Located in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz’s Pacific Avenue, Chef Desmond Schneider has renovated a cozy space into an elegant bistro offering fresh sustainable seafood caught daily, pasta dishes, steaks, and craft cocktails.
Formerly chef de cuisine at the now-closed Michelin-starred Alderwood, Schneider approached the creation of Mane Kitchen + Cocktails with locals in mind, but where visitors can mix effortlessly and pick up on the only-in-Santa-Cruz vibe. The flavors of Mane stem from the close relationship he has with local purveyors of seafood, produce, wild foraged mushrooms, and other ingredients which emphasize the county’s abundant foodshed. Comfort foods like freshly shucked East Coast Virginia oysters, chicken liver pâté, and French onion soup, topped with a giant cheesy “crouton,” graced the menu on opening night, with expanded options to follow. The Mane Margarita is the eatery’s signature cocktail, and includes mezcal, Montenegro, passionfruit, pineapple, lime, pomegranate and tajin and is one of an array of creative, hand-crafted cocktails on the bar menu.