Rosalita’s Cantina on Sanibel Island, Florida, is a Tex-Mex restaurant with roots in St. Louis, Missouri, serving classic and specialty Mexican dishes, tableside guacamole, sizzling fajitas, and an expansive margarita program.
Rosalita’s Cantina
Rosalita’s Cantina is a fantastic Mexican restaurant on Sanibel that you will want to plan a visit to. I would drive back just for the chips and salsa. The salsa was so good we bought an extra serving and bag of chips so we could enjoy them on our drive home.
Indoor Seating
The indoor seating at Rosalita’s is comfortable and fun. You feel like you have walked into an oasis with the great air conditioning, banana plants, and chill vibe of the restaurant.
There is a combination of high top table with tall chairs along with regular tables and booths. The booths were comfortable and easy to relax in.
Rosalita’s Cantina Sanibel Menu
Rosalita’s Sanibel Menu is filled with signature dishes, classic Mexican dishes, and so many great options that you will have a hard time choosing what to get.
Signature Dishes
- The Cadillac Fajitas – shrimp, scallops, steak, bacon, and chile con queso with onions and peppers
- The Matador – 8 oz New York Strip topped with Mexican butter, two enchiladas (one cheese, one ground beef), a fried egg, chili gravy, tex-mex rice, refried beans, a scoop of corn masita, and a fried jalapeño garnish
Signature Starters
- Chile Con Queso (gf, v) – a blend of chiles and cheese with house-made chips. Add carne asada.
- Rosie’s Favorite (gf) – chile con queso with carne asada, sour cream, and guacamole with house-made tortilla chips
- Jalapeño Ranchero – creamy jalapeño spiced dipping sauce with house-made tortilla chips
- Guacamole (gf) – house-made with fresh avocado, tomato, and onion. Available as Traditional, Mango, or Bacon and Sun-Dried Tomato.
Rosalita’s Specialties
- Shrimp Diablo (gf) – six butterflied Tiger Shrimp seasoned and grilled with diablo spices, garlic butter, a fried jalapeño, corn masita, and guajillo mashed potatoes
- Pepita Crusted Salmon – 8 oz salmon fillet in a pumpkin seed crust with butternut squash hash, citrus guacamole, and crispy pickled red onions
- Diablo Steak – 8 oz New York Strip with diablo butter sauce, corn masita, guajillo mashed potatoes, and butternut squash hash. Add tiger shrimp.
- Pollo Cancun (gf) – grilled chicken breast with jumbo shrimp and chile con queso on Spanish rice with guacamole salad
- Chile Rellenos – two fire roasted poblano peppers stuffed with cheese, battered and fried, smothered in enchilada sauce, with rice and beans
- Coconut Shrimp – coconut breaded jumbo shrimp with mango habanero salsa, squash, and zucchini
- Oaxacan Grouper (gf) – pan-seared grouper with mango habanero salsa, squash and zucchini, and coconut and cilantro rice
- Birria Tacos – four shredded beef tacos dipped in consomme on grilled corn tortillas, topped with onions and cilantro, served with consomme
Kids Menu – check with the restaurant for current options
Gluten-Free – There are quite a few gluten-friendly options on the menu including chili con questo, Rosie’s favortie, guacamole, fajita nachos, fried tostadas, grilled tostadas, nachos, shrimp diablo, pollo cancun, Oaxacan grouper, enchiladas, chicken tortilla soup, taco salad…