Chris Cannon has the warmth and energy of a restaurant ingénue and the experience of an industry veteran whose work has contributed to the two- and three-star status of some of the city’s most beloved restaurants. His two decades of hospitality experience come together in Convivio, which is touched by his signature love for Italian cuisine and his ability to create refined yet relaxed dining experience for all guests.

In 1994, Cannon opened his first restaurant, Judson Grill, collaborating with venerable chefs Ed Brown and Bill Telepan to introduce the innovative American concept. In 2001, Cannon was part of the founding team behind Bar Veloce and Bar Tonno, two restaurants that laid the foundation for the bar dining trend that has now become an important part of the country’s dining culture.

By 2001, Cannon had dreamed up an exciting and seductive restaurant that would allow him to focus on the kind of dining he loved best – Italian. He created L’Impero in Manhattan’s Tudor City where guests were treated to light, flavorful Italian classics with a significant wine program, a signature that Cannon applies to each restaurant he opens. L’Impero won much acclaim, including a three-star review from The New York Times, two James Beard Awards in 2003, “Best New Restaurant in the Northeast” and “Best Restaurant Design.”

Excited by the idea of re-interpreting Southern Italy, Cannon and White opened Convivio in July 2008 in the space that was formerly L’Impero. Bursting with the flavors and soul of the region, Convivio offers guests an authentic taste of Italian dining. Chris Cannon takes his unique understanding of the hospitality industry and runs every restaurant with a combination of his 20 years of restaurant expertise and the enthusiasm of a host entertaining his closest friends every night.