NBC has inked a deal for six new episodes of "The Restaurant," its unscripted summer hit, but no decision has yet been made who's going to be in the kitchen.

That's the word from executive producers Mark Burnett ("Survivor") and Reveille's Ben Silverman ("Coupling," "Nashville Star"), who return for the new edition, along with Robert Riesenberg of media-services giant Magna Global Entertainment.

The first time around, "The Restaurant" focused on New York celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito and his efforts to open an Italian eatery, Rocco's on 22nd, in lower Manhattan. The show steadily built an audience on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, as Burnett's signature style transformed real-time events into heavily edited, dramatic storylines.

Although DiSpirito wasn't always portrayed in the best light, he has stated he's open to the idea of another round of episodes -- but producers are giving the matter some thought.

Calling in from "the jungle island of Manhattan," Burnett says, "We've got a deal now with NBC, and it's just a matter of choosing who to work with. Will it be Rocco? There are so many options of other talent that we're considering all of our options. We've not decided yet.

"Rocco's great, so many other offers have come our way from all across the country, chefs and restaurateurs, that we owe it to ourselves and our partners at NBC to consider all the options."

Saying the decision has to be made "pretty soon," Burnett also points out that opening another new restaurant -- whether with DiSpirito or someone else -- is not the only option.

"If you look at the series," he says, "the first episode was about the opening. But the ratings increased dramatically while we were in the restaurant, which told us you don't need to have a restaurant opening. It's only three acts.

"We could have very easily -- and at one point, we did consider this -- beginning the entire series [in what became] episode two. As long as you've established characters, the actual arc, the depth of the characters, comes out far clearer under the pressure of the restaurant customers."

One thing sure to change is how the new series is financed. Product placement and ad sales underwrote the first series, without NBC contributing a traditional license fee. As a result, sponsors including Mitsubishi, Coors Light and American Express had their products prominently displayed in each episode.

"It's partially a traditional license fee," Silverman says of the new series, "but Magna Global is still a partner and is working with NBC on selling some integrated pieces as well, so it's more of a hybrid.

"I do not think [the product placement] will be as intrusive as it was the first time, because it's more of NBC's money."

As for a target premiere date, Burnett says, "Everything depends on NBC's needs. If every [new] show works out great, we'll be on next summer. If something doesn't, we'll be on late this season. There's no commitment of an airdate.

"They asked us to make a show. The next step is choosing: will it be Rocco again, will it be another? There are hundreds and hundreds of chefs coming to us, saying they have great stories, and they're right. There are hundreds of stories out there."

"And all the backers of restaurants," Silverman adds, "who want to use the television show to help launch their restaurant."

Silverman also learned some very important lessons from doing "The Restaurant."

"You should cook pasta for six minutes," he says. "When Mark and I discussed the idea for the first time, we were in a restaurant. I cannot believe how much inherent drama there is within that truthful environment. It is stranger than fiction.

"The characters are so big and vivacious, and the customers, especially in New York, are so loud and obnoxious, it's really amazing."