I literally wept the first time coming here as we were coming out of the pandemic weirdness. The food is imply beyond good. I can't rave enough!! The spot is lovely, surrounded by trees and a nice bar attached. Definitely a nice hang out spot. We did come once and they had closed early for the day (might have been the 5th of July or something) which is understandable, but it would be great to have a way to know that before the drive (update the hours on the various apps I guess?) But then the owner apologized and invited us to his holiday party for a bbq as a consolation. We didn't go, but it's pretty damn hard to complain about that level of care:-) Thanks!!!! read more

Emerald Mallard is the kitchen part next to Humble Sea's Taproom in mountain town Felton. It is a separate business. There's a few tables out on their raised wooden porch and none inside. But Humble Sea next door has indoor tables and patio seating. If lounging there and enjoying a drink (which is ideal) food will be brought to you there. But you will still have to order and pay at Emerald Mallard's side. Only tried 1 thing here. I was going to come back the following day to do a burger but didn't make their hours. Their menu is small but impressive. Quite foodie in rhythm with Euro flairs. They'll do American smash burgers, fried chicken sandos and sometimes pastrami. But you can also run into steak tartare, frites, duck confit or caviar adds. Menu changes weekly so adventurous palates are to be rewarded. Tortilla Española ($15/4*) This throws a lot of Americans off. Cuz Americans mostly know of the Mexican definition of tortilla which is a starch flat disk made either of corn or flour. A Spanish tortilla is a thick potato omelette/frittata often found at a tapas bar. The version here did sound impressive. The Spanish omelette consist of potatoes and onions fried in beef tallow until both get soft and sweet. Then scrambled eggs are poured in to bind everything to form a thick potato omelette of sorts. It is sliced and served room temp. But here they bump this further by slathering on a healthy dose of Crème fraiche, chopped chives and an impressive dollop of kaluga caviar. Served on an old timey grandma type of plate, this was an elevated appetizer that seemed too fancy for a rugged beer bar with no table service. Lol. I did find the omelette to be too potato dominant as the good ones I've had, had a nicer balance of egg to make the texture more silky and soft. I also found the amount of cremé fraiche to be too much as well as it drowned out the delicate caviar. But we sipped on a couple of well crafted brews and savored this thoughtful tapa with tiny yet deliberate bites. We were going to have dinner in a few hours so we didn't explore the menu any further. But now that I know what this place is bringing, I'm gonna bring my happy ass down for more exploration in their changing and unique menus. RSVP...count me in. read more

Emerald Mallard - Tortilla Española. - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

An awesome and smashing experience! Long lines can be a pain but the food is well worth it! They have some creative spins on the smash concept including brunch items like the "Smash Madame"; a smash burger served with bacon and avocado on top to Texas toast with a fried egg and bechamel! It's pretty epic! The location in the old Cremer house is pretty iconic and the beers served by Humble Sea are a nice pairing with the food. I'll be back, check'em out! read more

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Stopped by for late lunch after spending the day at the beach. Perfect place for a low key delicious lunch - Order at the walk up window and take a seat any where on the spacious patio that's shared with Humble Sea Brewery in the same building. We didn't know what to expect with the smash burger but let me tell you our jaws dropped when our food came to the table. We've never had a real smash burger until today. I'm a changed person after the OG smash burger... phenomenal. My boyfriend got the sour cream and onion smash burger and couldn't stop licking his fingers. Quick, easy, delicious. What more could you ask for! read more

Emerald Mallard - Lettuce wrapped OG smash - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

Cute spot in Felton- I got the squash blossoms & ny gf got a smash burger. Presentation was really pretty and food was yummy. Staff was really friendly and I loved my cannoli. Awesome place read more

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Quack Attack Bakery and eatery located inside the historic Cremer House (remember this now), that shares a space with locally brewed Humble Sea Tavern. The Good: * FKA "SC Bread Boy," they still sell sourdough boules. * Large covered outdoor dog-friendly seating * Cannoli was delicious, and they have so many flavors that there's something for everyone. *Burgers were omfg delicious. I don't like to use superlatives like "the best" loosely, but these might be the best smash burgers we've ever had. *Fries were also bomb af, and perfectly seasoned. *Fresh beers next door at Humble Sea Tavern The Meh: *A little pricey for a burger and fries, but jfc, it's delicious and worth every penny. *Limited menu and certain items are only available for dinner. Not to mention they're a very small kitchen, so they do sell out. *Not the best place if you're a vegan or vegetarian, as the options will be extremely limited. I personally don't care, but just throwing it out there jic. The Ugly: * We tried visiting here once before but got scared off by the signage in the parking lot that states something to the effect of "Parking for Wild Roots Market and the Cremer House." Well, we had no idea what the "Cremer House" was, so we got scared of getting towed and dipped out. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Conclusion: Beer and burgers. 'Nuff said... read more

