The Bobcat Bite restaurant, once known far and wide for its green chile cheeseburgers, was scheduled to reopen this week as Jambo Bobcat Bite with an African-Caribbean twist. And, yes, it will continue to serve those burgers.
The Bobcat Bite building is located on the Old Las Vegas Highway (aka Route 66) on the south edge of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
According to the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, chef Ahmed Obo, a native Kenyan who has guided his African-Caribbean-style Jambo Cafe in Santa Fe for 15 years, owns the Bobcat Bite building outright.
Obo declared the green chile burger his favorite on the menu.
The landscape behind Bobcat Bite reminds him of Kenya. He has decorated the interior with wildlife photos from the Maasai Mara National Reserve as well as wood masks from western Africa and what he calls bush baskets from Madagascar.
The opening menu at Jambo Bobcat Bite includes Bobcat Bite items but with hints of Jambo, such as the jerk marinated flank steak and eggs for breakfast. Jambo-style dishes will come with the dinner menu, but Obo does not have a timeline yet for adding a third meal. […]
Jambo Bobcat Bite will have the Famous Bobcat Bite green chile cheeseburger and a variety of other burger options. For vegetarians, Obo is offering a meatless green chile cheeseburger and curried falafel burger.
John and Bonnie Eckre operated the Bobcat Bite from 2001 to 2013, and the restaurant became known for many miles around for its green chile burger.
However, the Eckres got into a dispute with their landlord, and they were forced to relocate their restaurant to another part of Sante Fe, which was rechristened as Santa Fe Bite.
Interestingly, the Eckres have given Obo their blessing at their old location.
The Bobcat Bite building originally was a trading post, then was a gun shop before being converted into a restaurant.
(Image of the old Bobcat Bite restaurant in 2007 by Umpqua)