Carmel Valley's Burlap Restaurant to Close, Become Searsucker

Burlap restaurant, which served "Asian Cowboy" food, is closing its El Camino Real location on June 10 to re-brand as its sister restaurant Searsucker on July 17, according to a U-T San Diego report.

“It’s really important to know that while Burlap was a fun, hip kind of wild spot, it kind of got away from being a restaurant,” James Brennan, the CEO of Enlightened Hospitality Group, told U-T San Diego. “With Searsucker, we’re going back to our mission. Searsucker is approachable and homey, and people like that.”

Burlap, at 12995 El Camino Real in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center, was one of several restaurants opened by celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey. There, college cuisine went to a new level with a secret menu item, the "Secret Slurp." Using aged ramen noodles, shanton miso broth, pork shanks and more, Chef Anthony Sinsay would make just a few platefuls each night.

[Learn more about making the Secret Slurp here.]

The new Searsucker restaurant will join a Fifth Avenue location in San Diego, bringing its "new American cuisine" to Carmel Valley led by Malarkey, who competed on Bravo's Top Chef Miami. The menu is split into categories such as Bites, Smalls, Greens, Ocean and Ranch.