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We stopped at Emerald Mallard for lunch before a hike, and it was awesome! This spot is attached to Humble Sea Brewing, so you can order food at the window and drinks at the bar. They have (dog-friendly) porch seating that wraps around part of the building. I skipped drinks this time, although Humble Sea's Bloody Mary looked so tempting. For food, I got the Spicy Chicken Sandwich and my partner chose the Pastrami Smash Burger. Service was friendly and quick! I absolutely loved my sandwich - huge hunk of chicken, tasty ranch, and a nice kick from the spicy chili oil. The fries were thicker than I usually prefer, but perfectly crispy. My partner raved about the Pastrami Smash Burger, as well. Portion sizes were super generous, and we left happy and full. Would return to try more! read more

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Tempted by the photos on Yelp, we couldn't resist stopping here for dinner when we arrived in the San Lorenzo Valley. The Spicy Chicken sandwich was amazing and the fries were perfection. My husband raved about the Pastrami Smash Burger but I wasn't able to sneak a bite to try myself, sadly. The Deviled Eggs were filled sky high and were sooooo good! If you come here, GET A CANNOLI, any one of them will make you happy. We LOVED the Fruity Pebbles Cannoli! The outdoor seating is dog friendly but we left our Lily back at the cabin. We sat out front and were impressed by how busy it was on a Wednesday evening! The locals and visitors know a good thing. Order your dinner, grab some beers from Humble Sea and a seat out front on a summer evening and you've got the makings for a wonderful time. read more

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I go here alot. Like a lot a lot. I can't get enough of their burgers. Been a customer since day one when they weren't yet named emerald mallard. I've watched this business evolve in the best way. My favorite burger to date is the Calabrian chili butter burger. It was the messiest, greasiest, most glorious burger experience I've probably ever had. I felt a bit like dying for a few hours afterwards but it was worth it. I always keep a look out for when it makes it back on the menu. I did prefer their fries from the earlier days, but they are still solid. Their French onion soup is also a must try when it appears. Their happy hour special is awesome too. Cheese skirt smash or chicken sando for much less between 4-5 on certain days. HH Cheese skirt burgers that I've gotten were a bit dry so I normally opt for the non happy hour version. The chicken sando is massive and pretty spicy! Their cannolis are obviously top tier and so is their bread. The chef has some very intriguing and adventurous French cuisine on the menu too - I need to be better about branching out. I think from the sheer amount of different burger photos I have it's pretty clear I'm a fan. 100 percent a place you need to book mark and get after. read more

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Solid smash burger. I had heard so much about this place, so was excited to check it out. We split a chicken sandwich and a smash burger. The smash burger was quite good, the chicken sandwich was okay-not-great. Overall I'm not sure I'd come back based on the price; each of us got a sandwich and a beer, and with tip it came out to over $50. Not a bad experience though! read more

Emerald Mallard - Smash Burger - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

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After a family hike this hit the spot everything was very delicious. service was excellent friendly staff. Very cute shop next to a bar with plenty of outdoor seating. read more

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A perfect stop for a casual meal between the South Bay and Santa Cruz to ride out the Highway 1 evening traffic at rush hour. First time drop in tonight at this spot in Felton, colocated in the same building as Humble Sea Tavern on a Wednesday night all day happy hour. Parking available between the Wild Roots Market and Humble Sea Tavern. Order your food from the Emerald Mallard window to the left, and feel free to sit in the tavern or patio to partake in the Humble Sea brews. Here what we tried tonight... * Caesar Salad -- Beautiful, crisp baby romaine leaves with a light dressing, shaved Parmesan, and fried capers. The fresh ground pepper has a kick. Awesome Caesar for $10 on the Wednesday HH menu. * Deviled Eggs -- Generous portion of 2 halves, heaped with a creamy yolk filling, over a mixed green salad. Great deal for $5 on the Wednesday HH menu. Loved it! * Cheese Skirt Smashed Burger -- omg good! The smashed beef patty was encased in a crispy grilled cheese "pancake." So original. Well worth $15 on the Wednesday HH menu. * Short Rib Melt -- The short rib was perfectly cooked. Tasty & tender and not too fat. Served with a fig jam, arugula, jalapeno slices and melty cheese on grilled sourdough. Very rich item though. We over ordered and had the Caesar salad packed to go. Looking forward to coming back. read more

