Bobcat Bite Explained

Bobcat Bite
Food-Type:	Southwestern
Street-Address:	418 Old Las Vegas Highway
City:	Santa Fe
County:	Santa Fe County
State:	New Mexico
Postcode:	87505
Country:	United States
Seating-Capacity:	55
Reservations:	First-come, first-served

Bobcat Bite is a restaurant that is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, off of the Old Las Vegas Highway. The location itself has hosted two businesses, both of which have gone by the name "Bobcat Bite". The original Bobcat Bite specialized in the preparation of steak, chops, and hamburgers.

Origins

The historic building that housed Bobcat Bite was originally a trading post. It later became a gun shop, until Rene Clayton and her daughter, Mitzi Clayton/Panzer, converted it into a restaurant. The Bobcat Bite has been variously featured in newspapers, television, and other such media, and has been referred to by said media as "...the place to go for a green chili cheeseburger."

The name of the establishment is in reference to alleged accounts that tell of bobcats descending from the surrounding hills. The purpose is to visit "bobcat-friendly" diners, which would, reportedly, serve the animals fresh scraps of food.^[1]

Reception

During its time under the Eckre family's management, Bobcat Bite has been named in several articles, including those contained within the Albuquerque Journal, the Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times.^{[2] [3] [4]} Bobcat Bite also appeared in the 2004 documentary Hamburger America.^[5] The restaurant in 2007 was mentioned in the Food Network's program Top American Restaurants: Bon Appétit Picks the Best, hosted by Alton Brown.^[6] Bobcat Bite was featured in the 2012 episode "New Mexico"^[7] on Bizarre Foods America.^[8] Host Andrew Zimmern ranks it in his top 3 hamburgers.

Awards

Bobcat Bite's burgers, specifically the green chili cheeseburger, have won awards including:

• GQ magazine listed Bobcat Bite at #12 on its list of "The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before you Die".^[9]
• The Santa Fe Reporter awarded Bobcat Bite with "Best Burger" in 2002, 2003, and 2004.^{[10] [11] [12]}

Status

As of June 9, 2013, the original Bobcat Bite is closed. Former owners Bonnie & John Eckre opened a new restaurant known as Santa Fe Bite^[13] in August 2013. It closed in October 2018, but re-opened in a new location in Santa Fe in late 2019, in combination with an additional location in Albuquerque.

See also

• List of hamburger restaurants

External links

35.5825°N -105.8972°W

Notes and References

1. Bobcat Bite. (2004, August 13). A Little History. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from https://bobcatbite.com/History.html
2. Roberts, K. (2005, July 24). And, at No. 12, The Bobcat Bite At City Different. Albuquerque Journal, pp. B1, B4.
3. Kogan, R. (2004, April 11). A Cultural Icon, With Cheese. Chicago Tribune Magazine, pp. 16, 24-26.
4. Heffernan, V. (2005, July 4). A Journey in Burger Nation Finds Variations of a Theme. The New York Times, p. E13.
5. Internet Movie Database. (Unknown Last Update). Hamburger America 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488835/
6. Food Network. (Unknown Last Update). Top American Restaurants: Bon Appetit Picks the Best, Episode BASP03. Retrieved December 9, 2009 from http://www.foodnetwork.com/food-network-specials/top-american-restaurants-bon-appetit-picks-the-best/index.html
7. https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/bizarre-foods-america/episodes/new-mexico Bizarre Foods America > Episodes > Season 1 Episode 10
8. https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/bizarre-foods-america Food Network > Show >Bizarre Foods America
9. https://www.gq.com/story/hamburger-death-eat GQ, July 2005.
10. BR. (2003). Best Burger, You Crazy Meatpuppets . Santa Fe Reporter.
11. KW. (2002). Best Burger . Santa Fe Reporter.
12. Unknown Author
13. Web site: Santa Fe green chile cheeseburgers downtown . Santafebite.com . 1969-12-31 . 2017-11-07.