Bobcat Bite

Bobcat Bite is a restaurant located outside of downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico off of historic Old Las Vegas Highway. Bobcat Bite specializes in steak, chops, and hamburgers.

Origins

The historic building that houses Bobcat Bite was originally a trading post. Later it became a gun shop until Rene Clayton converted it into a restaurant. Her daughter, Mitzi Panzer, operated the restaurant starting in 1953. Since then owners have included Don & Millie Cowell, Don & Shelba Surls, Bob & Judy Amos, and the current owners, John & Bonnie Eckre.

The name refers to accounts wherein bobcats were known to come down from the nearby foothills & visit "bobcat friendly" diners that would serve the animals fresh scraps.Bobcat Bite. (2004, August 13). "A Little History". Retrieved August 7, 2007, from http://www.bobcatbite.com/History.html]

Menu

Menu items include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, Bobcat Bite's famous Green Chile Cheeseburger, chicken sandwiches, assorted grilled sandwiches, 10 oz. New York strip steak, a 15 oz. hamburger steak, pork chops, a 16 oz. ham steak and a 13 oz. rib eye steak.Bobcat Bite. (2004, August 13). "Menu". Retrieved August 7, 2007, from http://www.bobcatbite.com/menu.html]

Atmosphere

The exterior of the restaurant is a pink adobe building with traditional Southwestern Native American-style paintings of kachina-like figures painted on each side of the door. The restaurant has a tiny waiting area with wood railing around it. The porch has a few tables that have been set-up for dining to try and accommodate more patrons in this very tiny historic building. The parking lot is an uphill dirt lot, recently partially paved, filled with a large number of rocks that have become exposed from water washing down it eroding the dirt.

The restaurant's famously tiny capacity includes six tables and six additional seats at a counter, as well as three tables on the front porch. At the entrance hangs a dry erase board where those waiting to dine must write down their party's name and size. As a table becomes available the name is erased and the party is invited to enter.

What many would consider to be irritating, customers at Bobcat Bite often refer to the trademark snapping of the main entrance door. The door is a swinging screen door known for its loud clapping as it springs back into the frame after people exit.

The inside of Bobcat Bite's walls are prominently decorated with pictures of wild bobcats. Many of these pictures are of a mildly tame bobcat that used to visit the restaurant until its death. It was then stuffed and was left sitting on a bookshelf that contained coffee cups and other supplies till the store was robbed while it was closed. The current owner, claims that it must have been the work of a 'cat burgler'. The robber stole cash from the antique cash register, some dishes, and most notably the iconic stuffed bobcat.

Bobcat Bite offers unique hours, serving customers from 11:00 AM to 7:50PM mountain standard time Tuesday through Saturday; the closing time is so that they can get all of the final customers orders cooked by 8:00PM.

Publicity

Bobcat bite is well known among citizens, visitors and tourists of Santa Fe, New Mexico and has been featured in several articles including those in the Albuquerque Journal, the Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times.Roberts, K. (2005, July 24). And, at No. 12, The Bobcat Bite At City Different. "Albuquerque Journal", pp. B1, B4.] Kogan, R. (2004, April 11). A Cultural Icon, With Cheese. "Chicago Tribune Magazine", pp. 16, 24-26.] Heffernan, V. (2005, July 4). A Journey in Burger Nation Finds Variations of a Theme. "The New York Times", p. E13.] Bobcat Bite also appeared in the 2004 documentary "Hamburger America".Internet Movie Database. (Unknown Last Update). Hamburger America 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488835/]

It has also had a mention in a Food Network's program, "Top American Restaurants: Bon Appétit picks the best", hosted by Alton Brown in 2007.

Awards

Bobcat Bite's burgers, specifically the green chile cheeseburger have won many local, national, and international awards.

*"GQ" magazine listed Bobcat Bite at #12 on its list of "The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before you Die. ["GQ", July 2005.]
*The Santa Fe Reporter awarded Bobcat Bite with "Best Burger" in 2002, 2003, and 2004.KW. (2002). [http://www.bobcatbite.com/images-awards/best-sfe-2002-final-trimmed-pic-john.gifBest Burger] . "Santa Fe Reporter".] BR. (2003). [http://www.bobcatbite.com/images-awards/meat-puppets.jpgBest Burger, You Crazy Meatpuppets] . "Sante Fe Reporter".] [Unknown Author] . (2004). [http://www.bobcatbite.com/images-awards/article-04-best-of.jpgBest Burger, Even Without the Bun] . "Sante Fe Reporter".]

References

External links

* [http://www.bobcatbite.com Official Site]