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steak & eggs at the Emerald Mallard was out of this world! So amazingly delicious. It's like every ingredient included was added with infinitely precise balance of intention, purpose, and care. My mouth is an exploding with sensory experience, and I finished eating 20 minutes ago! read more

Emerald Mallard - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

Top tier smash burgers in a cute small town nestled in the mountains. Staff was incredible, friendly and helpful. Plus it shares a space with humble sea for a solid selection of beer. Can't wait to come back, definitely worth a stop! read more

Emerald Mallard - OG smash and a chocolate chip cannoli. - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

Yes. Yes. Yes. We're so thankful we found you Emerald Mallard! After receiving a rec from Katie R. about this spot, we knew we were in the right place. Felton, CA is lucky to have you! Staying in Felton, our friends were seeing a show at the music hall in town. Across the street you will find Emerald Mallard, the absolute cutest and coolest spot connected to Humble Sea. Essentially here's a quick pro-tip: first grab your table at Humble Sea and have someone grab the brews and someone go next door to Emerald and wait in line for food. They will run the food over to your table once ready, FYI. We started with the Deviled Eggs (topped with crispy capers, yum!), and then grabbed a few OG Smash Burgers with Fries (you can sub salad for $5). These smashies come with two patties, house-made burger sauce, pickles, American cheese, and raw yellow onions ($20 a pop). We visited Emerald Mallard a second time over the weekend with another group of friends who were visiting us and tried the Spicy Chicken Sandwich with Fries ($21). The Sando came with lettuce, pickles, in-house ranch, spicy chili oil, and meat-wise, chicken thigh. Honestly everything was so divine. As you may have read from my other reviews, I'm a sauce girly and these sauces were perfection. Meat was delicious, toppings providing a great crunch and additional flavor. Fries crispy and hearty, loved the herb aioli. There's also a kiddo menu if you want to get a single smash plain with cheese. For me, two patties was too much, so the second time I went I ordered a single patty and it was fantastic/just enough. For the guys, they literally smashed the two patties and were ready for more so..to each their own! Emerald Mallard also has mains like pasta and fish, dessert (the Tiramisu looks SO good), and a plethora of other starters like the Spring Tartine (herbed ricotta on sourdough focaccia toast with green & yellow squash..). Can't wait to come back and share this spot with others! So special. Something truly for everyone here. Can't speak highly enough about ya..this is the spot to be in downtown Felton. read more

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7.85/10 The burger was solid really enjoyed the smash patty, which managed to stay surprisingly juicy despite the thin style. The bun was soft and fresh, a great complement. It could've used a heavier hand with the seasoning, and I found myself wanting a bit more sauce or something to elevate the flavor. Still, it was satisfying overall. I went with a side salad instead of fries, and it was a great choice fresh, generously topped with cheese, and definitely not an afterthought. Service and ambiance were both on point. There was plenty of seating, self-serve water (always a plus), and the tables were clean and well-stocked with utensils. Nice casual spot that gets the basics right. read more

Emerald Mallard - OG Smash Burger - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

By far the most glorious smash burger across all 7 seas. Insane crispy edges, sauces were out of control, perfect assemblage, ambiance was totally there. Best burger I've ever had in my life and the crowd hanging out there were all big chillers. The eating area is shared with a Tavern that is a great chill spot. Good for family's and friends or a date night. Burger and fries were $26 but worth it no doubt. Best burger spot in Felton by a long shot. read more

Emerald Mallard - Pepper smash burger insane 1000/10 - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

