creamy, oily, juices, is one of my all-time favorite fish (for eating). These skewers are grilled to perfection- slightly crispy on the outside and bursting with buttery goodness inside. No bells and whistles on this dish- just succulent fish that’s elegant and simple.

*Jasmine Rice- Because all these dishes are Tapas, they don't come with the salad, veggies and rice that accompany regular entrees. This is just simple steamed rice in a bowl. Hint- use the leftover sauce from your other dishes to flavor it. ;)

*12 Spice Pork Ribs- Peppery and crusty around the edges, chewy and smoky in the middle. There are only 4 ribs on each plate, so if you love ribs the way my Hon and I do, you may want to order two of these. I would definitely order these again. In fact, I think I dreamed about them last night. He he.

*Salmon and Cod Croquettes- Perky, scrumptious and served with a curry aioli. By the time these puppies arrived, we were in a hazy feeding frenzy and finished them so fast I barely remember them. Would definitely order them again, except closer to the beginning of the meal.

Wanted to try but didn’t: Oyster Mushroom Soba Noodle Salad (our neighbors at the bar ordered this and it looked fabulous), Miso Soup with Tofu Dumplings, Beef Ribeye with Red Miso Glaze, Tuna Takati (similar to Tuna Tartare- maguro sashimi tossed in an Asian-style dressing), Japanese Eggplant Skewers. They also offer Raw Oysters and some Mussels and Scallops dishes for those of you who like Bi-valves (I have an allergy). :0(

By the time we finished the croquettes, our palates were swimming with glee. At least three of the five or six dessert selections sounded great, especially the Fresh Fruit plate of pineapple, papaya and mango and the Green tea Ice cream Parfait. But per my Hon’s request, we went for the Mango Sticky Rice. We certainly made the right decision. It was warm, creamy and sweet and a perfect match for our superbly made cappuccinos.

All in all, we had a wonderful experience at grasshopper and I’m sure we will be returning soon. The prices are very reasonable: the meal for two described here was about $80 (without tip). I do recommend reservations, especially on the weekends. grasshopper is now open for lunch, but the menu is not Tapas-based as it is at night. As soon as I do have lunch there, I will update this review.

Tips for the area:

*Rockridge BART station is about two blocks away on College Ave. from the intersection of Claremont. In other words: very easy access for BART patrons.

*If you do drive, parking is a cinch! We found a place right across the street plus there is a Safeway right there where I’m sure you could park for a couple of hours.

*It’s nice to stroll around College Ave. and shop in the day. Market Hall offers many gourmet foods, there are many clothing stores, bookstores, gift shops et al. in the immediate area.

Thanks for reading and Bon Appetit!


Recommended: Yes