Heavyweight comebacks: New restaurants in NYC from familiar personalities

When the restaurant mogul (L’Impero, Alto) split with Altamarea partner Michael White in 2011, Bennifer-scale tremors rocked the Gotham food scene. But Cannon gets his groove back with the hotly anticipated Italian trattoria All’onda, a reunion with Ai Fiori alum Chris Jaeckle. Named after a soupy style of risotto—all’onda translates to “of the waves”—the 80-seat spot will feature crudos, cicchetti (bar snacks), house-made pastas and shareable northern specialties (like the suckling pig dish maialino). No phone yet.

A free agent since leaving the Harrison in 2010, the Food Network celebutoque has spent the past few years juggling Chopped judging duties with competing in the all-female finale of The Next Iron Chef (Alex Guarnaschelli was the victor). Freitag will don the chef whites again at this solo venture, taking over Chelsea’s iconic Empire Diner for an as-yet untitled American restaurant. Honoring the historic landmark, Freitag will serve inventive riffs on regional diner classics around the clock—like its predecessor, the 75-seat greasy spoon will be open 24 hours a day. No phone yet.

After 17 years as Daniel Boulud’s publicist, Georgette Farkas—who left the fold last August—comes into her own with Rôtisserie Georgette, a 90-seat restaurant outfitted with steel columns and caramel-colored banquettes. Two other Boulud vets join her: David Malbequi tends to the spit-fired roasts (chicken, lamb, pork) and seasonal sides (pancetta-studded brussels sprouts); sommelier extraordinaire Jean-Luc Le Dû, now a wineshop owner, will curate a list showcasing lesser-known French producers. 212-390-8060, rotisserieg.com