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3.5/5 Was really excited to go here, and the ambiance didn't disappoint! The cute Tavern vibes were really cozy, and I had a really good mezcal margarita. I went on a Saturday night and it was packed. Had to stand for a good 20 minutes before snagging some bar stools. This place doesn't really have vegetarian options (and even then so much was sold out) which was a bummer, but I could have done more research. I tried the French fries (good!), ceasar salad (good!), and the oysters. They looked super beautiful and I was so intrigued by the kiwi/chili oil combo, but the flavors didn't quite come together for me. Would go back for the bar and to try the tirimisu, but this is definitely a carnivore-centric spot! read more

Emerald Mallard - Oysters - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

Reviews are questionable.. but we went.. I was surprised! Everything was good! And very different! We will be back to get some of these again!! My stomach swears it! read more

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Best freaking smash burger I've ever had! And I'm a burger connoisseur! I will sooooo be back.

Excellent burgers and other treats. Parking can be found in front or by the side of Wild Roots. Order at the window and take a seat with your number. The fries are fantastic and the cannoli are big and filling is very smooth. Seating can be found outside or grab a table (and drink) in humble sea read more

Emerald Mallard - Cannoli - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

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So glad to see that Emerald Mallard finally has its own Yelp page so I can sing its praises to the world! I wrote a review over on the Humble Sea page last year since I thought it was just a quick popup for the SC Bread Boy, but alas, he is here to stay! I've been a SC Bread Boy fan for years now, ever since he was popping up over on East Cliff Drive. I went out there many weekends for his focaccia and was lucky enough to beat the sellouts a couple times. I was beyond excited to try his smashburger and planned a whole day in Felton (an easy feat) just to get my hands on one. I ordered the OG smash burger and my mom the sour cream an onion burger so that we could them both. Each one was fantastic. The OG was exactly that, a traditional smash burger that had exactly what you wanted a smashie to have. The meat was delicious and so full of flavor even without all of the toppers, though of course a smash burger is not a true smashburger without those pickles, onions, and american cheese (the only time you'll see me raving about American cheese). While the OG was amazing, the sour cream and onion burger stole the show. The burger was a beast, in all the best ways. It was so loaded that it was overflowing onto the plate. It was messy, but a mess that was worth it. read more

Emerald Mallard - Og smash burger - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

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Fancied a great burger and I've heard some very good things about EM. It was pretty busy but we got a table within 5mins. You have to order from what was previously the merch counter and they give you a number. Humble sea still handles beverages. We ordered two smash burgers and my son had the steak tartare. The tartare was apparently excellent and so were the burgers, my only complaint is that we waited 30-40mins. BUT IT WAS WORTH IT! read more

Emerald Mallard - Smash burger and fries - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

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This place was so palatable that we had to come here a second time a few days after our first visit. We shared the tartine and a few beers. They were so sweet to provide complimentary piña coladas and they were refreshing drinks to go about our day~ Serfvice is top tier and I love the interior at this location~ read more

Emerald Mallard - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

One of the best meals I've ever had. I'm not kidding. I was in heaven with every piece I took into this rainbow trout. Visually appealing. The presentation is crazy. The thought put into how to create this dish is crazy. Michelin worthy. Very creative. Explosion of flavors. The fish was cooked to perfection. I loved it so much. It took a while to get my food, but it was worth every minute. read more

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Food is delicious, drinks are fun, and there's always a lively atmosphere. What a fun restaurant to have here in Felton!

Best happy hour deals! From 4-5 on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday you can get their smash burger or chicken sandwich for only $10. These sandwiches are delicious, huge, and fancy! You have got to check them out! Easily the best $10 I have spent in a while! read more

Emerald Mallard - Smash burger and chicken sandwich - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

Deep fried stuff. Nothing special considering the price. Deck seating and you serve yourself. Ho hum.

I really wanted to like this place, my wife wanted to go and she enjoys it here. Prices are steep but I figured that would be fine if the food was good. $15 for chili that tasted off and incredibly pungent, not sure if the sour cream was bad or what. It's super disappointing to spend so much money in the economy we're in, to get something that's not palatable and to sit there with regret. Would not recommend read more

Emerald Mallard - Chili on side patio seating - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

