Brian Malarkey Resigns From Searsucker and Herringbone Restaurants

Celebrity chef Brian Malarkey has ended his involvement with Searsucker and Herringbone, two restaurant brands that he conceived and launched in San Diego and which have since each gone on to multiply in several major cities, including Las Vegas, Austin, and Los Angeles. Locally, there are branches of Searsucker in Del Mar and downtown San Diego and a Herringbone in La Jolla. In 2014, Malarkey sold a majority stake in the restaurants to global restaurant and nightlife group Hakkasan Ltd.

Though he still owns equity in Searsucker and Herringbone, the chef will instead concentrate his time on the San Diego-based restaurants he co-founded with business partner Chris Puffer under the Puffer Malarkey Restaurants umbrella, which includes Herb & Wood and Herb & Eatery in Little Italy and two upcoming projects, Herb & Sea in Encinitas and Animae, an Asian restaurant slated for a luxury downtown high-rise.

In a statement, Malarkey shared:

”Effective immediately I am resigning my position with the Hakkasan Group. Searsucker and Herringbone are two unique concepts I will continue to be proud of. I am grateful for the incredible employees, many that have been with us since the start, friends and the loyal clientele who have helped drive their success and it’s been exciting to watch their expansion over the last few years under Hakkasan’s guidance. However, at this time in my career, I would like to focus entirely on my hometown of San Diego and its incredible dining scene. I’m looking forward to putting 100% of my energy on the Puffer Malarkey Restaurants, including Herb & Wood, Herb & Eatery, two Green Acre locations, Farmer & The Seahorse and two upcoming projects Herb & Sea and Animae.”