The Restaurant
tv show
12 total episodes
-
2 seasons
First Aired July 20, 2003
Genres:
Overview
The Restaurant is a reality television series that aired on NBC in 2003, with a second season broadcasting in 2004. The series had encore presentations on CNBC and Bravo. Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito opened the Gramercy Park, New York City, restaurant Union Pacific in August, 1997. The NBC series, it was announced, would follow DiSpirito as he launched and operated a new Manhattan restaurant. The first season revolved around the construction and opening of Rocco's on 22nd, scheduled to open in five weeks. Some 7.5 million viewers tuned in for the July 20, 2003 premiere focusing on the search for a location and construction work for the new restaurant. Among the 2000 people who showed up hoping to be hired were various actors, models and show business hopefuls. In addition to Rocco's mother, Nicolina DiSpirito, known for her famous meatballs, the show's on-camera personnel included David Miller, Alex Corrado, Domiziano Arcangeli, Heather Kristin, Natalie Norman, Topher Goodman, Lisa Wurzel, Brian Allen, Gideon Horowitz, Heather Snell, Amanda Congdon, Pete Giovine, Uzay Tumer, Emily Shaw, Lonn Coward, Carrie Keranen, Colleen Fitzgerald, Caroline Matler, Brian Petruzzell, Lola Belle, Susanna Hari, Tony Acinapura, John Charlesworth, Laurent Saillard, Perry Pollaci, Matt DiBarro and Tim Donoho.
Episode 203
Season 2 - Episode 3 - 1h 0m
Air Date
May 10, 2004
Overview
In the aftermath of Jeffery Chodorow's stunning ultimatum that chef/owner Rocco DiSpirito must call him if he wants to remain involved in the restaurant, DiSpirito retreats to his alma mater, the Culinary Institute of America, while Chodorow makes it clear to the staff that he is the owner of Rocco's – and his team of consultants isn't leaving anytime soon. Meanwhile, DiSpirito holds a contest at the C.I.A. to choose a new line cook for the restaurant and delivers an inspirational graduation speech before heading back to the restaurant where Chodorow begins a search for a ""Rocco Replacement,"" just in case his real charismatic partner won't cooperate. In addition, DiSpirito decides to take back his restaurant and begins legal action, takes painful measures to fire one employee and enjoys seeing how happy Mama is in the environment that he created for her – even though there is more at stake than ever before.