Words cannot describe the extraordinary level of taste and quality in this food. I've worked in the restaurant industry for 26 years and I sincerely have never had better than just about everything I've tried here (especially the SPECIALS omg). The culmination of creative and strategically designed food combinations that are not common or anything someone like myself would even imagine putting together perfectly compliment each flavor. At the same time multiple senses are ignited with extraordinary textures, aromas, and aesthetics that are worth far more than the $15-$20 they charge for most things. I consider myself lucky to live close to somewhere with such exceptional food at such a reasonable price with such a casual environment...this review is already too long and I didn't even get started on the bread! read more

I have had my eyes on this place for awhile. We came here on Saturday around 2:00pm. Parking can be a bit dicey, with a busy road and intersection in front of the restaurant. We were a bit disappointed that some items were sold out. Our choice was basically smash burger or chicken sandwich. We ordered smash burgers and they were excellent. We had a couple of beers and sat outside. There was plenty of seating inside and out. Service was friendly. read more

Emerald Mallard - Smash burger - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

I didn't realize it was more if a counter-number-find a table from the website or Yelp. Had an excellent meal though. Much smaller than I thought it would be, so we weren't sure about waits on the weekend (we went around 5pm today, Friday). One of the best burgers I have ever had! So well rounded! My fiance liked the house sauce a bit less, he noticed mustard as a component and he hates mustard. I loved the concept of two SUPER THIN patties. I have never seen that before. Overall, food was absolutely amazing. Fries were great and crispy. read more

Thank you for adding the mushroom burger! As a vegetarian, it was so nice to see the addition to the menu and its delicious--beyond the usual grilled portabello you see in many places. read more

I made a random stop for dinner here during my travels. I saw this from across the road and went inside. The place was like that of a local brunch spot that everybody would go to just to socialize. I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich recommended by the waiter. It was ok but sadly not worth the price due to its size and taste. The outer layer of the sandwich was bomb but the inside the meet itself tasted a bit bland. On another note the truffle mayo sauce was really great and complimented the fries pretty well! read more

Emerald Mallard - Spicy Chicken Sandwhich - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

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Some of the best food we've ever ordered out of a window! The sourdough was toasted to perfection, crisp but soft on the inside and the olives were exquisite. My son had a tasty smash burger. I had the fried chicken sandwich. Both were really satisfying. My husband had the duck. He said it was wonderful, but for me the real star of the night was the green salad that accompanied the duck. It was phenomenal. I asked about the salad and the chef came out to describe in detail just how much care and detail they put into their salad dressing and olives. I will not spoil it for you all, but this is a must stop in my opinion. We were blown away! Thanks!!! read more

Yay it's back! Delicious Steak Tartare! Super friendly staff and very cool vibe. Such a great gem in the SL valley. read more

Emerald Mallard - Steak tartare - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

The best burger in the Santa Cruz area. The smash burger was so good, I felt like getting up to give it a round of applause. Is $20 a lot for a burger? Yes. But... you should at least try it. read more

The cheeseburger savant has expanded and all I can say is GET IN MY MOUTH!!! His food is so elevated, so sexy, so delish. The smashed burgers are still amazing with a skirt that Marilyn Monroe would be jealous of, but O.M.G. the Mallard Charcuterie Board is what dreams are made of: HOUSE-MADE epi baguette with whipped butter (I think I tasted honey, peppercorns, sea salt, and chives). It's served with PORK MOUSSE (maybe 'Nduja) and decadent, fatty fat fat salami and coppa. It's a flavor bomb. We also got freshly shucked, perfectly chilled oysters with the cutest hot sauce dropper and the melt-in-your mouth basque cheesecake with blackberries. Creamy, creamy, creamy! Service is sooo nice and seriously, this collab between Emerald Mallard and Humble Sea is truly special. Such a hidden gem. read more

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Waiting for my food as we speak. Going on 40 minutes. Was looking so promising. Love the set up. 45 minutes to get food after ordering from a window seems excessive. Okay, I stopped my review mid way because the food arrived and it was Really good! I got the fish sandwich-- huge generous portion and the side salad I added on in place of fries was legitimately good. I'm adding a star to my initial un-posted review. If I go back and wait another 45 minutes for a single sandwich, I'll update. Willing to give them the benefit of the doubt even though I was late for a meeting because it took so long. I like the window ordering set up and the drink offerings next door @ Humble Sea to boot. read more

Emerald Mallard - Fish sandwich - Burgers Near Me - Felton, California

The "Smash Burger" is probably the Best Burger I've ever tasted! The Prime Rib is also Amazing! read more