In its promos for the second season of "The Restaurant," NBC is playing up conflict between chef Rocco DiSpirito and his partner, Jeffrey Chodorow. And based on court documents related to the restaurant, the animosity is more than just a Mark Burnett editing device.

DiSpirito, the central figure in the series and co-owner of Rocco's 22nd Street in New York, filed a countersuit against Chodorow's company Monday (April 5). DiSpirito claims China Grill Management, the restaurant company Chodorow runs, has frozen him out of decisions regarding Rocco's, changed the locks without giving him a key, even replaced the eatery's fresh pasta with frozen. (You can see part of the claim at TheSmokingGun.com.)

The counterclaim is a response to a suit China Grill Management filed earlier this year that claims Rocco's lost more than $600,000 in its first seven months. CGM is asking for damages and to be declared owner of the restaurant.

"The Restaurant" is scheduled to return to NBC on Monday, April 19.

DiSpirito's suit claims he had an oral agreement -- but not a written one -- with CGM to become 50-50 partners in the venture, with Chodorow's company providing financial backing and maintaining the books and DiSpirito handling the menu, service and promotion of Rocco's. The parties would share profits.

The chef acknowledges that the rushed opening of Rocco's documented in "The Restaurant's" first season and the outside scrutiny of the restaurant that came with the Burnett-produced series caused some problems. "The restaurant was poorly equipped so early in its life to handle the crowds, the spotlight and the immediate attention of the New York food critics," the suit states.

Despite those pressures, though, CGM soon "began to engage in a series of serious breaches of their obligations," including withholding payments to vendors and not reimbursing DiSpirito for out-of-pocket expenses related to Rocco's. DiSpirito also says Chodorow used the show as a forum to air grievances in an attempt to hurt DiSpirito's reputation.

CGM hasn't commented on the countersuit.