A pop-up became a permanent home
Emerald Mallard was born from years of pop-ups. When Lance Ebert, known across Santa Cruz County as SC Bread Boy, partnered with Humble Sea Brewing Co. to take up residency in Felton's storied Cremer House, he finally had a kitchen to call his own.
"It's kind of off the beaten path and something special — a hidden gem tucked in the side of the mountain, right next to the river."
- Chef Lance Ebert
What started as burgers and croque madames at a Dutch door on a wraparound porch grew, dish by dish, into something richer. Six months in, the partnership became permanent, and Emerald Mallard had a name and a full identity: a French bistro filtered through the dirt-under-the-fingernails spirit of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
What We Stand For
Michelin technique. No pretension. Just good food for everyone.
Technique Without Ego
Every dish carries the precision of a fine dining kitchen — because we think that kind of care belongs on every table, not just in white-tablecloth rooms.
Farmer-Driven & Seasonal
Our menu is dictated by what's growing, fishing, hunting, and foraging in our region. It changes with the seasons because the land does, too.
Punk Rock Bistro
We don't do demure. French discipline meets maximalist instinct — rich, bold, and a little irreverent. The way good food should feel.