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Joy Gillette of York takes a bite of a cheesesteak at Bobkats on North Beaver Street. It s one of the most popular items on the menu at the little American eatery.<br />&middot; <a href="http://w2.ydr.com/forms/sendPhoto.php?photo=30420">E-mail photo</a><br />&middot; <a href="http://ydr.mycapture.com/mycapture/lookup.asp?originalname=100507-JP-Bobkats.jpg">Order photo reprint</a><br />
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Oct 11, 2007 — When Ezekiel's moved out of its location at 33 N. Beaver St. in York, I wondered what would replace it. About two months ago, I found out.

Bobkats, a made-to-order American restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch, moved in. Owner Kathy Robertson grew up around the restaurant business, and her father owns the Roosevelt Tavern.

It took me this long to get there, but I finally stopped by the eatery on a Tuesday afternoon. I found Robertson behind the counter cleaning. It wasn't very busy, but that gave me a chance to get some personal attention and look around. The lunch menu consists of sandwiches, wraps and cheesesteaks - nothing that costs more than $5.50. She also serves breakfast from open to close and decided to open Friday nights from 5 to 8 with a special dinner menu.

"Some people come and order omelets for lunch," she said. "I think

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they are on the low-carb thing."

For lunch, I chose the special that was handwritten on a sign outside. It was a double cheeseburger with french fries and a drink for $6.10 with tax.

I watched her make it. She threw the burgers on the grill, dropped the fries in the deep fryer and topped the burger with cheese right in front of my eyes.

My three seating choices were the table on the sidewalk, the smoking counter in the front or the nonsmoking dining area accessible through an open-air walkway around the back. I chose the last one.

It was really cool to see that part of the building that I never knew was there. The other entrance to Bobkats is behind market in Cherry Lane. The back dining room is nicely decorated with texture-painted walls and a coat rack in the corner. I settled in at one of the three café tables with my newspaper and had a peaceful meal.

The burger was fresh and juicy, like the kind my dad makes on the grill at family barbecues. The hefty helping of fries was very crisp. I opted for a bottle of water instead of a can of soda. While I was the only customer in the store, Robertson said the downtown clientele have been treating her very well.

"I've had more business in the first two months than I thought I would," she said.

Her regulars like the cheesesteaks and omelets, and it's hard to pass on the $2.99 eggs, home fries and toast in the morning.

"I make homemade home fries with baked potatoes," she said. "I am a firm believer in making everything from scratch."

Cheap Eats is a biweekly column on local restaurants' meals under $10. Suggestions are welcome. Reach Nicki Lefever at 771-2101 or nlefever@ydr.com.

If you go

BOBKATS

LOCATION: 33 N. Beaver St. in York

CUISINE: American

NICKI'S PICK: Double cheeseburger, french fries and bottled water for $6.10 (with tax)

PARKING: On-street metered parking

HOURS: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 5 to 8 p.m. Friday with a special weekly dinner menu and closed Sunday

PRICE RANGE: $1.50 for egg sandwich to $5.50 for a chicken club wrap with french fries

ALCOHOL: No

SMOKING: Nonsmoking dining room and smoking counter

ACCEPTS: Cash

TAKEOUT: Available

DETAILS: 848-8282

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