Food Network has announced a new fine-dining cooking competition series, "Bobby Flay's The Line," which will premiere on 8 September at 9pm ET and stream on HBO Max. The show follows celebrity chef Bobby Flay and a hand-picked team of chefs as they run a restaurant service line, preparing a fine-dining menu in real time for real diners, reflecting the current popularity of behind-the-scenes restaurant culture in television.

Flay's home team, featuring Antonia Lofaso, Michael Jenkins and Claudette Zepeda, will face off against visiting teams from acclaimed restaurants, including chefs Leah Cohen, Spike Mendelsohn and Jonathon Sawyer in later episodes. Diners rate each dish, with lines able to adjust service based on feedback; a winning visiting team receives $25,000, while a win for Flay's team preserves their reputation. The premiere features Marcus Samuelsson surprising Flay by joining a seafood-themed battle, and the series is produced by Rock Shrimp Productions for Food Network.