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. In 1956, Rene's sister Millie Cowell and her husband Don Cowell moved from Iowa Falls to operate the Bobcat Bite. 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 chile cheeseburger."
The name of the establishment is in reference to alleged accounts that tell of bobcats descending from the surrounding hills to visit "bobcat-friendly" diners that reportedly served the animals fresh scraps of food.Bobcat Bite. (2004, August 13). A Little History. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from https://bobcatbite.com/History.html
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.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 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488835/ The restaurant in 2007 was mentioned in the Food Network's program Top American Restaurants: Bon Appétit Picks the Best, hosted by Alton Brown.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 Bobcat Bite was featured in the 2012 episode "New Mexico"https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/bizarre-foods-america/episodes/new-mexico Bizarre Foods America > Episodes > Season 1 Episode 10 on Bizarre Foods America.https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/bizarre-foods-america Food Network > Show >Bizarre Foods America Host Andrew Zimmern ranks it in his top 3 hamburgers.
Awards
Bobcat Bite's burgers, specifically the green chile 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".https://www.gq.com/story/hamburger-death-eat GQ, July 2005. The Santa Fe Reporter awarded Bobcat Bite with "Best Burger" in 2002, 2003, and 2004.BR. (2003). Best Burger, You Crazy Meatpuppets . Santa Fe Reporter.KW. (2002). Best Burger . Santa Fe Reporter.[Unknown Author]. (2004). Best Burger, Even Without the Bun . Santa Fe Reporter.
Status The original Bobcat Bite closed June 9, 2013. Former owners Bonnie & John Eckre opened a new restaurant known as Santa Fe Bite 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. The original site has since been reactivated, as of July 2026 trading as Jambo Bobcat Bite under Kenyan chef Ahmed Obo, with a menu fusing African and Caribbean cuisine with American and New Mexican.
See also
List of hamburger restaurants
References
External links